Today the mere mention of Vietnam conjures up images of protest in
American streets and tensions so strong they divided a country. Yet the
United States did not fight alone. Comparatively little is known about
Australia's experience—its motives for entering the conflict, national support
for Australia's role there, and how that nation dealt with the aftermath of
war. Here, Jeff Doyle, Jeffrey Grey, and Peter Pierce chronicle Australia's
complicated involvement in Vietnam.

    Australia's decision to participate in the conflict was part of a collective
Western effort to stop Communist expansion. It was also a price willingly
paid for assurances of American intervention in the event of an Indonesian
attack on Australia.

    Through an evaluation of the literature arising from Vietnam, the manner
in which Australia memorialized its fallen veterans, and other expressions of
the war's influences, this book offers important insights into the healing
process nations face following such conflicts.

_________________________________________________________

JEFF DOYLE teaches language, literature, and communications in the
School of English at Australia's University College, ADFA. JEFFREY
GREY is an associate professor in the School of History, University
College, ADFA, and lives in Canberra, Australia. PETER PIERCE is a
professor of literature at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia.


Number Seventy-seven: Texas A&M University Military History Series