Australia's Vietnam War

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 experienceits 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.