We were known to the enemy as 'grey ghosts'. We could be here and we could be there ...The Grey Ghosts were New Zealand's Vietnam veterans. Their powerful story includes chilling accounts of death injuries and emotional breakdown along with the intense comradeship of soldiering and a pervasive sense of humour that is uniquely our own. Acclaimed writer and historian Deborah Challinor interviewed 50 men who served in Vietnam who speak out about 'fragging' (killing superior officers) the New Zealand Government's role in Agent Orange and chemical exposure and their hostile reception when they returned. The result is compelling reliving the Vietnam experience in vivid detail. First published in 1998 this updated edition includes new material on the subsequent handling of veterans' claims and the reconciliation parade on Queen's Birthday weekend in 2008 when the men were finally welcomed home.
Grey Ghosts
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About the Author
Deborah Challinor is a writer and historian living in Hamilton, author of the bestselling historical trilogy Tamar, White Feathers and Blue Smoke, the number one bestsellers Union Belle, Kitty, Fire and Amber, and several non-fiction titles, including Grey Ghosts. She has a PhD in New Zealand history, and in the past has won the RNZRSA Military Studies Scholarship and a research internship at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. She has taught courses at the University of Waikato on the New Zealand Wars, and on how to research and write New Zealand historical fiction. She has also written extensively for the Waikato Times.
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The New Zealand Army experience in the Vietnam War
6 May 2010
By Kiwi
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This review is from: Grey Ghosts: New Zealand Vietnam Vets Talk about Their War (Paperback)
Perhaps the only account about the NZ Army in Vietnam, based on interviews with a range of Vietnam Vets. In addition to the actual contents, which by the way is a very clear account of various aspects of the NZ Army soldier's experiences (not the military campaigns, a history of patrols or engagements or the like) in Vietnam, including things like R&R, how the Kiwi soldiers found working in the field with the Aussies, the Americans and the South Koreans, the NZ R&R experience and the like.
For the US audience, there's a few interesting points: New Zealand and Australia were the only 2 western countries to send soldiers to fight alongside the US in Vietnam. New Zealand maintained it's committment right up until the US pulled out, at the peak of the NZ involvment, 10% of the New Zealand Army were based in Vietnam, New Zealand paid it's own way for the duration, accepting no financial aid from the USA. NZ soldiers serving in Vietnam were all volunteers: altho as a serving soldier it was "expected" that you volunteered, there seemed to be very little opposition to this - the NZ Army was a very professional outfit and saw themselves, across the board, as working at the same level or better that US Special Forces in Vietnam.
Quite a good look also at the post-war veteran's experience and also some history on the Agent Orange controversy as it affected New Zealanders - the author, Deborah Challinor, has also written a book on this subject. She had the support of New Zealand veterans organisations in writing both books. Well worth the read and, as mentioned by a previous reviewer, the book was a best seller in NZ when it was first published.
Perhaps the only account about the NZ Army in Vietnam, based on interviews with a range of Vietnam Vets. In addition to the actual contents, which by the way is a very clear account of various aspects of the NZ Army soldier's experiences (not the military campaigns, a history of patrols or engagements or the like) in Vietnam, including things like R&R, how the Kiwi soldiers found working in the field with the Aussies, the Americans and the South Koreans, the NZ R&R experience and the like.
For the US audience, there's a few interesting points: New Zealand and Australia were the only 2 western countries to send soldiers to fight alongside the US in Vietnam. New Zealand maintained it's committment right up until the US pulled out, at the peak of the NZ involvment, 10% of the New Zealand Army were based in Vietnam, New Zealand paid it's own way for the duration, accepting no financial aid from the USA. NZ soldiers serving in Vietnam were all volunteers: altho as a serving soldier it was "expected" that you volunteered, there seemed to be very little opposition to this - the NZ Army was a very professional outfit and saw themselves, across the board, as working at the same level or better that US Special Forces in Vietnam.
Quite a good look also at the post-war veteran's experience and also some history on the Agent Orange controversy as it affected New Zealanders - the author, Deborah Challinor, has also written a book on this subject. She had the support of New Zealand veterans organisations in writing both books. Well worth the read and, as mentioned by a previous reviewer, the book was a best seller in NZ when it was first published.
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