Synopsis:
Jungle Green Shadows is an apt title for this ANZAC Rifle company history as if reflects where most of the ANZAC battles in the Vietnam war were fought – in the deadly lush green jungle shadows.
Australia and New Zealand committed combat forces to South Vietnam in 1965 as ANZUS partners with the United States. The initial 1 RAR Battalion Group grew to become the 1st Australian Task Force (1st ATF), a brigade-sized formation which commanded Australian and New Zealand Army units deployed to South Vietnam between 1966 and 1972. In total, sixteen Australian battalions and nine New Zealand rifle companies served in 1st ATF. The integrated Australian and New Zealand battalions were named ANZAC Battalions, a reflection of the original ANZAC Divisions that landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915.
The basic building block within these ANZAC battalions was the rifle company. The Australian battalions, less the initial 1 RAR TOD, were an integration of Regular Force and National Service soldiers, this was a seamless and very successful experiment. These young men fought through the cauldron of the Tet Offensive that began in February 1968 and lingered on. They took the battle to the Viet Cong Main Force Regiments and North Vietnamese Regiments in the jungle fastness.
Jungle Green Shadows is a very important historical record of a rifle company’s participation in a most unpopular war. It could be any of the rifle companies, their stories are very similar. This book skilfully weaves the thoughts and experiences of so many surviving Company soldiers into this factual account. There is one chapter that deals with a typical day in the life of a Lead Scout, a tense and thought-provoking look at how these young men cared for themselves and each other. The reader may find the Scout’s contact with two Viet Cong too graphically described - but it is indicative of what these young men were asked to do.
The book is not all combat action, although it does include the only Vietcong battalion attack on an ANZAC rifle company during the war. The narrative deals thoroughly with battlefield stress and the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) issues that arose from being constantly in the front line. This is a very sympathetic coverage of the stress issues and their effects on families and, in turn, their children.
Tony brings to light the brutality of the Hanoi regime and the huge toll they inflicted on their own people, both during the War and after the Allies withdrew from Vietnam in 1972. It is not pleasant reading of assassination squads and ‘re-education camps’ but that was the reality behind the bamboo curtain. He even follows the re-education fate of three key Phuoc Tuy Province officials who were in office during the time 1st ATF was in Vietnam. The author’s easy flowing style will appeal to all Australians. This book is well-researched and the sources are all identified. Jungle Green Shadows is a must for Vietnam Veterans, families, schools, stress counsellors, amateur or professional military historians and researchers on the Vietnam War.
Publication Date: TBA
Price: AUD84.00
Size: 180mm x 244mm
Extent: 472 Pages
Illustrations: Photos & Maps
Binding: Cased & Dust Jacketed
ISBN: 978-0-9951219-0-4
Jungle Green Shadows is an apt title for this ANZAC Rifle company history as if reflects where most of the ANZAC battles in the Vietnam war were fought – in the deadly lush green jungle shadows.
Australia and New Zealand committed combat forces to South Vietnam in 1965 as ANZUS partners with the United States. The initial 1 RAR Battalion Group grew to become the 1st Australian Task Force (1st ATF), a brigade-sized formation which commanded Australian and New Zealand Army units deployed to South Vietnam between 1966 and 1972. In total, sixteen Australian battalions and nine New Zealand rifle companies served in 1st ATF. The integrated Australian and New Zealand battalions were named ANZAC Battalions, a reflection of the original ANZAC Divisions that landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915.
The basic building block within these ANZAC battalions was the rifle company. The Australian battalions, less the initial 1 RAR TOD, were an integration of Regular Force and National Service soldiers, this was a seamless and very successful experiment. These young men fought through the cauldron of the Tet Offensive that began in February 1968 and lingered on. They took the battle to the Viet Cong Main Force Regiments and North Vietnamese Regiments in the jungle fastness.
Jungle Green Shadows is a very important historical record of a rifle company’s participation in a most unpopular war. It could be any of the rifle companies, their stories are very similar. This book skilfully weaves the thoughts and experiences of so many surviving Company soldiers into this factual account. There is one chapter that deals with a typical day in the life of a Lead Scout, a tense and thought-provoking look at how these young men cared for themselves and each other. The reader may find the Scout’s contact with two Viet Cong too graphically described - but it is indicative of what these young men were asked to do.
The book is not all combat action, although it does include the only Vietcong battalion attack on an ANZAC rifle company during the war. The narrative deals thoroughly with battlefield stress and the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) issues that arose from being constantly in the front line. This is a very sympathetic coverage of the stress issues and their effects on families and, in turn, their children.
Tony brings to light the brutality of the Hanoi regime and the huge toll they inflicted on their own people, both during the War and after the Allies withdrew from Vietnam in 1972. It is not pleasant reading of assassination squads and ‘re-education camps’ but that was the reality behind the bamboo curtain. He even follows the re-education fate of three key Phuoc Tuy Province officials who were in office during the time 1st ATF was in Vietnam. The author’s easy flowing style will appeal to all Australians. This book is well-researched and the sources are all identified. Jungle Green Shadows is a must for Vietnam Veterans, families, schools, stress counsellors, amateur or professional military historians and researchers on the Vietnam War.
Publication Date: TBA
Price: AUD84.00
Size: 180mm x 244mm
Extent: 472 Pages
Illustrations: Photos & Maps
Binding: Cased & Dust Jacketed
ISBN: 978-0-9951219-0-4
- Citation: NZ Gazette Number 65 dated 17 October 1968
- Lieutenant Howell graduated into the New Zealand Army from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea on the 13th June, 1964 and was posted to the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. He served with the 1st Battalion of that Regiment in Malaysia and Borneo from February 1965 to November 1967, and arrived in South Vietnam on 12th November 1967 as platoon commander of 4 Platoon, VictorTwo Company.
- During Operation Duntroon on the 13th January 1968, 4 Platoon was given the task of ambushing a track which was being used by the Viet Cong. Lieutenant Howell so carefully sited this ambush, that, when an enemy platoon moved along the track at 2030 hours, the whole of the enemy lead elements were caught in the ambush. As soon as the ambush had been sprung, Lieutenant Howell led his reserve section forward to deal with the remaining enemy, but his party was pinned down by enemy. Lieutenant Howell crawled forward by himself until coming within range of two enemy soldiers, he was able to kill them both with grenades. Eight enemy were killed in this contact and ten weapons captured.
- On the 7th February 1968, during Operation Coburg in Bien Hoa Province, Victor Two Company was attacked by a large enemy force. Lieutenant Howell’s platoon was occupying a perimeter defensive position which was attacked by the enemy. At 0630 hours, Lieutenant Howell received a report that his forward section could hear a large number of enemy approaching their position. He moved forward and waited until he was sure his defensive fire would be most effective.The ensuing enemy assault, which lasted for one hour, was mainly directed against 4 Platoon and Lieutenant Howell, with complete disregard for his own safety, moved about his platoon coolly and efficiently directing the fire of his men. The enemy were forced to withdraw leaving seven dead on the platoon perimeter and the signs of many more casualties.
- During these operations, 4 Platoon was responsible for killing nineteen enemy without suffering a single casualty. Much of the success which the platoon achieved is due to the personal efforts of Lieutenant Howell. His skill, coolness and outstanding courage under fire have shown a high degree of leadership which brings credit to himself, his company and the ANZAC Battalion.
JUNGLE GREEN SHADOWS
2 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion, Vietnam 1967–1968
By Tony Howell MC
Published by John Douglas Publishing
Book reviewed by Captain Jeremy Seed.
The Army News Issue 509 February 2020
At first glance you wonder how the history of a single deployment by a rifle company could translate to a narrative of more than 400 pages, but once you start reading, it all becomes clear.
Tony Howell deployed as a platoon commander with 2RAR/NZ (ANZAC) battalion and has written a fascinating account of a rifle company on operations in Vietnam. What makes this book special is the way Howell has recorded the facts of what V2 did for posterity for the former Vietnam veterans and their families. Howell has written the book so that the next of kin of those who deployed, and any reader without military service or a basic understanding of the military can easily assimilate and understand.
[This superb book outlines, in clear and easily understandable form, every aspect of the formation, deployment, activities and operations of this NZ Company. All aspects of a rifle company on operations are covered; armoured and air support, the weapons used, the fire and logistics support, the equipment carried by the individual soldiers, the SOPS etc etc.
Once the basics have been covered, Howell takes the reader through a detailed account of the operations undertaken by the company. One chapter in particular offers a detailed and riveting account of what was the “the largest enemy action against New Zealand infantry since World War 2” when the company, on 7 February 1968, while in a harbour position, fought off a Battalion attack. The detail Howell has gone into, and the research required are a real testament to this being a labour of love. Putting in the hard yards has resulted in the creation of a wonderful record of 2RAR /NZ (ANZAC) battalions service which has preserved it for posterity.