by Barry Heard
Apologies to those smart people who suggested to me several times very early in the journey of the book that I should consider setting up a web page with a guest book for people to sign. It was good advice I ignored.
So, in June 2006, I had my own web page.
Below is a rough summary of the feedback I have received on the book. It doesn’t include the veteran community:
• Letters came from protestors of the sad Vietnam era. They offered apologies and good wishes.
• Letters came from teachers, some 50 by Christmas, praising the book and suggesting it should be used in high schools in both history and English courses. During 2006 a lot of the contacts came from teachers, students, and tertiary people.
• Several schools have used the book in history, and in some year-11 classes it has been used as an English text. Many students have written letters indicating their lack of knowledge of this era.
• Several universities have been using the book for a reference and research resource; and after I visited La Trobe University and addressed their Australian History students, most contacted me personally and stated that they intended to use the book in future employment or studies.
• Psychiatrists wrote to me, saying they were recommending it to veterans and other patients. One had mentioned the book at a conference held in London.
• The book sold well in New Zealand after I did a radio interview with their national broadcaster. I had over 200 contacts afterwards.
• Politicians, both state and federal, wrote letters. I was sent a copy from the secretary of the Premier’s Office stating that the book had been mentioned three times in Hansard in the Victorian Parliament. Bruce Mildenhall, then Peter Ryan and Craig Ingram were mentioned, and I was informed that Dennis Napthine and several others had also read the book.
• I have had letters from police and priests. One priest sent me a Catholic paper that reviewed the book, and also a copy of his sermon in which he quoted from the book and referred to it several times. He encouraged his congregation to read it.
• After the launch of the book several major daily papers gave the book good reviews. Over the last twelve months I have received dozens of paper clippings from newspapers from all over Australia.
Before the launch of the book, my publisher’s publicist approached the ABC, and several radio interviews and a television broadcast were organised. ‘The 7.30 Report’ came to my home, and most of the radio interviews were also done at home over the phone. This, I believe, helped promote the book Australia wide. I might add that the ABC is a totally professional organisation, and I have a deep respect for them.
There were two interviews on the ABC I did that generated many responses. The first was an interview in 2005 by drive-program announcer Kathy Bedford. Her producer rang me, and said that Kathy had read the book and wanted to do an interview. A time was arranged, and I sat in my study at home and waited. It would be one of my first radio interviews. Kathy asked good questions, and I felt it was going well — I was even a little confident. Then she asked a very sad and delicate question about an incident that had happened in Vietnam. As I tried to answer, Kathy started to cry … on air. I was lost, suggested we go no further, and Kathy was having trouble remaining composed. It was a very powerful moment. Fortunately, she gathered courage, continued the interview, and remained composed almost to the end, when she started to break down again. When it was over I sat stunned. This, for me, was a very private, personal moment between two people, and yet we’d been on air. We hung up, and I felt a good deal of respect for Kathy Bedford. Obviously, the book had had a profound impact on her. She had said as much on air, but I didn’t realise just how much.
My phone went crazy. Many locals heard the broadcast, and rang to simply say it was one of the most powerful interviews they had ever heard. The response lingered for several days. But it didn’t stop there. In my travels I have heard many people recall that interview. A group of us were sitting at an RSL having tea one night when the subject came up. The bloke telling the story said he was driving his car when he heard it, then he’d had to stop, and cried along with Kathy. Another said he was painting his kitchen, then put down his brush, and went outside and sat quietly for ages. Both were vets. I have heard at least 20 similar stories.
The second interview I have already mentioned above was with Richard Fidler on 24 April 2006. Admittedly, I had already sent numerous emails to people telling them about the reading I was doing on the ABC starting the following day. Many people heard his interview, which went for 33 minutes. Those who missed it found the interview on the ABC web page, and listened there or downloaded it to MP3 players. For me, it was the best of all the interviews. He was very well prepared. However, it was what he said at the beginning that people latched onto and echoed in numerous emails.
‘It would possibly be the most powerful and moving war memoir I have ever read,’ he said. This somehow summed up others’ views.
After many requests, I put an attachment on my web page.
After the book’s release I gave 40 talks in nineteen months. Half were to veterans; the rest, to libraries, schools, and public forums. The talks, more than anywhere else, have been the functions where I have been most fascinated by the public reaction to the book. Many people, having read the book, talk of their previous ignorance of the complete story of the Vietnam veteran. Many in the audience have had a contact with a vet and regret their prior judgement or criticism of them. Generally, few people understood the complete history of our involvement in the Vietnam War. This has also been an eye-opener for me.
However, without a doubt, the most common topic that arises after I give my talk is Iraq. People draw comparisons between current conflicts and the Vietnam War. To sum it up, they see the folly and mess that was Vietnam being repeated today. Their anger towards America and our own government for our involvement in Iraq is not only strong; at times, people vent their anger and frustration at the media and our politicians in a way that indicates this section of our democracy has lost respect totally for our leaders and key institutions.
A typical example occurred at a talk I gave at a library. After my talk I asked for questions. A woman put up her hand and spoke at length about an incident that had happened in Iraq, at Haditha. An American soldier was killed, the soldiers vented their frustration on innocent civilians, and over 20 of them were killed.
The woman asked my opinion. What could I say? My response was that there were times in Vietnam when the hatred we felt towards the Vietnamese people was similar … and, yes, there were times I could see myself acting in the same way. That, sadly, is war … them or us … they all looked like the enemy.
There was silence. I felt I had said too much, had been too honest, when a man in the audience put up his hand. He spoke quietly in a tired, shaky voice. This is a summary of what he said:
‘I was an officer in Iraq and these things are true. The Iraqi people hate the Australian and other foreign soldiers, except for the Americans. They loathe the Americans. In return we, the soldiers, hate the Iraqi people. The people that throw the stones, abuse us, and shoot at us are not insurgents. They are the Iraqi people. It was exactly as you said it was in Vietnam … exactly. Don’t blame the soldiers — blame their politicians.’
There was silence. Like me, it appeared most people were slightly stunned. Then several people started to clap, others joined in … until everyone was clapping softly and slowly. They were clapping the truth.
After the talk, the young man came up and spoke to me. He was very distressed. I am not an expert, but I think he was a classic victim of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was having trouble settling, had left the army, was prone to violent outbursts …
What have I found by entering this environment of being an author? It has been fascinating. Beforehand, I presumed that most people understood the life of a Vietnam veteran. Yet I’ve come to realise that this book has provided a historic account of a soiled era that few people tru
ly understood.
As a Vietnam veteran I have had an experience that has been simply awesome. I have travelled to many places with Well Done, Those Men, giving talks. I don’t drive, yet not once have I been found short when it comes to a lift or accommodation; there’s always a veteran at the station or bus stop. I am always greeted with a warm handshake, and I immediately feel at home. Without that support, I would not have lasted very long away from home giving the talks.
I am now of the opinion that the Vietnam veteran community is unique. Due to our sad history and initial lack of support, we are a very close, supportive group — far closer than any previous returned soldiers from other wars. Yes, the paradox is that we demonstrate mateship in the truest sense of the word. Mind you, there is certainly a need for this powerful bond, as the stories of sadness and tragedy are always there, and we are very fortunate to have one another for support.
In conclusion, there are a special group of people who deserve not only a mention, but also the highest accolades: our wives or partners. When I hear words like ‘courage’, ‘strength’, and ‘upstanding, fine Australians’, I think of my wife.
Almost every contact I have had praises my wife. One had a line: ‘Lyn for Prime Minister.’ What more can I add?
Thank you.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank the Department of Veteran Affairs ‘Veteran Community Story Writing and Art Competition’ organisers who encouraged me to write my story. I would also like to thank the veterans, their families, and various people who read the original draft of this book and encouraged me to publish it. Finally, a big thank you to Henry Rosenbloom and his enthusiastic staff at Scribe for their toleration and support.
I also benefited from reading Conscripts and Regulars by Michael O’Brien, Allen & Unwin, 1995.
