In this expansive nonfiction work, the trials, errors, and duties of 1 Field Squadron Group, Royal Australian Engineers, during the height of the Vietnam War are on full display. Readers find intimate, well-detailed entries accompanied by photographs that provide a unique look at the operations carried out and the personal experiences of those involved. The book also provides easy-to-follow appendices that make understanding the personnel, equipment, and missions easier to understand. At its core, however, the book stands as a dedication to the men who, regardless of their situation, worked to protect not only the mission with which they'd been tasked but ultimately one another.

What sets this book apart from many in its genre is its honesty. The book strives to fairly depict—whether good or bad—the struggles, lifestyle, and circumstances of 1 Field Squadron Group. At times gritty and dirty, this book holds realistic accounts of ambushes, casualties, and missions. To that end, it also pays homage to the imperative role engineers hold during wartime. It's a fresh voice in the pantheon of emerging Vietnam War literature, and for American readers, it provides an often unheard account of the war. The book's power lies in its authenticity, and this work will make a great addition to the collections of those interested in the war. For readers of historical fiction interested in researching real accounts of the Vietnam War, this book is a must-read. With the Vietnam War slowly fading from not only American but also global consciousness, this book becomes an important relic, one sure to resound for decades to come.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

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