From 1962 to 1972 Australia joined the United States in fighting a
communist inspired insurgency war in the jungles of South Vietnam
against infiltrators who sought to overthrow the local government. Over
50,000 Australians served in Vietnam, 519 lost their lives, and the
conflict ended ignominiously in the insurgents' victory. Although now in
the past, the Vietnam War resonates with lessons for the Australian Army
as it strives to defeat not Communism but Terrorism. Australian Military
Operations in Vietnam highlights some of the successes and failures of
an earlier generation of officers for the benefit of today's leaders.