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Well Done, Those Men

memoirs of a Vietnam veteran
4.48 goodreads logo

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( 247 ratings, 34 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Well Done, Those Men by Barry Heard is a powerful memoir reflecting on the author's experiences as a young Australian conscript during the Vietnam War and the subsequent emotional and psychological challenges he faced after his return. Spanning the camaraderie and hardships of military life, the book provides insight into the long-lasting impact of war veterans' struggles with trauma and the journey towards healing and reconciliation.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're interested in a profound and personal exploration of the Vietnam War and its lasting effects. Barry Heard offers an authentic and moving account of both the battlefield experiences and the challenging journey of recovery, providing insights into the psychological impact on soldiers and the trials of reintegration into civilian life. It's especially engaging for readers who appreciate personal stories within historical and military contexts.

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Everyone has taken and given offence; anyone who claims they haven't is either lying or uniquely tolerant. Yet in recent years, offence has become more than an expression of annoyance - it's now a form of political currency. This book explores how the politics of offence is poisoning public debate.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In this intensely personal account, Barry Heard draws on his own experiences as a young conscript, along with those of his comrades, to look back at life before, during, and after the Vietnam War. The result is a sympathetic vision of a group of young men who were sent off to war completely unprepared for the emotional and psychological impact it would have on them.

It is also a vivid and searingly honest portrayal of the author's post-war, slow-motion breakdown, and how he dealt with it. Well Done, Those Men attempts to make sense of what Vietnam did to the soldiers who fought there. It deals with the comic absurdity of their military training and the horror of the war they fought, and is unforgettably moving in recounting what happened to Barry and his comrades when they returned home to Australia.

As we now know, most Vietnam vets had to deal with a community that shunned them, and with their own depression, trauma, and guilt. Barry Heard's sensitive account of his long journey home from Vietnam is a tribute to his mates, and an inspiring story of a life reclaimed.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Well Done, Those Men by Barry Heard receives praise for its powerful and beautifully written narrative. The book is recommended for readers seeking to comprehend the senseless personal harm caused by war.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781921844942

Publisher: Scribe Publications

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 25 July 2012

Country: Australia

Imprint: Scribe Publications

Edition: UK edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Barry Heard was conscripted in Australia's first national service ballot, and served in Vietnam as an infantryman and radio operator. After completing his national service he returned home, where he found himself unable to settle down. He had ten different jobs in his first ten years back, worked as a teacher for a further ten years, and then held several mid-managerial posts before succumbing to a devastating breakdown due to severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Since recovering, Barry has decided to concentrate on his writing. His other books include The View from Connor's Hill, a prequel to Well Done, Those Men; and Tag, a novel.

Also by Barry Heard

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  • The View From Connor's Hill
    Capturing the detail of a lost world of country and suburban life in Australiaβ€”a world of matinees, country dances, and manual dunniesβ€”Barry Heard delivers his memories with an unwavering honesty and candour. Here is the captivating prequel to Well Done, Those Men, Barry Heard's much-loved, deeply moving account of life as a Vietnam veteran. This memoir takes us back into...
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  • Tag: A Man, A Woman, and the War to End All Wars
    Barry Heard, author of the bestselling Vietnam War memoir Well Done, Those Men, has here produced a deeply moving, fiercely anti-war novel that blazes with authenticity. Based on the experiences of a World War I veteran whom the author knew, it brings new insights to the Gallipoli legend and Australia's battles on the Western Front. As a lad in the...
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