Down from the Mountain - Brian Vickery - Bog

This book traces the path of a young man born immediately after the Second World War and classified throughout the world as a Baby Boomer. Brian was a borderline failure at school but worshipped the outdoors and in particular his close mates - these attributes served him well when he was unexpectedly drafted into a two year National Service Scheme created to meet the demands of the Vietnam war. Brian served a thirteen month tour of Vietnam as an Infantry Platoon Commander with an Australian Infantry Battalion and spent forty weeks of his tour in the field - his life was threatened on many occasions but he came out of Vietnam with a greater understanding of his own strengths and weaknesses and a full understanding of the Australian psyche - the friends he made in Vietnam remain his friends today. Brian also was able to take his family on postings to Darwin, Hong Kong and Brunei which strengthened his children's knowledge of a much bigger world and gave them an insight into the riches we share in Australia. Brian used his military knowledge and background to help him raise funds for his local surf club and restore the presence and dignity of a local RSL - a tough life but not an unhappy one.