David Millie - Team 19 in Vietnam: An Australian Soldier at War

This writing and research project based on my Vietnam diary commenced in 2007. Without the unfailing support of my wife, Eva, the emerging manuscript would not have matured into a publication. Other people played an invaluable part in the journey, and I thank them for their part as members of a large support team, albeit one that has never gathered together.

My handwritten first draft was typed by Liana Gray. Simon Millie assisted with research and advice on word processing and storing. Bruce Davies critiqued the chapter about the Australians in Quang Tri. Single chapters were critiqued by Dr. David Horner and Nina Valentine, who encouraged me with their expert comments.

Along the way a local literary discussion group, including Garry Spry, Wendy Owen, Eva Millie, and Bruce Davies, helped keep my motivation up, as did occasional conversations with the Geelong Writers, especially Garry Kinnane. A 2011 version of the manuscript was peer reviewed by Ken Francis, Daniel Millie in the UAE, John Moug, Julian Millie in Melbourne, Frank Alizzi, and Peter Millie in Brunei. Many thanks for their time and effort. Ian Teague, Brian Day, and Matthew d'Arcy commented on single chapters. Chris Crook did the cartographic work. In the United States, I am grateful for the assistance provided by Bill Coviello and David Sciacchitano in responding to my requests on a range of topics.

In late August 2010, Brigadier General Harley F. Mooney, U.S. Army (ret.), contacted me by email, our first communication since 1969. We resumed our friendship with ease, and I thank him for his encouragement to complete my story. We were a fine team then, as narrated in this book, and still are now. Thanks to Lieutenant General Richard G. Trefry, U.S. Army (ret.), who passed on my draft manuscript of 2011 for consideration by the Association of the United States Army Book Program. I am indebted to the Association for its assistance, and in particular to the director of the book program, Roger Cirillo, Ph.D., Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (ret.).

In May 2012, accompanied by my son Peter, I spent five days on a return visit to central Vietnam. Thanks to Michael Francis in Hanoi for making the necessary arrangements, and for organizing our guide and driver. Thanks Tam and Thanh for your professionalism and friendship during our travels and for the wonderful meetings we experienced in Quang Tri Province. At the final stage, in October 2012, Carmel Murphy, Geoff Braden, Jim Cope, and Laurie Muscat helped me to format the files for submission.

Sincere thanks to the staff of the University Press of Kentucky and its contractors. During the submission stage the director's staff eased me gently into the publication project, particularly Allison Webster, who was the pleasant voice at the other end when I called by telephone from Australia.

Harley Mooney and Jim Geedrick have given me permission to use their photographs, and I acknowledge that the originals of the photographs came to me from Australian Department of Defence sources during the Vietnam conflict. Further, I acknowledge the Australian War Memorial, publisher of the book The Team by the late Ian McNeill in 1984, for its permission to use the same images in this work.

Guidance from copy editor Derik Shelor was invaluable. The work of the indexer will help readers find their way through the narrative. Frederike Ramm created a website for the book (www.team19vietnam.com). To the people who assisted me in this work and who have not been mentioned here, I thank you also for your kindness and support. Finally, I take full responsibility for the contents of this book.