Behind Enemy Lines: An Australian SAS Solider in Vietnam (Australian SAS Soldier in Vietnam)

This personal account of Terry O'Farrell's career as an SAS soldier vividly captures not only the military actions of his time in Vietnam, but the human aspects of surviving the intense selection process and training to dealing with the ever-present fear of combat. The horrors of long tense stretches on patrol in the jungle and being caught by surprise by the enemy are recounted. Also included are colorful tales of experiences off the battlefied—the larrakin pranks during training and the friendships that form between soldiers. A compelling personal account of a young SAS soldier's experiences in Vietnam. Another urging hiss from behind me-okay hold onto your horses, I'm going. Five to ten paces takes me over the track, and now I scan the creek ahead trying to peer through the underbrush, to detect signs of enemy presence. Jesus, it's quiet; unnaturally quiet...another obviously more urgent hiss is sent out to attract my attention. Looking back over my shoulder I see the enemy soldier immediately; he is on the track looking directly at me...apparently oblivious to my presence. Has he seen me? screams through my brain. No!... Suddenly, the bastard takes off like a startled jackrabbit. Couldn't hold it together any longer, I think, as I try to get a shot in-but it's hopeless, no point in firing...in any case the remainder of the patrol is now thundering towards me. With his remarkably observant eye, Terry O'Farrell's personal account of his career as an SAS soldier vividly captures not only the military actions of his time in Vietnam, but the human aspects of soldiering-from surviving the intense selection process and training, to dealing with the ever-present fear of combat. Terry relives the long tense stretches on patrol in the jungle, ears ever alert to the sounds of the surrounding terrain and being caught by surprise and sudden contact with the enemy. He also entertains his readers with colourful tales of his experiences off the battlefield-the larrakin pranks during training, visits to Mama San and her girls, and the friendship and mutual trust that forms between soldiers. An absorbing, frank and humorous reflection, Behind Enemy Lines is a first-hand insight into the mind of a young SAS soldier. 'Captures the true day to day existence of an Infantry solider...I had tears rolling down my face at some of the shenanigans...to being brought back to the nasty reality that was the war we all knew. The humour when setting up either a fellow soldier or an instructor and suffering the consequences or feeling Oh so smug when you got away with it makes for great reading.' - Bill McLaughlin Another urging hiss from behind me-okay hold onto your horses, I'm going. Five to ten paces takes me over the track, and now I scan the creek ahead trying to peer through the underbrush, to detect signs of enemy presence. Jesus, it's quiet; unnaturally quiet.another obviously more urgent hiss is sent out to attract my attention. Looking back over my shoulder I see the enemy soldier immediately; he is on the track looking directly at me.apparently oblivious to my presence. Has he seen me? screams through my brain. No!. Suddenly, the bastard takes off like a startled jackrabbit. Couldn't hold it together any longer, I think, as I try to get a shot in-but it's hopeless, no point in firing.in any case the remainder of the patrol is now thundering towards me.

With his remarkably observant eye, Terry O'Farrell's personal account of his career as an SAS soldier vividly captures not only the military actions of his time in Vietnam, but the human aspects of soldiering-from surviving the intense selection process and training, to dealing with the ever-present fear of combat.

Terry relives the long tense stretches on patrol in the jungle, ears ever alert to the sounds of the surrounding terrain and being caught by surprise and sudden contact with the enemy. He also entertains his readers with colourful tales of his experiences off the battlefield-the larrakin pranks during training, visits to Mama San and her girls, and the friendship and mutual trust that forms between soldiers.

An absorbing, frank and humorous reflection, Behind Enemy Lines is a first-hand insight into the mind of a young SAS soldier.

'Captures the true day to day existence of an Infantry solider.I had tears rolling down my face at some of the shenanigans.to being brought back to the nasty reality that was the war we all knew. The humour when setting up either a fellow soldier or an instructor and suffering the consequences or feeling Oh so smug when you got away with it makes for great reading.' - Bill McLaughlin About the author......Page 1 Title page......Page 3 Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Glossary of terms and abbreviations......Page 9 1 Early days......Page 15 2 Recruit training......Page 33 3 Infantry training......Page 41 4 SAS selection......Page 53 5 Pre-deployment training......Page 66 6 Arriving in Vietnam......Page 81 7 First patrol......Page 90 8 Cobras and the Don Khanh Hotel......Page 102 9 WIA......Page 110 10 No comms......Page 117 11 Contacts and ambushes......Page 128 12 Double bluff......Page 145 13 Action on the Firestone Trail......Page 157 14 Working with 22 SAS--Malaysia......Page 166 15 Exercise Sidewalk--Papua New Guinea......Page 182 16 Back to Nui Dat......Page 194 17 Caches and booby traps......Page 207 18 Elephants......Page 220 19 The May Tao Mountains......Page 229 20 SEAL operations......Page 240 Epilogue......Page 254 Appendix......Page 258 Index......Page 260 Another urging hiss from behind me-okay hold onto your horses, I'm going. Five to ten paces takes me over the track, and now I scan the creek ahead trying to peer through the underbrush, to detect signs of enemy presence. Jesus, it's quiet; unnaturally quiet ... another obviously more urgent hiss is sent out to attract my attention. Looking back over my shoulder I see the enemy soldier immediately; he is on the track looking directly at me ... apparently oblivious to my presence. Has he seen me? screams through my brain. No! ... Suddenly, the bastard takes off like a startled jackrabbit. Couldn'