The Nashos' War: Australia's National Servicemen And Vietnam

Book Description:

On 10 March 1965, the first nasho's birthdate was drawn from a lottery barrel at the Department of Labour and National Service in Melbourne. Over the next seven years, a total of 63740 young Australian men would be drafted into the army and face the prospect of being sent to war. The nashos came from all walks of life- plumbers and dentists, footballers and musicians, Christians and Jews, willing and unwilling. Some spent their two years square-bashing in Singleton. Others went to Vietnam to fight - and die - in Australia's bloodiest battles, including the slaughter at Long Tan. But our ideas of national service contain strange contradictions and inaccuracies- that the draft was unpopular but militarily necessary; that the nashos in Vietnam all volunteered to go to war; and that they were met by protesters and demonstrations on their return to Australia, rather than the huge welcome-home parades reported at the time.

ISBN: 9780670078622
Author(s): Mark Dapin

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