Tunnel Rats: The larrikin Aussie legends who discovered the Vietcong's secret weapon

Description

They were young, they were Australian, they were Army engineers and they were the first allied soldiers to risk their lives in the darkness of the Vietcong tunnels of South Vietnam. Staring death squarely in the face every day, not only did they follow their enemy down into these unknown underground labyrinths, but matched the Vietcong's jungle warfare skills and defused thousands of their clever booby traps. Off duty, it was a different story. The bad boys of 3 Field Troop were a boozing, brawling, bonking bunch of larrikins, who cut a swathe through the bars and brothels of Saigon, fought American Military Police to a standstill, built a secret casino and booby-trapped their own HQ to teach their officers a lesson. Thrilling, inspiring and action-packed, this is the true story of the unsung heroes of Australia's war in Vietnam. Living up to their motto of 'We Make and We Break', they created the legend of the Tunnel Rats.

Jimmy Thomson's most recent book is Snitch: Crooked cops and Kings Cross crims. Sandy MacGregor commanded 3 Field Troop in Vietnam, where he won the Military Cross.

The adventure is peppered with tales of insubordination, boozing and brawling. There's enough danger, action and humour for a TV mini-series. A ripping yarn. * Herald Sun * Authentic and compelling. * Courier Mail *