From Sydney to the Vietnam War: An Australian Soldier's Cold War Journey (367)

Cold War Conversations

Ian Sanders

Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.8 • 758 Ratings

🗓️ 27 September 2024

⏱️ 77 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this gripping episode of Cold War Conversations, we hear the remarkable first-hand account of John Brooker, an Australian veteran who takes us on a journey from the streets of Sydney to the battlefields of Vietnam. John shares his experiences from joining the Citizens Military Force (CMF) to his deployment with the Royal New South Wales Lancers and the regular army. He provides vivid details of the Tet Offensive of 1968, the intense firefights, and the harrowing experience of being mortared for the first time. John also reflects on the challenges of returning to civilian life and the mixed reception from the Australian public and World War II veterans. Don't miss this powerful and insightful episode! Related episodes Vietnam War draftee to US Army Ranger https://pod.fo/e/10388d Just another day in Vietnam https://pod.fo/e/ac3e7 Don – Vietnam War Armoured Cavalry Platoon Leader https://pod.fo/e/a08dc Cold War Tank Tales from the Land Down Under https://pod.fo/e/2078b9 Further Cold War Tank Tales from the Land Down Under https://pod.fo/e/20dda1 Australian Cold War Maritime Air Patrols https://pod.fo/e/21e35d Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode367/ The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link. Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Love history? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:05.8	So we heard the mortar registry go pop, pop, pop, pop, and then the rounds started to come in.
0:11.9	They walked the mortar around straight across the fire support base.
0:16.0	And I think the last one landed dead in front of my APC.
0:22.3	This is Cold War Conversations. If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen
0:28.6	to first-hand Cold War history accounts. Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app so that
0:35.5	you don't miss out on future episodes.
0:38.5	John Brooker is a remarkable Australian veteran who shared his journey from the streets of Sydney,
0:44.4	Australia to the battlefields of Vietnam.
0:47.4	He begins his story recounting his early education and a chance encounter that led to him
0:52.7	joining the Australian Military Reserve
0:55.1	known as the Citizens Military Force, or CMF, an experience that would change the course of his life.
1:02.1	The episode takes us through his training with the Royal New South Wales Lansus,
1:06.5	where he first encountered the Centurion tank and his transition to the regular army.
1:11.6	One of the most gripping parts of the episode is his detailed account of his deployment to Vietnam.
1:16.6	Our guest paints a vivid picture of the Tet Offensive of 1968, the intense firefights and the constant threat of enemy attacks.
1:24.6	He shares the harrowing experience of being mortared for the first time
1:28.7	in the adrenaline-fueled moments that followed. The story doesn't end on the battlefield. John also
1:34.7	reflects on the challenges of returning to civilian life, the mixed reception from the Australian
1:40.0	public and the Australian World War II veterans. Undelight delighted to welcome John Brooker to our Cold War conversation.
1:49.3	I was born in Sydney, New South Wales.
1:51.8	I was educated at Enfield Public School, and then I went on to the Croydon Park Technical School.
	...

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