Sleeping with Your Ears Open: On Patrol with the Australian SAS [Paperback]

Gary McKay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2002

'Sleeping With Your Ears Open takes the reader into the heart and soul of the men of the Australian Army's Special Air Services Regiment. It provides a clear insight into the rigours of the SAS selection process, training for war in Papua New Guinea, then in graphic and sometimes raw and brutal detail into combat behind enemy lines in Borneo and South Viet Nam.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'It is an engrossing soldier's story. One in which the qualities of the men, their mental, physical and psychological toughness together with their superb battlecraft, essential for operating in small teams isolated in the "enemy's backyard", emerge as the key components for their success in these two conflicts.' Brigadier Rod Curtis, AM, MC (Retd) 'McKay has done what few other authors writing about the SAS achieve. He debunks the myths and lets the men who served in the Regiment tell it as it was. My children ask me what it was like to serve with the SAS in South Viet Nam: I will give them this book to read.' Brigadier Chris Roberts, AM, CSC

About the Author

Gary McKay served as a rifle platoon commander in Viet Nam and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. His time in Viet Nam was the basis of his bestselling 'In Good Company: One Man's War in Vietnam'. His second book, 'Vietnam Fragments', recently re-released as 'Bullets, Beans and Bandages' is an invaluable oral history of Australia's was in Viet Nam. 'Delta Four', another beseseller, exposes the inner workings of a rifle company, giving the soldier's viewpoint of those aspects of war-fighting not found in the training pamphlets. His latest book, 'All Guts & No Glory', was written with Bob Buick and recounts Buick's experiences as a platoon sergeant in Viet Nam and in Australia's most famous battle at Long Tan. After almost 30 years military service, Gary retired from the army. He now lives with his wife in Brisbane and is a full time writer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 307 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty., Limited (Australia) (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 186508297X
• ISBN-13: 978-1865082974
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,376,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The how-and-why book on SASR patrols, November 8, 2003

By 

Lowrey Brendan (Kochi, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sleeping with Your Ears Open: On Patrol with the Australian SAS (Paperback)

I found this book to be very detailed and informative on how the Australian SAS approached their commitment to gathering accurate intelligence of the VC activities in Viet Nam. The author consistently allowed the soldiers to explain in their own words their experiences of patrolling in small recon/ fighting units within smelling distance of the enemy and often undetected. The book explains how the unit operated in closeknit teams and how the unit successfully adapted to the varying roles it was to perform from long range recon patrols to aggressive ambushes. It was also a personal pleasure for me to read Nev Farley's detailed contributions as a patrol commander. I had the honor of serving with Nev Farley in the early 80's when he was the Regimental Sergent Major of my battalion. His military professionalism was an inspiration to all soldiers who had the honor to be associated with him. This is the book to read if you want to know the how-and-why to patrolling deep in the enemy's turf and winning.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Puts YOU on POINT!!!, April 7, 2002

By 

Troy A. Lettieri "Professional Warrior" (NC, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sleeping with Your Ears Open: On Patrol with the Australian SAS (Paperback)

As the author states in the beginning of this book, it is not a historical account or individual memoir. Instead, it is a journey into the nucleus of the SAS. The PATROL is the tool used to propel this account, which is the basic SAS fighting element of six operators. This book takes you through selection and training of patrol members, preparation and execution of patrols in Borneo, New Guinea, and Vietnam. This book spares no detail of operational patrols, from the warning order to mission debrief, it is all covered here. The book reads more like a how-to book highlighted with actual accounts of mission debriefs, this is just a treasure of lessons learned, that still apply today. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the SAS, or anyone that is in the military field Reconnaissance, scouting, sniping or special operations.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Slow start but great book overall...., February 18, 2003

By 

MCB "mb1620" (NC United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Sleeping with Your Ears Open: On Patrol with the Australian SAS (Paperback)

I must say this book started out very dry, in fact I put it down several times. But as you get into the tactics, equipment used, etc then it becomes very interesting. I do recommend it!