Unknown Warriors: Canadians in Vietnam [Paperback]

Fred Gaffen (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 366 pages
• Publisher: Dundurn Pr Ltd (September 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550020730
• ISBN-13: 978-1550020731
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,398,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Makes me proud to be Canadian!, June 14, 2000

By 

"iagoreb" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unknown Warriors: Canadians in Vietnam (Paperback)

Gaffen brings to us the accounts of several Canadians who served in Vietnam.

He opens with a history of Canadians serving in the military forces of other nations, which could well make them the Wild Geese of North America. He then gives an historical background to the Vietnam War, as well as Canada's role surprising role in it.

The centrepiece of the book, part two's "War Experiences of Canadians, reads like Guy Sajer's <<The Forgotten Soldier>>. There is combat, but their is also drudgery and boredom and the abuse by ossifers. Not only dispels <<Rambo>> and the other bimbo movies, but also points out faults in <<Platoon>>.

Gaffen also devotes a section to the problems Vets faced after DEROSing back to the World. His chapter on wannabes and imposters is "iron on target", only, he didn't find out how vicious and even violent some of these specimins can be when you try to verify their bona fides.

Gaffen's last chapter talks about some of those who never returned, including the inspiring stories of Randolph Edward Hatton and Brian John Devaney, which every Canadian child (and adult) should read.

Gaffen also courageously leaves the role of a dispasionate stenographer to advocate and agitate for the recognition of Canadian Vietnam Veterans. One has to respect him for this. His government employers could have easily retaliated against him for doing the right thing.One must also respect Gaffen for even just writing about Veterans, who, in Canada, lack the popular "marketability" of Britany Spears.

The only criticism is that Gaffen does not distinguish Canadians who crossed the border to volunteer to fight in Vietnam (in the same manner as Leon Degrelle's Walloon Legion on the OstFront during WWII) from Canadians who were conscripted while living in the US (in the manner of the "Prinz Eugen" Division's enlisted in Yugoslavia during WWII). There are enough in either category to warrant separate chapters. In the end, however, the distinction is merely editorial, as the VC, NVA and ossifers did not discriminate between volunteers and conscripts. Indeed, conscripted Canadians who retained their citizenship could have easily and legally followed the crowd north and become Deans, CEO's, Board Members or even Presidents today; the fact that they didn't speaks to their character.

Gaffen has not only brough to light some of Canada's forgtten heroes, he has also rendered them homage. His work has given us a reason to be proud to call ourselves Canadians!