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A retired Lieutenant Colonel has chronicled decades of military experiences in a new memoir, which seeks to inspire readers to persevere through adversity and seize opportunities.
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Former Lieutenant Colonel Brian Vickery has published a memoir — Down From the Mountain: The Path of a Baby Boomer — in which he has recounted his family legacy and decades of service in the Australian Army.
The veteran has explained how his conscription in the Australian Army changed his life, putting him on a path that enabled him to excel beyond expectations.
The retired Lieutenant Colonel has drawn from his own experiences as a draftee in the Vietnam War where he served a 13-month tour with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, as well as the experiences of his father and uncle who served in World War II.
Vickery has shared how the men were linked by their diligence, determination, and courage, explaining how such qualities carried through beyond military service.
The veteran has also explored the unspoken bond shared by soldiers who have witnessed the realities of war.
Vickery then goes on to chronicle his experiences in the military following his deployment to Vietnam, describing how he ascended the ranks and served two years in the Northern Territory, a year in Hong Kong and a year in Brunei with the Brigade of Gurkhas.
The retired Lieutenant Colonel said that in writing the memoir, he hopes to inspire readers to determine their own destiny.
“Serving in the Australian Army was not my intended course, but I’ve learned it was the reason I followed a certain trajectory in life, one full of triumph and failure,” Vickery said.
“Through sharing my story, I hope readers of all ages will see that it’s important to preserve oneself through difficulties, value educational experiences and take advantages of the opportunities that present themselves.”
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