Cirrus@Austlit

'Townsville lined the footpath as we marched down to the quay. This clipping from the paper shows us young and strong and clean. And there's me in my slouch hat, with my SLR and greens. God help me, I was only nineteen.

'John Schumann's unforgettable lyrics about the Vietnam War are etched in our memories and into our history books. Now they've been warmly brought to life by one of Australia's best-loved illustrators.' (Publication abstract)

'The powerful true story behind the classic Aussie song I Was Only Nineteen.

'On 21 July 1969, the soldiers of 3 Platoon crouched in the scrubby Vietnamese landscape listening to the news on the radio: Neil Armstrong had just stepped onto the moon.

'Moments later, Platoon Commander Lieutenant Peter Hines stepped on a mine and the platoon was engulfed in a maelstrom of dirt, smoke and blood.

'This is the true story of Frank 'Frankie' Hunt and the other soldiers of 3 Platoon, A Company, 6 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment who became the inspiration for Redgum's 1983 hit song I Was Only Nineteen - the anthem for the veterans of the Vietnam War.

'The Jungle Dark traverses the deep unhealed wounds of Vietnam soldiers and the song that finally brought them home.' (Publication summary)