A tank leader in Vietnam: an interview with Colonel G.M. McCormack. (In retrospect)

Within the scope of the Elective Studies Program students at Command and Staff College were able to complete an Oral History. The study sponsored by Training Command was to be a topic relevant to their subject, conduct research into the topic, produce a script, conduct a recorded interview and complete post production. The theme for this Oral histoy is training for war, and in war from a junior commander's perspective. Colonel Gerry McCormack, an officer currently serving was chosen as the subject for this study. He was deployed on operational service in South Vietnam during 1968/69 and his subsequent appointments have emphasised the areas of operations and training. Gerry McCormack graduated from Duntroon in December 1966. He was allocated to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. His first appointment was to the Armoured Centre where he completed his young officers course. Upon successful completion of his course he was posted to the 1st Armoured Regiment as a troop leader. On 12 February 1968 Lieutenant McCormack arrived in South where he served 11 months as the troops leader of 1 Troop, C Squadron, one month as C Squadron Liasion Officer and six months aide-de-camp to the Commander Australian Forces Vietnam, Major General R.A. Hay. The aim of the oral history is to document the experiences of Colonel Gerry McCormack in order to highlight aspects of training for war and in war.