Festoon Publishing has the privilege of distributing the remaining books originally published by Rob Laurent through his now closed business Blue Flyer Publishing.

Rob Laurent was a medic in Vietnam where he saw action whilst serving with 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion in 1969-70. Rob is the author of several books, both fiction and non-fiction with this book “With ANZACS in Vietnam” being a prime example of Rob’s amazing ability to bring to life the everyday life of the diggers who served in Vietnam through pictures and explanatory text.

 

At a time when Vietnam vets are ageing and grandchildren are wanting to know what Grandpa did in the war, this book tells the story for them in pictures. For the older children, Rob has included information about various aspects of a military operation including (but not limited to) weapons, logistics, the American involvement, the South Vietnamese army, the Viet Cong, badges and medals (from both sides), the various army corps that were involved and what they did, ranks of command, what they did during Rest and Recreation leave, and much, much more. Rob’s personal recollections as a medic giving aid to the wounded gives the book a personal touch that many historians and war correspondents miss. His personal “touch” makes this book very readable.

It was almost by accident that this book came into being as Rob had taken several rolls of film with a miniature camera that he carried around with him in Vietnam. When his tour of duty finished and he was eventually discharged from service, he kept all his photos in an old trunk along with a lot of  memorabilia to sort out “at a more convenient time.” The time came when Rob opened the trunk years later, and rediscovered the old photos. It was at this moment that he realized that his photos were the remains of “forgotten history” and that the next generation needed to know about it. That was the inspiration for writing the book. It is the type of book that ought to be included in every school library. It is a book for leisurely browsing through or for serious study. It has it all.

Bonus DVD included in the front cover of every book “The Green Soldier.”