It was April 1967. Private Brown went on to be part of 8th Platoon Charlie Company 1 RAR 1st Battalion, serving in Vietnam for most of 1968 and through to March 1969.

As part of this year's Anzac Day commemorations, the Shoalhaven Historical Society published a book on his time and experiences in Vietnam.

Simply titled A Nowra Man in Vietnam 1968-69 it is Barry Charles Brown's story and covers his life, born in Nowra, attending Nowra Public and High schools onto working at Woodhills store before being called up.

The book covers his training and some of the conflicts he faced during his time in Vietnam and of course some of the characters he encountered along the way.

"My sister Barbara is in the historical society and they were looking for someone local to do a story on about Vietnam she told them I had gone," he said.

"She talked me into it. I really couldn't say no."

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He put his memories down on paper, and along with-plenty of photographs of his time in training and in Vietnam, the historical society produced a 28 page book.

"It took me a few months," he said. "I'd just do a bit each day.

"I didn't really know what the society was going to do with it but it looks great and something I'm proud of.

"It stayed true to my word, the society just put it into shape.

"There were lots more things I could have probably included but I didn't go into things too deeply.

"None of us really kept a diary while we were over there. And there are things you forget. There are other things you don't want to remember.

"Sometimes, it's not until you go to reunions or catch up with mates and something is mentioned that you remember certain happenings or incidents."

Turning 73 this year, Mr Brown was on one of the last helicopters to leave Fire Support Base Coral and Balmoral in Vietnam.

The three-week battle from May 12 to June 6 1968, saw 26 Australians die and 99 wounded as they attempted to hold off the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong, at bases 20 kilometres north of Bien Hoa City, across a route used by the forces to attack Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City.

A proud Mr Brown attended the 50th anniversary commemorative activities of the battles in Townsville last year, the home of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) where he witnessed the changing of the battalion colours and the awarding of a gallantry citation.

Mr Brown's book is available at the Nowra Museum on the corner of Kinghorne and Plunkett streets Nowra for $7.