Those words have been etched into our national psyche by songwriter John Schumann and immortalised by his band Redgum.

In part, they also tell the story of Bega man Frank Hunt – the Frankie who “kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon”.

Now, a new book sharing the story of Mr Hunt is to be released next week, written by former Bega District News editor Steve Strevens.

The Jungle Dark will be launched by Mike Kelly at Club Bega on April 30 at 5.30pm.

Mr Strevens said “it was important that Frank's story be told”.

He said Mr Hunt had hesitated for some years, but then three things decided him that Mr Strevens was the person to write his story.

The first was how Mr Strevens covered with such trust and compassion the tragedies he had to write about in the Bega District News.

The second was that they were both Vietnam veterans.

The clincher was that they both grew up in the Mallee in Victoria and Mr Hunt knew that Mr Strevens' family, like his, would have suffered through the droughts, mice plagues and locust plagues that afflicted the district.

He would understand why Mr Hunt could see no future in the Mallee and so enlisted in the army, following on a family tradition of service in the armed forces.

So it was as a volunteer that Mr Hunt went to war, not one who was conscripted by the infamous ballot.

One of the hardest stories for Frank to remember was the day he was badly injured in Vietnam.

Sent home to Australia, the doctors battled to save his leg. 

In retrospect he now believes it would have been better had they amputated.

He has lived ever since with a leg that has caused him constant pain and still had enough shrapnel in it to alert the metal detectors as he passes through airport security.

Mr Hunt spent a long time in hospital – even having the Last Rites said over him multiple times.

However, on recuperation he and his wife Constance moved to Bega in 1971 as he had been offered a job by Trevor Page as credit manager at Balmains.

In Bega he met up with other Vietnam veterans who were not, like Mr Hunt, suffering physically, but were mentally scarred by their time in Vietnam, not helped by the reaction of most Australians when they returned from  that unpopular war.

He started counselling them.

In 1983, Frank became known nationally when Redgum's iconic song, I was Only 19, was  released and reached the top of the hit parade.

John Schumann wrote the song after he had heard the experiences of “Frankie” and his brother-in-law.

I Was Only 19 was instrumental in changing the Australian view of those who fought in Vietnam and was played in the Welcome Home Parade for Vietnam veterans in 1987.

Mr Hunt, because of his health, has been a virtual recluse in the last three years, but he is  well remembered for his community work in the years before he was virtually confined to his home.

An inspiring orator, Mr Hunt used those skills to form the Bega Young Speakers' Club at Bega High School and he later also tutored students from St Patrick's and Bega West.

His success stories with these students are numerous as he built  up their self-esteem and confidence so they could speak in public with ease. 

Two of his “graduates” have spoken at the United Nations.

Mr Hunt also worked with the Bega RSL sub-branch and, as well as counselling Vietnam veterans, many others would come to him for help knowing what a good listener he was and he would give wise advice.

Another veteran, Peter Florance, will be master of ceremonies at the book launch next week. 

The Jungle Dark is Steve Strevens' eighth book, but only his second biography.