Willie Apiata VC: The Reluctant Hero product reviews

'I knew we had to move. With the wagon being on fire it could only protect us for so long. There were that many RPG rounds rocking it, hitting it one after the other - sooner or later one of us was going to take a round if we stayed there.'

When I first heard, that Willie Apiata, a Lance Corporal, New Zealand Special Air Service (1NZSAS), was being awarded the Victoria Cross for New Zealand, as I'm sure many New Zealanders did, I wanted to know why. When I read the Citation for his medal on the website of some news agencies, I thought to myself: "Well, this isn't about to blow over any time soon". Sixteen months later, this book found itself in my hands.

What goes on behind the fences surrounding the compound housing 1NZSAS are some of New Zealand's best kept secrets. The real on-goings only shown once previously, by a TV program that showed parts of the selection, and "cycle" process, for The Group. A process that Willie Apiata himself, had only completed THREE days before he was informed that he would be flying to Afghanistan.

Unlike many biographies of Military personnel, this doesn't dwell on the selection process, or go into graphic detail of the processes that Willie went through to get to where he is. This book, unlike the rest, focused on the building of the man that is.

It covered details of his first pig-hunt. Of his getting dropped off to his first "Adventure with the Weekend-Warriors" (Territorial Forces), by Black Power gang members. Of his various jobs, including driving long-haul truck routes, fishing, and being a door-to-door vacuum Salesman.

This book invites everybody to get to know "The Most Trusted New Zealander". I enjoyed reading this book. It's not all "Beers and Birds" like some soldiering books are. It's not all Gung-Ho. It's worth every penny, to get the interesting facts, to learn, to get the true picture, of the everyday, kiwi bloke. Who was just doing his job.

This is as accurate as books like this get, the information backed up with countless hours of research, and integrated with narration from Willie himself. A recommended read for anyone.

From his early life in small town Te Kaha, to his actions in the deserts of Afghanistan, this is his story in his words. This is the story of Willie Apiata, VC - an ordinary kiwi bloke, a very reluctant hero, just doing his job.