A Short History of the Vietnam War

by DK

Overview

A gripping and informative visual guide to one of the bloodiest conflicts in US and world history

Journey through the Vietnam War; exploring detailed accounts of the men and women that were there. Explore their stories of struggle, sacrifice, and bravery through the iconic events that defined this conflict. This visual guide is the perfect read for any military history enthusiast. 

Inside the pages of this retelling of America’s bloodiest conflict, you’ll discover:

   • A vivid, moving, and informative read, written in an engaging style
   • Offers a clear and compelling account of the conflict, in short, self-contained events from the Battle of Ia Drang to the Tet Offensive and The Khmer Rouge 
   • Biography spreads highlight major military and political figures
   • Features on everyday life in the war offering additional context
   • Stunning image spreads display weapons, spy gear, and other equipment that defined the war
   • Maps and feature boxes provide additional information on major events during the conflict

A carefully constructed, in-depth guide to Vietnam

This definitive history of the Vietnam War was written in conjunction with the Smithsonian. SI A Short History of the Vietnam War showcases every aspect of the fighting and the wider political landscape from both the side of the Viet Cong and the US military. Compelling text, diagrams, and maps show exactly how decisive moments and battles unfolded to help the reader to visualize the conflict. 
 
Eyewitness accounts and iconic photographs bring events to life - from the creation of the Ho Chi Minh Trail to Operation Passage to Freedom and the evacuation of the US embassy in Saigon. From weapons and aircraft to armored vehicles and spy gear, explore the machinery used in the war through breathtaking photography. Lastly, biographical entries give a fuller insight into the minds of key figures and the decisions they made and include Henry Kissinger, President Nixon, Pol Pot, and more. 
 
More in the series 

Combining expert historical insight, eyewitness accounts, and archive photography, A Short History series seeks to summarise key historical events and provide a wider context to what was happening around these events. Titles include SI A Short History of World War II,  SI A Short History of the American Civil War, and SI A Short History of Flying and are the perfect addition to any history enthusiast’s library.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780744029215
Publisher:	DK
Publication date:	05/04/2021
Series:	DK Short Histories
Pages:	560
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.70(h) x 1.90(d)

About the Author

We believe in the power of discovery. That's why we create books for everyone that explore ideas and nurture curiosity about the world we live in.
 
From first words to the Big Bang, from the wonders of nature to city adventures, you will find expert knowledge, hours of fun and endless inspiration in the pages of our books. 

https://www.dk.com/

Table of Contents

1 The Background Before March 1959

Introduction 10

Indochina Colonized 12

Revolt and Resistance 16

Ho Chi Minh 20

From Independence to War 24

Revolutionary Guerrilla Warfare 28

The First Indochina War 32

The Cold War 36

French Defeat at Dien Bien Phu 40

Dien Bien Phu 44

The Geneva Accords 46

Vietnam Divided 52

NGO Dinh Diem 56

Cambodia and Laos 60

2 America Drawn into Vietnam Mar 1959-Dec 1964

Introduction 66

Guerrilla Warfare Resumes 68

The Viet Cong 72

Viet Cong Gear and Weaponry 76

Creating the Ho Chi Minh Trail 78

The Kennedy Administration 82

President John F. Kennedy 86

American Intervention in Laos 90

The Green Berets 94

The Green Berets in Vietnam 98

The Mountain People 100

Strategic Hamlets 104

The Buddhist Crisis 108

Diem Assassinated 114

South Vietnam on the Brink 118

The Tonkin Gulf Incident 122

President Lyndon B. Johnson 126

3 America Goes to War Jan 1965-Sep 1967

Introduction 132

The Decision for War 134

General William C. Westmoreland 138

Bombing North Vietnam 142

Aircraft 146

Air-to-Air Combat 148

A Pilot's View 152

Search-and-Destroy 154

Battle of la Drang Valley 158

Air Mobility 162

The Call to Service 166

Life on Base 170

Recuperation and Entertainment 174

Mementos and Memorabilia 178

A Place to Party 180

America's Allies 182

Battle of Long Tan 186

War in the Iron Triangle 190

The African American Experience 194

An African American Soldier 198

Airpower over South Vietnam 200

Helicopters in Vietnam 204

Digging In 206

Tunnel Rat 210

War on the Ho Chi Minh Trail 212

Combined Action Program 216

The Naval War 220

Operation Junction City 224

Chemical Warfare 228

The North Vietnamese Army 234

NVA Kit and Weaponry 238

Vietnamese Women at War 240

A Woman in the NVA 244

The Challenges of Ground Combat 246

The War at Home 252

4 The Turning Point Sep 1967-Dec 1968

Introduction 258

Going for Victory 260

General Giap 264

Prelude to the Tet Offensive 268

The Saigon Circle 272

Tet Offensive 278

US Gear and Weaponry 280

The Media and the War 282

Saigon Execution 286

The Battle for Hue 288

US Marines in Vietnam 294

US Women at War 300

The Siege of Khe Sanh 304

The Siege of Khe Sanh 310

Artillery in Vietnam 312

Opening Negotiations 314

The "Mini Tet" 318

CORDS and Pacification 322

The Phoenix Program 326

Protest and Elections 330

5 Nixon's War 3 Jan 1969-Dec 1971

Introduction 336

The Nixon Administration 338

President Richard M. Nixon 342

Vietnamization 346

General Creighton Abrams 350

The ARVN 354

Withdrawal and Demoralization 358

Hamburger Hill 364

Medevac and Treatment 368

US Nurses 372

Nursing the Seriously Wounded 376

The My Lai Case 378

Cambodia Drawn into the War 382

The Khmer Rouge 386

Cambodian incursion 390

Political Storm 394

Horror at Kent State 398

Prisoners of War 400

Pow Objects 406

Lam Son 719 408

6 Easter Offensive to US Exit Jan 1972-Jan 1973

Introduction 414

Decision to Attack 416

American Strategy in 1972 420

Easter Offensive: Quang Tri 424

Napalm Attack 430

Easter Offensive: Kontum 432

Armored Vehicles 436

Easter Offensive: An Loc 438

Besieged at an Loc 442

Mining Haiphong Harbor 444

Linebacker I 448

Progress of the Peace Talks 452

Henry Kissinger 456

The Christmas Bombing 460

The Peace Accord 464

7 Endgame and Aftermath after January 1973

Introduction 472

Breaking the Ceasefire 474

General Thieu 478

Prelude at Phuoc Long 482

The Final Offensive Begins 486

The Battle of Xuan Loc 492

Evacuation 496

The Fail of Saigon 500

Khmer Rouge Victory

In Cambodia 504

The Mayaguez Incident 508

Pathet Lao Takeover 512

The Fate of South Vietnam 516

Boat People 520

Cambodia under Communism 522

Aftermath in Indochina 528

Indochina into the 21st Century 532

American Homecoming 536

The War In American Popular Culture 540

Visiting Vietnam 544

Index 548

Acknowledgments 557