Vietnam War 1956-1975

The Vietnam War was arguably the most important event, or series of events, of the "American century". America entered the brutal conflict certain of its moral mission to save the world from the advance of communism. As this title explains, however, the war was not at all what the US expected. Outnumbered and outgunned the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces resorted to a guerrilla war based on the theories of Mao Zedong of China. This was war reduced to its most basic level - find the enemy and kill him. "I am most favorably impressed by the Essential Histories series on the American Civil War. Written by four of the best historians of the military course of the war, these volumes provide a lucid and concise narrative of the campaigns in both the Eastern and Western theaters as well as penetrating analyses of strategies and leadership. Ideal for classroom use or fireside reading."Introduction and chronology; Background to war; Warring sides; Outbreak; The fighting; Portrait of a soldier; World around war; Portrait of a civilian; How the war ended; Conclusion and consequences