The American War in Vietnam: Lessons, Legacies, and Implications for Future Conflicts (Contributions in Military Studies) [Hardcover]

Lawrence E. Grinter (Editor), Peter M. Dunn (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 1987 | Series: Contributions in Military Studies (Book 67)

The essays in this collection were assembled to provide answers to the question of why the United States lost the war in Vietnam. They examine four major factors that affected U.S. policy: how the war was perceived, how it was fought, the possible effect of alternative strategies, and the war's legacy for future warfare. The contributors include both military officers and scholars, all but one of whom participated in the Vietnam War. All the authors reflect the more tempered nature of current Vietnam War scholarship. Although their appraisals differ, the overall effect is to offer insight and clarification into the failure of U.S. and South Vietnamese policy, backed by the Grinter's and Dunn's first-hand experiences.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The lessons, legacies, and implications for future conflicts are the purpose of this collection of work on The American War in Vietnam This is an assemblage of ten superb papers which outline why America failed in Vietnam. . . it is a compilation of the personal views of nine authors (scholars, soldiers, and airmen) on different aspects of the war. Military readers will find the section on How the War Was Fought especially interesting in that the authors suggest that had we pursued a more exhaustive air campaign against the North early in the war, then it could have been won. I found the arguments favoring extensive strategic bombing of North Vietnam especially appealing. A deeper question might be asked concerning the U.S. not using nuclear weapons. . . the book accomplished what it set out to do, providing a solid contribution to better understanding of the war. This book is for serious students of the Vietnam War, for historians looking for a complete picture, it has a superb bibliography, and the authors have outstanding credentials.”–Armor

About the Author

LAWRENCE E. GRINTER is a Professor of Asian studies at the Center for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education of the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base.

PETER M. DUNN is a Colonel with the U.S. Air Force, and received his Ph.D from London University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 173 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (November 3, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313257590
• ISBN-13: 978-0313257599
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,757,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)