Vietnam at War: The History, 1946–1975

867 Pages·1988·8.57 MB·English

by  Phillip B. Davidson

VIETNAM AT WAR

The History: 1946-1975
Phillip B. Davidson
Copyright © 1988
by Phillip B. Davidson
Published by Presidio Press
31 Pamaron Way, Novato CA 94949
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, record¬
ing or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in
writing from the Publisher. Inquiries should be addressed to Presidio Press,
31 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Davidson, Phillip B., 1915—
Vietnam at war.
Bibliography: p. 819
Includes index.
1. Indochinese War, 1946-1954. 2. Vietnamese
Conflict, 1961-1975. 3. Vietnam—History—1945-1975.
I. Title.
DS553.1.D38 1988 959.704 87-7320
ISBN 0-89141-306-5
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
PART I
1 Volcano Under the Snow 3
2 The French Campaign, 1946-1947 35
1952 105
3 The French Campaign, 1948-1949 57
4 Giap’s First Offensive Campaign, 1950 75
5 J1ean9 de L5att3re de T1ass3igny7 95
6 Gia1p’s Gen9eral Co5unteroff3ensive, J anu1ary 19516-May 1
7 Winter-Spring Campaign, September 1952-May
8 The Origins of Dien Bien Phu, 21 May-20 November
1953-13 March 1954 193
9 Dien Bien Phu: Preparations for Battle, 20 November
10 Dien Bien Phu: The Battle, 12 March-7 May 1954 223
11 Dien Bien Phu: A Critique 273
12 Interbella, 1954-1964 283
vii
viii VIETNAM AT WAR
PART II
13
The Year of Crisis, 1964 311
14
A War That Nobody Wanted, 1965 333
15
William Childs Westmoreland: The Inevitable
General 369
16
“Oley’s War,” ‘‘Westy’s War,” and “Nobody’s
War,” 1966 387
17
The Best of Years and the Worst of Years, 1967 425
18
The Tet Offensive, 1968 473
19
Decision, Dissent, and Defection, 1968 529
20
General Creighton W. Abrams: One of a Kind 575
21
Nixon’s War: Peace With Honor, 1969 587
22
The Cambodian Raids of 1970 623
23
The Raid Too Far: Lam Son 719, 1971 637
24
Totus Porcus: The Whole Hog, 1972 673
25
An Indecent Interval, 1973-1974 735
26
Defeat, 1975 767
27
Why We Lost the War 795
Glossary 813
Bibliography 819
Index 828