Siege of Khe Sanh : the story of the Vietnam War's largest battle

"A war correspondent's masterful blow-by-blow account of the Battle of Khe Sanh, reissued with a new preface by Mark Bowden for the battle's 50th anniversary. The six-month siege of Khe Sanh in 1968 was the largest, most intense battle of the Vietnam War. For 6,000 trapped U.S. Marines, it was a nightmare; for President Lyndon Johnson, an obsession. For General Westmoreland, it was to be the final vindication of technological weaponry; and for General Giap, architect of the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu, it was a spectacular ruse masking troops moving south for the Tet offensive. With a new preface by Mark Bowden--best-selling author of Black Hawk Down--Robert Pisor's immersive narrative of the action at Khe Sanh is a timely reminder of the human cost of war, and a visceral portrait of the turning point for American involvement in Vietnam. Readers may find the politics and the tactics of the Vietnam War, as they played out at Khe Sahn fifty years ago, echoed in our nation's global incursions today"-- Provided by publisher A war correspondent’s masterful blow-by-blow account of the Battle of Khe Sanh, reissued with a new preface by Mark Bowden for the battle’s 50th anniversary. The six-month siege of Khe Sanh in 1968 was the largest, most intense battle of the Vietnam War. For six thousand trapped U.S. Marines, it was a nightmare; for President Johnson, an obsession. For General Westmoreland, it was to be the final vindication of technological weaponry; for General Giap, architect of the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu, it was a spectacular ruse masking troops moving south for the Tet offensive. With a new introduction by Mark Bowden—best-selling author of Hu? 1968—Robert Pisor’s immersive narrative of the action at Khe Sanh is a timely reminder of the human cost of war, and a visceral portrait of Vietnam’s fiercest and most epic close-quarters battle. Readers may find the politics and the tactics of the Vietnam War, as they played out at Khe Sahn fifty years ago, echoed in our nation’s global incursions today. Robert Pisor sets forth the history, the politics, the strategies, and, above all, the desperate reality of the battle that became the turning point of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The curtain rises -- Westmoreland -- In the time before the war -- "Here they come!"--"I don't want any damn Dinbinfoo" -- Giap -- The Tet Offensive -- Bitter little battles -- Life in the V-ring -- The false finish -- One more time -- The curtain falls -- Body counts -- Judgments A former Vietnam war correspondent describes the battle of Khe Sanh, exploring the historical background, politics, tactics, and leaders' roles in the siege. Reprint.