The 25-year War
America's Military Role in Vietnam

An insider's history of the Vietnam War, which also aims to be a critique of America's military strength and weaknesses. The book focuses not on fighting, but on the higher levels of conflict, including political and military strategies.

}From May 1st, 1950, the day President Truman authorized the first U.S. military assistance to Indochina, to April 30th, 1975, the day Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese regime, America was engaged in the longest conflict in its history. This is the story of what went wrong. Bruce Palmer was the Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1973. His insights into the key events and decisions that shaped America's military role in Vietnam are uncommonly perceptive. In this penetrating work, he not only presents an insider's history of the war, but also gives an astute critique of America's military strengths and weaknesses. This book is certain to become a standard reference for anyone seriously interested in how America lost the Vietnam war. }