The turning point foreign policy research institute. His most ambitious work yet, hue 1968 is the story of the centerpiece of the tet offensive and a turning point in the american war in vietnam. At the end of january, the north vietnamese and the viet cong launched the tet offensive. From 3031 january 1968, 70,000 north vietnamese soldiers, together with guerrilla fighters of the nlf, launched one of the most daring military campaigns in history. Psychologically defeated by the tet offensive, lbj was also defeated by his top national security advisers. Yet general william westmoreland, commander of american forces, announced a. A ferocious vietnam battle portrayed as a pivotal moment. A turning point of the american war in vietnam, by mark bowden nonfiction. As in his earlier book black hawk down, which told the story of the us. Miscalculations on both the american and vietnamese sides marked the 1968 tet offensive, said the author of a book about the turning point in the vietnam war. Army center of military history recently published a new pamphlet in its u. A turning point of the american war in vietnam, about one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the vietnam war. The tet offensive of 1968 proved to be the turning point of the vietnam war and its effects were farreaching.
Hue 1968 revisits an american turning point in the war in vietnam author mark bowden says the capture of hue, vietnam, was part of a wave of. Turning point tet 1968 clip 8m s vietnamese new year wisconsin veterans describe the tet offensive, the largest military operation up to that point of the war. The north vietnamese had taken over the city of hue, the countrys capital with a population of 140,000, which brought on a 24 day battle against u. Finalist for the 1971 national book awardin early 1968, communist forces in vietnam launched a surprise offensive that targeted nearly every city, town, and major military base throughout south vietnam.
Not since his new york times best seller black hawk down has mark bowden written a book about a battle. Why was 1968 a turning point in america as well as. Ospreys study of the 1968 tet offensive, which was the decisive battle for vietnam 19551975. Bowdens most ambitious work yet, hue 1968 is the story of the centrepiece of the tet offensive and a turning point in the american war in vietnam. One of the greatest mysteries of the vietnam war is how the allied military victory achieved during the 1968 tet offensivea victory so complete that for the rest of the war the viet cong guerrillas could never again play a significant military rolewas ultimately turned into a. In early 1968, communist forces in vietnam launched a surprise offensive that targeted nearly every city, town, and major military base throughout south vietnam. Fought during the tet offensive launched by the north vietnamese in january 1968, the battle of hue lasted nearly 24 days, cost 10,000 lives, and gave the north control of the city. One of the greatest mysteries of the vietnam war is how the allied military victory achieved during the 1968 tet offensivea victory so complete that for the rest of the war the viet cong guerrillas could never again play a significant military rolewas ultimately turned into a crippling american. A turning point of the american war in vietnam, by mark bowden.
The tet offensive was the real turning point in the vietnam war. Hue 1968 is a masterful bloodandguts account of the decisive battle in the vietnam war. This is why hue 1968 is black hawk down for the vietnam war. Despite heavy casualties, north vietnam achieved a strategic victory with the tet offensive, as the attacks marked a turning point in the vietnam war and the beginning of the slow, painful. The author describes several key operations that took place in south vietnam. In a discussion of his new book, mark bowden author of the bestseller black hawk down details one of the most pivotal battles in the vietnam war. The military operations started with an attack on a us base by the vietnam peoples army nva and the viet cong on january 1, ending a truce declared by the pope and agreed upon by all sides. Bowdens new book tells the story of the ferocious battle for hue, vietnams old imperial capital and one of the targets of. Mark bowdens hue 1968 recounts a battle that was a turning point in the. Wall street journal, top 10 nonfiction books of 2017 a skillful, gripping account of the turning point of the vietnam war. The book is a master work, five years in the making.
A turning point of the american war in vietnam main by bowden, mark isbn. Militarily, the offensive was a failure, as the north vietnamese army and its guerrilla allies in. Jun 12, 2017 hue 1968 revisits an american turning point in the war in vietnam author mark bowden says the capture of hue, vietnam, was part of a wave of wellplanned communist attacks that shocked. Masterminded by the brilliant north vietnamese general, vo nguyen giap, it was intended to trigger a general uprising in south vietnam. In the early hours of january 31, 1968, the north vietnamese launched over one hundred attacks across south vietnam in what would become. Times september 2018 paperbacks a new york times bestseller. Mar 31, 2001 finalist for the 1971 national book award. A turning point of the american war in vietnam, the new book from mark bowden of the atlantic, tells the tactical narrative of these events splendidly albeit with a dubious epilogue. Hundreds of battles and thousands of smaller engagements characterized the vietnam war, but most living americans can likely name only a few. Hue 1968 revisits an american turning point in the war in vietnam. In he offers a wellbalanced history of the players in this historic battle that as he. Instead of simply chronicling the plight of those caught up in it, bowden is bent on convincing the.
On its 40th anniversary, alan woods analysed the events that led to the vietnam war and the significance of the. Yet general william westmoreland, commander of american forces. Hue 1968 revisits an american turning point in the war in vietnam fresh air. A turning point of the american war in vietnam, the most authoritative history of the battle, says he estimates about 2,000 killings took place in. This book leans heavily on american accounts of the fighting. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Mark bowdens searing hue 1968 finds miscalculations in the. The year 1968 saw major developments in the vietnam war. A turning point of the american war in vietnam books tags. June 12, 2017 author mark bowden says the capture of hue, vietnam, was part of a wave of wellplanned communist.
Hue 1968 is another deeply researched book by mark bowden. The united states first committed combatsize units battalions or larger to the war in vietnam in march 1965. In 1968, the country seemed to be having a nervous breakdown as battles erupted over the vietnam war, cultural values and race. Hue 1968 revisits an american turning point in the war. In january, 1968, the fighting in vietnam was at a stalemate. Army campaigns of the vietnam war series, turning point, 1967 1968, by adrian g. A turning point of the american war in vietnam by mark. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A turning point of the american war in vietnam by mark bowden. Hue 1968 revisits an american turning point in the war in.
This is the definitive account of a turning point in americas vietnam strategy and in public opinion about the war. General westmoreland, commander of the american forces, announced that the end of the war was in view, but the north vietnamese had. Apr 03, 2018 his most ambitious work yet, hue 1968 is the story of the centerpiece of the tet offensive and a turning point in the american war in vietnam. A turning point of the american war in vietnam, is just as exhaustive and compelling. Was the brutal battle of hue the turning point in vietnam. It changed the entire way that the united states approached the war. Sep 12, 2017 in january, 1968, the fighting in vietnam was at a stalemate. A turning point of the american war in vietnam mark bowden using access to war archives in the u. An otherwise admirable history of a single battle is hampered by a. In his latest dazzling book about americans at war, journalist mark bowden proposes a fresh and provocative, if not entirely convincing, answer.
By january 1968, despite an influx of half a million american troops, the fighting in vietnam seemed to be at a stalemate. Winner of the 2018 marine corps heritage foundation greene award for a distinguished work of nonfiction. The turning point the tet offensive of 1968 proved to be the turning point of the vietnam war and its effects were farreaching. In hue 1968, mark bowden, a former reporter for the philadelphia inquirer and the author of, among other books, black hawk down, draws. Why vietnam isnt talking about 1968 politico magazine. Johnson liked horner and was willing to talk to him without being quoted, but he couldnt contain his frustration with the press.