Why Vietnam: Reflections on the Effect of War

The reasons behind the USA's involvement in Vietnam remain a subject of extensive debate. Initially, America supported the French until their defeat at Dien Bien Phu, which then shifted to backing the South Vietnamese government due to fears of communism spreading throughout Southeast Asia. Why Vietnam delves into the myriad reasons for US involvement, examining theories that date back to 1918 when Woodrow Wilson ignored Ho Chi Minh's plea for independence at the Treaty of Versailles, through to Johnson's full commitment to the undeclared war, which restrained the military to a defensive role in protecting South Vietnam instead of an offensive one that would send troops across the DMZ into Laos and Cambodia. The questions of why the USA became involved, whether their involvement was justified, and if the war was ever winnable have been fiercely debated for over 50 years. This book seeks to address these 'whys' by providing a thorough examination of all contributing factors, from presidential actions to foreign policy, and the social and political climates of the war era. AUTHOR: Margaret C. Brown taught college courses on the Vietnam War at Radford University, Radford, Virginia, with the help of Vietnam Veterans, their wives and children. She wrote a book on the War, That Time, That Place, That War which the Military Writers Society of America, named history book of the year for 2011. Since that time, she has given talks on the war at several Vietnam Veteran chapters. She is a member of the Military Writers Society of America and an honorary member of Vietnam Veterans of America, New River Valley of Virginia, Chapter 138. 100 b/w illustrations

About the Author :
Margaret C. Brown taught college courses on the Vietnam War at Radford University, Radford, Virginia, with the help of Vietnam Veterans, their wives and children. She wrote a book on the War, That Time, That Place, That War which the Military Writers Society of America, named history book of the year for 2011. Since that time, she has given talks on the war at several Vietnam Veteran chapters. She is a member of the Military Writers Society of America and an honorary member of Vietnam Veterans of America, New River Valley of Virginia, Chapter 138.

Review :
"The book clearly reflects [Brown's] work engaging with veterans in the classroom and at Vietnam veteran organizations. The resulting book provides a literary exploration of their experience that may be accessible to family or friends who have not experienced war themselves."-- "Journal of Military History" "While you certainly get a sense of military impact, the cultural and political impact remains at the forefront."-- "Historical Miniatures Gaming Society" "Veterans will appreciate the chapter, 'Who is a Vietnam vet?' It puts to rest many myths, some of which are condescending. It also seeks to identify the war's lasting effects on American society."-- "The VVA Veteran"