Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War

"The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War formidably chronicles this upheaval, providing a wealth of perspective and history in one definitive source.". "This abridged edition of Tucker's 3-volume encyclopedia maintains the authority and comprehensive scope of the critically-acclaimed original. Providing in-depth discussion of the tumultuous early history of Vietnam as well as the beginnings of U.S. involvement, more than 80 international historians explore the major socio-political and military events of the war in more than 900 alphabetically arranged entries and 39 primary source documents. Unlike other reference works with little consideration of the Vietnamese people, this encyclopedia includes contributions by Vietnamese scholars and features balanced biographies of the leaders of both sides, including Ho Chi Minh, Le Doc Thu, Ngo Dinh Diem, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Entries also illuminate the major weapons systems, military strategies, and tactics employed in addition to specific air, land, and sea initiatives and battles. Readers may be surprised to learn of the prominent use of helicopters in the offensives and the extent of U.S. bombing - nearly 8 million tons of ordnance dropped from 1963 to 1972. Major battles are discussed in detail, with principal units and key individuals on both sides identified and the strategic implications clearly noted. With balanced coverage of the domestic front, entries by U.S. scholars also explain pro- and anti-war sentiments of the era and their dynamic impact on American music, art, and politics. This volume also includes 39 primary documents on the history of the Vietnam conflict - from the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to the Paris Peace Agreement."--BOOK JACKET.