The Vietnam War era : a personal journey / Bruce O. Solheim.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [209]-212) and index.

Introduction : a people's history -- I. Ancient adversaries, adventurers, and advisors, 1000 B.C. to 1963 -- 1. Origins of Vietnamese nationalism -- 2. French-Viet Minh War -- 3. Enter America -- II. Packs and rifles, 1964-1967 -- 4. Escalation -- 5. American strategies -- 6. Leadership in North Vietnam -- III. Fighting for peace, 1968-1972 -- 7. The war at home -- 8. Peace with honor -- 9. Exit America -- IV. Back in the world, 1973-1975 -- 10. Home front -- 11. A decent interval -- 12. Personal history -- Conclusion : that faraway place in all of us.

"There are many lessons to be learned from the Vietnam War, foremost among them that war as an instrument of peace is not viable. Solheim provides a full picture of the war era at home and in Southeast Asia by combining historical narrative with biographical profiles and personal reflections. He allows the story to unfold in multiple layers, as seen through the eyes of those who were involved on all sides of the conflict: the North Vietnamese, the South Vietnamese, the American generals and politicians, and the American war correspondents and antiwar protestors."--BOOK JACKET.