Tet!: The Turning Point in the Vietnam War

Finalist for the 1971 National Book Award

In early 1968, Communist forces in Vietnam launched a surprise offensive that targeted nearly every city, town, and major military base throughout South Vietnam. For several hours, the U.S. embassy in Saigon itself came under siege by Viet Cong soldiers. Militarily, the offensive was a failure, as the North Vietnamese Army and its guerrilla allies in the south suffered devastating losses. Politically, however, it proved to be a crucial turning point in America's involvement in Southeast Asia and public opinion of the war. In this classic work of military history and war reportage--long considered the definitive history of Tet and its aftermath--Don Oberdorfer moves back and forth between the war and the home front to document the lasting importance of this military action. Based on his own observations as a correspondent for the Washington Post and interviews with hundreds of people who were caught up in the struggle, Tet remains an essential contribution to our understanding of the Vietnam War.

Author: Don Oberdorfer
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Published: 03/31/2001
Pages: 440
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.45h x 5.51w x 0.99d
ISBN: 9780801867033

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 02/01/2002 pg. 36

About the Author

Don Oberdorfer was a diplomatic correspondent for the Washington Post from 1976 until his retirement in 1993. His other books include From the Cold War to a New Era, also available in paperback from Johns Hopkins, and The Two Koreas.

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