1st Edition

Tet 1968 Understanding the Surprise

By Captain Ronnie E. Ford Copyright 1995
    240 Pages
    by Routledge

    240 Pages
    by Routledge

    This book brings to light many aspects of the Tet offensive of 1968, an event acknowledged as the turning-point of the Vietnam War. Using previously unseen Communist Vietnamese documents combined with sources of Western origin, the author provides a more accurate version of the events, their significance, and reveals the crucial role played by US intelligence.

    One would think that a great power would devote itself to intensive study of the only war in history that it ever lost. Instead, in my opinion, our military educational institutions hardly mention Vietnam. We prefer to study wars that fit our own peculiar paradigm, one that our enemies will not agree to follow. To succeed in international affairs in this post-Cold War world, we must understand how our enemies use our strength against us, making it irrelevant and defeating us in battles we do not even know are being fought. Fords book is one source of information useful to that goal." John B Hunt, US Army Command and General Staff College



    The Journal of Strategic Studies- "The book is well researched and thickly footnoted. It is easily readable...a useful book on an event that merits further study."



    War in History- "..impressive and concentrated study of the Tet Offensive of 1968. Deservedly praiseworthy study."



    Infantry- " an intriguing work that raises important questions and wet our appetite for further opening opening of the records on important subjects"



    Intelligence and National Security- " The practitioner and scholar of intelligence and national security affairs will find much of interest in Ronnie Ford"s book.

    Biography

    Captain Ronnie E. Ford