The Battle of Hue 1968 in the Vietnam War

A Los Angeles Instances Ebook Prize Finalist in Historical past

Recipient of the 2018 Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Greene Award for an outstanding nonfiction work on the 1968 Battle of Hue, a pivotal moment in the Vietnam War that saw 10,000 American troops in action.

Mark Bowden's latest battle e-book, "Hue 1968," follows his widely acclaimed bestseller "Black Hawk Down." This instant classic of military history, focusing on the American involvement in Vietnam, has garnered significant critical praise and secured a spot on the New York Times bestseller list.

In the early hours of January 31, 1968, North Vietnamese forces launched over 100 attacks across South Vietnam, marking the start of the infamous Tet Offensive. The focal point of Tet was the capture of Hue, Vietnam's esteemed cultural hub, by 10,000 National Liberation Front troops. Descending from secret camps, they swiftly took control of the city's 140,000 residents. With only two small military outposts remaining unoccupied, American commanders underestimated the Front's strength, pitting small marine units against a vast enemy presence. After days of fierce urban combat, Lieutenant Colonel Ernie Cheatham devised a strategy to reclaim Hue, marking one of the most intense battles since World War II.

With unprecedented entry to warfare archives within the U.S. and Vietnam and inter-views with individuals from either side, Bowden narrates every stage of this significant battle by way of a number of viewpoints. Performed out over twenty-four days and in the end costing 10,000 lives, the Battle of Hue was the bloodiest of your complete warfare. When it ended, the American debate was by no means once more about successful, solely about the best way to go away. Hue 1968 is a gripping and shifting account of this pivotal second.