Document created: 26 April 2007
Air & Space Power Journal-Winter 2007

The Tet Offensive: A Concise History by James H. Willbanks. Columbia University Press (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup), 61 West 62d Street, New York, New York 10023, 2006, 272 pages, $29.50 (hardcover).

In every American war, one battle defines the conflict in our national memory. Yorktown, Gettysburg, Normandy, and Inchon are seared into our minds as representative of the courage of our fighting men and their commitment to victory in the American Revolution, Civil War, World War II, and Korean War, respectively. Regarding the Vietnam War, one need only mention the Tet offensive to invoke memories of courage but not of victory. Tet has become the symbol of the futility, if not the outright failure, of our war in Vietnam. The Tet Offensive: A Concise History is the latest attempt to examine what happened and how it came to be interpreted as a defeat.

This book is thorough, well written, and uniquely constructed. Of its six parts, the narrative comprises the first two (“Historical Overview” and “Issues and Interpretations”) but less than half of the entire work. These two parts provide a solid foundation of facts critical to understanding how Tet was a US tactical victory and strategic defeat—but one encounters much more here.

Readers will find themselves regularly returning to part 3, an almost daily chronology of events through 1967 and 1968, and will thank the author for including it because such a reference helps keep events in the proper order. Part 4, “The Tet Offensive, A to Z,” an exhaustive glossary that complements the chronology, includes military terms, personal names, and locations that even the most erudite student of the Vietnam War will find useful. Part 5 is a compendium of 10 important documents pertaining to the Tet offensive from North Vietnamese, US military, and media sources. Reading these documents provides background usually lacking in lesser works.

The final part includes a list of resources. Much more than a simple bibliography, it offers a catalogue of books, papers, and media divided into specific categories relating to the Tet offensive. Additionally and most usefully, Willbanks includes a short commentary about each source. These commentaries will help guide readers in expanding their study of the events.

Rather than just a simple rendition of the offensive, this book is truly a reference work that can be read in whole or in part, depending on one’s needs. The narrative itself, although short, is excellent. The author segments the discussion in order to provide specificity without sacrificing overall clarity. His coverage of the tactical, strategic, and perceptual issues of the Tet offensive gives readers a complete portrait.

Unlike some writers, who leave Khe Sanh out of the Tet offensive as if it were a completely separate operation, Willbanks includes a discussion of the siege there, recognizing it as a significant element of Tet. Regarding the question about whether Khe Sanh was meant as a diversionary attack or a main element of Tet, the author presents both sides of the argument, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.

Interestingly, the author’s strict adherence to objectivity may frustrate some readers since one encounters such a stance so rarely. This is especially evident in the discussion about the role of the media in interpreting the events and meaning of Tet. It is common to blame the media for misrepresenting the offensive and turning American public opinion against the war. However, one can make a strong argument that the media did not shape public opinion but was shaped by it. The author takes no specific position on this matter, citing evidence that could support either position. Once again readers must weigh the facts and decide for themselves.

The Tet Offensive: A Concise History would appeal to either casual military-history buffs or serious students of the Vietnam War. The former will gain insight into a very important part of our military and political history, while the latter will find themselves reevaluating previously held beliefs. Any book capable of doing that is well worth the investment of one’s time and money.

CSM James H. Clifford, USA, Retired
McDonough, Georgia

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.

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