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MWSA Review
It may be a bit easier to state what this unique book is not. It is not a comprehensive history of the Vietnam War, it is not an inquiry into the start of the Vietnam War, and it is not an individual account of military service during Vietnam. The book can best be described as a random walk through the entirety of the Vietnam War, sprinkled heavily with individual reflections and poetry by Vietnam veterans. The book is also interspersed frequently with background stateside social and cultural information during various periods of the decade-plus duration of the war.
The author has taken the approach of addressing specific issues and aspects of the war, primarily from the perspectives of combat soldiers and Marines she has encountered while teaching college courses on the Vietnam War. Several appendices provide detailed information on specific subjects such as a timeline of the war, military organization, medals, and the prisoner of war experience.
What is noteworthy is the in-depth detailing of language, slang, rituals, and experiences of everyday life in combat during the war. The book is unconventional and at times disjointed, perhaps intentionally, to reflect the unusual nature of the Vietnam War itself. Viewpoints from individual North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers are presented in various sections, such as monsoon weather, to illustrate the common struggle of everyone involved in the fighting of the war.
Why Vietnam? also touches on the experiences of combat veterans coming home, as well as the inglorious end of the war, and the later societal sea change towards Vietnam veterans, culminating in the establishment of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. and the diplomatic recognition of the former enemy regime.
Why Vietnam? will certainly be of interest to Vietnam veterans—especially those who served as grunts—the families of those veterans, those who lived during the period of war, and readers and students interested in the history of the wars that raged across Southeast Asia during the mid-20th century.
Review by Terry Lloyd (July 2025)
Author's Synopsis
Why Vietnam delves into the myriad reasons for US involvement, examining theories that date back to 1918 through to LBJ's full commitment to undeclared war, which restrained the military to a defensive role in protecting South Vietnam instead of an offensive one that would send troops across the DMZ and into Laos and Cambodia.
The question of why the USA became involved, whether their involvement was justified, and if the war was ever winnable have been fiercely debated for over 50 years. This book seeks to address these 'whys' by providing a thorough examination of all contributing factors, from presidential actions to foreign policy, and the social and political climates of the war eras.
Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle
Review Genre: Nonfiction—History
Number of Pages: 293
Word Count: 105,008