Download or read book America and Vietnam, 1954-1963 written by Michael M. Walker, Col., USMC (Ret.) and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2022-08-31 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The conventional narrative of the Vietnam War often glosses over the decade leading up to it. Covering the years 1954-1963, this book presents a thought-provoking reexamination of the war's long prelude--from the aftermath of French defeat at Dien Bien Phu--through Hanoi's decision to begin reunification by force--to the assassination of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem. Established narratives of key events are given critical reappraisal and new light is shed on neglected factors. The strategic importance of Laos is revealed as central to understanding how the war in the South developed.