Vietnam was the longest war in American history. US ground troops and their Australian, New Zealand and Korean allies were committed there for eight long years. In all, the American commitment in Southeast Asia lasted 15 years. During that time over 46,000 US servicemen died in battle. The Australian and New Zealand troops who fought there lost 496 dead and 2,398 wounded. But these figures pale beside Vietnamese losses, which totalled over a million. This book offers a comprehensive and balanced account of the emotive impact of the first “media” war, charting not only the course of the war in Vietnam, but also seeking to place American involvement in Vietnam in historical perspective. Contains previously classified material on US offensive movements and offers original, authoritative, and thought-provoking arguments from a highly regarded author.