Suche books:   



Summons of Trumpet: U.S.-Vietnam in Perspective
Dave R. Palmer

Presidio Press, 1995 - 348 pages

average customer review:based on 15 reviews
view larger image
 for more information click here

   highly recommended  highly recommended



The Definitive Work on the Vietnam War

~ I first read "Summons of the Trumpet" when it was published in 1978. Interestingly, in his preface, LTG Palmer states "There will be those who claim that history, true history, can't be written so soon after an event...they are correct. The definitive version of the Vietnam War will be published decades hence..." Well, a full thirty years later, it turns out this statement is the only thing he got wrong!

~ For me, this volume was and remains the definitive work on the Vietnam conflict. It is interesting, concise, understandable, and insightful. I continue to re-read it about every five years and just cracked it open again.

~ When I retired from my Army career (as an Infantry officer), I became a high school social studies teacher and I have used "Summons" as one of my main references when teaching my students about the Vietnam War, this time period, our society, and American government.

~ Russell Weigley, a noted historian who I also value, correctly called this book "by far the best synthesis of...the Vietnam War." Thank you, General Palmer, for letting the "Trumpet" sound!


 for more information click here


Excellent overview of Vietnam War

Palmer's book was one on the first I have ever read on Vietnam, and remains one of the best. It is mostly concerned with overall strategy and campaigns; less with individual battles and operations. The book severely criticizes the Johnson Administration (with a particular venom for Robert McNamara) but is much more positive about Nixon. The author's attitude towards the South Vietnamese government and Army is critical but quite fair, and he gives the North Vietnamese their due. This is not really a book about American military performance, and does not really mention problems within the military, such as drug abuse, racial incidents, massacres, etc., but he does believe that any problems were a result of having a bankrupt political/military strategy. A few OK maps, no photographs or footnotes, but a nice bibliographical essay. All in all, a very good short introduction but certainly not a complete history of the war.


 for more information click here









 for more information click here


Must read!

As a Vietnam veteran, I am often surprised at the mythology that surrounds the Vietnam war to this day. This is "must reading" for anyone seeking fresh insight into that struggle. I found this book consistent with my own experiences and observations from my tour of duty in Vietnam (1968 to 1969). For this reason, I highly recommend it to any serious student of history.






Very Good Overview

I was looking for a good overview book of the Vietnam War and this really fit the bill. The author put together a well thought out, easy to read and well-written book that does a good job of giving the reader the high points. The author was a solder in the combat and spent a number of years in the military so he has an authoritative position to speak from. He does a great job of keeping the book away from being overly laden with military jargon or the Rambo style of combat writing. The book is focused on the American effort and thus skims the pre U.S. troop entry into the war. If you are looking for a deeper history on the start of the war with the French or the overall American involvement in Asia then this book will disappoint.

The treatment he gave to the major battles was good. He presented an easy to follow account of the battle, what lead up to it and the outcome. He also touched on some of what was happening back home with the politics, but only briefly. I think the most interesting parts of the book for me was the details of the air war, more specifically how the bombing kept escalating and then the final bombing push by Nixon. My only complaint with the book is that it was an overview that was a bit too light on the facts for me. The book was only 270 pages long, and book size do not necessary determine quality, this book could have been a little bit more in-depth. It seemed to me that to get a better understanding a few more pages could have been added without the overview turning into a in depth study.


 for more information click here


Excellent!

This is one of the best books (if not the best) I have ever read on the Vietnam War. The author develops his arguments with such clarity and eloquence that the book is a real joy to read. Palmer does not describe many battles but only those which were characterized as turning points of the conflict, like Ap Bac (1963), Ia Drang (1965) and Tet (1968) but the depth of the political and military analysis is fantastic. I especially enjoyed the chapter on the military logistics of the US forces in Vietnam as well as the role of the air power in the conflict. It is astonishing to realize that the US actually defeated the insurgency in Vietnam and lost the war only because of the persistent commitment of numerous regular North Vietnamese divisions, which were also mauled badly in battle in many cases! The `Ahilles heel` of the US was the Vietnamization program which the communists didn't allow to mature. Very highly recommended!


 for more information click here


reviews: page 1, 2, 3



Clear and concise, this is a masterful history of America's war in Vietnam.



hot or not?    What's your opinion?     Write a review and share your thoughts!



recommendations

Essential Vietnam War books
Vietnam War a fresh look
Interesting War Stories
My favorite books
The Vietnam War




perspective

Perspective Drawing Handbook (Dover Art Instruction)
New Perspectives on Computer Concepts, 10th Edition, Comprehensive ...
Perspectives in Nutrition
Linguistic Perspectives on Language and Education
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement : A Reader



vietnam

The Ways We Choose: Lessons for Life from a POW's Experience
Chickenhawk
Five Years to Freedom
When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge
Angel Fire



trumpet

Lay that Trumpet in Our Hands
Play Trumpet Today! Beginner's Pack: Book/CD/DVD Pack
The Trumpet of the Swan (full color)
Miles
Arban's Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet (Cornet) or Eb Alto, ...



search for books
summons of trumpet, perspective, summons, trumpet, vietnam


Impressum / about us


Suche books: