Tucker, Spencer C., ed. The encyclopedia of the Vietnam War; a political, social & military history - Book Review

Kliatt, March, 2002 by Raymond L. Puffer

Oxford Univ. Press. 578p. maps. bibliog. index. c1998. 0-19-513525-3. $25.00. SA*

This large volume is a useful and dependable reference source for the war in Vietnam and its ramifications in the U.S. at the time. The book is laid out in a straightforward manner: subjects are listed alphabetically and arranged in easy-to-read columns. Each of the numerous entries is signed by the author and, best of all, is followed by a list of sources. The layout facilitates browsing and casual reading, but cross-references would be useful.

The quality of any encyclopedia of this nature depends upon the abilities of the editor and the intellectual integrity of its contributors. Spencer Tucker holds a chair in military history at VMI and this volume was clearly organized and edited by a professional historian. Virtually every battle and military operation is explained, and the weaponry, tactics and aircraft are well described. But the unending frustrations of the far-away war came to have enormous effects upon the American public as well, and the encyclopedia is careful to identify the domestic political and social aspects in great detail. The final section consists of a well-chosen collection of primary source documents that allow readers to reconstruct much of the era for themselves.

Like many overviews, this one is not so much about the Vietnam War itself as it is a study of the American involvement in that war. Even within those bounds, the encyclopedia's coverage is sometimes a little uneven. The entries for President Lyndon Johnson and Robert McNamara are disappointingly sketchy, and little larger than the space allotted to lesser figures. A few of the subject choices seem to be of marginal interest or importance, such as the war's effect upon poetry and letters. One annoying feature is that the book's contributors are named but never identified, so it is often hard to see their connection to each subject. Aside from these quibbles, though, this is an excellent reference source for school and public libraries. Raymond L. Puffer, Ph.D., Historian, Edwards Air Force Base, CA