Dien Bien Phu

The late Foreign Service officer, defense analyst, and novelist Howard R. Simpson covered the Franco-Viet Minh War for the U.S. Information Agency. Among his other books were Someone Else's War (Brassey's, Inc., 1995), The Paratroopers of the French Foreign Legion (Brassey's, Inc., 1997), and Bush Hat, Black Tie (Brassey's, Inc., 1999).

“[The battle of Dien Bien Phu] ranks with Agincourt, Waterloo, and Gettysburg as one of the great military engagements of history . . . . No American is better qualified to tell the tale of Dien Bien Phu and its significance than Howard Simpson.”-Stanley Karnow, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of Vietnam: A History“Simpson has written a military classic based on newly released documents, interviews with survivors, and his own vivid and compassionate recollections.”-Publishers Weekly“Captivating . . . . High recommended.”-Library Journal“Fascinating. . . . Simpson’s prose [is] as gripping as any CNN closeup.”-Foreign Service Journal“Exceptionally well-written, accurate, and readable.”-Army“Superb.”-Military Review