2009 Society for Military History Distinguished Book Award for
Biography
Examines South Vietnam's complex relationship with the United States
through the stories of two Vietnamese soldiers' diverging paths
Vietnam's Forgotten Army: Heroism and Betrayal in the ARVN chronicles
the lives of Pham Van Dinh and Tran Ngoc Hue, two of the brightest young
stars in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). Both men fought
with valor in a war that seemed to have no end, exemplifying ARVN
bravery and determination that is largely forgotten or ignored in the
West. However, while Hue fought until he was captured by the North
Vietnamese Army and then endured thirteen years of captivity, Dinh
surrendered and defected to the enemy, for whom he served as a teacher
in the reeducation of his former ARVN comrades.
An understanding of how two lives that were so similar diverged so
dramatically provides a lens through which to understand the ARVN and
South Vietnam's complex relationship with America's government and
military. The lives of Dinh and Hue reflect the ARVNs battlefield
successes, from the recapture of the Citadel in Hue City in the Tet
Offensive of 1968, to Dinhs unheralded role in the seizure of Hamburger
Hill a year later. However, their careers expose an ARVN that was
over-politicized, tactically flawed, and dependent on American
logistical and firepower support. Marginalized within an American war,
ARVN faced a grim fate as U.S. forces began to exit the conflict. As the
structure of the ARVN/U.S. alliance unraveled, Dinh and Hue were left
alone to make the most difficult decisions of their lives.
Andrew Wiest weaves historical analysis with a compelling narrative,
culled from extensive interviews with Dinh, Hue, and other key figures.
Once both military superstars, Dinh is viewed by a traitor by many
within the South Vietnamese community, while Hue, an expatriate living
in northern Virginia, is seen as a hero who never let go of his ideals.
Their experiences and legacies mirror that of the ARVNs rise and fall as
well as the tragic history of South Vietnam.
