We've thought very highly of Ken Burns's (fairly) recent Vietnam War series on PBS; this book had some of the same feeling, but focused on a single battle (though with plenty of helpful surrounding detail). I liked it a great deal.
Hue as an important historical city in Vietnam - I had no idea - pretty far north in South Vietnam. A citadel and "old city" portion, heavily fortified. Cultural/historical significance, meaning US couldn't bomb it.
North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong meticulously plan to attack Hue as a featured element of Tet offensive - they realize they cannot hold it indefinitely, but believe they can make a real statement here. And they definitely did. Took over the citadel - thick walls, limited number of gates, defensive towers, moats - bigtime problems given that razing wasn't an option.
US planners and higher-ups tended to discount Tet in general, and discounted the situation in Hue in particular. Meaning regular guys are sent into ridiculously dangerous situations due to higher-ups not comprehending, at least in the early going. Author provides intimate descriptions of what can only be called raw courage - just amazing what these guys were doing - many of them truly "regular" draft fodder - many not particularly fired up to be there, but doing their jobs.
Some of that reminded of this book - so much courage seems to be bound up with the guys close by.
North Vietnam with zero air power, limited firepower of any kind - necessitating quite a bit of courage and persistence - yet also incredible cruelty, ideological purification messes, etc.
Amazing degree of press access and honesty (and bravery - these folks were in the middle of things) - post-Vietnam I believe the military keeps much tighter control over the reporting, greatly sanitized.
Recommended.
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