Secrets of the Viet Cong

Secrets of the Viet Cong by McCoy, James W.. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780781800280.

In this thorough examination of the tactical war waged in Vietnam, former paratroop officer J.W. McCoy explains how the Viet Cong won the war, and why the strategies they used were effective against the U.S. forces. Shaping their thought with the ideas of Sun Tzu, the Viet Cong became adept at maneuver war. That skill enabled them to secure and hold the initiative in the Vietnam war. Interestingly enough, the Viet Cong war doctrine also paralleled Liddell Harts theories; unfortunately, few American generals ever read his work. Discussions of organization and control, battle art, order of battle, and operations meticulously detailed in hundreds of charts, tables and illustrations help the reader understand the strategic mistakes made by the South Vietnamese and the United States, and how the Viet Cong maneuvered their way to victory.