Unless and until we understand General William Westmoreland, we will never understand what went wrong in Vietnam. An Eagle Scout at fifteen, First Captain of his West Point class, Westmoreland fought in two wars and became Superintendent at West Point. Then he was chosen to lead the war effort in Vietnam for four crucial years. He proved a disaster. He could not think creatively about unconventional warfare, chose an unavailing strategy, stuck to it in the face of all opposition, and stood accused of fudging the results when it mattered most. In this definitive portrait, Lewis Sorley makes a plausible case that the war could have been won were it not for Westmoreland. The tragedy of William Westmoreland carries lessons not just for Vietnam, but for the future of American leadership. -- From the publisher.

Origins -- Early service -- World War II -- Airborne duty -- Japan and Korea -- Pentagon -- Division Command -- Superintentdent -- Vietnam -- Forces buildup -- Search and destroy -- Atmospherics -- Body count -- M-16 rifles -- Progress offensive -- Order of battle -- Khe Sanh -- Tet 1968 -- Troop request -- Heading home -- Chief of Staff -- Shaping the record -- Volunteer Army -- Vietnam drawdown -- Departure -- In retirement -- Memoirs -- Campaigner -- Plaintiff -- Dusk.