Robert J. Thompson III - Clear, Hold, and Destroy: Pacification in Phú Yên and the American War in Vietnam

CLEAR, HOLD, and DESTROY

Pacification in Ph Yn and the American War in Vietnam

Robert J. Thompson III

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS

NORMAN

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ISBN 978-0-8061-6869-2 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-8061-6960-6 (ebook : mobipocket)

ISBN 978-0-8061-6981-1 (ebook : epub)

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To Corrina and our cadre: Anton, Lukas, Valerie, and Marcel

And to our parents: Robert and Patricia Thompson and David and Cynthia Clark

Contents

Acknowledgments

What began as a fledgling dissertation idea in 2011 at the University of Southern Mississippi is now my first book. After I signed my contract with the University of Oklahoma Press, I started pondering how I would write these acknowledgments; that section of a book is deceptively difficult to write. One can do the research and write the chapters, but adequately thanking all the people and institutions that have been involved is a monumental task. They are as much a part of the story as the history that unfolds in the subsequent chapters.

My interest in Ph Yn began in the office of my advisor, Andrew Wiest. Andy suggested that I examine a peculiar, seemingly nondescript province called Ph Yn and consider why the war there went so poorly for the United States. A visit to a collection of papers at the McCain Library and Archives soon filled my mind with thoughts of pacification and Ph Yn. For that conversation and the years of guidanceboth academic and privateI am forever grateful to Andy. He prepared me both for the rigors of completing a PhD program and, later, for the challenges of balancing academic and family responsibilities. Assisting him with his projects on the Vietnam War afforded me invaluable opportunities to contribute to the rich discourse and prepare myself for doing so without his supervision. Again, thank you, Andy. Also at the University of Southern Mississippi, Heather Stur instilled me with confidence that I could do history. Through our conversations, she infused in me the need to appreciate the Vietnamese perspective and to stay focused. I sincerely hope my book makes Andy and Heather proud.

I am indebted to Adam Kane. He expressed interest in my work before I completed the dissertation. Over the years, his guidance and tolerance gave me the space and time needed to transform the dissertation into a manuscript. Adam deserves credit for coming up with the title Clear, Hold, and Destroya play on Robert W. Komers article Clear, Hold, and Build. When he left OU Press, Alessandra J. Tamulevich and Steven Baker took over editing responsibilities with minimal disruption. Stephanie Sykes deserves my thanks for her copyediting, and Erin Greb for creating the fantastic maps for this book. Clear, Hold, and Destroywould still be a dream if not for all their efforts.

One individual in particular deserves my infinite appreciation. Angela Riotto, a rising star in the realm of American Civil War scholarship, graciously edited chapters, helping me clarify and assert arguments lost in my rambling prose. Her editing skills and friendship saved me on numerous occasions. The index came together because of her. Angela undoubtably learned more about Ph Yn than she ever intended. She also proved to be a great sounding board for my map ideas. If anyone knows my book better than I, it is she.