Prologue : the French debacle, 1945-1954 -- U.S. into the breach, 1954-1964 -- Escalation by land and air, 1964-65 -- Raging war, rising dissent, 1966-67 -- Tet as turning point, 1968 -- From peak to pullback, 1969-71 -- Heading for the fall, 1972-75 -- Epilogue : reconciliation.