Houston Matters

How One Bloody Battle Turned Americans Against The Vietnam War

In 1968, the capture of the Vietnamese city of Hue by communist forces — and the bloody battle to take it back — not only changed the course of the Vietnam War, it also changed how Americans back home viewed the conflict — and their government. Author Mark Bowden tells the story in his latest book.

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Battle For Hue - Vietnam
U.S. Marines drag a casualty from the street in Hue, Vietnam, Feb. 4, 1968.

The battle for the Vietnamese city of Hue was a turning point in the Vietnam War – both on the ground in Vietnam and for the American public back home. That’s why author Mark Bowden has made it the subject of his most recent book, Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam.

Bowden, the author of such books as Black Hawk Down, holds an event tonight (Oct. 23) at 7 at Brazos Bookstore.

He tells Houston Matters producer Michael Hagerty about the city of Hue, its capture, the bloody battle to retake it, and how it changed Americans’ perception of the war – and their government.

MORE: ‘Hue 1968’ Revisits An American ‘Turning Point’ In Vietnam (Fresh Air)

Rick Merron/AP

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Michael Hagerty

Senior Producer, Houston Matters

Michael Hagerty is the senior producer for Houston Matters. He's spent more than 20 years in public radio and television and dabbled in minor league baseball, spending four seasons as the public address announcer for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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