Myths and Misperceptions of the 1968 Tet Offensive, with Eric B. Villard, Ph.D., U.S. Army Museum

The 1968 Tet Offensive remains one of the most consequential and controversial events of the last century in American history. Anyone who fought in the Vietnam War or lived through that era will likely have some memory of those days in January and February 1968, whether they were in country or in the United States.
Yet some of the facts and episodes that people remember about the Tet Offensive have become distorted over the last 50 years or misunderstood from the beginning. From the role of the media to the impact of the event on U.S. strategy in Vietnam, this presentation reveals and corrects some of the enduring myths of the Tet Offensive.
Erik B. Villard, Ph.D. is the United States Army Center of Military History digital historian and a Vietnam War specialist. He received B.A.’s in history and English literature from Occidental College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in history from the University of Washington. Villard’s most recent book is “Combat Operations: Staying the Course, October 1967 to September 1968” published by the United States Army Center of Military History.
This program originally aired on October 21, 2022.
This program was part of the 2022 Symposium: The Vietnam War in History and Memory. Return to the playlist to explore other presentations from this symposium: • 2022 Symposium: The Vi...
The Museum’s history symposium series explores important moments in U.S. Army history and covers a variety of topics and conflicts.
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