Vietnam lecture focuses on Gen. Westmoreland, strategy

The fourth lecture in the Vietnam War Commemoration Lecture Series was conducted Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. in the Arnold Conference Room of the Lewis and Clark Center on Fort Leavenworth. A reception sponsored by the CGSC Foundation began at 5:30 p.m.

Dr. Gregory Daddis, associate professor of history at Chapman University (Orange, Calif.), answers questions during his presentation Jan. 26 in the Arnold Conference Room.

This fourth lecture in the series is entitled “Reassessing Westmoreland’s War,” was presented by Dr. Gregory Daddis, associate professor of history at Chapman University (Orange, Calif.). Daddis discussed how standard American histories of the Vietnam War — at least those arguing the war was winnable — contend that the U.S. Army squandered its chances at victory in Southeast Asia because of misguided strategy.

More than 60 attended the lecture with the group comprised of a mixture of the public, faculty/staff and students, however two attendees stood out from the crowd. Foundation trustee Wes Westmoreland, great nephew of General Westmoreland, was in attendance, along with the CGSC student from Vietnam who is a member of the Class of 2017.

Dr. John Curatola from CGSC’s School of Advanced Military Studies will deliver the next lecture in the series entitled “Rolling Thunder: A Failure in Gradualism” on March 8 at 6 p.m. at the Lewis and Clark Center on Fort Leavenworth. A reception hosted by the CGSC Foundation will begin at 5:30 p.m.

The Vietnam War Commemoration Lecture Series is presented by CGSC’s Department of Military History, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leavenworth and supported by the CGSC Foundation and the Henry Leavenworth Chapter of AUSA.

Visit the CGSC Foundation Flickr site for more photos from the lecture.