Chapter 3, Part II Khe Sanh Summary and Analysis

Vietnam consists of distinct geographical regions: delta, flats, piedmont, and highlands. However, news reports on the war use the military designations that carve the country into four regions roughly following the geography and named with simple Roman numerals: I Corps (pronounced "eye-core") from Danang north to the DMZ (demilitarized zone), II Corps (two core) from Cam Ranh Bay north to I Corps, III Corps (three core) from Saigon north to II Corps, and IV Corps (four core) from the southern tip of the country north to III Corps. Herr thinks this takes much of the character away from the country.

He places Khe Sanh in the piedmont area on top of a plateau. The highlands rise close by, a region that would be dangerous even without the war. The Montagnard tribes control the...