In 1954, French forces entrenched in a remote valley at Dien Bien Phu faced a determined siege by the Viet Minh. Heavy artillery, dug into the surrounding hills, isolated and pounded the French ...

Valérie André, a French military officer, brain surgeon and licensed pilot who was believed to be the first woman to fly helicopter rescue missions in combat zones — during the French-Indochina war of ...

This course examines two major conflicts: the French Indochina War and the American war in Vietnam. We will study the long-term origins of these conflicts, their conduct and their significance to the ...

NMAH copy 39088018997692 purchased with funds from the S. Dillon Ripley Endowment. Part I Historical narrative -- 1 Studying the Vietnam War -- 2 Vietnam: historical background -- Roots of the ...

The First Indochina War reaches its climax at Dien Bien Phu. In late 1953 the French parachute into the valley, build a fortress under Christian de Castries, and plan to smash the Viet Minh with ...