Some things are worth fighting for. Of all his friends, Ivan is the only one looking forward to war. That's because Ivan has never backed down from a fight--especially when it comes to fighting for what's right. Now, as war erupts in Vietnam, Ivan wants nothing more than to fight for his country, just as his father did in World War II. But Vietnam is not the war he was expecting. Now, for the first time, Ivan is forced to question what he's really...

Explains the history of Vietnam, how a local conflict developed after the First Indochina war against the French and then became part of the Cold War, and how the United States' involvement in the affairs of this small Asian country occurred.

Describes the experiences of troops on both sides of the Vietnam War, the sufferings of civilians, and the weapons and tactics.

Describes the international impact of the Vietnam War, and how the conflict drew in other countries to send troops or supplies to support one side or the other.

Explains why the Vietnam War was unpopular; how the conflict caused deep divisions in American society, and how the country coped with the legacy of the war.