Toczek (history, Unites States Military Academy) closely describes the reasons for the defeat of the South Vietnamese Army (the ARVN) and its American advisors in January 1963 at Ap Bac. It was clear, according to Toczek's research, that the ARVN was not prepared to successfully oppose the Viet Cong. Further, American advisors obviously knew the ARVN was unprepared but chose not to accept reality. Had they taken a full and honest account of Ap Bac, says Toczek, their reports could have changed US policy toward Southeast Asia and perhaps prevented disaster. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)