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Hue 1968 author Mark Bowden/Gas prices

Hue and Vietnam poster 600 x 340.jpg

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, September 6, 2017:

Ken Burns’ epic historical documentary The Vietnam War begins Sunday, September 17 on WITF-TV and PBS.  Coupled with The Vietnam War WITF Stories and other events, you’ll be hearing about Vietnam often over the next few weeks.

In the meantime, best-selling author Mark Bowden’s latest book is destined to be a classic.  It’s called Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam and is the definitive account of the most climatic and intense battle of the Tet offensive.

Much like Bowden’s other classic Black Hawk Down, Hue 1968 is meticulous in its description of the weeks-long battle in the city.  U.S. Marines fought block-by-block and house-by-house against thousands of North Vietnamese Communists and Viet Cong guerillas.  Military commanders and President Lyndon Johnson were taken by surprise by the coordinated Tet offensive attacks throughout South Vietnam and refused to believe the strength and ferocity of the enemy in Hue.  

Bowden appears on Wednesday’s Smart Talk to tell the story. 

Gas prices have climbed to well over 2 dollars 80 cents a gallon in Central Pennsylvania from around 2.45 just more than a week ago.  Blame Hurricane Harvey and the disruption it caused in oil refineries and pipelines.  So, will the trend continue?

Patrick DeHaan, Senior Petroleum Analyst with GasBuddy.com joins us on Wednesday’s Smart Talk.

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