Son of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara finds truth in the war in Vietnam

Craig McNamara is the son of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, who was considered the chief architect of the war in Vietnam. He is also the main character of the documentary entitled “The battle of will,” which VTV is making to mark the 50 anniversary of the South Liberation and the National Reunification Day.

Mr. Craig McNamara talks with reader at the Vietnam Military History Museum.

Craig McNamara is in Vietnam for important shots of the film. He visited historical sites with close attachment to the U.S. war in Vietnam, such as Ta Con Airport, Truong Son War Cemetery, and Quang Nam province’s Son My commune where the My Lai massacre happened.

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Vietnamese ambassador to the U.S. (from November 2014 to June 2018) speaks at the event.

At the event, he signed copies of his book in English version published in the U.S. in 2022 for readers. The memoir recalled the tragedy of McNamara’s family after the war in Vietnam nearly 50 years ago. His memoir in Vietnamese is expected to be released in Vietnam in April this year.

Through his memoir and the documentary, Craig McNamara recounts his witnessing of his father’s role in shaping war strategy and carrying out the war half a century ago. He said that he looked up archives, interviewed witnesses and visited many places in Vietnam to find out X factor, the mysterious one about the Vietnamese military and people that caused his father’s headache and that his father could not calculate, resulting in his bitter ending.

Craig McNamara and journalist Hoang Linh (first from left) who is the documentary’s director, talk with readers.

The details of the division within the U.S. and the tragedy within the McNamara’s family are also recounted since the U.S. author opens up about his transformation to be engaged in the anti-war movement, opposing the war that his father was a leading figure.

At the event, he stressed that to him, his father’s decisions made during his eight years acting as Secretary of Defense were uncorrectable. Furthermore, those decisions, such as the one on spraying Agent Orange/Dioxin in Vietnam, were also irretrievable.

Craig McNamara introduces about his memoir.

Craig McNamara signs the copies of his book in English.

The U.S. man confirmed that he will continue to join the great efforts to overcome the consequences of the war in Vietnam, including the aftermath of the Agent Orange/Dioxin. He has actively participated in the organization co-founded by U.S. veteran Chuck Searcy to clear unexploded ordnance in Vietnam’s Quang Tri province.

Translated by Mai Huong