The Vietnam War was one of the longest wars in American history and involved all branches of the U.S. armed forces, up to the cessation of combat operations in 1973. This conference will consider the naval side of the war from both American and Vietnamese perspectives, looking, in particular, at its causes, course and consequences. It has been well said that those who ignore the past are condemned to relearn its lessons. The Vietnam War was an exercise in the conduct of a ‘limited’ war in the shadow of great power competition. It therefore has a permanent salience for present and future U.S. policy. In hosting this conference, the Hattendorf Historical Center will demonstrate the value of this historical study in advancing the mission of the U.S. Naval War College.