Since the advent of their pioneering activism, which spanned the 1960s, many books have been written to commemorate their successes, but the first one that was published in 1964 by one of their few adult advisers was Howard Zinn's SNCC: The New Abolitionists.
Length of Vietnam War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War According to wikipedia, it was fought for 11 years against France between 1946-1957 and 18 years against the U.S. between 1957-1975. Exact dates are sketchy.
A war can last days to years. A battle can last hours to days. As an example. The conflict between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America over the independance of the Southern States from the United States is called the Civil War. It lasted 4 years, 1861-1865.