The Vietnam War remains one of America’s most contentious and complex conflicts, a prolonged struggle from 1955 to 1975 that challenged the nation’s resolve and reshaped its identity. As part of the broader Cold War, the United States intervened to halt communist expansion in Southeast Asia, investing over two decades of military effort, billions of dollars, and tens of thousands of American lives. Yet, despite this immense commitment, victory proved elusive, culminating dramatically in the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. This chaotic final withdrawal symbolized a somber acknowledgment: America had engaged in a war it could not win, forever altering its global standing and national psyche.