1. Early US Involvement in Vietnam
America’s initial involvement in Vietnam began modestly during the Eisenhower administration, primarily through financial aid and military advisors intended to bolster the anti-communist government of South Vietnam. Driven by Cold War fears encapsulated in the “domino theory,” the U.S. viewed Vietnam as a critical frontline in containing communism’s spread in Southeast Asia. Under President Kennedy, American involvement intensified significantly; advisor numbers surged from fewer than a thousand to over 16,000 by 1963. These advisors trained South Vietnamese forces, provided strategic counsel, and set the stage for deeper U.S. military engagement as the conflict escalated beyond advisory roles into direct involvement.
