What led to the war? WTF happened?
In 1950, to combat the spread of Communism,
the United States began supplying the French military
in Vietnam with advisors and funding its efforts
against the “red” Viet Minh. In 1957, a low-level
guerrilla movement began to emerge in the south.
Two years later, these groups successfully pressured
Ho’s government into issuing a secret resolution
calling for an armed struggle in the south.
Military supplies began to flow into the south.
Discussions then began in Washington regarding
the need to force a
regime change in Saigon. This was accomplished on
November 2, 1963, when the CIA aided a group of ARVN
officers to overthrow and kill Diem. His death led to a
period of political instability that saw the rise and
fall of a succession of military governments.
On March 8, 1965, the first American combat troops –
the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade – waded ashore
at China Beach north of Da Nang. There had already been
limited U.S.naval action, and the bombing of North Vietnam
had commenced. There were also 23,000 military advisors
already on the ground.
the United States began supplying the French military
in Vietnam with advisors and funding its efforts
against the “red” Viet Minh. In 1957, a low-level
guerrilla movement began to emerge in the south.
Two years later, these groups successfully pressured
Ho’s government into issuing a secret resolution
calling for an armed struggle in the south.
Military supplies began to flow into the south.
Discussions then began in Washington regarding
the need to force a
regime change in Saigon. This was accomplished on
November 2, 1963, when the CIA aided a group of ARVN
officers to overthrow and kill Diem. His death led to a
period of political instability that saw the rise and
fall of a succession of military governments.
On March 8, 1965, the first American combat troops –
the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade – waded ashore
at China Beach north of Da Nang. There had already been
limited U.S.naval action, and the bombing of North Vietnam
had commenced. There were also 23,000 military advisors
already on the ground.
