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After communist forces won the civil war in China in 1949, America increased its aid to the French in Vietnam.
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Between 1950 and 1954, The United States contributed $2.6 billion to France's war efforts.
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In 1954, The United States and seven other countries formed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
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Finally after suffering some 15,000 casualties, the French surrendered.
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By 1957, a communist rebel group in the South, known as the National Liberation Front (NLF), had committed themselves to undermining the Diem government and uniting Vietnam under a communist flag.
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In the beginning of 1961, President Kennedy sent Special Forces troops to Vietnam to advise the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) on more effective ways to fight the communist forces.
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In February of 1965, President Johnson dramatically altered the U.S. role in the Vietnam War.
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Beginning in March of 1965, U.S. airstrikes hammered North Vietnam and Vietcong strong points in South Vietnam.
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On March 8, 1965, U.S. Marines arrived to defend the airbase at Da Nang. They were soon followed by other troops.
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In November of 1967, President Johnson brought General Westmoreland home from Vietnam to address the nation's concerns about the war.
