Vietnam War (nov 1, 1955 – apr 30, 1975)

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With Diem leading a South Vietnamese anti-communist regime and Minh leading a pro-communist one in the north the Vietnam war was a cold war proxy war that led to american involvement and defeat.
The Viet cong led a guerrilla campaign with the North Vietnam military against South Vietnam and the Ho chi Minh trail was established as a support network for supplies and manpower for them.
Initially, the Soviets left it to China to support the communist side of the war but as Sino-Soviet relations broke down they became more involved economically.
Eisenhower supported Diem throughout his presidency as he was afraid of the domino effect would mean that if not contained, communism would spread.
Kennedy was elected on a base of being tough on communism and so increased America's involvement in Vietnam - he sent in thousands of advisers mostly military (17000) and was encouraged by the McNamara - renowned for his military stance.
After Kennedy's assassination, Johnson took over and eventually committed to military action in 1965 after being accused of being light on communism.
By the end of the 60s the war had cost America vast amounts of money and 58,000 lives and was incredibly unpopular with the public but it was difficult .to accept defeat - which they eventually did at the paris peace accords.
The war ended at the fall of Saigon with North Vietnamese troops in the capital of the south, the country was once more united.
The war also prompted communist based civil wars in Laos and Cambodia and so in 1975 with the end of the war all 3 were under communist regimes

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