The Beginning of the war
With authorization from Hanoi in 1957 Viet Minh launched a "Campaign of political subversion and terrorism" (Cosmas, Graham A. "Vietnam War." Dictionary of American History. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. 3rd ed. Vol. 8. New York 3rd ed. Vol. 8. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003. 329-335. U.S. History In Context. Web 12 May 2013) and this escalated gradually to guerrilla war against Diem's govt. Diem then gave the insurgents the label Viet Cong which remained in use throughout this struggle. In South Vietnam North VIetnam created a political party called the National Front For The Liberation Of South Vietnam. Hanoi began sending soldiers southwards with weapons through what was called the Ho Chi Minh trail by sea junks and trawlers.
They gradually began mounting larger attacks with battalion and regimental sized light infantry units. The fighting got worse and in 1959 two american soldiers were killed (the first american deaths involved) during an attack north of saigon on Bien Hoa.
Kennedy was elected and decided that it was important to increase the U.S. involvement in South Vietnam and he placed a headquarters for a new joint army in Saigon.
They gradually began mounting larger attacks with battalion and regimental sized light infantry units. The fighting got worse and in 1959 two american soldiers were killed (the first american deaths involved) during an attack north of saigon on Bien Hoa.
Kennedy was elected and decided that it was important to increase the U.S. involvement in South Vietnam and he placed a headquarters for a new joint army in Saigon.