The Vietnam War occured in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and it was a Cold War Military Conflict from Nov. 1st 1955 to April 30th 1975. After WWll, Communism was seen as a huge post-war threat and the U.S. now feared that most of Southeast Asia would fall under the influence of Communism. After WWll, France tried to regain control of Southeast Asian colonies and were fighting Ho Chi Minh and his communist rebels. The U.S. sent military aid to France and this was a part of the U.S.'s goal in containment in the spread of communism.
When France pulled-out of Vietnam in 1955, the U.S. felt it had to prevent Ho Chi Minh from unifying Vietnam under communist rule, so the U.S. starting sending military advisors to assist the South Vietnamese Army. The conflict continued to grow as communist rebels in the South gained more control and required more & more U.S. military advisors & equipment to prop-up the South Vietnamese army. Finally, in 1965, we sent combat troops to prop-up South Vietnam.
When France pulled-out of Vietnam in 1955, the U.S. felt it had to prevent Ho Chi Minh from unifying Vietnam under communist rule, so the U.S. starting sending military advisors to assist the South Vietnamese Army. The conflict continued to grow as communist rebels in the South gained more control and required more & more U.S. military advisors & equipment to prop-up the South Vietnamese army. Finally, in 1965, we sent combat troops to prop-up South Vietnam.