Vietnam+Path+to+War

=VIETNAM - THE PATH TO WAR =

After losing the big and final battle for Vietnam, **France** admitted their defeat. This started the Declaration of Independence by the Vietnamese towards the French. As a result of the Geneva Conference, which occurred shortly after the battle, a temporary dividing line was drawn across Vietnam at the 17th parallel. **Ho Chi Minh**, leader of the previous revolutionary army, led the part north of the 17th parallel, which favored communism. **Ngo Dinh Diem** became prime minister in the south. Shortly after, the Viet Mihn decided to go back to war to reunite the country once again, bring U.S. **military advisors** to Vietnam. Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother were shot and killed in a revolt supported by the U.S. in 1963.

The C. Turner Joy and the U.S.S. Maddox, two American ships based in the Gulf of Tonkin, were attacked (supposedly) on August 2, 1964. The attacks were highly controvertial, some believed them not to have even happened. Congress took action with the **Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave the U.S. some more military power in Vietnam**, but the war was destined to be a long one. In 1965, Operation Rolling Thunder, Lyndon B. Johnson was responsible for the first bombing missions over North Vietnam. The Air Raid will continue for 3 more years. Later in 1965 (march), the first American troops, Marines, arrive in Vietnam to defend the U.S. airfield at Danang.