The United States' Increased Involvement in Vietnam Post-WWII

In the decades following World War II, the United States found itself increasingly entangled in the affairs of Vietnam. This brief examines that association by exploring current research on the overlapping risk factors for veteran suicide and justice system involvement. One of America's most important statesmen gave the world a series of diplomatic breakthroughs, and hundreds of thousands of bodies. As two individuals who volunteered for the United States Marine Corps during the peak years of the Vietnam War draft and ended our military service with PTSD-like symptoms, we have a unique perspective on the complexities of this conflict.

Under the terms of the United States Constitution, Congress is the only branch of government with the power to declare war – a power it has exercised selectively throughout history. Strategic thought in both the United States and China has focused on the potential for a Sino-U.S. interstate war and downplayed the odds of prolonged conflict in Vietnam. The conflict in Vietnam took root during an independence movement against French colonial rule and evolved into a Cold War confrontation.

In the aftermath of World War II, the United States became increasingly concerned about the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. This fear of the domino effect, where one country falling to communism would lead to neighboring countries following suit, was a driving force behind the U.S.'s involvement in Vietnam. The First World War represented a turning-point in African history, not as dramatic as the Second World War, but nevertheless important in many areas.

As the Cold War intensified, the United States saw Vietnam as a battleground in its efforts to contain the spread of communism. The fear of a communist takeover in Vietnam led the U.S. to provide military and financial aid to the French in their efforts to maintain control over their colony. When the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the U.S. stepped in to fill the void, providing support to the South Vietnamese government.

The U.S. continued to increase its involvement in Vietnam, sending military advisors, equipment, and eventually combat troops. The escalation of the conflict was fueled by the U.S. belief that Vietnam was a crucial battleground in the fight against communism. Despite facing fierce resistance from the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces, the U.S. remained committed to its efforts in Vietnam.

In the decades after the departure of the last U.S. combat troops from Vietnam in March 1973 and the fall of Saigon to communist North Vietnam in 1975, the scars of the war remained. Vietnam War veterans struggled with physical and psychological wounds, while the Vietnamese people faced the challenges of post-war reconstruction. The impact of the Vietnam War continues to be felt to this day, shaping U.S. foreign policy and military intervention decisions.