Vietnam war Domino theory

The progress of Communism worried the United States from almost the end of World War II. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines had been very close to hitting the side Communist China had already done so, North Vietnam, Burma, Cuba and the European nations were under Soviet occupation.

The U.S feared being surrounded by a constellation of communist Vietnam know as the domino theory. Political reason geostrategy bind economic interests of U.S companies in that region. Already at the time of President Eisenhower, they had urged support of the French to keep control of the holdings of rubber, tungsten, tin (all strategic raw materials) and the famous Vietnamese rice and opium, for which Vietnam was considered The Jewel of Asia.

This was the reason why Kennedy continued giving aid to the South regime and sending advisers (around 60,000). In the ’50s, the U.S had helped financially other nations and the space race had begun to get countries like Indonesia to change. The Indonesian case was a success and the ability to repeat was considered possible.

At first American advisers were there to train the South Vietnamese Army in tactical aircraft and helicopter maintenance, irregular formation of a defense in the Central Highlands and other ancillary functions, but were not allowed to intervene in the fighting unless it was for preparations for action against the guerrillas.

It is rumored however that more than once they skipped this ban on what is perhaps the first on a long list of legal violations and illegalities that would make this war famous. On 1st July 1959 Major Dale Buis and Sgt Chester Ovnard were the first Americans killed in Vietnam during the attacks on the base of Bien Hoa.