Contrary to popular belief, the US involvement in Vietnam began in 1953 when Truman secretly supported the French during the Vietnamese war of independence. Eisenhower then sent "advisors to the region", some 5,000 I believe. Then Kennedy increased this by a further 8000-9000 troops. The kennedy administration also passionately supported President Diem of Vietnam, who they installed and who committed copious amounts of human right violations. The US eventually "disposed" of him (assassinated), this showed the extent the Kennedy administration was involved in Vietnam.
