In 1954 the Viet Minh defeated the French. On November 1955 Eissenhower sent the Military Assistance Advisory Group to train the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. This is the beginning of the American involvement in the war as marked by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Kennedy was opposed to send American troops to help the French in Vietnam but during his first year in office he expanded his commitment of the United States to South Vietnam in many ways; he warned the Russians against aiding the guerrillas; he increased the nummber of America's advisors rapidly in 1962; he sent regular support units to South Vietnam, including helicopter pilots who flew in combat ; he changed the Military advisory group to a complete military field command under a four-star general; he increased the size of the South Vietnamese army and constabulary; he assisted the South Vietnamese in launching covert raids against North Vietnam and Laos. As you can with Eisenhower it was just assistance but with Kennedy the involvement was harder.
