American involvement started off very low key. Two marine battalions landed in Da Nang on March 8, 1965 (Doyle, Lipsman). They were not fighting a war yet, though a war was going on in the very country that they were in. Their job was to merely protect an air field in Da Nang, not look for trouble or initiate any kind of war tactics. But soon, holding off the enemy was not so easy for the American soldiers, and more troops were sent in. This continued on, and when May rolled around there were 46,000 American Troops in Vietnam (Doyle, Lipsman). It was at this time when American troops were then given the "permit to use more active defense," and soon after, the number soared to 82,000 American troops in Vietnam (Doyle, Lipsman). From there, the American defense quickly turned into an offense, and transport

Myth: American soldiers were addicted to drugs, and feel guilty for their actions and role in the Vietnam War by using cruel and inhumane acts. This is not true, 91% of all living Vietnam veterans say that they are proud that they served their country, 74% would serve again knowing that there would be the same outcome, and 97% of them were discharged under honorable conditions (Westmoreland, VHFCN).

The myth of all American troop is also incorrect. two-thirds of all men who served in the Vietnam War were volunteers; that's just the opposite as W.W.II where two-thirds of the men who served were drafted (Westmoreland, VHFCN). "Approximately seventy percent of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers (McCaffrey, VHFCN)." Another myth is that the suicide rate of Vietnam Veterans is higher than non Vietnam veterans, but in fact it is not as bad as the media portrays it to be. There have been reports of 50,000 to 100,000 suicides among Vietnam Vets, when 9,000 is a more accurate number (Houk, VHFCN). The number 100,000 is absurd.

Cohen, Steven. Anthology and guide to a television history. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, inc., 1983

These may only be a few small facts that are a grain of sand when you look at the whole war. But these issues are those that were the heart of the fire in American youth when the war was in action. These were the issues and answers that may have prevented things such as the Kent State Massacre.

To all of the Vietnam Veterans, the country that they supported, their families and friends; to those who died in or after service, to those who are still alive and carry the memories of war with them every day, a memorial for them has been created. Its groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 26, 1982. The memorial has 57,929 names inscribed in it of those men and women who never came home from Vietnam (Ashabranner). A diamond after a name means that he/she was accounted for at the end of the war, a cross after a name means that he/she still is not accounted for. Also, the right is reserved to put a circle around the cross of any person who becomes accountable for, but a circle has yet to be put on the wall.

Meanwhile, America's position in Vietnam worsened. More and more were sent, and more and more troops were killed. America's great offense was tattering down and guerrilla warfare on unfamiliar terrain hampered soldier performance. The war then quickly switched over and put more weight on air attacks and bomb raids. Helicopters became America's best friend as they were a brand new invention that had not previously seen much use. The helicopter made landing and exiting in rough terrain easier than any other method seen before by the United States military. Ot

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