In the mid-20th century, Korea and Vietnam were largely perceived as distant and poorly understood regions by many Americans. However, within a mere two decades, nearly 100,000 American lives would be lost, and hundreds of thousands more would sustain injuries in these relatively obscure territories. To grasp this aspect of American history, it is essential to examine the roots of the Cold War and the strategy of 'Containment.'
Following the conclusion of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two dominant global powers. These nations were fundamentally opposed in ideology, with the United States representing capitalist democracy and the USSR embodying totalitarian communism. Their collaboration during the war was primarily motivated by the shared objective of defeating the Third Reich. However, with Germany's surrender on May 7, 1945, and Japan's capitulation on August 14, 1945, the two superpowers began to compete for political and military dominance in shaping a new world order.
The USSR established communist puppet regimes across Eastern Europe, including the eastern sector of Germany, while the United States focused on rebuilding Western Europe and promoting democracy in the western part of Germany. This rivalry intensified political tensions between the two nations, as many in the West grew increasingly apprehensive about the potential spread of communism beyond Soviet-controlled territories. This anxiety was exacerbated by the triumph of Mao Zedong's communist forces in China, which led to the establishment of the People's Republic of China in October 1949. With a communist government now governing a significant expanse of Eurasia and seeking to extend its influence, the United States adopted the Truman Doctrine in 1947, pledging to counteract the spread of communism in Europe. This policy of Containment was further reinforced by the Eisenhower Doctrine in 1957, which committed support to non-communist governments in the Middle East.
The first significant armed conflict between communist and democratic forces erupted on the Korean peninsula in June 1950, when the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) invaded the Republic of Korea (South Korea). This invasion was enabled by the financial backing, military training, and direct intervention of both the USSR and China. The conflict endured for three years, claiming nearly one million lives on both sides. It concluded in 1953 with an armistice, resulting in the ongoing division of Korea into a communist north and a democratic south.
Subsequently, Southwest Asia became a battleground for aggressive communist expansion, particularly following the defeat of French forces by the Viet Minh at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in May 1954. By the early 1960s, the United States began to increase its support for the non-communist Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) against the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). This escalation of support eventually led to the deployment of up to 500,000 American troops to Vietnam, resulting in years of conflict and over 58,000 American fatalities. The war officially ended in 1975 with the triumph of communist forces, signifying a notable failure of the policy of Containment.
