I believe that the French left Viet Nam when they were defeated in Dien Bien Phu in 1956. Seems to me Ike was President at the time. He sent the first "advisers". To support that pinnical of humanity (No Den Diem?). Then JFK sent a few more. (Domino theory). Heck MacNamara admitted it was a mistake. I hate to admit it but LBJ turned it into a full scale conflict. "only Congress has the the athority to declare War". I guess all those folks died for a Hmmmmmmmmmm Conflict?