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CINCPAC vs. U.S.
CINCPAC argues against using U.S. Special Forces teams to train the Vietnamese civil guard because: -
Ngo Dihn Diem
President Ngo Dinh Diem states he is anxious to have sufficient numbers of U.S. Army Special Forces personnel brought in to train both the Civil Guard and ARVN. -
Universal Military
Universal military conscription is imposed in North Vietnam. Tour of duty is indefinite. -
Nationalist
Eighteen distinguished nationalists in South Vietnam send a petition to President Diem advocating that he reform his rigid, family-run, and increasingly corrupt, government. Diem ignores their advice and instead closes several opposition newspapers and arrests journalists and intellectuals. -
US Increases Advisors
The United States announces that it will increase the number of military advisors in South Vietnam from 327 men to 685 men. -
Police involved
November 1960 - A failed coup against President Diem by disgruntled South Vietnamese Army officers brings a harsh crackdown against all perceived 'enemies of the state.' Over 50,000 are arrested by police controlled by Diem's brother Nhu with many innocent civilians tortured then executed. This results in further erosion of popular support for Diem. -
Kennedy Elected
Democrat John F. Kennedy defeats Republican candidate Richard M. Nixon to become the 35th president of the United States. -
South Army Coup Fails
President Ngo Dinh Diem defeats an attempted coup by his own South Vietnamese government forces, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). -
National Liberation Front and Viet Cong Formed
The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, also known as the National Liberation Front (NLF) is formed to crush Diem's regime. The insurgent organization and its military wing—the Viet Cong (VC)—will be funded by the North Vietnamese government, and staffed by Ex-Viet Minh guerilla soldiers from the South. (Northern-born troops will join the VC in 1964.) -
US added troops
U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam: Approximately 900
