American ground forces build up in South Vietnam, air fields and barracks are built, to cope with the needs of an army from across the Pacific Ocean.  A biography of key figure in the Government of South Vietnam General Ky is given.  The American Navy cuts the supply of arms and equipment across the coast in Operation Market Time.

President Johnson orders the bombing of North Vietnam first during Operation Flaming Dart and then Rolling Thunder which would last until 1968 to force North Vietnam to give up its war in the South, The Communists would refuse to do so and the bombing campaign failed to destroy the North Vietnamese military.  There was also bombing in Laos.  The story of one American airmen captured by the North Vietnamese. 

President Johnson decides to commit American Ground Troops to South Vietnam and to bomb North Vietnam, that is despite his own doubts as to whether a war in South Vietnam can be won, that is shared by Secretary of Defence Robert Mac Namara.  There are those in the American Government who oppose this including under secretary of state George Ball, his biography is given.

A biography of General Westmoreland the commander of the American military in South Vietnam from 1964 to 1968.  The Viet Cong launch several attacks in the latter part of 1964 but for the first time, regular North Vietnamese Army regiments take to the field in South Vietnam.