Leaving all the Hate America and Big Corporations Caused It arguments aside, there are a number of reason we got involved in Korea.
Japan had occupied Korea during the war and as part of the peace treaties, Korea was divided into the north with a government supporting China and communism while the south formed a democratic government siding with the allied powers. When the north invaded the south, the US and UN had no choice but to step in due to treaty obligations.
Vietnam was slightly different. They partially sided with us against the Japanese but were also part of French Indochina. During the period after WWII, European and American companies took advantage of the vast rubber plantation that had caused Japan to occupy the area in the first place. When Uncle Ho and his troops kicked the French out, there was once again a series of treaties dividing the country between a communist north and a democratic south. They US, along with other countries, were signatories to that agreement.
When the north supported small local insurgent groups, the US sent in "military advisors" to teach the south how to fight the insurgency. As the north, supported by Russian, stepped up military activity in the south, the US responded in kind.
Will it ever end?
Well, Vietnam is now unified and appears to be doing much better.
Korea is still divided and will continue to be so as long as China props up the north.
Japan had occupied Korea during the war and as part of the peace treaties, Korea was divided into the north with a government supporting China and communism while the south formed a democratic government siding with the allied powers. When the north invaded the south, the US and UN had no choice but to step in due to treaty obligations.
Vietnam was slightly different. They partially sided with us against the Japanese but were also part of French Indochina. During the period after WWII, European and American companies took advantage of the vast rubber plantation that had caused Japan to occupy the area in the first place. When Uncle Ho and his troops kicked the French out, there was once again a series of treaties dividing the country between a communist north and a democratic south. They US, along with other countries, were signatories to that agreement.
When the north supported small local insurgent groups, the US sent in "military advisors" to teach the south how to fight the insurgency. As the north, supported by Russian, stepped up military activity in the south, the US responded in kind.
Will it ever end?
Well, Vietnam is now unified and appears to be doing much better.
Korea is still divided and will continue to be so as long as China props up the north.