Before American involvement became mass and turned into an all out war, two assassinations occurred in South Vietnam that began to put everything more on edge. The assassinations of president Ngo Dinh Diem and his adviser and brother Ngo Dinh Nhu on November 2, 1963. This event led to a major turning point for the conflict between the South and the North. America already had 16,000 troops in South Vietnam, ready to stand and fight and protect the country from communistic threats, as it wanted t remain democratic. These American troops were also training ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) forces or SVA South Vietnamese Army) in tactics and strategies of modern war. American troops were even helping the SVA carry out missions and raids across enemy lines in North Vietnam. After the Ngo brothers assassinations, the US became a whole lot more involved. Seeking to help Vietnam to keep the country democratic and out of the hands of the communist North Vietnam, America deployed more troops to South Vietnam to help aid in an increasing conflict. Then, only a few weeks later, the assassination of U.S. president John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald occurred. JFK had been a huge supporter of Southern Vietnam and helping to develop its government. Now the war was rolling into full motion as soon LBJ took office and troops in Vietnam eventually reached a peak of 500,000 troops.
President Ngo Dinh Diem of South Vietnam after his assassination.