Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eisenhower dispatched the first American soldiers to Vietnam as military advisors to Diem's army
Then South Vietnam
In February 1955, Eisenhower dispatched the first American soldiers to Vietnam as military advisors to Diem's army. After Diem announced the formation of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN, commonly known as South Vietnam) in October, Eisenhower immediately recognized the new state and offered military, economic, and technical assistance.