1965 â President Johnson decrees that a Vietnam Service Medal be awarded to Americans serving in Vietnam, even though there had been no official declaration of war. There were 16,300 U.S. troops in South Vietnam at the end of 1964. With Johnsonâs decision to send U.S. combat units, total U.S. strength in South Vietnam would reach 184,300 by the end of 1965.
MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY OF ROCHESTER
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