in the world adding to the intensity of the Cold War and the fear held by most Americans. Mao Tsetung and his communist forces took over China in a political victory against Jiang Jieshi's Nationalist party. This fear of the loss of China to communism escalated defensive policy in Europe in order to contain communism's spread, making Vietnam a contested borderland of the Cold War. Further fuel to this fire was the conflict occurring in Korea, the purges and persecutions of people at home (McCarthy the later master of this), and the hysteria of the unknown "reds" and nuclear disaster.
             America had become involved with Vietnam a few years earlier when a pilot was rescued by Ho Chi Ming and his alliance of followers who were fighting against the Japanese. At this time, as always, freedom was the main concern of the Vietnamese. Many politicians realized this. John F. Melby, the U. S. Ambassador to Southeast Asia Mission in 1950, stated this realization. "The primary Vietnamese concern is eventual independence. Vietnam will have it regardles
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