7. Myth: The South Vietnamese government asked for American help in their country
In early 1965, South Vietnamese losses on the battlefield were reported in Saigon and Washington, with the problems being ascribed to shaky morale on the part of the South Vietnamese leadership, which trickled down through the chain of command to the troops. Reports by US military and civilian officials, delivered to the American people, were that South Vietnam asked for American aid against the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong, both of which were said to be supported by the Chinese and the Soviets. Reports from Saigon indicated to the President that the South Vietnamese were weakening, in part, because they were unsure of the true level of United States commitment to the support of their Southeast Asian ally.