Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu Fires a .38 for the First Time, Tan Hoa Dong, South Vietnam

[John F. Kennedy discussing invasion of South Vietnam as necessary action to save it from communism, Washington, DC]

Wounded soldier being bandaged

A Vietnamese mother holds her wounded child, Hue

[Soldiers at rest, Hanoi]

[Crew chief Lance Cpl. James C. Farley manning helicopter machine gun of Yankee Papa 13]

[LIFE photographer Larry Burrows attaching cameras to helicopter Yankee Papa 13]