LAKEPORT, Calif. – The January Lake County Historical Roundtable will feature a discussion on the United States’ entrance into the Vietnam War.

The roundtable will meet beginning at 6:15 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, in the meeting room at Country Air Properties’ Lakeport office at 460 S. Main St.

The United States was involved in the Vietnam War for most of a decade; in that time, 58,148 Americans were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.7 million who served. Over a trillion dollars was spent (in today's dollars).

In spite of this massive, costly and bloody effort, in the end, Vietnam fell to the Communists.

What were the factors that led to the US getting involved in the first place?

Roundtable presenter Zane Jensen will review the geopolitical situation at the time, the escalation of the conflict, the coup that led to South Vietnam's President Diem's overthrow and murder and the Gulf of Tonkin Incident that led to the build-up us US armed forces in the area. Using maps, videos and photos from the period, he will try to get to the bottom of what it was all about.

The Lake County History Roundtable, formerly the Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable, meets monthly, typically the first Monday of the month.

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome. The current focus is on the Vietnam War, so veterans from that period are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts and experiences.

For more information, contact Phil Smoley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or Zane Jensen, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..