Emerging communist threats in Asia -- The conflict spreads throughout the Far East -- The French Indochina War -- Growing U.S. concerns about Southeast Asia -- Changing of the guard in South Vietnam -- Hanoi opens the campaign for South Vietnam and Laos -- U.S. Naval assistance to South Vietnam -- The U.S. Navy and counterinsurgency warfare -- U.S. Naval forces join the fight -- Bringing the war to North Vietnam -- Combat in the Gulf of Tonkin -- On the eve of war -- Sidebars -- Passage to freedom -- A naval advisor : Lieutenant Dale C. Meyerkord -- Escape from Laos -- 34 Alpha Maritime Operations -- Task Force 77.