This volume investigates the foundational geopolitical and military conditions that necessitated United States naval involvement in Vietnam prior to the escalation of the 1960s. The authors, drawing upon extensive archival research and official naval records, construct a detailed framework that explains how early Cold War policy and regional instability in Southeast Asia dictated the initial deployment of naval assets. By examining the period leading up to 1959, the text establishes the strategic context for subsequent American intervention.

Historians and military researchers frequently cite this work as a foundational reference for understanding the pre-escalation phase of the Vietnam conflict. The text is noted for its high level of academic density and its reliance on primary source documentation.