There's Something Happening Here: The Vietnam War - Part III - McNamarinara Sauce

“It’s silly talking about how many years we will have to spend in the jungles of Vietnam when we could pave the whole country and put parking stripes on it and still be home for Christmas.” —Ronald Reagan

In 1961, the Vietnam War was a conflict that seemed far away to many Americans, but it was quickly becoming one of the most defining struggles of the Cold War. 

The US had been supporting South Vietnam for years, but it was under President John F. Kennedy that military advisors began to increase.

As the years passed, the war intensified. By the end of 1963, Kennedy had increased the number of US military personnel to over 16,000, but he was cautious—he knew the danger of direct military involvement.

Tragically, in November 1963, Kennedy was assassinated, and his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, faced the growing pressure of the Vietnam crisis. The following year, things changed dramatically. 

In August 1964, The Gulf of Tonkin incident occurred, which became a major turning point. After a reported attack on US Navy ships by North Vietnamese forces, Johnson asked Congress for permission to use military force. 

With little evidence of the alleged attack, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting Johnson the authority to escalate American involvement.

By the end of 1964, the U.S. was on the brink of full-scale combat. 

On this episode, the Hungry Historian examines the crucial two year span from 1965-66, when the United States ramped up it's military actions within Vietnam. A time that saw the conflict move from a "policing effort" into full blown warfare.

For today's featured recipe, Chef Money is stopping by and bringing with him a family favourite from his personal stash of soups, sauces, and marinades. This time around, he'll be offering you something that he's been calling "McNamarinara Sauce."

Cheers!

McNamarinara Sauce
•Large can of whole tomatoes
•one onion, chopped
•garlic... how much do you want?
•Olive oil
•dried oregano
•dried basil
•chicken stock
•pinch of sugar
•salt and pepper (healthy amount of pepper)
•red wine (optional)
•chili flakes (optional)

** Featured Recipe Instructions and Chef tips available within the episode or on the official Instagram page of the Hungry Historian (@hungry_historian)