Learn about falsehoods that led U.S. into Vietnam

Col. Pat Proctor will visit Cantigny Park this week to discuss his recently published book, "Containment and Credibility: The Ideology and Deception that Plunged America into the Vietnam War."

Proctor's presentation begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, in the park's Visitors Center, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Admission and parking for the event, organized by Cantigny's First Division Museum, are free.

In "Containment and Credibility," Proctor explores the half-truths and outright lies of both the Johnson and Nixon administrations that brought the United States into a conflict costing more than 50,000 American lives over eight years.

As the nation considers how best to confront the growing threat of ISIS, the author believes it is increasingly important to understand how we were convinced to go to war in the past.

Proctor, a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars with 24 years of service, writes regularly on current affairs, military history and military simulation topics.

He earned his doctorate in history from Kansas State University and has a master's degree in military arts for strategy from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He also has a master's degree in military arts for theater operations from the School of Advanced Military Studies.

Proctor's bachelor's degree is from Purdue University in mechanical engineering.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. July 12. Copies of "Containment and Credibility" will be for sale and a book signing will follow the program. Le Jardin restaurant will offer a cash bar and a limited food menu. Coffee is complimentary.

The event is part of the First Division Museum's Date with History, a monthly series featuring lively discussions with authors, panelists, historians and special guests. Information about upcoming programs is online at fdmuseum.org.