During his eight years in office, the US was never engaged in active military actions.

On July 15, 1958, he sent just under 15,000 soldiers to Lebanon as part of Operation Blue Bat, a non-combat peace keeping mission to stabilize the pro-Western government. They left the following October.

Eisenhower explored the option of supporting the French colonial forces in Vietnam. However, Chief of Staff Matthew Ridgway (anther WW II Vet) dissuaded the President from intervening by presenting a comprehensive estimate of the massive military deployment that would be necessary.

In his farewell speech to the nation, Eisenhower raised the issue of the Cold War and role of the U.S. armed forces and warned about what he saw as unjustified government spending proposals and continued with a warning that "we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."

Ron