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Vietnam War
Vietnam War -
Dien Bien Phu
Vietnamese forces take over the French command post
Lasted 55 days
3000 French dead; 8000 Viet Minh dead -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
During 1959 a special North Vietman group was created with the purpose to get supplies to the vietcong in the south along the Vietnamese/Cambodian border than into South Vietnam -
America gets more involved
In late 1961 President Kennedy ordered more supplies and 3000 troops to be sent over to the south to help with the efforts. -
Operation Rangehand
In early 1962 the mission was to clear vegitation off from beside the road so it was harder for opposing forces to attack. Agent Orange was used to clear the vegitation. -
Gulf of Tonkin Attack
In response to American ships along its coast, the North launched an attack against the C. Turner Joy and the U.S.S. Maddox, two American ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. -
Golf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress passes the resolution bill that provides the president to take all step necessary to defent southeast Asia. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
President Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder, a limited but long lasting bombing offensive. Passed to stop Vietcong guerrillas in the South. -
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Operation Rolling Thunder
A limited but long lasting bombing offensive aimed to force North Vietnam to stop supporting Viet Cong guerrillas in the South. -
US offers Economic Aid for Peace
The US offers aid to North Vietnam for a cease fire, but is rejected soon after by the North -
President Johnson Commits 60000 more Troops
President Johnson combat strength in Vietnam to more than 60,000 troops. Forces from Korea and Australia are added as a sign of international support. -
First Major Battle for the United States
General William Westmoreland launches the first offensive by American ground forces in Vietnam, sweeping into Viet Cong territory. -
Operation Junction City Begins
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Operation Junction City
The goal of Junction City is to destroy Vietcong bases and the Vietcong military headquarters for South Vietnam, 30,000 U.S. troops, joined by 5,000 men of the South Vietnamese Army. American forces succeed in capturing large quantities of stores, equipment and weapons. -
The Tet Offensive Begins
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The Tet Offensive
The Viet Mhin and the Viet Cong launched coordinated attacks against the major southern cities -
Khe Sanh Attacked
Viet Cong forces launched an attack on Khe Sanh -
My lai
in the hamlet of My Lai, U.S. Charlie Company kills about two hundred civilians. Although only one member of the division is tried and found guilty of war crimes. -
Nixon Takes Office
Richard Nixon takes the oath of office and becomes President of the United States -
Operation Menu Begins
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Operation Menu
Its mission was to carry out bombings of North Vietnamese and Vietcong bases within Cambodia. -
All but 133000 Troops Come Home
Only 133,000 U.S. troops remain in South Vietnam. The ground war is now almost exclusively the responsibility of South Vietnam, which has over 1,000,000 men enlisted. -
Peace Talks Break down
Peace talks between the US and North Vietnam fall through. -
Peace Talks Resume
Peace talks between the US and North Vietnam resume. -
Cease Fire
All parties in the Vietnam War sign a cease fire -
Nixon Resigns
President Richard M. Nixon resigns, leaving South Vietnam without its strongest advocate. -
US Pulls Out for Good
Two U.S. Marines are killed in a attack at Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport. They are the last Americans to die in the Vietnam War. At dawn, the last Marines of the force guarding the U.S. embassy lift off.