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Dien Bien Phu
-Lasted 55 days
-3,000 French troops killed, 8,000 wounded
-8,000 Viet Minh troops killed, 12,000 wounded
-Vietnamese victory caused France to drop out of the war This is important to the Vietnam War because it is the start. -
Creation of the Ho Chi Minh Trail
-During 1959
-Supply route from North Vietnam to Vietcong troops in South Vietnam
-Along Vietnam/Cambodian boarder with offshoots into Vietnam its entire length This is important to the Vietnam War because it gave the Vietnamese a great advantage against enemies. -
United States Becomes Actively Involved
-Kennedy had previously ordered more aid for South Vietnam
-Helicopters arrive in South Vietnam with 400 U.S. personel This is important to the Vietnamese War because this is when the U.S. is officially involved. -
Operation Rangeland
-purpose was to expose the guerrilla trails and destroy crops
-along highways and trails
-destroyed veggitation making it difficult for Vietnamese troops to create ambushes This is important to the war because the Americans now have gained a small advantage. -
Gulf of Tonkin Attack
-South Vietnamese attack North Vietnamese islands in Gulf of Tonkin This is important to the Vietnamese War because it proves that the South Vietnamese are not loyal to the North, whome are helping them -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
-Passed by U.S. Congress
-Gives Presedent Johnson the power to do whatever is necessary to defend Southeast Asia This is important to the Vietnam War because it gives the U.S. more power to use a more burtal force. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
-President Johnson Authorized it
-First bombing raids are flown on March 2, 1965
-Its aim was to stop the North Vietnamese from supporting the South Vietcong Guerrillas
-Lasted 1 month This is important to the war because it was an attempt by the US to stop the North Vietnamese from supporting the Vietcongs in the south. -
U.S. Offers Peace for Economic Aid Proposal
-US offers North Vietnam economic aid in exchange for peace
-Offer is regected
-2 weeks later Johnson raises US military strength to more than 60,000 troops This is important to the Vietnam War because it is an attempt to put the war to an end by the US. -
First Major Battle of Vietnam War of American Units
-takes place in Chu Lai
-Vietnamese attack Americans This is important to the war because it is the start of the major conflict between the US and Vietnam. -
President Johnson Commits over 60,000 Troops to Vietnam
-total of 385,000 men and 60,000 sailors This is important to the war because it gives the US a much stronger fighting number. -
Operation Junction City
-Took place in Tay Ninh Province
-The purpose was to destroy Vietcong bases and headquarters in South Vietnam This is important to the war because it is another strategy that the US used to defeat the Vietnamese. -
Khe Sanh Attacked by Vietcong
-Started at 5:30 am
-Vietcong used shells, mortars, and rockets to attack Khe Sanh
-18 Marines killed instantly, 40 wounded
-Continues for two days This is important to the war because it is a strategy of the Vietcong and the US suffered great losses. -
Tet Offensive Begins
-Vietcong attack the length and bredth of South Vietnam
-37,000 Vietcong troops were deployed for attack, all of which are killed
-US looses 2,500 men This is important to the war because it is a major victory for the US. -
My Lai Massacre
-US kills approximately 200 civilians This is important to the war because the US killed innocent people and many began to quesion the conduct of the war. -
Nixon Takes Office
-Richard M. Nixon becomes new US President
-Promises to bring home the US troops in Vietnam, while still allowing South Vietnam to survive This is important to the war because Nixon is trying to put an end to it. -
Operation Menu
-Takes place in Cambodia
-Nixon approved the plan
-Purpose was to drop more than 1/2 a million tons of bombs on Cambodia within the course of four years This is important to the war because it is a means to an end. -
All but 133,000 US Troops Have Come Home
-Over the course of 2 years 2/3 of America's troops have left South Vietnam
-South Vietnam now has over 1 million men enlisted to fight
-Ground war is now almost exclusively South Vietnam's responsibility. This is important to the war because America is now leaving. -
Peace Talks Break Down
-The peace talks between the North Vietnamese and the US breakdown This is important to the war because it could be the end of the war -
Peace Talks Resume
-Takes place in Paris
-North Vietnam and US resume peace talks This is important to the war because it is a possible end to the war. -
Cease Fire Signed
-Takes place in Paris
-Everyone involved in the war in Vietnam sign a cease fire This is important to the war because the fighting has ended. -
Nixon Resigns
-Richard M. Nixon resigns from presidency
-South Vietnam no longer has it's strongest advocate This is important to the war because fighting could possibly ensue. -
Last Casualties for US and Final Evacuation
-Last Americans die in Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport
-War ended over a course of 15 years This is important to the war because it is the end.