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Dien Bien Phu
French forces occupy a command post at Dien Bien Phu when they are attacked by Viet Minh troops. The French lose the 55 day battle, along with 3,00 0soldiers. 8,00 0 more French soldiers are wounded. Viet Minh loose 8,000 troops and 12,000 are injured. This battle ended France's intent to continue war in Vietnam. -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
An NVA unit known as Group 599 is formed to transport supplies from North Vietnam to Vietcong forces in South Vietnam. The route they use runs along the border of Cambodia and Vietnam. It eventually becomes known as the Ho Chi Minh trail. Exact date unknown. -
US Becomes Involved in Vietnam War
President John F. Kennedy sends new equipment and more than 3,000 military advisors to Vietnam to aid South Vietnam forces against Vietcong guerrillas. Late 1961 -
Operation Rangeland
Operation Rangeland begins. A chemical known as "Agent Orange" is used to clear forests along highways to make it harder for Vietcong forces to hide. Early 1962 -
Gulf of Tonkin Attack
The captain fot eh USS Maddox reports that the ship has been fired upon for NVA ships. He warns that an attack is coming, but later reports that no attack has happened. Six hours later, President Johnson orders a retaliation attack on North Vietnam. Jets bomb 2 naval bases and a major oil factory. Two jets are downed in the attack. -
Golf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress passes the Gulk of Tonkin Resolution, which grants President Johnson to take any action he sees necessary to defend South Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder. The goal of this bombing mission is to force North Vietnam to stop supporting Vietcong forces in South Vietnam. -
US Makes Peace Offer
US offers economic aid to North Vietnam in exchange for peace. The offer is declined. -
Johnson Sends Over 60,000 Troops to Vietnam
Two weeks after his economic aid offer to North Vietnam is declined. President Johnson sends more than 60,000 more troops to Vietnam. Forces from Korea and Australia also join the cause. -
First major US Battle in Vietnam War
A Vietcong deserter reveals that an attack will soon be launched on a US Marine base at Chu Lai. The US Army launches Operation Starlite. Ground forces, artillery, ships and air support kill more than 700 Vietcong soliders. Fourty-five US soliders die and more than 200 are wounded. -
US Forces Number 385,000
US Forces reach 385,000 on land plus 6,000 more off shore. Over 6,000 Americans have been killed and over 30,000 have been wounded this year alone. Over 60,000 Vietcong soliders have beee killed. -
Operation Junction City
240 US helicopters fly over Tay Ninh province. The goal is to destory Vietcong bases and the Vietcong military headquarters in South Vietnam. 30,000 US troops plus 5,000 South Vietnamise troops take part. Operation Junction City lasts 72 days. However, there are no large decisive battles despite the US capture or large quantities of stoers, equipment, and weapons. -
Vietcong Attack Khe Sanh
At 5:30 AM Vietcong forces launch a massive attack a Marine base at Khe Sahn. 18 soliders die and 40 are wounded. The attack lasts for 2 days. -
Tet Offensive Begins
Military campaign between the Viet Cong forces in South Vietnam and North Vietnamise army against the South Vietnamise army. It ended on September 23, 1968. -
My Lai Massacre
Mass murder of over 300 unarmed South Vietnamise citizens by the US military led by William Calley. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Ends
Operation Rolling Thunder ended. -
Richard Nixon takes office
Richard M. Nixon is inaugurated as the 37th President of the United States of America. He set out to reconstruct the Western Alliance, develop a relationship with China, pursue arms control agreements with the Soviet Union, activate a peace process in the Middle East, restrain inflation, implement anti-crime measures, accelerate desegregation, and reform welfare. The most immediate task, however, was the Vietnam War. -
Operation Menu
Operation Menu begins. This was a bombing mission conducted in Cambodia from March 18, 1969 through May 26, 1970. The supposed targets of these attacks were sanctuaries and Base Areas of the People's Army of Vietnam and Vietcong forces who used them for resupply, training, and resting between campaigns across the border into Sotuh Vietnam -
Agent Orange spraying ends
Sparying of Agent Orange ends in 1971. Exact date not found. -
133,000 US Troops left in Vietnam
By the start of 1972, only 133,000 US troops remained in Vietnam. -
Peace talks break down
Peace talks begin to fall through. -
Peace talks resume
Peace talks resume on January 8, 1973. -
Cease fire agreement signed
All forces in North and South Vietnam sign a cease fire agreement. -
Nixon resigns
Nixon resigns following the Watergate scandal. -
Final Evacuation
The final US casualities happen and US evacuates all troops from Vietnam.