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Dien Bien Phu
A 55 day battle, where Vietnamese forces occupied the French command post at Dien Bien Phu. The French commander ordered his troops to cease fire. 3,000 French troops were killed, and 8,000 wounded. The Viet Minh had 8,000 dead and 12,000 wounded. However the Vietnamese victory shattered France's resolve to carry on the war. -
Creation of the Ho Chi Minh trail
With the approval of Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia, Group 559 develops a route along the Vietnamese/Cambodian border. Group 559 is a specialized North Vietnamese Army unit, who created a supply route from North Vietnam to Vietcong forces in South Vietnam. -
United States becomes actively involved
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Operation Rangeland
Agent Orange is sprayed over large areas of vegetation to expose guerrilla trails and base areas. Also, the crops that feed the Vietcong are destroyed. -
Gulf of Tonkin Attack
The South Vietnamese attack two small North Vietnamese islands in the Gulf of Tonkin. The U.S. destroyer Maddoxis miles away and singals an air attack on North Vietnamese boats. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gives President Johnson the power to take whatever actions he sees necessary to defend southeast Asia. -
Rolling Thunder Begins
A limited, but long lasting, bombing offensive whose goal was to force North Vietnam to stop supporting Vietcong guerrillas in the South. -
US offers peace for economic aid proposal
Offer was rejected. -
First major battle of Vietnam War for American Units
The American army launches Operation Starlite. This was a victory, that killed nearly 700 Vietcong soldiers. The U.S. only had 45 casualties and more than 200 wounded. -
President Johnson commits over 60,000 troops to Vietnam
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American forces total 385,000
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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, located north of Saigon. 30,000 U.S. troops take part in the mission, joined by 5,000 men of the South Vietnamese Army. After 72 days, Junction City ends. American forces succeed in capturing large quantities of stores. -
Khe Sanh attacked by Vietcong
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TET Offensive begins
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My Lai massacre
U.S. kills about two hundred innocent civilians. Only one member of the division is tried and found guilty of war crimes. It raised unsettling questions about the conduct of the war. -
Rolling Thunder Ends
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Nixon takes office
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Operation Menu
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Spraying of Agent Orange ends
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All but133,000 US troops have come home
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Peace talks break down
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Cease fire signed
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Peace talks resume
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Nixon resigns
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Last casualties for the US and final evacuation