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Period: to
Vietnam
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U.S. Becomes Actively Involved
President John F. Kennedy orders more help for the Vietnamese government. U.S. sent new equipment and more than 3,000 militaqry advisors and support personnel. -
Dien Bien Phu
Vietmanese forces occupied the French command post at Dien Bien Phu, where the French commander ordered his troops to cease fire. This battle lasted fifty-five days. 3,000 troops were killed and 8,000 were wounded. The Vietmanese victory shattered France's resolve to carry on with the war. -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
This was a specialized North Vietnamese Army unit, known as Group 559, formed to create a supply route from North Vietnam to Vietcong forces in South Vietnam. Group 559 developed a primitive route along the Vietmanese/Cambodian border. -
Operation Rangeland
This was to clear vegetation along highways more difficult for the Vietcong to conceal themselves for ambushes. -
Gulf of Tonkin Attack
South Vietnamese commandos attacked two small North Vietnamese islands in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Maddox, the U.S, destroyer was given orders to electronically simulate an air attack to draw North Vietmanese boats away from the commandos. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution giving President Johnson the power to take whatever action he deemed necesary to defend Southeast Asia. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
President Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder, which wqas a limited long lasting bobing offensive. Its aim was to force North Vietnam to stop supporting Vietcong guerrillas in the South. -
U.S. Offers Peace for Economical Aid Proposal
U.S. offers North Vietnam economic aid in exchange for peace, but tthey reject this offer. Two weeks later, President Johnson raises America's combat strength in Vietnam to more than 60,000 troops. Allied forces from Korea and Australia are then added as a sign of international support. -
President Johnson Commits Over 60,000 Troops to Vietnam
President Johnson raises America's combat strength in Vietnam to more than 60,000 troops. -
First Major Battle of the Vietnam War for American Units
American army launches Operation Starlite after a deserter from the 1st Vietcong regiment reveals an attack against the U.S. Marine base at Chu Lai.U.S. scores a resounding victory -
Operation Junction City
Operation Junction City was one of the largest air-mobile assaults ever. The goal was to destroy Vietcong bases and the Vietcong military headquarters for South Vietnam. It lasted seventy-two days. -
Khe Sanh Attacked by Vietcong
At 5:30 am a shattering barrage of shells, mortars, and rockets slam into the marine base at Khe Sanh. Eighteen marines were killed and fourty were wounded. -
Tet Offensive Begins
On the Tet Holiday Vietcocng units surge into action over South Vietnam. More than 100 cities and towns were shock attacked by Vietcong sapper-commandos and followed by wave after wave of supporting troops. -
My Lai Massacre
The U.S. Charlie Company kills about two hundred civilians. Only one member is actually tried and found guilty but reprecussions were still made by the U.S. -
Operation Menu
President Nixon authorizes Operation Menu,which was the bombing of North Vietnamese and Vietcong bases within Cambodia. U.S. forces dropped more than a half million tons of bombs on Cambodia over the next four years. -
All but 133,000 U.S. Troops Have Come Home
133,000 U.S. troops stay in Vietnam. All the other men were able to come home. -
Peace Talks Break Down
Peace talks between the North Vietnamese and the Americans breakdown in Paris. -
Peace Talks Resume
North Vietnam and the United States resume peace talks in Paris. -
Cease Fire Signed
All warring parties in the Vietnam War sign a cease fire. -
Nixon Resigns
President Nixon resigns, leaving South Vietnam without its strongest advocate. -
Last Casualities for the US and Final Evacuation
At 4:03 a.m., two U.S. Marines are killed in a rocket attack at Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport. They are the last Americans to die in the Vietnam War.