The Vietnam War By facebooker_1481962836 Period: Jan 1, 1954 to Dec 31, 1980 The Vietnam War May 7, 1954 The French suffer a decisive defeat at the Baattle of Dien Bien Phu Jul 7, 1954 South Vietnam got a new Prime Minister Oct 26, 1955 South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam Aug 1, 1958 France Invades Vietnam and makes them into a colony. Nov 2, 1963 South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup Aug 2, 1964 North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in International waters Aug 4, 1964 North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters Mar 2, 1965 The first U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins Mar 8, 1965 The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam. Mar 16, 1968 U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai Dec 1, 1968 U.S. troops in Vietna reaches 540,000 Jul 1, 1969 President Nixon orders the first of many U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam. Mar 29, 1973 The last U.S. troops are withdrawn from Vietnam. Jul 1, 1973 There was no more Funding Mar 1, 1975 North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam. Apr 30, 1975 South Vietnam surrenders to the communists
