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Period: to
The Vietnam War – 1954-1980
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March 13, 1954 - Outnumbering the French nearly five-to-one, 50,000 Viet Minh under Gen. Giap begin their assault against the fortified hills protecting the Dien Bien Phu air base.
Giap's artillery pounds the French and shuts down the only runway, thus forcing the French to rely on risky parachute drops for re-supply. Giap's troops then take out their shovels and begin construction of a maze of tunnels and trenches, slowly inching their way toward the main French position and surrounding it. -
March 30-May 1 - The siege at Dien Bien Phu occurs as nearly 10,000 French soldiers are trapped by 45,000 Viet Minh. French troops soon run out of fresh water and medical supplies.
The French urgently appeal to Washington for help. The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff now consider three possible military options: sending American combat troops to the rescue; a massive conventional air strike by B-29 bombers; the use of tactical atomic weapons. President Eisenhower dismisses the conventional air raid and the nuclear option after getting a strong negative response to such actions from America's chief ally, Britain. Eisenhower also decides against sending U.S. ground troops to res -
May 7, 1954 - At 5:30 p.m., 10,000 French soldiers surrender at Dien Bien Phu. By now, an estimated 8000 Viet Minh and 1500 French have died.
The French survivors are marched for up to 60 days to prison camps 500 hundred miles away. Nearly half die during the march or in captivity. -
May 8, 1954 - The Geneva Conference on Indochina begins, attended by the U.S., Britain, China, the Soviet Union, France, Vietnam (Viet Minh and representatives of Bao Dai), Cambodia and Laos, all meeting to negotiate a solution for Southeast Asia.
.May 8, 1954 - The Geneva Conference on Indochina begins, attended by the U.S., Britain, China, the Soviet Union, France, Vietnam (Viet Minh and representatives of Bao Dai), Cambodia and Laos, all meeting to negotiate a solution for Southeast Asia. -
July 21, 1954 - The Geneva Accords divide Vietnam in half at the 17th parallel, with Ho Chi Minh's Communists ceded the North, while Bao Dai's regime is granted the South.
The accords also provide for elections to be held in all of Vietnam within two years to reunify the country. The U.S. opposes the unifying elections, fearing a likely victory by Ho Chi Minh. -
October 1954 - Following the French departure from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh returns after spending eight years hiding in the jungle and formally takes control of North Vietnam.
October 1954 - Following the French departure from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh returns after spending eight years hiding in the jungle and formally takes control of North Vietnam. -
January 1955 - The first direct shipment of U.S. military aid to Saigon arrives. The U.S. also offers to train the fledgling South Vietnam Army.
January 1955 - The first direct shipment of U.S. military aid to Saigon arrives. The U.S. also offers to train the fledgling South Vietnam Army. -
December 1955 - In North Vietnam, radical land reforms by Communists result in land owners being hauled before "people's tribunals." Thousands are executed or sent to forced labor camps during this period of ideological cleansing by Ho Chi Minh
December 1955 - In North Vietnam, radical land reforms by Communists result in land owners being hauled before "people's tribunals." Thousands are executed or sent to forced labor camps during this period of ideological cleansing by Ho Chi Minh. -
anuary 1956 - Diem launches a brutal crackdown against Viet Minh suspects in the countryside. T
January 1956 - Diem launches a brutal crackdown against Viet Minh suspects in the countryside. Those arrested are denied counsel and hauled before "security committees" with many suspects tortured or executed under the guise of 'shot while attempting escape.' -
November 1956 - Peasant unrest in North Vietnam resulting from oppressive land reforms is put down by Communist force with more than 6000 killed or deported.
November 1956 - Peasant unrest in North Vietnam resulting from oppressive land reforms is put down by Communist force with more than 6000 killed or deported. -
January 1957 - The Soviet Union proposes permanent division of Vietnam into North and South, with the two nations admitted separately to the United Nations. The U.S. rejects the proposal, unwilling to recognize Communist North Vietnam.
January 1957 - The Soviet Union proposes permanent division of Vietnam into North and South, with the two nations admitted separately to the United Nations. The U.S. rejects the proposal, unwilling to recognize Communist North Vietnam. -
October 1957 - Viet Minh guerrillas begin a widespread campaign of terror in South Vietnam including bombings and assassinations. By year's end, over 400 South Vietnamese officials are killed.
October 1957 - Viet Minh guerrillas begin a widespread campaign of terror in South Vietnam including bombings and assassinations. By year's end, over 400 South Vietnamese officials are killed. -
June 1958 - A coordinated command structure is formed by Communists in the Mekong Delta where 37 armed companies are being organized.
June 1958 - A coordinated command structure is formed by Communists in the Mekong Delta where 37 armed companies are being organized. -
March 1959 - The armed revolution begins as Ho Chi Minh declares a People's War to unite all of Vietnam under his leadership. His Politburo now orders a changeover to an all-out military struggle. Thus begins the Second Indochina War.
March 1959 - The armed revolution begins as Ho Chi Minh declares a People's War to unite all of Vietnam under his leadership. His Politburo now orders a changeover to an all-out military struggle. Thus begins the Second Indochina War. -
July 8, 1959 - Two U.S. military advisors, Maj. Dale Buis and Sgt. Chester Ovnand, are killed by Viet Minh guerrillas at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam.
July 8, 1959 - Two U.S. military advisors, Maj. Dale Buis and Sgt. Chester Ovnand, are killed by Viet Minh guerrillas at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam. They are the first American deaths in the Second Indochina War which Americans will come to know simply as The Vietnam War. -
April 1960 - Universal military conscription is imposed in North Vietnam. Tour of duty is indefinite.
April 1960 - Universal military conscription is imposed in North Vietnam. Tour of duty is indefinite. -
December 20, 1960 - The National Liberation Front is established by Hanoi as its Communist political organization for Viet Cong guerrillas in South Vietnam.
December 20, 1960 - The National Liberation Front is established by Hanoi as its Communist political organization for Viet Cong guerrillas in South Vietnam. -
1961-1962: more U.S. military advisers go to Vietnam. They total over 9,000 by late 1962.
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October 1963: President John F. Kennedy decides to withdraw 1,000 U.S. advisers.
October 1963: President John F. Kennedy decides to withdraw 1,000 U.S. advisers. He also seems to lean against committing U.S. troops to Vietnam. But President Lyndon Johnson reverses this view after JFK's November 22, 1963 assassination. -
Early 1965: Vietcong victory in the South is imminent.
Early 1965: Vietcong victory in the South is imminent. The U.S. intervenes massively to avert it. Thus large direct U.S. involvement begins. The U.S. starts bombing in February 1965 (Operation "Rolling Thunder") and sends large ground forces in July 1965. U.S. forces in Vietnam peak at 543,000 troops in 1969. -
January 1968: the Communist Tet offensive. The U.S. smashes the attack and badly weakens the Vietcong but the U.S. public misreads the Tet offensive as a sign of U.S. failure.
January 1968: the Communist Tet offensive. The U.S. smashes the attack and badly weakens the Vietcong but the U.S. public misreads the Tet offensive as a sign of U.S. failure. -
1969: the U.S. begins to withdraw and launches "Vietnamization"-- it turns the war over to the South Vietnamese.
1969: the U.S. begins to withdraw and launches "Vietnamization"-- it turns the war over to the South Vietnamese. -
1970:theU.S.widensthewarintoCambodiaand Laosinan effort to deny sanctuaries to the Vietcong.
1970:theU.S.widen sthewarin to CambodiaandLaosinaneffort to deny sanctuaries to the Vietcong. -
1973: a peace is agreed.
1973: a peace is agreed. The agreement allows North Vietnamese forces to remain in the South. Later in 1973, wrongly thinking the war is over, the U.S. Congress forbids U.S. bombing throughout Indochina. -
The U.S. then stands aside as communist forces seize the South and unify Vietnam under Hanoi's rule, April 1975.
1973-75: both Vietnamese sides break the peace. The U.S. then stands aside as communist forces seize the South and unify Vietnam under Hanoi's rule, April 1975. -
April 30, 1975 - South Vietnam surrenders to the communists.
April 30, 1975 - South Vietnam surrenders to the communists. -
November 13, 1982 - The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. is dedicated.
November 13, 1982 - The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. is dedicated.
