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Vietnam is Divided
Vietnam is divided into two regions with the dividing line being the 17th parallel. This division is supposed to only last for two years, at which point, the countries will hold elections and reunify. -
Ngô Đình Diệm wins South Vietnamese Elections; Becomes President
The date for reunification and elections for all of Vietnam passes. South Vietnam holds elections of president and after eliminating all of his competition and rigging the election with the help of his brother, Ngô Đình Diệm becomes president. He will remain president until 1963 when he is assassinated during a coup. -
National Liberation Front is Formed
The National Liberation Front, also known as the Viet Cong is formed with the main goal of reuniting Vietnam. The organization is not necessarily pro-Communist, but works with all people under the goal of Vietnamese reunification. There was a strong focus on reform of land laws, and withdrawal of American advisors. -
Battle of Ap Bac
A small number of Viet Cong forces successfully fight off a larger and better equipped South Vietnam unit. This is seen as a major failure by the South Vietnamese government and a mark of the dissatisfaction of the majority of the population with the government. -
South Vietnamese Coup
A coup, led by the top generals of South Vietnam and, allegedly, approved by the CIA, leads to the assassination of President Diem. This created much political instability, and when Lyndon Johnson took office (less than a month later due to the JFK's assassination) American military support increased to attempt to settle the area. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
After two, highly questionable, instances where an American Navy ship claimed to have taken fire from North Vietnam, President Johnson announced to the public that North Vietnam had attacked US allies and now US Naval boats. The Tonkin Resolution was passed allowing the US to take military action in Vietnam without declaring war. -
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Agent Orange and other Chemical Herbicides Used
Agent Orange, and other Herbicides, are sprayed on Vietnamese forests and crops to limit the enemy troops cover and food supplies. Other water supplies, food, and foliage is contaminated, as well. Later it is learned that Agent Orange causes a multitude of health problems like tumors, birth defects, nervous system disorders, etc. Over 2.4 million veterans were exposed to the chemicals and over 3 million Vietnamese citizens have been documented as experiencing some of the negative health effects. -
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Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was the name of a mission to bombard North Vietnam (and parts of South Vietnam) with aerial attacks in order to halt, or slow, the flow of supplies, men, and support to the uprising in South Vietnam. Over this time period over a million tons of missiles, bombs, and rockets were dropped onto Vietnam. -
Tet Offensive
A series of surprise attacks on South Vietnam urban areas by Viet Cong forces takes place during, what was supposed to be, a cease fire for the New Year celebrations. Several large cities are lost to the Viet Cong but, ultimately, are reacquired by US and South Vietnam forces. This is a massive blow to the American public and causes a major loss of faith in the war efforts. -
My Lai Massacre
On this day, between 347 and 504 civilians were killed, mutilated, and/or raped. The villages where this took place was suspected of harboring Viet Cong and the villagers were killed despite a lack of any weapons or military aged men and the fact that the people were not fighting back. 26 soldiers were court martialed, one was convicted, and served under four years of house arrest. Those who tried to stop the murders and report them were, initially, treated as traitors, and, later, decorated. -
Draft Lottery
A draft lottery was used to call men to serve in the armed forces. The fact that the army was not entirely volunteer, but filled with people who had no interest in fighting the war led to an increase in anti-war sentiment. There is also some evidence that it was a more expensive and less effective way of raising the troops needed. -
The Cambodian Campaign
The countries of Cambodia and Laos were supposed to be neutral in the Vietnam War. However, it was discovered, that many North Vietnamese troops and supplies were going through or hiding Cambodia. In 1970, South Vietnam, with US military assistance, invaded and bombed Cambodia. This was seen by some Americans as an expansion of the war to other countries and an illegal act. It led to many protests and riots and the Kent State Shooting. -
Pentagon Papers Published
The Pentagon Papers is a series of documents, commissioned by the Department of Defense, on the history of the United States involvement in Vietnam between 1945 and 1967. The documents were photocopied and leaked to the New York Times by Daniel Ellsburg in order to help end the war. Ellsburg felt that the documents proved the US government (esp. the presidents) had acted unconstitutionally. The papers revealed aspects of the war that the public did not have knowledge of or support. -
Paris Peace Accords Signed
The Paris Peace Accords are signed creating an end to direct American involvement in the Vietnam war, requiring a cease fire, free and fair elections in North and South Vietnam, a reuniting of the country, and the return of US POWs and withdrawal of US troops. -
Fall of Saigon and Evacuation of Americans
The last of American diplomats, military, and civilian personnel are evacuated from Saigon as the Communist troops take the city. The American staff of the Embassy was helicoptered out, but many of the Vietnamese personnel were not able to be taken and were left behind.
