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President Eisenhower Rejects Troop Commitment.
Eisenhower chooses not to send troops to Vietnam. -
Eisenhower Debates Intervening
Eisnehower reconsiders his decision to send troops to Vietnam. -
Nixon Supports Troop Commitment
Vice President Nixon voices his support for Troop involvement in -
Vietnam Divided
Vietnam is to be divided on the 17th parallel until an election can be held to unify the country. -
Vietnam Emigration
850,000 North Vietnamese, mostly catholics, emigrate to South Vietnam. 80,0000 South Vietnamese, mostly Viet Minh sympathesizers, move to North Vietnam. -
Guerilla War
Ex- Viet Minh organize and begin a campaign of guerilla warfare aganist Diem's administration. -
First American Deaths
Two American Military Advisiors are killed by Viet Minh guerilla soliders. -
US Increases Military Advisiors
US announces that the number of Military Soliders in Southern Vietnam will increase from 327 to 685. -
National Liberation Front and Viet Cong Formed
NLF is formed to crush Diem's regime. Viet Cong is formed of Ex Viet Minh from the South. -
First US Combat Death
An American serviceman dies in Vietnam. For many, this marks the beginning of the Vietnam War. -
Buddhist Monks Self-Immolate
A 66-year-old Buddhist Monk sets himself on fire in protest of the South Vietnamese government. Many other monks will later follow his lead. -
Diem is Overthrown
Encouraged by the US, South Vietnamese General Minh overthrows the Diem Regime. The next day he orders the execution of Diem and his brother. -
Students burn draft cards
1000 students gather in New York to protest the war. 12 of these students burn their selective service cards in an act of protest. -
First North Vietnam Bombing
After Johnson orders retaliation after an assault on a gunboat is reported. The US then bombs North Vietnam for the first time. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
A bombardment campaign meant to cripple North Vietnam's transportation system and industrial centers. -
Peace Talks begin in Paris
Peace talks are held in Paris. Representative from the US, The South Vietnamese government, and the NLF all attend. -
Vietnamization
The training and transitioning of Southern Vietnamese taking over jobs the US soldiers have been doing. -
The war offically ends
The last US soldiers leaves Vietnam, some advisors and marines remain. Over 3 millon US soldiers served in the war with 60,000 left dead, 150,000 are wounded, and 1,000 MIA.
