The Vietnam War: Sydney Diulus

By diulus11
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    Noteworthy events

  • The Geneva Accords divide Vietnam in half at the 17th parallel

    In April 1954, an international conference met in Geneva, Switzerland. After the French defeat in Vietnam, representatives of Ho Chi Minh, Bao Dai, Cambodia, Laos, France, the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and Britain arranged a peace settlement. As a result of the Geneva Accords, Vietnam was divided into two separate nations in July 1954.

  • JFK and Ngo Dinh Diem meet

    The 17th parallel division between North and South Vietnam was the result of the Geneva Confernce of 1954 which ended the French war in Vietnam

  • Meeting with Henry Cabot Lodge

    While in a meeting with Henry Cabot Lodge, ambassador of America in Vietnam, in Washington Presidant Johnson declares he will not "lose Vietnem" to communism while he was in office. He didn't want to see Vietnam go the way China had.

  • Diem Overthrown

    South Vietnam's President Diem is overthrown in a military coup. The coup takes place with the tacit approval of the United States. Diem was killed during the coup, despite assurances that he would not be. The United States had hoped that by overthrowing the unpopular Diem, it could strengthen the opposition to the communist Viet Cong.

  • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

    In August 1964, Johnson made an announcement: North Vietnamese torpedo boats had attacked United States destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. In any case, Johnson used the Gulf of Tonkin incident to deepen American involvement in Vietnam.Congress passed this Gulf of Tonkin Resolution on August 7 by a vote of 416 to 0 in the House of Representatives and 88 to 2 in the Senate.

  • Operation Rolling Thunder begins

    Operation Rolling Thunder was the name given to America’s sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Operation Rolling Thunder was a demonstration of America’s near total air supremacy during the Vietnam War. It was started in an effort to demoralise the North Vietnamese people and to undermine the capacity of the government in North Vietnam to govern. Operation Rolling Thunder failed on both accounts.

  • Massive anti-war demonstrations held in the U.S.

    Massive demonstrations are held throughout the US against the war. Protestors in New York City's Central Park, burn 200 draft cards.

  • My Lai Massacre

    Such brutality came into sharp focus at My Lai, a small village in South Vietnam. In response to word that My Lai was sheltering 250 members of the Viet Cong, a United States infantry company moved in to clear out the village in March 1968. Rather than enemy soldiers, the company found women, children, and old men. Lieutenant William L. Calley, Jr., was in charge. First he ordered, “Round everybody up.” Then he gave the command for the prisoners to be killed.

  • President Nixon stuns americans by announcing a U.S and South Vietnamese incursion into Cambodia

    President Nixon stuns Americans by announcing a U.S. and South Vietnamese incursion into Cambodia in response to continuing Communist gains against Lon Nol's forces. The incursion is and is also intended to weaken overall NVA military strength as a prelude to U.S. departure from Vietnam.