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The French surrender to the Vietnamese. Both sides suffered immensely by losing many of their men. The French lost 3,000 men and 8,000 were wounded. The Vietnamese lost 8,000 men and 12,000 were injured.
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The Viet Minh started using guerrilla warfare tactics in South Vietnam. This form of combat involves unusual tactics such as ambushes and sabotage.
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A route along the Vietnamese/ Cambodian border was created by the North Vietnamese Army Unit, which later became known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. It had offshoots into the Vietnam along the whole route.
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The first American military members was murdered by the Viet Minh Guerilla soldiers. Their names were Maj. Dale R. Ruis and Master Sgt. Chester M. Ovnand. They were both military advisors.
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The National Liberation Front (NFL) was formed in Hanoi in the South. The point of this organization was to duplicate the success of the Viet Minh.
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In the war against the Vietcong Gorillas President Kennedy provided the South Vietnamese Government more aid. The U.S. backing included new equipment and a couple thousand military advisors.
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The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed by the U.S. congress. This gave President Johnson the right to take whatever means necessary to defend South Vietnam.
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Operating Rolling Thunder marked the first U.S. assault on North Vietnam. U.S. Military aircraft bombed North Vietnam from March 1965 until October 1968.
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The North Vietnamese and Viet Cong Forces launched the Tet Offensive, which attacked the U.S. troops. It managed to kill about 2,500 U.S. soldiers. At this point in the war public support for the U.S. was at the lowest.
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The Vietnam war officially became the United State's longest war. At this point they had been involved in this war for seven years.
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Ho Chi Minh Dies and President Nixon decides to lower the number of U.S. ground troops in Vietnam because domestic public opposition began due to the war.
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Congress passed the Case-Church Amendment which prevented any further U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war.
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North Vietnam and the U.S. continued peace talks in Paris to come to an agreement.
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North Vietnam officially signs a peace agreement that will cease fire.
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The Vietnam was has officially ended for the United States. The Americans that were kept as prisoners in North Vietnam were released. Throughout this war 9 million Americans were involved in the war and about 2.7 million served in uniform.