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Vietminh Formed in Vietnam
The Vietminh, a Communist-led militaristic group formed to counter Japanese involvement in Vietnam, is formed. *Date not specific to January 1st. -
Democratic Republic of Vietnam Formed
Ho Chi Minh declares the formation of the Democratic Republic of China under his communist rule. -
Communist China Rises
Communist China is formed and allies with Vietnam, allowing the Vietminh to train outside of the reach of French attacks. -
Truman Speaks
President Truman refuses to recognize the Democratic Republic of Vietnam; Communist China and the USSR, however, do. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
France withdraws military presence from Vietnam, but the U.S. offers $100 million worth of aid to anti-communist leader Ngo Dinh Diem, who became president of South Vietnam in 1955. -
Guerilla Warfare Begins
The Vietminh begin a campaign of guerilla warfare in Vietnam, triggering some of the most horrific combat in history. *Date not specific. -
American Casualties
American military advisors are killed in Vietnam; these were the first American lives lost in the war. *Date not specific. -
Viet Cong Formed
The Viet Cong, officially known as the National Liberation Front, formed in Hanoi. *Date not specifc -
U.S. Aid Increased
President Kennedy increases the number of U.S. military advisors in South Vietnam from 700 to 12,000. -
Diem Assassinated
President Diem is assassinated in Ho Chi Minh City during a military coup. -
Gulf of Tonkin
Vietnamese torpedo boats fire on the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin, triggering official US involvement in the war. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
200,000 US Combat troops are officially sent into Vietnam. -
Tet Offensive
Roughly 700,000 Viet Cong combatants attack over 100 US military targets in Vietnam, deviating from their usual guerilla warfare in a largescale traditional attack. This event is commonly considered the turning point in US's involvement in Vietnam, as the Viet Cong could not afford the loss it suffered. -
My Lai Massacre
US troops massacre a village of roughly 700 women, children, and elders, killing somewhere between 300 and 500 unarmed villagers. This event is not publicized in the US until November of 1969, inciting rage in the American people. The My Lai Massacre likely set most of those citizens who still did favor the war firmly against it. -
Kent State Protest
Protests against the war held at Kent State University turned violent when protesters evidently began to attack National Guardsmen present; tear gas was used against the protesters, and ultimately, live rounds were shot as well. Ten students were injured, and four were killed. This event and its publicization bolstered the opposition against the US military involvement in Vietnam irreparably. -
US Involvement Ceases
Uable to continue justifying its involvement to the people, the US withdraws completely from Vietnam. The conflict would continue another two years before North Vietnam would capture Saigon, officially ending the war.
