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President Ngo Dinh 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. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
A joint resolution was passed by the United States Congress in response to a sea battle between the North Vietnamese Navy's Torpedo Squadron 135 and the Destroyer USS Maddox on August 2nd. This gave President Johnson authority to do whatever he felt he needed to do to win the war. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
The U.S. launches Rolling Thunder, in which 100 U.S. Air Force planes and 60 South Vietnamese planes bomb North Vietnam. These are the first air raids against North Vietnam that are not in direct retaliation for Communist attacks. -
Operation Cedar Falls
In a major ground war effort called Operation Cedar Falls, about 16,000 US and 14,000 South Vietnamese troops set out to destroy Vietcong operations and supply sites near Saigon. A massive system of tunnels is discovered in an area called the Iron Triangle, an apparent headquarters for Vietcong personnel. -
Tet Offensive
Considered a turning point of the war, the Tet Offensive was originally a three-day cease fire to observe the Tet holiday in Vietnam. On January 31st, the NVA launched an attack on South Vietnamese forces in over 100 cities, including the capital, Saigon. -
My Lai Massacre
A unit of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion 20th Infantry, slaughter between 200 and 500 unarmed villagers in the village of My Lai. Led by Lieutenant William Calley, the platoon is ordered to enter the village firing. -
Largest Anti-War Protest
More than 250,000 protesters gather in Washington D.C., in the largest anti-war domonstraction during the Vietnam War.
