United States Involvement in the Vietnam War By allisonkent 1945 Ho Chi Mihn declares Vietnam's Independence 1950 U.S pledges military aid to the French 1954 US President Eisenhower outlines the domino theory 1954 Geneva Accords 1956 The French leave Vietnam 1960 Kennedy is elected US President 1963 Diem 1963 Kennedy assassinated 1963 Johnson becomes US President 1964 Gulf of Tonkin 1965 First American combat troops enter into Vietnam 1968 Tet Offensive 1968 My Lai Massacre 1968 Nixon elected US President 1969 Nixon announces Vietnamization 1973 Cease fire signed in Paris 1973 End of draft announced 1973 Last American troops leave Vietnam 1973 US President Nixon resigns 1974 Ford becomes US President 1975 Remaining Americans evacuate Vietnam