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Vietnam forces occupy the french post at Dien Bien Phu.
The battle had lasted 55 days. Three thousand French troops were killed, 8,000 wounded. The Viet Minh suffered much worse, with 8,000 dead and 12,000 wounded in that battle. -
American soldiers come in.
American soldiers in U.S. helicopters transport 400 soldiers into the harbors of vietnam. -
Operation Chopper is launched, helicopters flown by U.S. pilots transport 1,000 South Vietnamese soldiers to sweep a NLF stronghold.
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Operation Ranchhand begins.
Operation Rachhand lasted from 1962 to 1971. In Operation Ranchhand, defoliants were sprayed upon the rural areas to remove the vegetation that concealed the Viet Cong. -
The Vietcong 514th Battalion and local guerilla forces ambush the South Vietnamese army's 7th division
At the hamlet of Ap Bac, the Vietcong stand their ground against American machinery and South Vietnamese soldiers. Almost 400 South Vietnamese are killed or wounded. Three American advisors are slain. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The U.S. congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving President Johnson the power to take whatever actions he sees necessary to defend southeast Asia. -
China's atomic bomb test.
China, North Vietnam's neighbor and ally, successfully tests an atomic bomb. -
Operation Rolling Thunder is authorized.
President Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder, a limited but long lasting bombing offensive. Its aim is to force North Vietnam to stop supporting Vietcong guerrillas in the South. -
First Raids of Operation Rolling Thunder
After a series of delays, the first bombing raids of Rolling Thunder are flown. -
U.S. offers economic aid for peace.
The U.S. offers North Vietnam economic aid in exchange for peace, but the offer is summarily rejected. Two weeks later, President Johnson raises America's combat strength in Vietnam to more than 60,000 troops. Allied forces from Korea and Australia are added as a sign of international support. -
General Westomerland's attack
General William Westmoreland launches the first offensive operation by American foot soldiers in Vietnam, sweeping into NLF territory just northwest of Saigon. -
Operation Crimp
U.S. forces launch Operation Crimp. Releasing almost 8,000 troops, it is the largest American operation of the war. The goal of the campaign is to capture the Vietcong's headquarters for the Saigon area. -
Americans are assaulted by the Viet Cong.
On Route 13, which links Vietnam to the Cambodian border, American forces are brutally assaulted by the Vietcong. -
Operation Attleboro
Operation Attleboro was launched, in this plan the U.S. 196th Brigade and 22,000 South Vietnamese troops began an aggressive search and made destroy sweeps through Tay Ninh Province. Almost immediately, huge loads of supplies belonging to the NLF 9th Division were found. The mission ended after six weeks, with more than 1,000 Vietcong and 150 Americans killed. -
Operation Junction City was created.
In one of the largest helicopter assaults ever, Junction City destroyed Vietcong bases and the Vietcong military headquarters for South Vietnam. Thousands of men parachuted out of carriers into South Vietnam. -
Richard Nixon takes office.
Richard Nixon was sworn in as president of the U.S. His goal was to achieve peace with honor in the U.S. -
Cease fire is signed.
All warring parties in the Vietnam War sign a cease fire. -
Richard Nixon resigns.
When Richard Nixon resigned, South Vietnam was left without their strongest ally. Leaving North Vietnam an advantage.
