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Geneva Conference
This was a meeting between the world power’s concerning problems in Asia. One of the main problems was the war between France and Vietnam. It was decided at the meeting that -
Operation Chopper
This was the 1st combat mission against Vietcong. The mission brought 1000 men over by helicopter to attack a stronghold near Saigon. -
Operation Ranch Hand
This was a program designed to find and expose the roads and trails used by North Vietnamese men. The U.S. would then would fly over those areas and drop chemicals such as Agent Orange to destroy vegetation. -
U.S.S. Maddox
The vessel, U.S.S. Maddox, claimed to have been attacked by a North Vietnamese torpedo. The U.S. not 6 hours later ordered a retaliation that resulted in the bombing of two naval bases, and the destruction of a major oil facility. -
Tonkin Resolution
This resolution was a document giving approval from Congress to proceed with a larger war against North Vietnam. By this time North Vietnam had established their control over large parts of South Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
This was a set of planned attacks on North Vietnam spanning a length of two years. It’s goal was to destroy as much of the North Vietnamese army, so as to reduce their ability to attack the U.S. and South Vietnam. -
Attempted Compromise
At this point the U.S. offers North Vietnam economic aid in exchange for peace. Vietnam refuses the offer and forces American to raise the amount of manpower overseas by 60,000. Help from Australia and Korea are added as support. -
Operation Starlite
This was the first major ground battle between the U.S. and North Vietnam. 5,500 marines attacked a Vietcong base and destroyed it along with 700 Vietnamese men. The U.S. only suffered 45 deaths and 200 wounded. -
Death Toll by 1966
At the end of 1966 the U.S. had over 400,000 men stationed in Vietnam and Offshore. While they had only suffered 6,000 deaths they had 30,000 hurt men. The Vietnamese had over 61,000 deaths but still had 280,000 men. -
Operation Cedar Falls
This was the largest offensive of the war yet. 14,000 South Vietnam troops and 16,000 U.S. troops joined together to destroy operations near Saigon. After this 18 day excursion the troops had destroyed a tunnel used for guerilla raids and terrorist acts as well as killing 711 North Vietnamese men. -
Operation Junction City
THis was a plan created by the AMericans to lower the pressure and fighting at Saigon. The goal was to force the North Vietnamese into the open where the U.S. artillery and firepower could be of more use. -
Tet Offensive
A group of 70,000 viet Cong and North Vietnamese formed and attacked over 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam. Their goal was to stop rebellions from South Vietnamese and to scare the U.S. into backing off their support to South Vietnam. -
Vietnamization
A new strategy, created by Lyndon Johnson, that’s main priority was to remove the U.S. from the Vietnam and place the responsibilities of the war on South Vietnam. The U.S. would try to help South Vietnam build up their defenses and armies, to be better prepared to handle their own protection. -
Operation Breakfast
Nixon okays the secret bombing of Cambodia in the hopes that they can slow down supplies and destroy communist base camps. -
U.S. Withdrawl of Troops
The first removal of 814 troops began on the 7th of July. After this date over 25,000 other troops would be withdrawn in 14 removal increments until the Paris Peace treaty was signed in 1973. -
Kent State
The proclamation by Nixon asking for the drafting of more than 150,000 more soldiers for the war resulted in a protest by student at Kent State. During the protest, guardsmen opened fire into a group of students killing 4 and wounding 9. This widespread story caused more and more people in campuses all over the U.S. to protest. -
26th Amendment
This amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. The people of the time could not understand how men could be drafted into the war, but still not be allowed to vote in their country. -
Operation Linebacker II
This was a full-scale war attack on the Hanoi Area in North Vietnam. This plan gave North Vietnam an ultimatum stating that they had to release all U.S. prisoners and agree to a cease-fire or the U.S. would demolish them. It worked after an eleven day fight, the North Vietnamese were back at negotiating. -
War Powers Act
This act would be a bill that would limit the power of the president to commit the military to war without Congress approval. The goal of the act was to provide Congress with the power to start war, however, the act was vetoed by Nixon. -
South Vietnam Surrenders
A lack of support from the U.S. after the death of Nixon gave North Vietnam to launch a strong offensive. They worked their way into Saigon until the South’s forces buckled under the strain. At this opening North Vietnam storm Saigon and met little resistance essentially destroying any chance South Vietnam had.
