Vietnam Timeline

By 40000847

  • Geneva Accords

    The Geneva Accords established North and South Vietnam at 17th parallel. Election is to be held in 2 years, in order to unify Vietnam under single democratic government.

  • Souths New President

    Ngo Dinh Diem becomes South Vietnam's leader (who the US supports) and Ho Chi Minh leads the Communist North.

  • Ho Chi Minh Trail and 1st US Killing

    In 1955, Ho Chi Minh Trail supply route for the North Vietnamese is built in order to support guerilla attacks on the South. Later in 1955, the 1st US soldiers are killing in S. Vietnam at their living headquarters.

  • Operation Ranch Hand

    US aircrafts began spraying Agent Orange over rural S. Vietnam in order to kill vegetation that would offer cover and food for guerilla forces.

  • Buddhist Crisis

    South Vietnam's government opens fire on crowd of Buddhist protestors in Hue, Vietnam.

  • Gulf of Tonkin

    N. Vietnamese patrol boats, torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. President Johnson then calls for air strikes on N. Vietnamese patrol boat bases. Later in August, congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which authorizes president to take all necessary measurements.

  • Operation Rolling Thunder

    President Johnson launches a 3 year campaign of bombing targets in N. Vietnam and of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This becomes known as Operation Rolling Thunder. Also, US Marines land on beaches in S. Vietnam as the 1sy US combat troops to enter Vietnam.

  • More Troops

    President Johnson calls for 50,000 more ground troops to be sent to Vietnam. This necessity increases the monthly draft to 35,000.

  • War

    The 1st large scale battle takes place. More than 300 US troops are killed and more injured. Both sides declare victory.

  • Pentagon Papers

    New York Times leaks Defense Department papers known as Pentagon Papers. The paper reveals that the US government had secretly increase US involvement in Vietnam War.

  • Operation Homecoming

    N. Vietnamese troops return 591 POW which is known as Operation Homecoming.

  • Paris Peace Accords

    President Nixon signs Paris Peace Accords to end US direct involvement in Vietnam War.