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Geneva Conference
April 26-July 20, 1954 - Took place in Geneva, Switzerland. On the subject of Vietnam, it produced the Geneva Accords. -
Period: to
vietnam war
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First US Helicopters Arrive
The first US Helicopters arrived in Saigon. They arrived with USNS core. -
Agent Orange
US began using Agent Orange in Vietnam. This killed vegetation so enemies couldn’t hide, and also caused severe disabilities. -
Troops
Government announced that they would be sending 5,000 additional troops into Vietnam. -
Tonkin Resolution
This gave President Nixon power to use anything necessary to repel attacks on US forces. This was repealed by Congress in 1971. -
US Bases Attacked
Viet Cong troops attacked a helicopter base, killing 8 americans and wounding 126 more. President Johnson ordered immediate reprisals and 49 US Navy jets attacked North Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
(March 1965 - October 1968) - A bombing campaign in which US military attacked places in North Vietnam. This represented a major expansion of US involvement in the Vietnam war. -
Operation Starlite
This was the first major event fought by by only US soldiers. US destroyed a Viet Cong base and the attack is followed by a massive artillery and air assault. We successfully captured the Viet Cong positions. -
Bloody Battle Near Dak To
(November 3-22 1967) - This was one of the bloodiest battles of the war. US forced North Vietnamese forces to withdraw. 1,455 North Vietnamese were killed and 285 US soldiers were killed, with 985 US soldiers wounded. -
Tet Offensive
A series of attacks on Southern Vietnam cities and towns by Northern Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces. News coverage of these battles/attacks dismayed americans and further decreased support from the american people. Marked a turning point in the war and began the lengthy withdrawal of the US from the war. -
Johnson Refuses 2nd Term
President Johnson announced at the end of a speech that he would not be running for a 2nd term. This shocked the nation. -
2nd Communist Offensive
(May 5-13th 1968) - Communists launched another offensive against South Vietnam cities. 154 Americans and 326 South Vietnamese were killed, as well as 5,270 communists. -
US withdrawal of Troops
(1969 - 1975) This was a very long process and began with only modest troop withdrawals by Nixon. The last US combat troops left Vietnam on March 30, 1973. -
Vietnamization
President Nixon introduced this new strategy, aimed at ending American involvement in the Vietnam war. This included building up South Vietnamese forces so we could slowly start withdrawing our troops from vietnam. -
Tet Cease Fire ends
(February 22 - March 15 1969) - Communist forces ended a Tet cease fire. They attacked Saigon and 115 other cities in Vietnam. In 3 weeks, they killed 1,140 US soldiers. -
Anti-War Protest
Anti-War protest - November 15, 1969 - The largest Anti-War protest occurred. 250,000 protesters marched on Washington D.C. -
Kent State
Guardsmen opened fire on a crowd protesting the vietnam war at Kent State University. 4 students were killed and 9 wounded. -
26th Amendment
March 1971 - This amendment lowered the voting age. It was lowered from 21 to 18 years old. -
War Powers Act
1973 - Passed by Congress, over Nixon’s veto, to limit the powers of the US president on war. States that the president has to have a resolution from congress approving any US armed forces going into combat (war). If it is not approved, the forces have to be removed within 60 days. -
South Vietnam Surrenders
Northern Vietnamese troops entered Saigon and met little resistance by Southern Vietnamese troops. Tin accepted the surrender of South Vietnam.
