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The Battle at Dien Bien Phu
Vietnamese win the battle at Dien Bien Phu, after a long 55 day battle. The casualties were huge for both sides, as the French lost 3,000 and the Vietnamese 8,000. Yet still, the Vietnamese crushed the French spirits to carry on the war in Indochina. -
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JFK Directs U.S. Aide to Vietnam
President Kennedy gives the order to direct more United States aide to the South Vietnamese. This includes supplies, and more than three thousand military personnel. On December 11th, 400 military personnel arrive with their helicopters that they are to fly for the South Vietnamese. -
Operation Ranchhand Begins
Operation Ranchhand begins, originally intended to cut down vegetation near highways so that it was harder for the Vietcong to hide and ambush, as was their style. Soon, the operation grew. The United States military begin dropping “Agent Orange” on the land, which contained a deadly chemical. This destroyed many bases and trails, along with crops that could be crucial to the Vietcong. -
Bien Hoa is Attacked
The U.S. base in Bien Hoa near Saigon is attacked by Vietcong mortars two days before the presidential election. 76 Americans are injured, and 4 are killed. Five B-57 Bombers are completely annihilated, and 15 others are damaged. -
Jan/Feb - Vietcong Launch a Series of Attacks in the South
The Vietcong launch a series of attacks in the South. A village known as Binh Gia, a mere 40 miles from Saigon, is briefly seized by the Vietcong. 200 South Vietnamese soldiers are slain along with 5 American advisors. -
The United States Offers Peace for Money
The United States offers a deal to North Vietnam; the offer to exchange economic aide for peace. The North Vietnamese reject this offer and President Johnson increases military presence in Vietnam to include over 60,000 troops. Korean and Australian troops join the fighting as a show of international support for the South Vietnamese cause. -
Operation Starlite Starts
Operation Starlite is started after a defector from the Vietcong 1st Regiment reveals that there is an attack imminent at the American base at Chu Lai. The first major battle in the Vietnam War is started, but the Americans are well prepared. The Vietcong lose 700 men whereas the Americans lose only 45. -
Operation Crimp Begins
Operation Crimp begins, and it is the largest American operation in the war. 8,000 troops are deployed to locate and destroy the Vietcong base for the area of Saigon. This base is believed to be in the Chu Chi district, and the area is razed and heavily patrolled. No significant base is located. -
NVA Crosses DMZ
The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) crosses the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and runs into the United States Marines. Five battalions of 5,000 men pushed North in the biggest battle of the Vietnam War. The U.S. and South Vietnamese forces backed by heavy U.S. artillery push the NVA behind the DMZ for 3 weeks in Operation Hastings. -
United States is Now Deeply Involved - Late 1966
The United States is now heavily involved in the war, with over 385,000 troops on the ground in Vietnam. Another 60,000 sailors are stationed offshore. 6,000 Americans have been killed, compared to 60,000 Vietcong. Yet, the Vietcong are growing and are now over 280,000 strong. -
Operation Junction City Begins
Operation Junction City begins, in which 30,000 American troops and 240 helicopters perform assaults in the Tay Ninh Province. The objective is to destroy vital Vietcong bases in the South of Vietnam, north of the capital of Saigon. No large battles take place throughout the 72 day Operation, but many crucial warehouses and equipment are captured. -
Vietcong Launches Large Scale Attack
The Vietcong attack over 100 cities and the Americans strike back. Over 37,000 Vietcong are killed, whereas only 2,500 Americans lose their lives. A victory, one may say, but the Americans lose much needed public support as the attacks come on such a sacred holiday for the Vietnamese people, Têt. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Starts
The American bombing campaign, Operation Rolling Thunder, comes to a close. The campaign had lost 900 American aircraft, 818 pilots dead or missing, and hundreds more were POWs. The U.S. estimates that 180,000 North Vietnamese have been killed as a result, along with 20,000 Chinese supporters. -
President Nixon is Sworn In
President Nixon is sworn is as President of the United States. He vows to bring “peace through honor” to the country of Vietnam. His goal is to withdraw the nearly half a million Americans in Vietnam while still letting the South Vietnamese survive. -
Vietnam Becomes Bloodier than Korea
No major event takes place on this day, but a new startling figure comes in. The Vietnam War has officially been bloodier for the Americans than in the Korean War. More than 33,629 men have been killed in the war. -
Vietnamese Fall into Trap
The South Vietnamese embark on Operation Lam Son 719, in which three of their military divisions aim to attack 2 hostile bases in Laos. The South Vietnamese are actually falling for a Northern trap. In the next month more than 9,000 South Vietnamese are killed or wounded. The South loses 2/3 of their armored vehicles, along with 100s of U.S. Support Vehicles. -
Operation Ranchhand Ends
Operation Ranchhand is discontinued, and Agent Orange’s use is terminated. It has been used for 3 years after the department of Agriculture deemed it unsafe, and 240 pounds of the lethal chemical within it has been dropped on South Vietnam. More than 1/7 of the land of the country is rendered useless. -
20,000 Cross the DMZ
A major point in the war is reached, as 20,000 NVA troops cross the DMZ. Intelligence had warned of an advance, but none had expected it to come as far as it did. The South Vietnamese defenses are thrown into utter chaos. -
Last Troops of America Leave Vietnam
The last American combat troops leave South Vietnam. Military personnel remain to protect U.S. assets, but the war for the United States is officially over. Of the over 3,000,000 that have served, 58,000 are dead, and more than 150,000 are seriously wounded. -
South Vietnamese Lose the War
The Vietnamese War officially comes to a close. At 4:03 A.M., two marines are killed at the airport, as they are the last to leave Vietnam. Just a few hours later, the embassy that they had left was looted. The North Vietnamese tanks rolled into the city of Saigon, ending the war in a defeat for the free South Vietnamese, and a victory for the Communist North.
