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Dien Bien Phu
Viet Minh overrun French fortress at Dien Bien Phu. -
SEATO
Eight nations sign United States sponsored SEATO treaty. -
Training the South Vietnamese Army
President Eisenhower's administration sends the first U.S. advisers to South Vietnam to train the South Vietnamese Army. -
Special Forces Troops
President Kennedy orders 100 "special forces" troops to South Vietnam. -
Building up United States Troops
President Kennedy orders an immediate build-up of US troops in Thailand to a total of 5,000 due to Communist attacks in Laos and movement toward the Thailand border. -
Death of Leaders
South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother are assassinated outside of Saigon. This weakens the war effort. -
US Navy Destroyers Attacked
United States Navy destroyers "Maddox" and "C. Turner Joy" are reported attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. -
US Bombings
United States begins bombing around Haiphong and Hanoi, North Vietnam. -
Tet Offensive
Communists start Tet Offensive which escalates into one of the major battles of the war. -
My Lai Massacre Occurs
My Lai Massacre occurs. Over 100 civilians were massacred. -
Johnson's Bombing Halt
President Johnson commits the United States to a non-military solution of the war when he announced he would not seek re-election, and ordered a bombing halt over 75% of North Vietnam. -
Death of Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh dies. -
Kent State Shootings
Four Kent State college students were shot to death by Ohio National Guardsmen during an anti-war protest on the campus. -
7th Withdrawl
President Nixon announces the 7th withdrawal: 70,000 troops by May 1, 1972 reducing the troop level in Vietnam to 69,000. -
Retalitation
The North Vietnamese launch a major offensive across the DMZ. In retaliation, Nixon orders the bombing of the Hanoi and Haiphong area. -
Renewed Bombing
Renewed United States bombing of North Vietnam above the 20th parallel. -
Withdrawling Troops
President Nixon announced the withdrawal of 20,000 more troops. -
Talk of Peace
Final stage of peace talks began that would lead to the signing of a Vietnam cease fire on January 27, 1973. -
Nixon Speaks of Ending the War
President Nixon announced an agreement "to end the war and bring peace with honor in Vietnam and S.E. Asia." -
End of the Vietnam War
Official end of the Vietnam War. Between January 27 and March 29, 587 military and civilian prisoners were released by the North Vietnamese, and 23,500 US troops were withdrawn from South Vietnam.
