Vietnam War

Vietnamese forces celebrate their victory over the French

May 7, 1954

Vietnamese forces occupy the French command post at Dien Bien Phu and the French commander orders his troops to stop the fire. The battle lasted 55 days.

President John F Kennedy

Dec 11, 1961

American helicopters arrive at docks in South Vietnam with 400 U.S. personnel, who fly and maintain the aircraft.

U.S. Army helicopter on an Operation Chopper mission

Jan 12, 1962

helicopters flown by U.S. Army pilots ferry 1,000 South Vietnamese soldiers to sweep near Saigon.

The victory at Ap Bac raised morale and drove recruitment for the Vietcong

Jan 2, 1963

For the first time, the Vietcong stand their ground against American machinery and South Vietnamese soldiers. Almost 400 South Vietnamese are killed or wounded.

President Johnson signs the Resolution

Aug 7, 1964

Gives President Johnson the power to take whatever actions he sees necessary to defend southeast Asia after passing the gulf of tonkin resolution.

American aircraft burn on the ground at Bien Hoa

Nov 1, 1964

Before the U.S. presidential election, Vietcong mortars shell Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. Americans were killed and wounded.Five B-57 bombers are destroyed, and 15 are damaged.

One of the American dead is carried to a waiting transport

Feb 10, 1965

A Vietcong-placed bomb explodes in a hotel in Qui Nonh, killing american servicemen.

General Westmoreland

Jun 27, 1965

General William Westmoreland launches the first purely offensive operation by American ground forces in Vietnam.

American tanks and troops execute Operation Crimp

Jan 8, 1966

U.S. forces launch Operation Crimp. Deploying nearly 8,000 troops. The goal of the campaign is to capture the Vietcong's headquarters for the Saigon area. located in the district of Chu Chi.