America in the Vietnam War By jordanh2000 Jan 1, 1954 The war began www.history.com Mar 13, 1954 Outnumbering the French nearly five-to-one www.historyplace.com May 1, 1954 Armed conflict continued until a decisive battle at Dien Bien Phu and ended in French defeat by Viet Minh forces www.history.com May 7, 1954 At 5:30 p.m., 10,000 French soldiers surrener at Dien Bien Phu www.historyplace.com Jul 21, 1954 The U.S. opposes the unifying elections, fearing a likely victory by Ho Chi Minh www.historyplace.com Oct 1, 1954 In the South, Bao Dai has installed Ngo Dinh Diem as his prime minister www.historyplace.com Jan 1, 1955 The first direct shipment of U.S. military aid to Saigon arrives www.historyplace.com Jan 1, 1955 Anti-Communist Ngo Dinh Diem pushed Bao aside to become president of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam www.history.com Jan 1, 1955 President Dwight D. Eisenhower had pledged his firm support to Diem and South Vietnam www.history.com Jul 1, 1955 Ho Chi Minh visits Moscow and agrees to accept Soviet aid www.historyplace.com Apr 28, 1956 The last French soldier leaves South Vietnam www.historyplace.com Nov 1, 1956 Peasant unrest in North Vietnam resulting from oppressive land reforms is put down by Communist force with more than 6,000 killed or deported www.historyplace.com Jan 1, 1957 The U.S. rejects the proposal, unwilling to recognize Communist North Vietnam www.historyplace.com Jan 1, 1957 The Viet Cong and other opponents of Diem's repressive regime began fighting back with attacks on government officials and other targets www.history.com Oct 1, 1957 By year's end, over 400 South Vietnamese officials are killed www.historyplace.com Jun 1, 1958 A coordinated command structure is formed by Communists in the Mekong Delta where 37 armed companies are being organized www.historyplace.com Jan 1, 1959 Begun engaging South Vietnamese Army forces in firefights www.history.com Mar 1, 1959 The armed revolution begins as Ho Chi Minh declares a People's War to unite all of Vietnam under his leadership www.historyplace.com Jul 1, 1959 4,000 Viet Minh guerrillas, originally born in the South,are sent from North Vietnam to infiltrate South Vietnam www.historyplace.com Apr 1, 1960 Universal military conscription is imposed in North Vietnam www.historyplace.com Dec 1, 1960 Diem's opponents within South Vietnam-both communist and non communist-formed the National Liberation Front to organize resistance to the regime www.history.com Dec 20, 1960 The National Liberation Front is established by Hanoi as its Communist political organization for Viet Cong guerrillas in South Vietnam www.historyplace.com Jan 1, 1961 Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pledges support for wars of national liberation throughout the world www.historyplace.com Dec 1, 1961 Viet Cong guerrillas now control much of the countryside in South Vietnam and frequently ambush South Vietnamese troops www.history.com Jan 1, 1962 The U.S. military presence in South Vietnam had reached some 9,000 troops www.history.com Jan 15, 1962 During a press conference, President Kennedy is asked if any Americans in Vietnam are engaged in the fighting www.history.com Feb 6, 1962 MACV, the U.S. military Assistance Command for Vietnam, is formed www.history.com Aug 22, 1963 The new U.S. ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge arrives in South Vietnam www.historyplace.com Oct 5, 1963 Lodge informs President Kennedy that the coup against Diem appears to be on again www.historyplace.com Jan 30, 1964 General Minh is ousted from power in a bloodless coup led by General Nguyen who becomes the new leader of South Vietnam www.historyplace.com May 1, 1964 President Johnson's aides begin work on a Congressional resolution supporting the President's war policy in Vietnam www.historyplace.com Jan 27, 1965 General Khanh seizes full control of South Vietnam's government www.historyplace.com Mar 1, 1965 Johnson made the decision-with solid support from the American public-to send U.S. combat forces into battle in Vietnam. www.history.com Mar 29, 1965 Viet Cong terrorists bomb the U.S. embassy in Saigon www.historyplace.com Feb 6, 1966 President Johnson and South Vietnam's prime minister Nguyen Cao Ky meet in Honolulu www.historyplace.com Mar 1, 1966 An attempt to repeal the Golf of Tonkin Resolution fails in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 92 to 5 www.historyplace.com Feb 8, 1967 American religious groups stage a nationwide Fast for Peace www.historyplace.com Mar 8, 1967 Congress authorizes 4.5 billion for the War www.historyplace.com Nov 1, 1967 The number of American troops in Vietnam was approaching 500,000, and U.S. casualties had reached 15,058 killed and 109,527 wounded www.history.com Jan 5, 1968 Operation Niagara I to map NVA positions around Khe Sanh begins www.historyplace.com Feb 2, 1968 President Johnson labels the Tet Offensive a complete failure www.historyplace.com Jan 1, 1969 The peak of U.S. involvement in the war, more than 500,000 U.S. military personnel were involved in the Vietnam conflict www.history.com Jan 22, 1969 Operation Dewey Canyon, the last major operation by U.S. Marines begins in the Da Krong valley www.historyplace.com Feb 23, 1969 Viet Cong attact 110 targets throughout South Vietnam including Saigon www.historyplace.com Feb 2, 1970 B-52 bombers strike the Ho Chi Minh trail in retaliation for the increasing number of Viet Cong raids throughout the South www.historyplace.com Mar 18, 1970 Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia is deposed by General Lon Nol www.historyplace.com Jan 4, 1971 President Nixon announces the end is in sight www.historyplace.com May 3, 1971 A mass arrest of 12,000 protesters occurs in Washington www.historyplace.com Apr 30, 1972 U.S. troops levels drop to 69,000 www.historyplace.com Jan 1, 1973 President Nixon ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces www.history.com Jan 8, 1973 Kissinger and Le Duc Tho resume negotiations in Paris www.historyplace.com Apr 1, 1973 Captain Robert White, the last known American POW is released www.historyplace.com May 9, 1974 Congress begins impeachment proceedings against President Nixon stemming from the Watergate scandal www.historyplace.com Oct 1, 1974 The Politburo in North Vietnam decides to launch an invasion of South Vietnam in 1975 www.historyplace.com Jan 1, 1975 Communist forces seized control of Saigon, ending the Vietnam War www.history.com Jan 21, 1975 During press conference, President Ford states the U.S. is unwilling to reenter the war www.historyplace.com Mar 19, 1975 Quang Tri City falls to NVA www.historyplace.com Mar 10, 1980 The U.S. 101st Airborne Division is withdrawn from Vietnam www.historyplace.com