Vietnam War Timeline

By Guden

  • First Americans to die

    Major Dale R. Buis and Master Sargeant Chester M. Ovand become the first Americans to die in the Vietnam War during the guerilla strike at Bienhoa

  • Vietcong Formed

    National Liberation Front for South Vietnam

  • Vice President Johnson Thours Saigon

  • Operation Chopper

    Amercia's first combat missions against Vietcong

  • Operation Ranchhand

    Objective to clear vegetation making it difficult for the Vietcong to ambush. US Military then Employs Agent Orange to expose roads and trails used by Vietcong forces.

  • Battle of Ap Bac

    Battle of Ap Bac where the Vietcong defeat the South Vietnamese Army.

  • President Kennedy assasination

    President Kennedy Assassinated in Dallas and Lyndon B Johnson takes over the Presidency

  • Buddhist monks setting themselves on fire & The diem regime

    Buddhist monks start setting themselves on fire in public places tp protest against the Diem government policy of removing Buddhists from key government positions and replacing them with Catholics.
    Diem and his brother are murdered. The Diem regime is overthrown

  • General Nguyen Khanh Seizes Power in Saigon

    3 North Vietnamese PT boats allegedly fire torpedoes at the USS Maddox named the Gulf of Tonkin Incident

  • US total war against North Vietnam

    Following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident Congress authorizes President Johnson to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression." The US wages total war against North Vietnam.

  • Bombing raids on North Vietnam

    February: Bombing raids on North Vietnam commence referred to as 'Operation Rolling Thunder'. The air raids continue for three years.

  • 200,000 US troops

    Over 200,000 US troops are sent to Vietnam

  • Students protest

    Students at American Universities start to strongly protest against the US policy in Vietnam.

  • B-52s Bomb North Vietnam

    B-52s Bomb North Vietnam.
    President Johnson meets with South Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Cao Ky and his military advisors in Honolulu. American protests against the US policy in Vietnam continue and students are joined by veterans in Anti-War Rallies

  • Operation Cedar Falls, Iron Triangle, American Protests

    Operation Cedar Falls
    The Iron Triangle of Vietcong tunnels is discovered.
    American protests against the US policy in Vietnam continue and Martin Luther King and others call for draft evasion. The US Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara admits that the US bombing raids had failed to meet their objectives

  • Tet Offensive, My lai village, President Johnson doesn't run

    The Tet Offensive: The Vietcong scores a psychological victory
    My Lai village Massacre by US troops.
    President Johnson does not run for the presidency and Richard Nixon Elected President of the USA

  • Operation Breakfast, The News coverage

    Operation Breakfast: Nixon authorises the covert bombing of Cambodia in an attempt to destroy supply routes.
    The news coverage of the massacre of the My Lai village by US troops shocks America leading to numerous Antiwar Demonstrations.

  • President Nixon extends war, Tragedy at Ohio

    April : President Nixon extends Vietnam War to Cambodia.
    Tragedy at Ohio: National Guardsmen open fire on protesting students at Kent State University

  • Publication of the Pentagon Papers

  • Pressure on Nixon, Henry Kissinger is optimistic

    Pressure on Nixon increases to end the involvement of the US in Vietnam and secret peace talks are initiated. US forces apply pressure on North Vietnam by heavy bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong
    Henry Kissinger is optimistic about the peace talks despite Vietnam opposition

  • End of the War

    A cease-fire agreement is signed in Paris
    The end of the Draft is publicised.
    All remaining US troops leave Vietnam.
    Henry Kissinger wins the Nobel Peace Prize.