Vietnam War Timeline By courtneytabron Nov 1, 1955 The War The Vietnam War started Period: Nov 1, 1955 to Apr 30, 1975 Vietnam War Timeline 1956 The South Vietnamese president started campaigning against political dissidents 1959 Weapons and men from the North Vietnam infiltrating in the south 1959 The first US soldiers are killed in Vietnam when guerrillas raid there living quarter 1960 American aid to Diem increase 1962 The number of the US military advisers rises to 12000 1965 200,000 american troops arrived in South Vietnam 1968 General William Westmoreland replaced by General Abrams 1985 France invades Vietnam