Vietnam War Timeline GCU 113

Battle of Dien Bien Phu

May 7, 1954

U.S. refuses to sign Geneva Accords.
Importance: U.S. will not cease fire. Agrees to give aid to Diem

U.S. agrees to train Diem's Army

Jan 1, 1955

Importance: U.S. becomes South Vietnam ally.

U.S. Military Advisors Killed

Jul 8, 1959

Importance: First American casualties

U.S. Advisors Increase Dramatically

Jan 1, 1962

Importance: Recognition that fighting the war will be complex and difficult.

President Diem Killed in Military Coup

Nov 2, 1963

Importance: South Vietnam loses leader, U.S. loses ally.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

Aug 2, 1964

Importance: U.S. motivated to bomb targets in North Vietnam and officially enter the war.

Operation Rolling Thunder Begins

Mar 2, 1965

Importance: Over 200,000 U.S. troops overseas

My Lai Massacre

Mar 16, 1968

Importance: Vietnamese women and children killed; launches U.S. military investigation.

U.S. Death Toll Exceeds that of Korean War

Jun 1, 1969

Importance: Nixon withdraws 25,000 troops

Nixon Orders Bombing of Cambodia

Sep 2, 1969

Importance: Ho Chi Minh Kiled

Peace Talks Between North Vietnam and America Begins

Dec 13, 1972

Importance: The war may end soon.

Operation Linebacker Implemented

Dec 18, 1972

Importance: North Vietnam loses 1,300-1,500

Ceasefire Signed by All Those Involved

Jan 27, 1973

Importance: The war may really be ending.

North Vietnam Takes Over Saigon

Apr 30, 1975

Importance: War officially ends

Sources

Dec 24, 1978

http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/timeline/index4.html
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/vietnam-war/timeline-of-the-vietnam-war/