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Dien Bien Phu
Northwest corner of Vietnam. Battle between Nationalist forces under the direction of General Vo Nguyen Giap and the allied French troops. Battle lasted 55 days, 3 thousand French troops were killed, Viet Minh lost 8 thousand men. Vietnemese victory. -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
A North Vietnamese Army unit, Group 559, is formed to create a supply route from North Vietnam to Vietcong forces in South Vietnam. Becomes known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. -
US becomes involved
President John F. Kennedy orders more help for South Vietnam. American helicopters arrive at docks in South Vietnam -
Operation Rangeland
Destroyed the vegatation so that the Vietcong could be seen easier. -
Gulf of Tonkin Attack
South Vietnamese commandos attack two small North Vietnamese islands in the Gulf of Tonkin. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving President Johnson the power to take whatever actions he sees necessary to defend southeast Asia. -
Rolling Thunder
Long bombing, the goal was to force North Vietnam to stop supporting South Guerillas -
US offers Peace
U.S. offers North Vietnam economic aid in exchange for peace, but the offer is rejected. -
60,000Troops
Johnson sends 60,000 troops to Vietnam. -
Fisrt Major Battle
General William Westmoreland launches the first major battle by American ground forces in Vietnam. -
Operation Junction City
240 helicopters sweep over Tay Ninh province, The goal is to destroy Vietcong bases and the Vietcong military headquarters for South Vietnam. After 72 days, Junction City ends. -
Nixon takes Office
Promises to achieve "Peace with Honor."
Lets half a million US troops return home. -
Khe Sanh Attack
At 5:30 a.m., Khe Sanh is attacked. Eighteen Marines are killed instantly, 40 are wounded. -
Tet Offensive
On the Tet holiday, Vietcong units surge into action over the length and breadth of South Vietnam. In more than 100 cities and towns. 37,000 Vietcong troops killed. -
My Lai Massacre
US kills about 200 civilians -
Operation Menu
Bombing, more than half a million bombs, North Vietnam and Vietcong bases in Cambodia -
Troops come home
All but 133,000 troops have come home. The remainig stay in South Vietnam -
Peace Talks
Break down in Paris between North Vietnam and U.S. -
Peace Talks resume
North Vietnam and US in Paris -
Cease Fire
All the parties involved in the war sign. -
Nixon Resigns
Leaves South Vietnam without its strongest advocate. -
Casualties and Last Evacuation
During a rocket attack at Saigon Sten San Nhut Airport, two US marines are killed.