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The Defeat
The French suffer a defeat during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu after their commander of artillery Charles Piroth committed suicide for being unprepared for battle. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
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Geneva Accords
This conference took place in Geneva, Switzerland to create a cease fire for the withdrawal of the French from the Vietnamese. -
The New President of the Republic of Vietnam
South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam and Ngo Dinh Diem is the new leader. -
The Death
President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed by a coup that was a culmination of a family rule in South Vietnam. -
The Gulf Tonkin Incident
Between the confrontations of North Vietnam and the U.S. there were two sea battles in which there were no U.S. casualties but there were North Vietnamese deaths. This then led to a Resolution. -
The Gulf Tonkin Resolution
The U.S. Congress passes this after the Incident -
Operation Rolling Thunder
A bombardment campaign conducted against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. This became the most intense battle during the Cold War. -
U.S. Troops
The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam. -
Mai Lai
The U.S. troops kill hundreds of civilians of the town Mai Lai. -
Nixon
Nixon ordere the first troops to return from Vietnam. -
Death at 79
The communist leader named Ho Chi Minh dies at age 79. -
Cambodia
President Nixon announces an enemy attack in Cambodia. News of this spreads nationwide around college campuses. -
Another Cease Fire
The Paris Peace Accords are signed that provided a cease-fire. -
The Final Withdrawal
The last U.S. troops go home ending direct military involvement in the war. -
540,000
The number of U.S. troops in Vietnam around December passed 540,000!
