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Geneva Conference
This was an attempt to restore peace in Indochina. At this conference, it was discusses and decided that Vietnam would be divided along the 17th parallel until elections could be held to have a new leader. People living in this area were free to move between the sides for 300 days. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Vietnemease forces occupy the French command post and finally force a cesease fire. This battle has lasted has lasted 55 days, and finally reached an end. Three thousand French troops were killed, 8,000 wounded. The Viet Minh suffered 8,000 dead and 12,000 wounded. By this time in the war, America has already funded 80% of the war and send 300,000 troops. -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
A North Vietnemease Army unit, called the 559th Transportation Group under the command of Colonel (later General) creates a supply route from North Vietnam to Vietcong forces in South Vietnam. This transportation system is to supply the NLF uprising against the South Vietnamese government. At first it is a primitive route along the Vietnamese/Cambodian border. This road will soon be called the Ho Chi Minh Trail. -
Operation Ranchhand
Operation Ranchhand began in 1962 and lasted until 1971. It was a herbicidal warfare program during the war called "Operation Trail Dust". 20 million U.S. gallons (76,000 m3) of defoliants and herbicides were sprayed in South Vietnam to try to take away food and vegetation cover from the Viet Cong. It has been reported that 400,000 people were killed or maimed and 500,000 children born with birth defects as a result of this spraying of what were called by the Americans 'rainbow herbicides'. -
The battle of Ap Bac
American and South Vietnamese forces saw the presence of a radio transmitter and soldiers near the Ap Tan province. The Northerners and Americans decided to attack the South Vietnamese Army's 7th division. But they were unsuccessful for a majority of reasons. Vietcong stand their ground against American machinery and South Vietnamese soldiers. Almost 400 South Vietnamese are killed or wounded. Americans lost few, but many helicopters were destroyed and damaged in their attempt to help. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The war was not in a good place, and President Lyndon B. Johnson was feeling the people would support the war. The resolution gave broad congressional approval for expansion of the Vietnam War, and planners had developed a detailed design for major attacks on the North. The president was not available to take whatever actions necessary to defend the North. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
President Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder, a limited but long lasting bombing offensive by the US 2nd air division. This was the most intense air/ground battle waged during this time period. Its aim is to force North Vietnam to stop supporting Vietcong guerrillas in the South. This attack showed many of the problems with the military in general, most notable that the air force was ill prepared to take on such task; and the navy as well. It showed America’s strategies for the war wer -
Peace Without Conquest
The United States offer North Vietnam economic aid in exchange for peace, but they did not accept. Shortly after the U.S sends more than 60,000 troops to Vietnam, and allies do the same. -
Operation Crimp
Also known as the battle of Ho Bo Woods, here the U.S deployed 8,000 troops in an attempt to capture the Vietcong's headquarters in the district of Chu Chi. The operation does not go as expected, and while they did clear some of the area no significant base is found. -
Operation Cedar Falls
The U.S forces began this operation in an attempt to force out the Vietcong from the Iron Triangle. It lasted 20 days and was the largest American ground operation of the war. 16,000 Americans and 14,000 South Vietnamese went in, and captured much of enemy supplies. American casualties were low and 720 Vietcong died. -
Operation Rolling Thunder comes to an end
After three-and-a-half years, Operation Rolling Thunder comes to an end. During the operation, more than 900 American aircraft were destroyed, 818 pilots are dead or missing, and hundreds are in captivity. 182,000 North Vietnamese civilians have been killed and twenty thousand Chinese support personnel also have been casualties of the bombing. -
Peace With Honor
President Richard Nixon takes office in the United States and promises "Peach with Honor". Nixon plans to try to negotiate a settlement that will allow over half a million troops to be brought back home, but still allow the South to survive. -
Operation Lan Son
The objective of this was the disruption of a future offensive by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), whose logistical system within Laos was known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In this battle, the United States provided logistical, aerial, and artillery support.Three South Vietnamese divisions drive into Laos to attack two major enemy bases, but are going into a trap. Over the next month, more than 9,000 South Vietnamese troops are killed or wounded, More than two thirds of the South Vietnamese Ar -
Cease Fire
The last American soldier dies in combat, all waring parties in the War sign a cease fire. -
Nixon Resigns
President Richard M. Nixon resigns, and Ford takes office. -
War "Finished"
Speaking in New Orleans, United States President Gerald Ford, announces that as far as the US is concerned, the Vietnam War is "finished." Ford was anticipating the fall of Saigon to Communist forces. -
National Assembly
At the National Assembly, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam names Pham Van Dong its prime minister. Van Dong and his fellow government leaders, all but one are former North Vietnamese officials, take up residence in the nation's new capital Hanoi. -
Pardon to Draft Evaders
President Jimmy Carter extends a full and unconditional pardon to nearly 10,000 men who evaded the Vietnam War draft. -
Report on Agent Orange
US General Accounting Office releases a report indicating that thousands of US troops were exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange. Veterans lobby for investigatin into the long term effects.
