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Defeat of The French
After defeat of French at Dien Bien Phu, Geneva Agreements provide for withdrawal of French and Vietminh to either side of demarcation zone pending reunification elections, which are never held. Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy send civilian advisers and, later, military personnel to train South Vietnamese. -
The Diem Era
The Diem Era started in the sumemr of 1955. Diem was a Roman Catholic and an anti-communist. Ngo Ding Diam was the president of South Vietnam at the time. -
Period: to
The Vietnam War
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Political Repression
During this time between 1955-1957 more than 12,000 suspected opponents were killed. The regime branded its opponents to degrade their nationalist credentials. -
Diem visits the United States
Ngo Dinh Diem visited the U.S. in May of 1957. In the picture, President Dwight D. Eisenhower geets Diem. THis picture was taken in Washington on May 8, 1957. He took a ten day visit to the United States. -
Imprisonment
By the end of 1958, Diem had imprisoned more than 40,000 political prisoners. Some were either arrested, imprisonend, tortured, or executed. Many had been given the death penalty. -
Election of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy beat Richard Nixon in the presidential Election. He barely defeated him in the running. He won with a 303 to 219 vote lead in the Electoral College. -
Johnson Visits Diem
Vice President, Lyndon Johnson visits some Asian countires, including Saigon. Johnson visited Ngo Dinh Diem, President of South Vietnam. Johnson assures Diem that he is crucial to US objectives in Vietnam and calls him "The Churchill of Asia." -
US Military Employs Agent Orange
The US Military began using Agent Orange. Agent Orange was a defoliant that came in metal orange containers. It was used to expose roads and trails used by the Viet Cong soldiers.
-The Picture shows a US plane that would drop the Agent Orange chemical. -
The Victory of Ap Bac
At the hamlet of Ap Bac, the Vietcong 514th Battalion and local guerrilla forces ambush the South Vietnamese Army's 7th division.The Vietcong stand their ground against American machinery and South Vietnamese soldiers for the first time. Almost 400 South Vietnamese are killed or wounded. -
The Death of Diem
Ngo Dinh Diem was slain/ kiled on November 1, 1963. He was the president for South Korea. He was slain in Coup. -
Vietcong Bombing
Two days before the U.S. presidential election, Vietcong mortars fire down on Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. Four Americans are killed, 76 wounded. Five B-57 bombers were destroyed, and 15 were damaged. -
Operation "Rolling Thunder"
The bombing raids started to happen during this time in 1965. The raids were close to North Vietnam and started happening around February. These raids went on for the next three years. -
The U.S Planes Soldiers in Combat
U.S. planes begin combat missions over South Vietnam. In June, 23,000 American advisers committed to combat. By end of year over 184,000 U.S. troops in area. -
Operation Crimp
U.S. forces launch Operation Crimp. Deploying nearly 8,000 troops, it is the largest American operation of the war. The goal is to capture the Vietcong's headquarters for the Saigon area, which is located in the district of Chu Chi. Though the area in Chu Chi is razed and repeatedly patrolled, American forces fail to locate any significant Vietcong base. -
Operation Birmingham
More than 5,000 U.S. troops, backed by huge numbers of helicopters and armored vehicles, sweep the area around north of Saigon. There are small actions between both armies, but over a three week period, only 100 Vietcong are killed. Most battles are dictated by the Vietcong, who prove elusive. -
Operation Cedar Falls
America forces begin Operation Cedar Falls, which is intended to drive Vietcong forces from the Iron Triangle. Nearly 16,000 American troops and 14,000 soldiers of the South Vietnamese Army move into the Iron Triangle, but they encounter no major resistance. Over 19 days, 72 Americans are killed, victims mostly of snipers emerging from concealed tunnels and booby traps. Seven hundred and twenty Vietcong are killed. -
Paris Peace Talks Begin
There had been a long period of debate and discussion. North Vietnamese and American negotiators agree on a location and start date of peace talks. Talks had begun in Paris on May 10 with W. Averell Harriman representing the United States, and former Foreign Minister Xuan Thuy heading the North Vietnamese delegation. -
525,000 Men in Vietnam
U.S. has almost 525,000 men in Vietnam. Viet Cong guerrillas attacked Saigon, Hue, and some provincial capitals. In My Lai massacre, American soldiers kill 300 Vietnamese villagers. President Johnson orders halt to U.S. bombardment of North Vietnam. -
Choosing of Troops
The Congress bars use combat troops, but not air power, in Laos and Cambodia. South Vietnamese troops, with U.S. air cover, fail in Laos thrust. Many American ground forces withdrew from Vietnam combat. -
Nixon's Orders
Nixon responds to North Vietnamese drive across DMZ by ordering mining of North Vietnam ports and heavy bombing of Hanoi-Haiphong area. Nixon orders “Christmas bombing” of North to get North Vietnamese back to conference table.
