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Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Vietnamese occupied French forces at Dien Bien Phu and the French cease fire. The battle lasted 55 days, but the Vietnamese victory forced France to withdraw their military. -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
(No Specified Date) During 1959, the first American casualties in Vietnam took place. Also the Ho Chi Minh Trail, along the Vietnamese/Cambodian border was first used. -
Agent Orange
1961 was the first time Agent Orange was introduced to the Vietnam War. Agent orange was a mixture of chemicals that was designed by the US to kill foreign armies and their crops. Agent orange was distributed via helicopter flight and killed so many Vietnamese. -
JFK Gets Involved
JFK got involved and suggested US troops move into Vietnam in greater numbers. This included new weapons and equipment. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which allowed for President Johnson to take over power and help Southeast Asia in whatever way he seemed fit. -
Atomic Bomb in China?
China tests the first atomic bomb, leading to a change in the game of war, being North Vietnam's allying neighbor. -
NLF Attack on American Base
The NLF attacked an American advisory compound and helicopter base killing and wounding many Americans. President Johnson immediately calls for naval attack on North Vietnam. -
Operation Crimp
The largest operation of the war so far by the US launching 8000 troops into Vietnam. The Americans are told to conquer Vietcong's headquarters for the Saigon area and appear to be unsiccessful. -
A New Vietnamese President
By 1967 there were 490,000 US troops in Vietnam. Ngyuen Van Thieu became the new South Vietnam president during this time. -
Battle of Khe Sanh
Operation Pegasus ends Khe Sanh. This was a 77 day battle was the biggest battle of the war yet. Two divisions of the Vietnamese army were killed, 1600 men. -
Richard M. Nixon
With President Nixon taking office, his promise was to achieve "Peace With Honor." He wanted to negotiate a settlement that took 500,000 US troops out of Vietnam while still keeping South Vietnam intact. Later on in 1969, Nixon announces the start of US withdrawal leaving 480,000 troops in Vietnam so far. -
The Start of the 70s
Four student protestors were shot dead at Kent State University and there were large anti-war revolts in America. Meanwhile, there were secret talks of peace taking place in Paris. -
US Retreat
There are now only approximately 140,000 US troops in Vietnam, about two thirds have been brought home just in the past two or three years. Most of the responsibility is with South Vietnam at this point. -
Falling Apart?
Peacce treaty talks with North Vietnam and the US breakdown. By December 18, 1972 the president had already ordered a new bombing campaign. There were many Americans killed/captured and many Vietnamese ended up dead. -
Paris is Back
Peace talks in Paris are resumed after the bombing attack, and a ceasefire is signed. Later on in March, 1973, the war is officially over for Americans. 3 million Americans served in the war, 58,000 dead, 1,000 Missing in Action, and 150,000 are wounded. -
The End of the War
On this day, two US Marines were killed via rocket attack on Saigon's airport. They were the final American casualties of the war. North Vietnamese tanks come into Saigon officially ending the war. Nearly 1,000,000 NVA and Vietcong troops and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers have died. Hundreds of thousands of civilians had been killed. -
Vietnam Memorial in 1982
I thought it would be interesting to add the unveiling of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC. I have physically been to this memorial and it is quite beautiful. Seeing the names of the soldiers on the wall is touching and remembering what they did for our country is extremely powerful.
