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French Rampage
Ho Chi Minh declares himself president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and is ignored by President Truman. French soldiers are released by the British from Japanese camps where they were previously held. The French go on to lead a dangerous rampage in South Vietnam. This event shows the violence and tension occuring in South Vietnam. -
First American Death
Officer Lt. Col. A. Peter Dewey is killed by Viet Minh guerrillas who beleived he was a French officer. Dewey had previously filed a report stating Vietnam was becoming increasingly dangerous and the Americans should clear out of Southeast Asia. -
Haiphong Harbor
The French release an attack on the Viet Minh at the Haiphong Harbor. The French then occupy Hanoi. This causes Ho Chi Minh and his Viet Minh forces to go hide in the jungle. -
First Indochina War
30,000 Viet Minh launch their first large attack on the French. This begins an eight year time period known as the First Indochina War. Both sides were prepared for a long fight. -
China Sends Weapons
China begins to send weapons and military advisors to the Viet Minh. Many of the weapons were made in America and belonged to the Chinese Nationalists after their defeat by Mao. The new equiptment allows the Viet Minh to become a strong conventional army unit. -
McCarthyism
In America, the idea of McCarthyism begins when Senator Joseph R. McCarthy claims that the U.S. State Department harbors communists. Other politicians begin to become strict against the idea of communism. -
U.S. Ground Troops to Korea
President Truman sends US ground troops into Korea after communists invade South Korea. Truman says the invasion is a "Moscow-backed attack by "monolithic world communism". -
U.S. Military Involvement
This is when the US military becomes involved in Vietnam. President Harry Truman authorizes over $15 million in military aid to the French people. -
President Kennedy
President Kennedy sends 400 American Green Beret "Special Adivisors" to South Vietnam to train soldiers how to defend themselves against the Viet Cong guerrillas. The Viet Cong launch several attacks on the South Vietnamese and Diem (a leader in South Vietnam) asks for more support from the U.S. -
Kennedy Supports Vietnamese
Kennedy is detemined to help Vietnam keep its independence. He sends extra advisors and helicopters. U.S. military members lead the Vietnamese troops in battle. Kennedy claims he is keeping a communist take over from occuring. He will approve sending over 16,000 military advisors. -
Diem
South Vietnam leader Diem is planned to be assasinated. the U.S. decides there is not much they can do to stop this, Reberl generals find and kill Diem because they feel he is running the country into the ground. The U.S. agrees and stands by. The U.S. promises not to interfere with the actual assasination and to continue to aid South Vietnam under new leadership. -
Kennedys Assasination
President Kennedy is assasinated in Dallas, Texas. President Johnson is now the 36th president and is now in control of coping with Vietnam. He has to try and control the escalation of the war and work with the same aid policies in affect. By the end of the year there are over 16,300 American military advisors in South Vietnam. -
Operation Plan 34A
The Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army and successfully spreading the war throughout South Vietnam. Johnson approves Operation Plan 34A which allows the South Vietnamese soldierst to use American made boats to harass radar sites along the North Vietnam coastline. -
Viet Cong Terrorist Attack
Viet Cong terrorists set off a car bomb for 5:45 pm at the Brinks hotel where American officers are staying. The bomb goes off and kills two people and wounds another fifty-eight. President Johnson dismisses his retaliating air strike attacks on North Vietnam. -
Bombing of North Vietnam
President Johnson approves a bombing of North Vietnamese army site in retaliation to the many attacks on American soldiers by Viet Cong terrorists. -
Withdrawal
President Nixon orders the withdrawal of 35,000 soldiers in South Vietnam. He also reduces the amount of draft calls. This is when the war is begining to come to and end. -
President Nixon
President Nixon is elected the 37th president. He talks a lot about peace and about how the greatest title one can receive is that of a peacemaker. Later he threatens to continue bombing North Vietnam after Viet Cong offenses in the South.
