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South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam
On October 26, 1955 with the newly elected president, Ngo Dinh Diem, South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam.
Pictured is the South Vietnam flag. -
The National Liberation Front established
On December 20, 1960 the National Liberation Front (NLF), also called the Viet Cong was established in South Vietnam.
Pictured is the Viet Cong flag. -
President Ngo Dinh Diem executed
In a CIA-backed operation President Ngo Dinh Diem and his younger brother Ngo Dihn Nhu were arrested after a bloody siege on Gia Long Palace in Saigon. The brothers soon after escaped into a loyalist shelter. The brothers would soon surrender after being promised safe exile. Once in custody they were both executed instantly in the back of an armored personnel carrier. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, also known as the USS Maddox Incident, was an attack on the United States by North Vietnam. The incident was actually two separate incidents. One on August 2 and the other on August 4. These events both involved naval attacks on United States ships, no U.S. casualties took place during either conflict. This lead to the passing of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was significant because it gave President Lyndon B. Johnson authorization to use military forces in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was a sustained aerial bombing campaign on North Vietnam. It was a joint effort between the U.S. 2nd Air Division, U.S. Navy, and Republic of Vietnam Air Force. It was designed to destroy transportation systems, industrial bases, and air defenses. The operation lasted from March 2, 1965 to November 2 1968. -
U.S. Troops Arrive
With the authority gained by the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution President Johnson decided to escalate the Vietnam Conflict in response to the Gulf of Tonkin incident. 3,500 U.S. Marines landed near Da Nang in South Vietnam. They were the first boots on the ground in the Vietnam War. -
Operation Cedar Falls
This massive operation was a search and destroy mission to eradicate the "Iron Triangle", a major strong hold of the Viet Cong. The operation lasted from January 8, 1967 to January 28, 1967. -
The Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War. The forces of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army launched surprise attacks against South Vietnam, the U.S., and their allies. The focus of the attacks were on military and civilian commands and control centers throughout South Vietnam. -
My Lai massacre
This was a terrible mass murdering that claimed the lives of 347-504 unarmed civilians in South Vietnam. It was carried out by the U.S. Army, and has since been called "the most shocking episode of the Vietnam War". -
U.S. troops reach 540,000 in Vietnam
By December 1968 the total number of troops on the ground in the Vietnam War reached 540,000. -
First Withdrawls ordered
In July of 1969, President Nixon ordered the first troops to be withdrawn from Vietnam. The first to be withdrawn was the U.S. 9th Infantry Division. These 814 soldiers would be the first of 25,000 to leave during the first stage of disengagement. -
Ho Chi Minh dies
On September 2, 1969 at 9:47am Ho Chi Minh dies of heart failure in his home. Ho Chi Minh was a communist revolutionary leader who served as President of North Vietnam from 1945 to his death in 1969. -
Public learns the truth about the My Lai massacre
The initial reports of the incident were not accurate and described the events to be a victory for the troops involved. This cover up of the events would not be made public until November 13, 1969. The reaction from the public was understandably outraged, and sparked an even further discourse about the involvement of the U.S. in this war. -
The Easter Offensive
The Easter Offensive was a military operation from North Vietnam against South Vietnam and the United States. The operation lasted from March 30, 1972 until October 22, 1972. The strategic plans of the offensive were to not win the war, but to gain territory and destroy as many units as possible. This was to improve their negotiation status in the Paris Peace Accords. -
The Paris Peace Accords signed
The Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27, 1973. This was to establish peace and bring an end to the Vietnam War. The signing would stop fighting temporarily between North and South Vietnam, as well as ended the U.S. direct involvement in the war. -
Last troops withdrawn
On March 29, 1973 the last troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. Ending the U.S. forces direct involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Massive assault on South Vietnam
In March of 1975 North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam. This would inevitably lead to the surrender of South Vietnam. -
South Vietnam surrenders
After being overrun by North Vietnamese forces in numerous battles since the new assault, the South Vietnamese were too weak to put up much of a fight. On April 30, 1975 the Presidential Palace was swarmed and the war was over. South Vietnam surrendered over to communist rule. -
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
On July 2, 1976 Vietnam is unified as a communist country under the name The Socialist Republic of Vietnam. -
The Vietnam Verterans Memorial
Built in Washington D.C. this memorial is designed to honor the 58,000 American service members who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.
