Im 48285

US Involvement in Southeast Asia

By iancoble

  • The Truman Doctrine

    The Truman Doctrine
    This was an address passed by president Truman that the United States would assist any countries that are fighting communism. This would later give America a reason to get involved in Vietnam.

  • First Military Advisors Land in South Vietnam

    First Military Advisors Land in South Vietnam
    The MAAG (Military Assistance Advisory Group) was sent by President Truman to help train the French army during the First Indochina War.

  • Green Berets sent to South Vietnam

    Green Berets sent to South Vietnam
    Under President Kennedy's orders, a handful of helicopters and 400 Green Berets were sent to Vietnam to carry out secret operations against the Viet Cong.

  • Gulf of Tonkin Incident

    Gulf of Tonkin Incident
    On August 2nd, a small group of North Vietnamese torpedo boats opened fire on the destroyer USS Maddox. The Maddox returned fire, sinking one of the three torpedo boats and damaging the other two. Two days later the Maddox fires on what it thinks is another NV torpedo boat. After a few minutes of firing, they realize that they were shooting at nothing.

  • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

    Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
    President Johnson was given the authority to take any means necessary to retaliate and promote international peace/security in Southeast Asia

  • First ground troops established/Operation Rolling Thunder

    First ground troops established/Operation Rolling Thunder
    After the first air bases that were built in South Vietnam, ground forces (3500 marines) were sent to Da Nang to protect them. At the same time, President Johnson ordered a three-year campaign of bombarding North Vietnamese targets called Operation: Rolling Thunder

  • Operation Starlite

    Operation Starlite
    This was the first major offensive made by US forces. 3,500 Marines fought against a Viet Cong regiment for six days. While it diffused the regiment, the Viet Cong quickly rebuilt it.

  • Battle of Ia Drang Valley

    Battle of Ia Drang Valley
    300 Americans were killed in the first large-scale battle of the war. This was the first battle where troops were dropped by helicopter onto the battlefield.

  • Number of ground forces in Vietnam increased

    Number of ground forces in Vietnam increased
    The number of US ground forces in Vietnam is increased to 500,000 in response to multiple attacks on US air fields by Viet Cong

  • The Tet Offensive

    The Tet Offensive
    From February 11-17, 1968, a large-scale attack spanning over 100 cities, targeting US outposts and the US embassy. It's extremely effective and bloody, and it marks the beginning of the withdrawing of troops from Vietnam.