-
Vietnam is freed from French Indochina
Vietnam was part of French Indochina from 1880 to 1945 -
Japan surrendered to the allies
Japan formally surrenders to the allie -
Vietnam declares its independence
The same day japan formally surrenders, Vietnam declares its independence. -
US paying 80% of the war in Indochina
Truman determined to block any further communism, calls for an increase in military to aid French Indochina. -
Viet Minh launched surprise attack on a large French military base
Decisive battle of war begins when Viet Minh launched a surprise attack on a large French military base, located in the mountains of northern Vietnam. -
Geneva Accords
French and Viet Minh signed the Geneva Accords. Under these accords the fighting stopped, and Vietnam was temporarily split under the 17th Parallel. -
Viet Minh overrun French Base
Viet Minh finally overran the French base, shattering French morale. -
Viet Cong
Viet Minh formed a group called National Liberation Front and invited all opponents of Diem to join. Diem referred to the group as Viet Cong, slang for "Vietnamese communist", -
Buddhist Rally
Buddhist rally opposing Diem's policies, South Vietnamese police killed nine demonstrators. -
Johnson approves
Johnson approved covert attacks on radar stations along North Vietnam's coast. -
LBJ responds
After the Viet Cong attacked a U.S. air base in the south. LBJ responds by ordering the hbombing of barracks and military staging areas north of the 17th parallel. -
Johnson Americanizes the war
3,500 U.S. marines waded ashore at a beach near Da Nang, South Vietnam. This is the first time U.S. combat troops had set foot in Vietnam.
