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France relinquishes it’s full control of Vietnam
The negotiations originally stated making Vietnam as a free state began to deteriorate. Eventually after the build up of conflict The Democratic Republic of Vietnam launches its first attack on the French -
French General Etienne Valluy
French General Etienne Valluy attempts to take out the communist Vietminh in one short attack and fails. -
Signing of the Elysée Agreement.
Emperor Bao Dai and President Vincent Auriol sign the Elysée Agreement. In this agreement the French say that they will assist in the creation of an anti-communist army -
Chinese and Soviets
Chinese, Soviets start giving weapons to the Vietminh to fight against the anti-communist parties -
The Vietnamese defeat the french at Dien Bien Phu
The battle lasted 55 days. The death toll of the battle totaled 11,000 people. The total amount injured was 20,000. The Viet Minh were actually losing the battle when the French ordered a cease fire. The Viet Minh had many more dead and injured soldiers. The French could no longer carry on the war. -
The Cancellation of Reunification
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Group 559
A specialized North Vietnamese army unit is formed called group 559. This army unit is created to make a supply route from North to South Vietnam. This route becomes known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail -
President John F. Kennedy
Late 1961- President John F. Kennedy asks for more support from South Vietnam to aid in the war against the Vietcong Guerrillas. The US also aids by adding new equipment and 3,000 military advisors and other soldiers. -
More Troops
US helicopters arrive with extra support and personnel who flew the helicopters -
First combat mission between the US and Vietcong
The first combat mission between the US and Vietcong occurs. US pilots bring 1,000 South Vietnamese soldiers to an NLF (National Liberation Front) stronghold. -
US and South Vietnamese troops ambushed
Guerrilla forces ambush the US and South Vietnamese forces and are successful in killing 400 South Vietnamese Soldiers and 3 US military advisers. -
Overthrow of President Ngo Dinh Diem
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US air power increased
April to June- US air power was increased in Southeast Asia when two aircraft carriers were sent to the Vietnamese coast. This was a response to the North Vietnamese beginning to take over Laos. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The US congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave permission to President Johnson to do whatever was required to defend Southeast Asia. -
Chinese Atomic Bomb
China tests an atomic bomb, which makes the US nervous. This could have been a threat to the US forces because China was an ally to North Vietnam. -
Vietcong mortars
The Vietcong mortars attack Bien Hoa Air Base. In this attack there were 4 Americans killed, 76 were wounded, 5 B-57 bombers were destroyed, and 15 were damaged. -
Series of attacks in South Vietnam
The Vietcong began launching a series of attacks in South Vietnam. For a short time they take control of a village only 40 miles from sargon. -
Navy Bombers
In a response to a US air base being attacked by NLF commandos, President Johnson ordered several Navy bombers to attack the enemies just inside the North Vietnam border. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder begins. It was a series of bombings in North Vietnam. The point of the attacks were to make North Vietnam stop supporting Vietcong Guerrillas. -
Vietcon's transport system
US forces begin to attack the Vietcong’s transport system in an effort to cut off flow of supplies and other forces. -
Peace
US tried to implement an agreement for peace. The US said they would give North Vietnam economic aid in exchange for peace. -
General William Westmoreland
General William Westmoreland orders the first entirely offensive attack by American ground forces. The forces attacked NLF territory near Saigon. -
Operation Starlight
Operation Starlight begins. This is the first major battle of the vietnam war. The US pulls out the victory in this battle. The death toll for the Vietcong was 750, while the US totaled 45 dead. -
The Battle of la Drang
September to October 1965- The battle of Ia Drang occurs. The battle lasted 35 days. This battle consisted of the North Vietnamese army attacking a US Special Forces camp. In the battle the North Vietnamese army must return to their base due to massive casualties. -
Operation Crimp
Operation crimp begins. In this operation 8,000 troops attempt to capture the Saigon Vietcong headquarters. Even though the area was constantly searched. There was no main headquarters found. -
Operation Birmingham
April-May 1966- Operation Birmingham takes place. In this operation there are 5,000 ground troops along with large amounts of air support and artillery such as helicopters and armored vehicles. These forces attack the area around North Saigon. There are multiple small actions between both sides, but only 100 Vietcong are killed. -
The North Vietnamese cross to the Demilitarized Zone
May- June 1966- The North Vietnamese begin to cross the Demilitarized Zone. This causes one of the largest battles of the Vietnam war. In response to this Operation Hastings begins. In this operation many marines are sent in along with many South Vietnamese troops. The marines took advantage of their advanced military equipment to force the enemy out of the Demilitarized Zone in just a few weeks. -
Mid-War Summary
End of 1966- At this time there were 385,000 men stationed in Vietnam as well as another 60,000 sailors standing by. This year, there are more than 6,000 Americans killed and 30,000 wounded. There are also an estimated 61,000 Vietcong killed, but they now have over 280,000 troops. -
American forces attacked
The Vietcong attack American forces. The only thing that prevents this from becoming total devastation is the air and military support -
Con Thien
A large battle occurs at Con Thien, which kills almost 1,300 North Vietnamese troops. -
Operation Attleboro
Operation Attleboro begins, which is where the US 196th brigade and 22,000 South Vietnamese troops begin search and destroy attacks in the Tay Ninh province. There are huge caches of supplies discovered almost as soon as the operations began. During this time there are no head to head conflicts. After 6 weeks the operation ends with 1,000 Vietcong killed and 150 Americans killed. -
Operation Junction City
One of the largest air attacks ever occurs. This air assault is known as operation junction city. In this operation there are 240 helicopters that sweep over the Tay Ninh province. In the mission there are about 5,000 South Vietnam troops and 30,000 US troops. Operation Junction city ends after 72 days. There were large amounts of stores, equipment, and weapons. -
Attack on North Vietnam
US forces began attacking airfields in North Vietnam. There was only one North Vietnamese air base not destroyed. -
Mortar and Rocket Attacks
The North Vietnamese launched mortar and rocket attacks on a a Marine base in Khe Sanh. There were a total of 18 Marines killed and 40 injured. These attacks continued for 2 days. -
Vietcong units go into South Vietnam
January 30-31, 1968- Vietcong units surge into action over the length and breadth of South Vietnam. In more than 100 cities and towns, shock attacks by Vietcong sapper-commandos are followed by wave after wave of supporting troops. By the end of the city battles, 37,000 Vietcong troops deployed for Tet have been killed. Many more had been wounded or captured, and the fighting had created more than a half million civilian refugees. Casualties included most of the Vietcong's best fighters, politic -
Tet Offensive
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Attack on Marine base
Many artillery rounds hit the Marine base at Khe Sanh and its outposts. This attack mortar attack was greater than any others to date. In response to this, bunkers at Khe Sanh are rebuilt to withstand 82mm mortar rounds. -
Loss of Support
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U.S Charlie Company
U.S. Charlie Company kills two hundred civilians. There was only one person involved in the attack that was found guilty. The consequences of this attack affected the entire army. These kinds of attacks made the legitimacy of US ideas come into question. It also made them lose much support that they gained over time. -
Khe Sanh bombed
The north Vietnamese bomb the Khe Sanh. There are over 1,000 rounds that hit the base, at a rate of a hundred every hour. During this attack, electronic sensors around Khe Sanh show NVA troop movements. American forces reacted with heavy bombing on the North Vietnamese. -
Operation Pegasus
U.S. forces in Operation Pegasus finally retake Route 9, ending the siege of Khe Sanh. A 77 day battle, Khe Sanh was the largest battle to date. There were officially 1,600 North Vietnamese Army killed. There were only two divisions remaining. There were probably thousands more killed by the bombings. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
After three-and-a-half years, Operation Rolling Thunder comes to an end. In total, the campaign had cost more than 900 American aircraft. Eight hundred and eighteen pilots are dead or missing, and hundreds are in captivity. Nearly 120 Vietnamese planes have been destroyed in air combat or accidents, or by friendly fire. According to U.S. estimates, 182,000 North Vietnamese civilians have been killed. Twenty thousand Chinese support personnel also have been casualties of the bom -
1,140 Americans killed
North Vietnamese and assault teams and artillery attack American bases throughout South Vietnam. This attack killed 1,140 Americans. South Vietnamese towns and cities are also hit. The heaviest fighting was around Saigon, but there were fights all over South Vietnam. Eventually, American artillery and airpower overwhelmed the Vietcong. -
American troops withdraw
President Nixon met with President Nguyen Van Thieu and decided that 25,000 U.S. troops would be withdrawn immediately. -
Nixon speaking on efforts to negotiate a peace settlement
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South Vietnamese attack Vietcong
The South Vietnamese attack Vietcong bases. Two days later, a U.S. force of 30,000 joined in the attack. Operations in Cambodia last for 60 days, and discover large North Vietnamese jungle supply depots. They captured 28,500 weapons, along with 16 million rounds of small arms ammunition, and 14 million pounds of rice. Most of the Vietcong. Were able to escape, but there were still 10,000 soldiers killed. -
Operation Lam Son 719
Operation Lam Son 719 began. In this operation, three South Vietnamese divisions attack two major enemy bases in Laos. However, this turned out to be a trap. During that month there were over 9,000 South Vietnamese killed. More than two thirds of the South Vietnamese Army's armored vehicles were destroyed, as well as hundreds of U.S. helicopters and planes. -
South Vietnamese DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) targeted
The North Vietnamese Army artillery targeted South Vietnamese across the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) . Over 20,000 NVA troops cross the DMZ. This action made the South Vietnamese units into a retreat behind the demilitarized zone. The South Vietnamese defense completely break down. Intelligence reports had predicted a Northern attack, but no one had expected it to come on the DMZ. -
Vietcong withdrawls
NVA troops seize control of the northern part of Hue. But the 4,000 South Vietnamese men defending Hue, reinforced by elite airborne units, hold their positions and launch furious counterattacks. American B-52 bombers also help with the defense. A month later, Vietcong forces withdraw. -
Operation Linebacker
The US launches a new operation called Operation Linebacker. This operation is a bombing campaign against the North Vietnamese. The operation lasted for 12 days with a three day bombing that involved 120 B-52 bombers. Some of the main targets were large and important air bases. More than 20,000 tons of bombs were dropped on the North Vietnamese. There were 26 planes destroyed as well as 93 pilots killed. The North Vietnamese officially estimated 1,300 to 1,600 dead. -
Last two Americans die in Vietnam war
Two U.S. Marines are killed in a rocket attack at Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport. The last Marines guarding the U.S. embassy are lifted off. Hours later, the embassy is ransacked and North Vietnamese tanks role into Saigon, ending the war. The 15 year war is over with nearly a million NVA and Vietcong troops and a quarter of a million South Vietnamese soldiers have died. Hundreds of thousands of civilians had been killed. -
End of the War
