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French Aid
President Harry Truman sends military group of 35 men to aid French fighting to maintain colonial power in Vietnam. -
Attack on U.S.
North Vietnamese torpedo boats attack U.S. destroyer at Gulf of Tonkin. President Johnson orders air strikes. U.S. planes begin combat mission over Southern Vietnam. Gained 184,000 troops by the end of the year. B-52's used by North V. on South V. -
U.S. Gains Upper Hand
U.S. has almost 525,000 total troops in Veitnam. Viet Cong guerrillas attack Saigon, Hue and some provincial capitals. During My Lai Massacre 300 Vietnamese villagers are killed by U.S. soldiers. President Nixon offers Vietnam peace offer, beginning with troop withdrawl. -
1971
After invasion of Cambodia, congress bars use of combat troops. South Vietnemese troops fail in Loas thrust. Many American ground forces withdraw from combat. Nixon orders mining of North ports and heavy bombing because of North's drive across DMZ -
Longest War in U.S. History
Nixon orders halt to offensive operations in North Vietnam. Reps from North and South Vietnam. U.S., and N.L.F. sign peace pacts in paris. All American troops out of Vietnam. -
Broken Agreement
Sides accuse eachother of breaking agreement. Warfare resumes. South Vietnam premier Nguyen Van Thieu resigned. Southern government surrenders to North. U.S. evacuated more than 140,000 Vietnemese refugees. Provisional Revolutioniary Government takes control. Election of National Assembly paves way for reunification of North and South.
