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The Beginning
Vietnamese forces occupy the post at Dien Bien Phu, where the french commander ordered his troops to cease fire. The battle lasted 55 days and more vietnamese people died than the french. However, the vietnamese victory ruined France's resolve to carry on the war. -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
A north vietnamese army unit is formed to create a supply route from North Vietnam to Vietcong forces in South Vietnam. Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia approved of their plan and it became known as the Ho Chi Minh trail. -
President Kennedy Provides Aid to South Vietnam
President John F. Kennedy ordered more help for the South Vietnamese government in its war against the Vietcong guerrillas. U.S. backing included new equipment and over 3,000 military advisors and supporters. -
America's first combat mission against Vietcong
In Operation Chopper, helicopters flown by U.S. Army pilots transport 1,000 South Vietnamese soldiers to clear a Vietcong quarter near Saigon. It marked America's first combat missions against the Vietcong. -
Battle at Ap Bac
At the Battle of Ap Bac, the Vietcong 514th Battalion and local guerrilla forces ambushed the South Vietnamese Army's 7th division. The Vietcong stood their ground against American machinery and South Vietnamese soldiers. About 400 south vietnamese were killed and wounded, while 3 american advisors were slain. -
Before Election Day
Few Days before election day the Vietcong destroy Bien Hoa Air Base and kill 4 americans near saigon. Also 76 american were injured, five b-57 bombers are ruined and 15 are damaged. -
South Vietnamese Forces Lose 200 men
Vietcong forces attacked many across South Vietnam. They briefly seized control of Binh Gia, which is a village only 40 miles from Saigon. Two hundred South Vietnamese troops were killed near Binh Gia as well as with five American advisors. -
Operation Crimp
The US Positioned nearly 8,000 troops and it was the largest American operation of the war. The goal of the campaign was to capture the Vietcong's headquarters in the Saigon area, which was said to be located in the district of Chu Chi. However, American forces failed to locate any real Vietcong base. -
Operation Cedar Falls
America forces began Operation Cedar Falls, which is intended to drive Vietcong forces from the Iron Triangle, a 60 square mile area lying between the Saigon River and Route 13. 16,000 American troops and 14,000 soldiers of the South Vietnamese Army moved into the Iron Triangle, but they encountered no major fights. Huge quantities of enemy supplies were found. 72 Americans were killed, due to snipers and booby traps, but 720 Vietcong were killed. -
Vietcong Attacks
The Vietcong launched surprise attacks during the Tet new year. They attacked the major cities, towns, and american bases. Over 30,000 vietcong troops were killed. -
Americans Attacked
President Nixon promised "Peace with Honor" however the vietcong didn't care much for his message. American bases were attacked and over 1000 americans were killed. -
South Vietnamese Troops attack in Cambodia
South Vietnamese troops attack into Cambodia looking forVietcong bases. A few days later U.S. force of 30,000 mounted a second attack. Operations in Cambodia lasted for about 2 months, and they uncovered a lot of North Vietnamese jungle supply depots. There were many weapons found. -
Operation Lam Son 719
Three south vietnamese divisions went into Laos to take control of the enemy bases. Without knowing they walked into a North Vietnamese trap and over 9000 south vietnamese troops were killed, -
Operation Line Backer Two
This operation lasted for 12 days and there were 3 days of bombing with the orders of the president. according to North Vietnam over 1000 people died. -
The End
At 4:03 a.m., two U.S. Marines were killed in a rocket attack at Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport. They were the last Americans to die in the Vietnam War. The last Marines of the force guarding the U.S. embassy leave. A couple hours later looters ransack the embassy, and North Vietnamese tanks role into Saigon, ending the war. In 15 years, a million NVA and Vietcong troops and a quarter of a million South Vietnamese soldiers died. Hundreds of thousands of civilians had been killed.
