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Vietnam War
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Viet Minh First Attack
Viet Minh, guerilla force, attacks French military outpose in town of Dien Bien Phu, starting a two month battle -
Geneva Convention
Vietnam divides into South and North until next nationwide election in 1956 occurs. United States does not accept agreement terms and refuses to sign -
First American Deaths
During a guerilla raid, the first two American deaths reported of military advisors. After this incident, the US doubled the amount of advisors in Vietnam -
First US Combat death
After Nixon and Johnson pledge military support and increase the number of military advisors from 1960-1961, the first US combat troop death were reported and for many Americans, this was the starting point of the war. -
Diem Overthrown
Vietnam President Diem was overthrown and assassinated alongside his brother by South Vietnamese General Duong Van Minh with approval from the United States. Important to the war because South Vietnam couldn't stabilize and the US's inflence made South Vietnam look as "supporters of colonialism" to North Vietnam. This turning point in the wa because the US had not known about the plan to assassinate and the people of America began to oppose the war -
Kennedy Assassination
President JFK was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Texas. This left the Vietnam problem up to his Vice President Johnson who decided to continue on with former President Kennedy's Vietnam policies until 1964 when American involvement and participation in war decreased. -
Gulf of Tonkin
Three North Vietnamese boats fire torpedoes at US destroyer with another attack happening 2 days later. Resolution of incident is approved on August 7th allowing Johnson to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression." Important because it allowed US to begin all out war without securing a formal declaration of war from Congress -
Operation Rolling Thunder
After Viet Cong attack on US air force base, continuous air raids and bombardment campaign was set out to destroy transportation system and stop flow of supplies and men into the South -
Mass Demonstration
The first mass demonstration against the US involvement in the Vietnam war took place with "teach-ins" rallies, and speeches -
Troop levels
After a whole year of American troops in Vietnam, deployment rate reaches up to 400,000 with more than 6000 and 30,000 troops killed or wounded. -
King against War
Martin Luthr King, Jr. delivers a speech to over 100,000 against US foreign policy, influencing and gaining support for and against US involvement in Vietnam -
Tet Offensive
North Vietnam supports Viet Cong as they begin attacking 100 South Vietnamese cities and towns on country's holiday. The US lost 2500 soldiers and as result, request for 206,000 more troops made public support for the war plunge. -
My Lai
US Soldiers massacre 347 civilians in Vietnam, isn't publicly released until November which brought unpopular opinions of Johnson and resulted in his choice of not running for second term. -
Cambodia
Cambodia attacked by American and South Vietnam troops to destroy ases that possibly supply aid, resulting in over 10,00 Viet Cong deaths and thousands of weapons retrieved. -
Ground forces leave
The lst US ground troops leave Vietnam and al that remails are airmen, advisors, and support personnel. -
War Officially Ends
The last U.S combat soldier leaves officially ending the war with Vietnam and United States. -
Fall of Saigon
After throusands flee Saigon to escape invasion by North Vietnam, the North win and the war in Vietnam has come to an end.
