Vietnam War

Geneva Accord

Jul 21, 1954

The Geneva Accords creates a cease-fire for the peaceful withdrawal of the French from Vietnam and provides a temporary boundary between North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel. sites.google.com-

Guerilla Strike at Bienhoa

Jul 8, 1959

This marks the day that the first Americans were killed in South Vietnam. American troops were there to provide military assistance and were killed when guerilla attacked. Their names were Ruiz and Ovnand. army.togetherweserved.com-

Two additional American aviation units arrive to South Vietnam

Feb 7, 1962

American military strength reaches 4,000 in South Vietnam. blogs.sacbee.com-

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

Aug 20, 1964

This even helped lead to great U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Three North Vietnamese boats fired torpedoes at the USS Maddox. vi.uh.edu-

Congress authorizes the new President

Dec 16, 1964

Congress authorizes President Johnson to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression." The US wages total war against North Vietnam. ghostsofdc.org-

The first combat troops arrive in Vietnam

Mar 8, 1965

U.S. Marines land ay Da Nang. The Marines arrived to man the U.S. base to free the South Vietnamese up for combat. www.mtholyoke.edu-

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

Aug 7, 1965

Johnson asks for and Congress approves the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. This prepared the way for massive U.S. involvement because it allowed virtually unlimited power to the president to conduct war in Vietnam. www.flickriver.com-

Americans protest

Mar 1, 1966

Americans protested against the US policy in Vietnam continue and students were joined by veterans in Anti-War Rallies. Americans protested very strongly against the war. www.flickr.com-

Tet Offensive

Jan 31, 1968

A series of attacks on all U.S. military bases. The Vietcong gained a victory, not necessarily militarily but psychologically. These attacks showed the U.S. the war was not as close to being over as they had thought. www.armchairgeneral.com-

Death of Ho Chi Minh

Sep 2, 1969

President Ho Chi Minh of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam dies of a heart attack in Hanoi. North Vietnamese officials announced his death the next day.
Ho Chi Minh had been the heart and soul of Vietnamese communism since the earliest days of the movement.
www.bbc.co.uk-

Nixon announces U.S. troops will attack Cambodia

Apr 30, 1970

President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparks nationwide protests, especially on college campuses. en.wikipedia.org-

Pentagon Papers

Mar 16, 1971

Daniel Ellsberg published the pentagon papers, the U.S. military's account of theater activities during the war, effectively dong away with public support for the war. This eventually led to the Watergate Scandal and Nixon's resignation. www.nytexaminer.com-

Christmas Bombing

Dec 18, 1972

129 U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers and other Air Force and Marine tactical support aircraft began eleven days of brutal attacks on North Vietnam to try and force their agreement to Nixon and Henry Kissinger's attempt at peace. www.davidmixner.com-

Paris Peace Accords

Jun 27, 1973

The Paris Peace Accords of 1973 intended to establish peace in Vietnam and an end to the Vietnam War, ended direct U.S. military involvement, and temporarily stopped the fighting between North and South Vietnam. nation-building.jeremisuri.net-

Henry Kissinger wins Nobel Peace Prize

Dec 7, 1973

Kissinger, Secretary of State during the war, won the prize for his attempts at bringing peace. simple.wikipedia.org-