Troops marsh mekong delta south vietnam 1967

Vietnam War

By cole33w
  • Viet Cong Is Beefing Up Its Army.

    Viet Cong Is Beefing Up Its Army.

    The Viet Cong starts to gain more members and more power they had about 80000-100000 members to this point. During this the US just has to sit there and watch as they do this.
  • First US troops are sent to Vietnam for the first time.

    First US troops are sent to Vietnam for the first time.

    The catalyst for the US escalation in Vietnam was started when Lyndon Johnson was elected. Lyndon had shifted all of his focus on the Vietnam war.
  • The US Starts To Send More Soldiers To Vietnam.

    The US Starts To Send More Soldiers To Vietnam.

    Because the offensive missions needed more people than a defensive mission the US started to send more soldiers. By the end on 1965 the US went from 3500 troops to 180000.
  • The US Begins To Go On The Offensive.

    The US Begins To Go On The Offensive.

    In the beginning of the United State's time in Vietnam they were just told to stay there and protect the military bases in South Vietnam. Some generals thought that this was a terrible idea and so they eventually started going on the offensive.
  • US Launches Operation Flaming Dart.

    US Launches Operation Flaming Dart.

    This was a series of bombing runs in North Vietnam. They did this to respond to the Viet Cong attacks.
  • US Launches Operation Rolling Thunder.

    US Launches Operation Rolling Thunder.

    This operation would last for more than three years! During this attack they flew more than 300000 sorties over North Vietnam. They also dropped over 864000 tons of bombs on North Vietnam. It also killed at least 80000-125000 people.
  • US Marines Land In Vietnam.

    US Marines Land In Vietnam.

    On March 8th about 3500 US marines landed in Vietnam at China Beach. These kind of arrivals would continue throughout 1965.
  • US Launches First Major Offensive Attack.

    US Launches First Major Offensive Attack.

    This offensive was called Operation Starlight. The Us easily with its 5000 men decimated the 2000 North Vietnamese men near Chu Lai. They ether killed or captured more than a quarter of them.
  • US Soldiers Have First Major Engagement WIth Normal NVA.

    US Soldiers Have First Major Engagement WIth Normal NVA.

    The first major engagement with NVA for the US took place in the Drang River Valley in central Vietnam. The US needed 2 regiments and air support to hold the NVA off.
  • US Focuses on Search And Destroy Missions.

    US Focuses on Search And Destroy Missions.

    From late 1965 the US had begun using search and destroy mission tactics. They would go into hot zones usually killing anyone who was in their way and they would either set up ambushes or mines.
  • The US Expands In Vietnam.

    The US Expands In Vietnam.

    They started 1966 off with Operation Crimp in Binh Duong. This operation involved 8000 men. The objective of this mission was to locate a significant Viet Cong base but they failed.
  • The US Death Toll Rises Greatly.

    The US Death Toll Rises Greatly.

    From 1965-60 there was only 9 deaths in Vietnam. in 1661 that Death toll rose to 16 and it was just up from there. In 1964 The death toll was up to 206 deaths. And fast forward to 1967 there was 11,153 deaths.