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Dien Bien Phu
The French surrender after a 55 day battle at Dien Bien Phu. The casualties for the French were 3000 kia and 8000 wia. The casualties for the Viet Minh were 8000 kia and 12000 wia. This battle marked the end of the French's involvement in Vietnam. -
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Vietnam War Timeline
Vietnam war TimelineThe Vietnam War lasted 19 years and 180 days -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
In the year of 1959 a specialized NVA unit, Group 559, was tasked to build a supply line into South Vietnam. The trail was built along the Cambodia border. It was one of the most intricate and secret supply lines in history. -
Operation Chopper
In this operation the U.S. helped the SVA. They flew over 1000 SVA troops to take out an NLF stronghold near Saigon. THis was America's first military operation of the Vietnam War. -
USS Maddox Attacked
The captain of the USS Maddox reported being fired upon, but later it was found out that they were not fired upon. Thinking that an attack was imminant President Johnson ordered the bombing of North Vietnam. Three days later Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. -
Binh Gia
The Vietcong attack multiple cities in South Vietnam. The most important was Binh Gia a small town 40 miles away from Saigon. Although the SVA won they lost 200 men along with 5 American advisors. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was a limited but long lasting series of bombing raids against the NVA and Vietcong supply trail. President Johnson authorized it himself. The main bomber that was used was the B-52. -
General William Westmorland
During the Vietnam War General William Westmorland was the general of all ground troups. On this day he launched the first truely offensive campaign against the NVA. His plan was to sweep NLF territory just northwest of Saigon. -
Operation Starlite
A Vietcong deserter informs American forces of a major attack on Chu Lai. The Marines then launch Operation Starlite. The battle was a major victory for U.S. forces losing only 45 KIA and 200 WIA. The Vietcong lost around 700 KIA. -
Operation Crimp
Operation Crimp was the U.S.' largest military operation of the war. the U.S. deployed 8000 troops to attempt to capture the Vietcong's headquarters in Chu Chi. Despite all of the patrolls they failed to find the main headquarters. -
Operation Hastings
In late May and June of 1966 the NVA crossed the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). They encounter a Marine battalion and hold their ground in the largest battle to this date. The 3rd Marine Division, 5 battalions with 5000 men. set out on Operation Hastings. The Marines with the help of the SVA, Naval Warships, and the Air Force force the NVA back over the DMZ in 3 weeks. -
Operation Cedar Falls
Operation Cedar Falls was organized to drive the Vietcong out of what had become to be known as the Iron Triangle, a 60 square mile area between the Saigon River and Route 13. 16000 American along with 14000 SVA move into the Iron Triangle but encounter little resistance. They capture large amounts of enemy supplies. 72 Americans were killed but mostly by snipers and booby traps. Around 720 Vietcong are killed. -
The Tet Offensive
During the Tet holiday the SVA agreed to a stop the fighting for a couple of days. However, the NVA and Veitcong mounted huge attacks on more than 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam.The attacks were quick and deadly by the Vietcong sapper-commandos followed by wave after wave of supporting troops. over 37000 of the Vietcongs best troops are killed, captured, or wounded. For them this attack is a catastrophe. For the Americans who lost 2500 troops it is a major blow to public support. -
Khe Sanh
Although the attacks on Khe Sanh started on January 21 the brunt of the attack happened March 22. Without any warning Khe Sanh is slamed by more than 1000 artilary round, around 100 an hour. Then American sensors picked up NVA movement in the jungles near Khe Sanh. They responded with swift bombing raids to drive them away. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Comes to an End
After 3 and 1 half years of the operation, Operation Rolling Thunder, it comes to an end. Over 900 American aircraft are lost during the operation. 818 pilots are dead or missing and hundreds more are captured. Almost 120 Vietnamese planes have been destroyed. The U.S. also estimated that 182000 North Vietnamese civilians were killed along with 20000 Chinese support personnel. -
Operation Menu
In February of 1969 President Nixon orders for Operation Menu. This operation was the bombing of NVA and Vietcong bases in Cambodia. Over half of a million tons of bombs were droped on Cambodia. -
Hill 937 aka Hamburger Hill
In May of 1969 U.S. command ordered the capture of Hill 937 or Hamburger Hill as it bacame known. Command ordered a frontal assault with mainly airborne troops. The NVA along with the terrain, weather, friendly fire by U.S. troops, and accidents were able to repell attack after attack until finally the airborne troops caused so many NVA casualties that they surrendered. The final head count was U.S. 72 KIA, 372 WIA. NVA 675 KIA 3 captured. -
Operation Lam Son 719
During OPeration Lam Son 719 3 SVA divisions attacked 2 enemy bases near Laos only to walk into an NVA trap. In that month over 9000 SVA troops were killed or wounded. Also 2/3 of SVA armor is destroyed along with over 100 U.S. aircraft. -
Battle for Hue City
ON April 13th NVA forces use a tank spearhead attack and take the northern part of Hue. 4000 SVA troops along with elite airborne troops launch counterattacks. With the help of B-52 bombers the SVA drive the Vietcong out of Hue. -
U.S. Troops Pull Out
The last U.S. combat troops leave Vietnam though they leave behind a few Military advisors and Marines. They leave the Marines to defend U.S. held teritory in Vietnam. Out of the 3 million Americans who served 58000 were KIA, 1000 are MIA, and 150000 were WIA. -
The War is Over
At 4:03 a.m. the final two Marines were killed at Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport. These were the last casualties of the Vietnam War. Hours after the final Americans left They NVA rolled into Saigon and tooke over the South. Seven years later a Memorial Wall was built in Washington D.C. to remember the brave men who fought and died to try and preserve democracy in Vietnam.
