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US trains South Vietnamese
The US Military decides to take responsibility from the French for training South Vietnamese forces. -
Vietcong Formed
The Viet Cong was a political organization and an army in South Vietnam and Cambodia that fought the United States and South Vietnamese governments. -
Vice President Johnson Tours Saigon
In May 1961, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson visited Saigon and enthusiastically declared Diem the "Winston Churchill of Asia." Asked why he had made the comment, Johnson replied, "Diem's the only boy we got out there." Johnson assured Diem of more aid in molding a fighting force that could resist the communists. -
Operation Ranchhand
Objective to clear vegetation making it difficult for the Vietcong to ambush. This was the event where the Agent Orange was released. -
Agent Orange
US Air Force begins using Agent Orange: a defoliant that came in metal orange containers to expose roads and trails used by Vietcong forces. This caused alot of defects in people and in some cases killed them. Many children were born with arms in the wrong spot, etc. -
Diem is Murdered
Diem and his brother are murdered. The Diem regime is overthrown. -
Buddhist Monks Protest
Buddhist monks start setting themselves on fire in public places to protest against the Diem government policy of removing Buddhists from key government positions and replacing them with Catholics. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
On August 2, three North Vietnamese PT boats fire torpedoes at the USS Maddox, a destroyer ship located in the Tonkin Gulf. The attack comes after six months of US and South Vietnamese naval operations. A second attack happened August 4th. -
Marines Arrive at Danang
The first American combat troops, arrive in Vietnam to defend the US airfield at Danang. Scattered Vietcong gunfire is reported, but no Marines are injured. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a military campaign during the Vietnam War that was launched on January 30, 1968 by forces of the Viet Cong and North Vietnam against South Vietnam, the United States, and their allies. -
My Lai Massacre
When a US military brigade went into the My Lai village, they just started killing many people thinking they would get someof the Viet Cong. But, they ended up killing more women and children, some were raped and later their bodide were found mutilated. 22 of the soldiers were found guilty but only their leader was convicted. -
Richard Nixon Elected President
Nixon takes over after LBJ. -
Pentagon Papers Published
Documents from the time of the Vietnam war were leaked. This angered alot of people people because most were unaware of what was going on over seas and some were not happy to hear about it. -
End of Draft Announced and Last American Troops Leave Vietnam
The end of the war is near so they start evacuating all American Troops and they end the draft. -
Ford Calls Vietnam War "Finished"
President Ford says " as far as the US is concered, the Vietnam war is finished"
