-
Period: to
Vietnam War
-
Battle at Dien Bien Phu
After a four month siege by Vietnamese nationalist Ho Chi Minh at Dien Bien Phu the French began to lose control in Indochina. As the French pulled out the United States moved in becoming committed to go against the communist nationalist. -
Ngo Dinh Diem-President of South Vietnam
Diem (an American supporter) proclaims the Republic of Vietnam, naming himself the first president. He then became prime Minister, defense minister, and supreme commander of the armed forces. This action was recognized by Great Britain, France, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea. -
First Americans Killed
Since the United States involvement in the Vietnam war, the first Americans were killed on July 8th 1959. The men who lost their lives were Maj. Dale R. Ruis and Master Sgt. Chester M. Ovnand. The Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) compound in Bien Hoa who arrived in South Vietnam on November 1, 1955 was strike by guerrillas. -
Aiding South Vietnam
"We shall promptly increase our assistance to your defense effort."
President Kennedy formally announces that the United States will begin to increase aid to South Vietnam. -
President Diem Assasination
President Diem murder was seen as a huge turning point in the Vietnam war. His death and the death of his brother left Vietnam vulnerable to northern communist theats. -
Assaination of JFK
John F. Kennedy was assasinated -
President LBJ
Vice President L. B. Johnson was sworn in to presidency after the death of J.F Kennedy.
L.B Johnson had differnt views and ideas about the war in Vietnam. -
Gulf Tonkin Resolution
The United States Congress approves the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave President Lyndon B. Johnson power to oppose "communist aggression" in Southeast Asia. This resolution began the expansion of the United States military in the Cold War battlefields of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
LBJ gave the approval for Operation Rolling Thunder.
Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign used to interdict North Vietnamese transportation routes in southern part of North Vietnam and slow infiltration of personnel and supplies into South Vietnam. It was halted it on October 31, 1968 after 900 US aircrafts were lost. -
Tet Offensive
Lead by communist General Vo Nguyen Giap about 70,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched series of fierce coordinated attacks on more than 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam. Tet offense was the turning point in the Vietnam War that resulting the begining of slow, painful American withdrawal from the region. -
My Lai Massacure
About 200 to 500 unarmed civilians were killed by American soldiers at My Lai, near the northern coast of South Vietnam. The platoon Charlie company soldiers were wrongly informed that there were guerrillas in this village. Only after bombing the realized My Lai was filled with women, old men and children. -
Big battle in Tay Ninh Province
Near the Cambodian border the 1st Infantry Division troops were attacked in Binh Long Province. Communist forces launched a mortar, rocket, and ground attack against Fire Support Base Julie. Soliders did well fighting off the communist but the attack resulted in eight killed and 33 wounded soldiers. -
President Nixon
President Nixon was elected as 37 president. He enters the presidency with wanting to end the war in Vietnam. He address the nation on November 3 1969 to discuss his plans to do so. -
U.S Bombs Cambodia
Attack was approved by president Nixon in order to divert targets in South Vietnam to attack suspected communist base camps and supply areas in Cambodia for the first time. -
Vietnamization
Vietnamization was introduced by Pres. Nixon with the intent to in American involvment in the Vietnam War. This included building up the South Vietman military and slowly withdrawing U.S troops. Vietnamization was compelete in 1973 with a U.S tready with North Vietnam. -
Leaving Vietnam
After years of Vietnamization, troops began to slowly withdraw from south Vietnam. The last few Americans still in South Vietnam were airlifted out of the country leaving Saigon to fall to communist forces.
