Vietnam War TimelineVietnam War Timeline

VietnamVietnam

19501950

U.S fights in KoreaU.S fights in Korea Grants military aid Grants military aid

to France to fight to France to fight Ho Chi Minh in Ho Chi Minh in VietnamVietnam

19541954

Eisenhower coins Eisenhower coins “domino theory”“domino theory”

French defeated at French defeated at DienbienphuDienbienphu

Geneva Accords – Geneva Accords – Vietnam Vietnam partitionedpartitioned

U.S. begins aid to U.S. begins aid to South VietnamSouth Vietnam

19621962

12,000 American advisors in South 12,000 American advisors in South VietnamVietnam

19631963

Anti-government Anti-government demonstrations by demonstrations by BuddhistsBuddhists

Diem government Diem government overthrown in coup overthrown in coup – Diem killed– Diem killed

Kennedy Kennedy assassinatedassassinated

19641964

Tonkin Gulf incident – U.S. retaliates (USS Tonkin Gulf incident – U.S. retaliates (USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy)Maddox and USS Turner Joy)

1964 (continued)1964 (continued)

Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution– ““take all necessary measures to repel take all necessary measures to repel

any attack against forces of the United any attack against forces of the United States and to prevent further States and to prevent further aggression.”aggression.”

23,300 American advisors in South 23,300 American advisors in South VietnamVietnam

19651965

Marine combat troops land to protect Marine combat troops land to protect airbase at DaNangairbase at DaNang

200,000 troops by year’s end200,000 troops by year’s end

19661966

U.S. uses chemical defoliants (Agent U.S. uses chemical defoliants (Agent Orange)Orange)

Troop strength grows to 400,000Troop strength grows to 400,000

19671967

Anti-war protests Anti-war protests intensifyintensify

Troop strength at Troop strength at 500,000500,000

19681968

Battle of Khe SanhBattle of Khe Sanh Tet OffensiveTet Offensive

– Major offensive by Vietcong/NVAMajor offensive by Vietcong/NVA– ““light at the end of the tunnel” totally light at the end of the tunnel” totally

discrediteddiscredited

1968 (continued)1968 (continued)

Eugene McCarthy nearly defeats President Eugene McCarthy nearly defeats President Johnson in New Hampshire primary electionJohnson in New Hampshire primary election

Robert Kennedy announces candidacyRobert Kennedy announces candidacy President Johnson announces he will not seek President Johnson announces he will not seek

reelectionreelection

1968 (continued)1968 (continued)

Martin Luther King assassinatedMartin Luther King assassinated Robert Kennedy assassinatedRobert Kennedy assassinated

1968 (continued)1968 (continued)

Peace talks begin Peace talks begin in Parisin Paris

Richard Nixon Richard Nixon elected in close elected in close electionelection

Troop strength at Troop strength at 540,000540,000

19691969

Paris peace talks Paris peace talks expandexpand

Nixon orders secret Nixon orders secret bombing of Cambodiabombing of Cambodia

Nixon announces Nixon announces withdrawal of 25,000 withdrawal of 25,000 troopstroops– Policy of Policy of

“Vietnamization” “Vietnamization” beginsbegins

Ho Chi Minh diesHo Chi Minh dies

1969 (continued)1969 (continued)

Congress begins Congress begins opposition to waropposition to war

Nationwide Nationwide “moratorium”“moratorium”

My Lai massacre My Lai massacre revealedrevealed

Draft Lottery Draft Lottery institutedinstituted

19701970

National Security National Security Advisor Henry Advisor Henry Kissinger begins Kissinger begins secret negotiations secret negotiations with Le Duc Thowith Le Duc Tho

Another 150,000 Another 150,000 troops withdrawn troops withdrawn by years endby years end

Troop strength falls Troop strength falls to 280,000to 280,000

1970 (continued)1970 (continued)

U.S. troops attack sanctuaries in CambodiaU.S. troops attack sanctuaries in Cambodia Kent State demonstration – 4 students Kent State demonstration – 4 students

killedkilled

19711971

““Pentagon Papers” Pentagon Papers” published in the published in the New York TimesNew York Times

Nixon forms the Nixon forms the “plumbers” unit“plumbers” unit

Troop strength falls Troop strength falls to 139,000to 139,000

19721972

Nixon announces peace proposal Nixon announces peace proposal negotiated by Kissinger and Le Duc negotiated by Kissinger and Le Duc ThoTho

North Vietnam launches massive North Vietnam launches massive offensive across the DMZoffensive across the DMZ

Nixon resumes bombing of the NorthNixon resumes bombing of the North U.S. mines Haiphong harborU.S. mines Haiphong harbor

1972 (continued)1972 (continued)

Five men arrested Five men arrested breaking into the breaking into the Democratic National Democratic National Committee offices at Committee offices at the Watergate the Watergate complexcomplex

Kissinger announces Kissinger announces “breakthrough” in “breakthrough” in peace talkspeace talks

Nixon reelected in a Nixon reelected in a landslidelandslide

1972 (continued)1972 (continued)

Kissinger talks breakdown – Le Duc Tho walks Kissinger talks breakdown – Le Duc Tho walks outout

U.S. resumes bombing – “Christmas Bombing”U.S. resumes bombing – “Christmas Bombing” Communists agree to resume talksCommunists agree to resume talks

19731973

January 27 – January 27 – Cease-fire Cease-fire agreement signedagreement signed

March 29 – last March 29 – last American ground American ground troops leave troops leave VietnamVietnam

April 1 – All U.S. April 1 – All U.S. POWs releasedPOWs released

19741974

Nixon resignsNixon resigns

19751975

North Vietnam North Vietnam resumes war resumes war against Southagainst South

South Vietnam South Vietnam collapses collapses

Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City

19761976

President Carter pardons 10,000 men who President Carter pardons 10,000 men who evaded the draftevaded the draft

19821982

Vietnam Veterans Vietnam Veterans Memorial is Memorial is dedicated in dedicated in Washington, DCWashington, DC– Contains names of Contains names of

over 58,000 over 58,000 American deadAmerican dead