Vietnam War Timeline Vietnam 1950 U S fights

1950 U. S fights in Korea n Grants military aid to France to fight

1954 n n Eisenhower coins “domino theory” French defeated at Dienbienphu Geneva Accords –

1962 n 12, 000 American advisors in South Vietnam

1963 Anti-government demonstrations by Buddhists n Diem government overthrown in coup – Diem killed

1964 n Tonkin Gulf incident – U. S. retaliates (USS Maddox and USS Turner

1964 (continued) n Tonkin Gulf Resolution – “take all necessary measures to repel any

1965 Marine combat troops land to protect airbase at Da. Nang n 200, 000

1966 U. S. uses chemical defoliants (Agent Orange) n Troop strength grows to 400,

1967 Anti-war protests intensify n Troop strength at 500, 000 n

1968 Battle of Khe Sanh n Tet Offensive n – Major offensive by Vietcong/NVA

1968 (continued) Eugene Mc. Carthy nearly defeats President Johnson in New Hampshire primary election

1968 (continued) Martin Luther King assassinated n Robert Kennedy assassinated n

1968 (continued) Peace talks begin in Paris n Richard Nixon elected in close election

1969 Paris peace talks expand n Nixon orders secret bombing of Cambodia n Nixon

1969 (continued) n n Congress begins opposition to war Nationwide “moratorium” My Lai massacre

1970 National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger begins secret negotiations with Le Duc Tho n

1970 (continued) U. S. troops attack sanctuaries in Cambodia n Kent State demonstration –

1971 “Pentagon Papers” published in the New York Times n Nixon forms the “plumbers”

1972 n Nixon announces peace proposal negotiated by Kissinger and Le Duc Tho n

1972 (continued) Five men arrested breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices at the

1972 (continued) n n n Kissinger talks breakdown – Le Duc Tho walks out

1973 January 27 – Ceasefire agreement signed n March 29 – last American ground

1975 North Vietnam resumes war against South n South Vietnam collapses n Saigon renamed

1976 n President Carter pardons 10, 000 men who evaded the draft

1982 n Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, DC – Contains names of

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Vietnam War Timeline

Vietnam

1950 U. S fights in Korea n Grants military aid to France to fight Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam n

1954 n n Eisenhower coins “domino theory” French defeated at Dienbienphu Geneva Accords – Vietnam partitioned U. S. begins aid to South Vietnam

1962 n 12, 000 American advisors in South Vietnam

1963 Anti-government demonstrations by Buddhists n Diem government overthrown in coup – Diem killed n Kennedy assassinated n

1964 n Tonkin Gulf incident – U. S. retaliates (USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy)

1964 (continued) n Tonkin Gulf Resolution – “take all necessary measures to repel any attack against forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression. ” n 23, 300 American advisors in South Vietnam

1965 Marine combat troops land to protect airbase at Da. Nang n 200, 000 troops by year’s end n

1966 U. S. uses chemical defoliants (Agent Orange) n Troop strength grows to 400, 000 n

1967 Anti-war protests intensify n Troop strength at 500, 000 n

1968 Battle of Khe Sanh n Tet Offensive n – Major offensive by Vietcong/NVA – “light at the end of the tunnel” totally discredited

1968 (continued) Eugene Mc. Carthy nearly defeats President Johnson in New Hampshire primary election n Robert Kennedy announces candidacy n President Johnson announces he will not seek reelection n

1968 (continued) Martin Luther King assassinated n Robert Kennedy assassinated n

1968 (continued) Peace talks begin in Paris n Richard Nixon elected in close election n Troop strength at 540, 000 n

1969 Paris peace talks expand n Nixon orders secret bombing of Cambodia n Nixon announces withdrawal of 25, 000 troops n – Policy of “Vietnamization” begins n Ho Chi Minh dies

1969 (continued) n n Congress begins opposition to war Nationwide “moratorium” My Lai massacre revealed Draft Lottery instituted

1970 National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger begins secret negotiations with Le Duc Tho n Another 150, 000 troops withdrawn by years end n Troop strength falls to 280, 000 n

1970 (continued) U. S. troops attack sanctuaries in Cambodia n Kent State demonstration – 4 students killed n

1971 “Pentagon Papers” published in the New York Times n Nixon forms the “plumbers” unit n Troop strength falls to 139, 000 n

1972 n Nixon announces peace proposal negotiated by Kissinger and Le Duc Tho n North Vietnam launches massive offensive across the DMZ n Nixon resumes bombing of the North n U. S. mines Haiphong harbor

1972 (continued) Five men arrested breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex n Kissinger announces “breakthrough” in peace talks n Nixon reelected in a landslide n

1972 (continued) n n n Kissinger talks breakdown – Le Duc Tho walks out U. S. resumes bombing – “Christmas Bombing” Communists agree to resume talks

1973 January 27 – Ceasefire agreement signed n March 29 – last American ground troops leave Vietnam n April 1 – All U. S. POWs released n

1974 n Nixon resigns

1975 North Vietnam resumes war against South n South Vietnam collapses n Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City n

1976 n President Carter pardons 10, 000 men who evaded the draft

1982 n Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, DC – Contains names of over 58, 000 American dead