10 Aug 50 - First shipload of U.S. arms aid to pro-French Vietnam arrives
1951 - U.S. military aid amounted to more than $500 million by 1951
7 May 54 - Viet Minh overrun French fortress at Dien Bien Phu
8 Sep 54 - Eight nations sign U.S.-sponsored SEATO treaty
12 Feb 55 - President Eisenhower's administration sends the first U.S. advisers
to South Vietnam to train the South Vietnamese Army
5 Sep 56 - President Eisenhower tells a news conference that the French are
"involved in a hopelessly losing war in Indochina"
8 July 59 - Two Americans are killed and one wounded during a Viet Minh attack
20 miles north of Saigon
13 May 61 - President Kennedy orders 100 "special forces" troops to S. Vietnam
11 Dec 61 - U.S. aircraft carrier "Core" arrives in Saigon with 33 helicopters
and 400 air and ground crewmen assigned to operate them for S. Vietnam
22 Dec 61 - SP4 James Davis of Livingston, Tennessee killed by Viet Cong (VC)
later called by President Johnson "The first American to fall in defense of our
freedom in Vietnam"
15 May 62 - President Kennedy orders an immediate build-up of US troops in
Thailand to a total of 5,000 due to Communist attacks in Laos and movement
toward the Thailand border
1 Nov 63 - S. Vietnamese President Diem and his brother are assassinated outside
of Saigon. One coup follows another and weakens the war effort
Jun 64 - Henry Cabot Lodge resigned as US ambassador to Saigon
July 64 - Announcement states that US military contingent in Vietnam would
increase 5,000 more to 21,000
2 Aug 64 - US Navy destroyers "Maddox" and "C. Turner Joy" are reported attacked
by North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin (attacks 2 Aug + 4 Aug)
4 Aug 64 - US retaliatory strike destroyed 25 N. Vietnamese boats at their bases
4 Aug 64 - Later revealed in the "Pentagon Papers": A cable from the US
commander of the destroyer task force stated, "No actual visual sighting. . . .
.suggest complete evaluation before any further action."
7 Aug 64 - US Congress approves Gulf of Tonkin resolution affirming "All
necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United
States. . .to prevent further aggression. . . (and) assist any member or
protocol state of the Southeast Asian Collective Defense Treaty (SEATO)
requesting assistance. . ." US Senate voted (88-2) passed - Senator Wayne Morse
(D-Oregon) and Senator Ernest Gruening (D-Alaska) voted against the resolution.
US House voted (414-0) passed
Fall 1964 - U.S. turns down an offer of secret peace talks with North Vietnam
7 Feb 65 - "In the early hours of February 7th, 1965, the VC upped the ante when
they launched a guerilla assault against the military barracks at Pleiku where
US military advisors were housed. The attack left 8 Americans dead, and
President Johnson reacted as though the VC had delivered a personal insult."
Johnson ordered a retaliatory air-strike against North Vietnam the next day.
Operation "Rolling Thunder" began in mid-February and lasted 3 years
8 Mar 65 - "Two US Marine battalions arrived on the beach at DaNang in full
battle gear. . . They were met not by enemy fire, but by curious onlookers. . .
One soldier said, "The war was nowhere in sight."
16 Mar 65 - Alice Herz, an 82-year-old survivor of Nazi terror, set herself on
fire in Detroit shortly after President Johnson announced major troop increases
and the bombing of North Vietnam.
20 May 65 - Hanoi restates its peace proposal which "Washington" has already
rejected
2 Nov 65 - Quaker Norman Morrison set himself on fire and died outside Secretary
of Defense Robert McNamara�s Pentagon office, a scene McNamara witnessed
9 Nov 65 - Catholic Worker Roger LaPorte immolated himself opposite the United
Nations building as an anti-war protest
1965 - The US Congress provided $2.4 Billion for the Vietnam war effort, with
little dissent in the US House or Senate
Jan 66 thru Oct 68 - US bombs dropped on N. Vietnam total over 600,000 tons
1 Mar 66 - An attempt to repeal Gulf of Tonkin resolution was defeated in the US
Senate
29 Jan 66 - US begins bombing around Haiphong and Hanoi, N. Vietnam. This is
considered a major escalation of the air war
March 67 - Later revealed in the "Pentagon Papers" that "Operation Pop Eye", a
rain-making project, was designed to reduce traffic along the Ho Chi Minh trail
in Laos
3 Sep 67 - Nguyen Van Thieu elected president of S. Vietnam
Oct 67 - Congressman Thomas P. ("Tip") O'Neill broke publicly with President
Johnson and opposed continuation of the Vietnam war. O'Neill supported Senator
Eugene McCarthy (D-Minn) for president in 1968
30 Jan 68 - Communists start Tet Offensive which escalates into one of the major
battles of the war, including attacks on almost all of the capitals of S.
Vietnam's 44 provinces
16 Mar 68 - My Lai Massacre - Quang Ngai province - In 1971, LT Calley was
convicted and sentenced to "life". His sentence was later changed to 20 years
"hard labor". Over 100 civilians were massacred.
31 Mar 68 - President Johnson commits the US to a non-military solution of the
war when he announced he would not seek re-election, and ordered a bombing halt
over 75% of N. Vietnam (north of the 20th Parallel)
31 Oct 68 - President Johnson announced he would halt all bombing of N. Vietnam
on 1 Nov 68. The B-52 bombing halt was maintained until 15 Apr 72. The US
bombing "sorties" were shifted to Laos 1 Nov 68 on through 1972 -- over 25,000
sorties were flown, with the most occurring in 1971
End 1968 - "Draftees" accounted for 38% of all American troops in Vietnam. Over
12% of the draftees were college graduates
18 Jan 69 - Expanded peace talks open in Paris with representatives of the US,
S. Vietnam, N. Vietnam, and the National Liberation Front (NLF)
20 Jan 69 - "The greatest honor history can bestow is the tittle of
'peacemaker'. . . after a period of confrontation we are entering an era of
negotiation." President Richard Nixon during his Inaugural Address
5 Apr 69 - The only major anti-war demonstration in the early months of the
Nixon presidency occurred April 5th and 6th
Spring 69 - During 1973 Senate hearings, it was revealed that secret bombings
started a year before the 30 Apr 70 incursion into Cambodia
8 May 69 - "10-point peace plan" offered in Paris by the NLF and endorsed by
Hanoi
14 May 69 - President Nixon, during a policy address on Vietnam, proposes an
"8-point peace plan" that would include mutual withdrawal of all non-Vietnamese
forces to designated bases over a 12-month period, after which remaining troops
would be totally withdrawn from S. Vietnam
Mid-69 - President Nixon abandoned the idea of a "purely military victory",
started bringing US troops home, and talked of a "Vietnamization" program to
prepare the S. Vietnamese to take over the US combat role. Withdrawals
announced: 8 Jun - 25,000 and 16 Sep - 35,000
3 Sep 69 - Ho Chi Minh dies
15 Oct 69 - "Vietnam Moratorium" - An estimated 1 million Americans across the
US participated in anti-war demonstrations, protest rallies and peace vigils. 50
members of the US Congress also participated
3 Nov 69 - President Nixon says he plans withdrawal of all US troops on a secret
timetable
19 Nov 69 - Congress gave the president the authority to institute the "draft
lottery" system aimed at inducting 19-year-olds before older men. Nixon signed
the bill into law 26 Nov 69. Under the new law the period of prime eligibility
was reduced from 7 years to 1 year. Maximum eligibility would begin on a man's
19th birthday and end on his 20th birthday
1 Dec 69 - The first draft lottery in 27 years was held at Selective Service
Headquarters in Washington, DC
2 Dec 69 - US House approved (334-55) a resolution endorsing Nixon's efforts to
achieve "peace with justice", following a 2 day debate. This was the first major
Vietnam policy declaration since the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin resolution
8 Dec 69 - Chief US negotiator Henry Cabot Lodge and his deputy resigned,
expressing pessimism concerning the course of the negotiations
15 Dec 69 - President Nixon announced the reduction of another 50,000 troops by
mid-April 1970
18 Dec 69 - Senator John Cooper (R-KY), after several attempts, succeeded in
limiting US activities in Laos and Thailand when a bill including $23.2 Billion
for Vietnam war activities prohibited introduction of US combat troops into Laos
and Thailand
End 69 - A year of ever widening divisions in the US. The "silent majority" and
"middle America" were pitted against the war protestors. Vice President Agnew
called protestors "impudent snobs"
Jan 70 - "Washington Monthly Magazine" described an intelligence network of
"nearly 1,000 plain clothes investigators working out of some 200 offices from
coast to coast" who wrote reports on "political protests of all kinds". The
domestic intelligence operation stored and disseminated information on both
groups and individuals who "might cause trouble of the US Army." Senator Ervin
reported in December 1970 that he was informed the surveillance included 800
Illinois citizens including Senator Adlai Stevenson, III (D-ILL), Rep. Abner
Mikua (D-ILL) and US Circuit Judge Otto Kerner. Ervin said "apparently anyone
who in the Army's definition was 'left of center' was a prospective candidate
for political surveillance." During lengthly Senate hearings on the Army's
activities, Defense Secretary Laird ordered the spying stopped.
21 Feb 70 - A presidential commission recommends the institution of an
all-volunteer Army and elimination of the draft
Mar/Apr 70 - News of increased US involvement in Laos and Cambodia surfaced when
1969 Senate transcripts were made public
20 Apr 70 - President Nixon announces during a TV address, the withdrawal of
another 150,000 troops over the next 12 months. This reduction would lower US
troop strength to 284,000
23 Apr 70 - President Nixon calls for far-reaching draft reform. Nixon also
issued an Executive Order that ended all occupational deferments and most
paternity deferments, with "extreme hardship" as the only exception
30 Apr 70 - President Nixon sent US forces into Cambodia, causing widespread
war protest in the streets, and plunging Congress into a session-long debate
over Congressional war powers
2 May 70 - Senators McGovern, Hughes, Cranston, Goodell, and Hatfield announced
they planned to introduce an "end the war" amendment which would work by
suspending funds for military operations in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
4 May 70 - 4 Kent State college students were shot to death by Ohio National
Guardsmen during an anti-war protest on the campus. This lead to widening
anti-war protests
9 May 70 - A peaceful anti-war rally held at the Ellipse in Washington, DC was
attended by about 80,000 people including about 10 members of Congress
31 Aug 70 - During debate over the McGovern-Hatfield Amendment in the US Senate,
Senator Eagleton (D-MO) and Javits (R-NY) said that the Nixon policy of gradual
de-escalation was leading to a wider war in Indochina. Senator Church said the
Congress needed to keep pressure on President Nixon to hasten the withdrawal.
Senators Scott (R-PA) and Thurmond (R-SC) expressed concern over the fate of US
P.O.W.'s and bargaining pressure if US troops were removed
1 Sep 70 - The McGovern-Hatfield Amendment, providing for the withdrawal of all
US troops by 31 Dec 71, was defeated by the Senate now and again later
1970 - War Powers - By the time Congress learned that the naval incident leading
to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964) had been misrepresented and moved to
repeal the resolution in 1970, President Nixon had already shifted to another
legal rationale -- his constitutional powers as "Commander in Chief" -- for his
Vietnam policies. In its 1969 "national commitments" resolution, the Senate made
a bid to reassert a congressional voice in decisions committing the US to the
defense of foreign countries. The House passed war-powers measures in 1970, 1971
and 1972.
17 Sep 70 - The VC presented an 8-point peace plan which was the first
substantial initiative since Nixon's May 1969 plan. The Paris Peace Talks
remained stalemated throughout 1970
7 Oct 70 - President Nixon announced a new 5-point peace plan
13 Jan 71 - President Nixon signs a bill repealing the Gulf of Tonkin resolution
10 Feb 71 - Congressman Aiken (R-VT) recommended convening an Indochina
conference to negotiate a settlement of the area's disputes
23 Feb 71 - Senate Democrats voted (38-13) to adopt a "resolution of purpose"
for the 92nd Congress to end US involvement in Indochina and "bring about the
withdrawal of all US forces and the release of prisoners in a time certain."
1 Mar 71 - A powerful bomb exploded at 1:32am in a restroom in the original part
of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, with responsibility claimed by the
"Weather Underground". Senator McGovern attributed the bombing to "our Vietnam
madness"
29 Mar 71 - LT Calley convicted for the My Lai Massacre
30 Mar 71 - It was later found out that on this date; "a confidential Army
directive orders personnel to intercept and confiscate personal mail containing
anti-war and other dissident material sent to soldiers in Vietnam."
7 Apr 71 - During a speech, President Nixon said that in relation to setting a
firm date for troop withdrawal, that it would "serve the enemy's purpose, not
our own."
1 Apr 71 - Draft Bill - A 2-year extension of the draft passed the House
(239-99) in a roll-call vote. The Senate also passed the bill 24 Jun 71
following a long debate, lasting from 6 May through 24 Jun 71. 48% of manpower
for the Army were draftees or "draft motivated".
18 Apr 71 - 2,300 Vietnam Veterans came to Washington, DC to participate in
Dewey Canyon III, "a military incursion into the country of Congress". Led by
Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), the vets camped on the mall 1/4 mile
from the Capitol, and threw away military medals and ribbons at the foot of the
statue of Chief Justice John Marshall.
24 Apr 71 - 10 days of protests by a group calling themselves the "Mayday Tribe"
included attempted work stoppages at several federal offices in Washington, DC
3 May 71 - 5,100 policemen backed by 10,000 federal troops resulted in an
unprecedented mass arrest of approximately 7,000 persons, with another 2,700
arrested the next day. Protests ended 5 May with the arrest of another 1,200
demonstrators on the Capitol's east steps during a rally attended by some
members of Congress
9 Jun 71 - The Senate adopted an amendment authorizing drug control and
rehabilitation programs in the military
June 71 - Pentagon Papers published
17 June 71 - Congressman Charles Whalen, Jr (R-Ohio) co-sponsored an "end the
war" bill which was rejected by the House
24 Jun 71 - Mansfield Amendment was passed along with the draft extension
bill. It was a controversial amendment by Senate Majority leader Mike Mansfield
(D-Mont) setting a national policy of withdrawing troops from Indochina 9 months
after the bill's enactment (wording was later softened to the "earliest
practical date"). It was the first time in modern US history that Congress had
urged an end to a war in which the country was actively involved
1 Jul 71 - During the peace talks, the Viet Cong proposed the return of all
American and allied prisoners held in North and South Vietnam by the end of 1971
if all US troops were withdrawn within that same period. US reaction was
cautious
28 Sep 71 - The 2-year draft extension was signed into law after lapsing from 30
Jun until 28 Sep. Deferments were abolished for 1971 college freshmen, although
upperclassmen retained draft deferments. Also in the bill was a non-binding
provision putting Congress on record as backing an early end to the Vietnam War
3 Oct 71 - South Vietnam election - President Thieu ran unopposed and was
re-elected with more than 90% of the popular vote. Vice President Ky and General
Duong Van Minh earlier dropped out of the race amid charges that Thieu had
rigged the election
2 Nov 71 - A Senate subcommittee released a 300-page report documenting
"corruption, criminality, and moral compromise" in a PX scandal in Vietnam and
other overseas areas
12 Nov 71 - President Nixon announced a troop withdrawal of 45,000 more troops
by 1 Feb 72, but said it was particularly important to continue air strikes on
enemy infiltration routes
26-30 Dec 71 - The US carries out the heaviest air strikes on North Vietnam
since 1968 in Operation Proud Deep, consisting of 1,025 sorties
Jan 72 - President Nixon announces the 7th withdrawal: 70,000 troops by 1 May 72
reducing the troop level in Vietnam to 69,000
17-28 Feb 72 - President Nixon visits the People's Republic of China
30 Mar 72 - The North Vietnamese launch a major offensive across the DMZ, the
biggest since Tet 1968. In retaliation, Nixon orders the bombing of the Hanoi
and Haiphong area
15 Apr 72 - Renewed US bombing of North Vietnam above the 20th parallel
26 Apr 72 - President Nixon announced the withdrawal of 20,000 more troops
27 Apr 72 - Paris Peace talks resume
8 May 72 - Nixon orders the mining of North Vietnamese harbors without first
consulting Congress
Jun 72 - Nixon announced the withdrawal of 10,000 more troops by September
17 Jun 72 - Watergate break-in and attempted bugging of the Democratic Party
Headquarters
Aug 72 - Nixon announced the withdrawal of 12,000 more troops
27 Oct 72 - Nixon "pocket vetoed" the Veteran's Health Care Expansion Act of
1972. The health care act would have authorized expenditure of $85 million in FY
1973 for expanding health care services for veterans and their dependents
Oct 72 - The Supreme Court was steadfast in refusing to rule on the
constitutionality of American involvement in Vietnam. As late as Oct 72, the
court voted 7-2 to decline to hear a case in which taxpayers challenged the use
of foreign aid funds to finance American operations in Vietnam (Sarnoff vs.
Schultz) Justices Douglas and Brennan disagreed with the courts' hands-off
attitude since the Constitution specifically gives Congress the power to declare
war, they said, and thus "impliedly bars its exercise by the executive branch."
Dec 72 - Peace talks stopped due to a change in the Communist's position. The
heaviest US bombing of North Vietnam of the war followed 18-30 Dec during
Operation Linebacker II which included 129 B-52 bombers striking Hanoi
8 Jan 73 - Final stage of peace talks began that would lead to the signing of a
Vietnam cease fire on 27 Jan
23 Jan 73 - President Nixon announced an agreement "to end the war and bring
peace with honor in Vietnam and S.E. Asia."
27 Jan 73 - Official end of the Vietnam War. Between 27 Jan and 29 Mar 73, a
total of 587 military and civilian prisoners were released by the North
Vietnamese, and during that same period, 23,500 US troops were withdrawn from
South Vietnam
29 Mar 73 - 67 more US P.O.W.'s were freed in Hanoi. The same day, the US
withdrew its remaining 2,500 troops from South Vietnam. This date also marked
the actual end of military involvement in Vietnam.
10 May 73 - Due to continued bombing of Laos and Cambodia, the House voted
(219-188) for the first time to cut-off Indochina funds
31 May 73 - The Senate took strong action prohibiting the use of any funds
appropriated by Congress to be used for combat activities in Laos or Cambodia
7 Nov 73 - War Powers Act - Congress dealt President Nixon a stunning setback
when it voted to override his veto of legislation limiting presidential powers
to commit US forces abroad without congressional approval. Congress, with the
Vietnam War and the showdown over continued bombing in Cambodia behind it, was
anxious to reassert its role in the conduct of the country's foreign affairs
Aug 74 - President Nixon resigns
16 Sep 74 - President Ford unveiled a conditional clemency program for
Vietnam-era military deserters and draft evaders
9 Mar 75 - A major offensive begins against South Vietnam with an attack on Ban
Me Thuot in the Central Highlands. South Vietnam fell in 55 days.
17 Apr 75 - Cambodian government surrenders to Khmer Rouge forces
29 Apr 75 - Last American soldier killed in Vietnam (the first was 8 Jul 59)
The official American presence in Saigon ends when the last Americans are
evacuated by helicopter from the US Embassy roof. Within hours the Saigon
government surrenders to the VC
1979 - Western European countries and non-Communist Asian nations support US-led
embargo in protest against Vietnam's 1978 invasion of Cambodia
Feb 82 - Vietnam agrees to talks regarding American servicemen
Sep 88 - Vietnam-US cooperation begins regarding American MIA's with first joint
field investigation
Sep 89 - Vietnam completes Cambodia withdrawal
Apr 91 - US office is established in Hanoi to investigate American MIA's
Oct 91 - Washington takes steps to normalize relations with Hanoi after Vietnam
supports UN peace plan for Cambodia
Dec 91 - Washington lifts ban on organized US travel to Vietnam
29 Apr 92 - Trade embargo is eased to allow commercial sales to Vietnam and
establishment of a telecommunications link
14 Dec 92 - President George Bush grants permission for US companies to open
offices, sign contracts and do feasibility studies in Vietnam
2 July 93 - US opposition to settlement of Vietnam's $140 million arrears to the
International Monetary Fund ends
13 Sep 93 - Economic sanctions are eased to allow US firms to bid on development
projects financed by international banks
3 Feb 94 - President Bill Clinton lifts trade embargo
27 Jan 95 - US and Vietnam settle old property claims and establish liaison
offices in Washington and Hanoi
15 May 95 - Hanoi give US presidential delegation documents on MIA's
Jul 95 - The US restores diplomatic relations with Vietnam
Aug 95 - The US Embassy in Hanoi reopens
16 Apr 97 - A copyright protection agreement is reached, said to be a step
toward Most Favored Nation status
9 May 97 - Ambassador Douglas "Pete" Peterson starts new post in Hanoi
Jun 97 - Secretary of State Madeleine Albright makes an official visit
1998 - President Clinton issues his first waiver of a law that bars trade
relations with Communist nations that deny citizens the right to emigrate
Jun 00 - An agreement is reached to open up Vietnam's markets to US products,
dropping US tariffs to less than 3 percent
Jul 00 - The House backs a bill granting Vietnam continued access to
export-related financing, clearing the way for Clinton's historic visit
16 Nov 00 - President Clinton is the first US president to visit Vietnam since
President Nixon in July 1969.
17 Nov 00 - The US still searches for missing servicemen and pursues rumors of
Americans left behind. The US lists 1,992 Americans unaccounted for from the
war. The Pentagon has stopped pursuing 646 of the cases, and the rest remain
open.
