"In my opinion, it shouldn't have ever lasted that long. We should have realized that it wasn't working, and left."
Time line of the Vietnam war
1945 - Ho Chi Mihn Declares Vietnam's Independence
In 1941, Ho Chi Mihn returned to Vietnam to lead the Viet Mihn Independence movement, and in 1945, Ho Chi Mihn declared independence for Vietnam from French rule. Vietnam is now recognized as the independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam
The full Declaration of Independence of Vietnam can be found on this link:
The full Declaration of Independence of Vietnam can be found on this link:
http://www.unc.edu/courses/2009fall/hist/140/006/Documents/VietnameseDocs.pdf
1950 - U.S. Pledges military aid to help the french
In 1950, the United States of America pledge to help their allies to quell the rebellion started in Vietnam, and they send $15 million of military aid to help combat the conflict in Vietnam.
1954 - President Eisenhower outlines the domino theory
American President Dwight D. Eisenhower shares the Domino Theory, which in terms means that once one country falls to Communism (Vietnam), others around would soon follow (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, etc...)
1956 - the french leave vietnam
After several devastating defeats for the French, they realize that fighting the Vietnamese rebellion is not worth the fighting, and they withdraw all troops from Vietnam.
1960 - Kennedy is elected president
John F. Kennedy wins the 1960 U.S. Presidential election against his opponent, Richard Nixon.
1963 - Southern Vietnamese leader diem and U.s. President Kennedy are assassinated, Lyndon B. Johnson becomes President
The South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed and in the United States, U.S. President John F. Kennedy is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas.
1965 - First American troops arrive in vietnam
After North Vietnam attacks two U.S. destroyers in international waters which would be later known as the "Gulf of Tonkin Incident," the U.S. take action. In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident Lyndon B. Johnson proposes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which allows use of conventional warfare with out Congress "declaration of war" against North Vietnam. The first of the American combat troops arrive in Vietnam to fight against the Communist North Vietnam and the Viet Cong in the South.
1968 - Tet offensive, my lai massacre, nixon elected president
Tet Offensive: Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Viet Minh come together to launch a massive attack on South Vietnam. Over 100 South Vietnamese cities are invaded, however it turns out to be a devastating defeat for North Vietnam. U.S. media gets word of the Tet offensive, and alerts U.S. citizens back home. U.S. media fails to announce that very little South Vietnamese and U.S. Troops died in the offensive, and North Vietnam suffered heavy loses, at the same time almost all of the Viet Cong are whipped out. Instead the citizens back home think that the Tet Offensive was a heavy defeat for South Vietnam, and mass disapproval for the continuation of war begins.
Raw uncut war footage of the Tet Offensive: (Not important, the video is just an interesting color video of the war with emotional voice overs and music.)
Raw uncut war footage of the Tet Offensive: (Not important, the video is just an interesting color video of the war with emotional voice overs and music.)
My Lai Massacre: U.S. GI's massacre the village of My Lai after being told that all innocent civilians will be evacuated upon arrival, and all remaining Vietnamese are considered Viet Cong, or supporters of the Viet Cong, and are above all, hostile. 500+ Vietnamese men, women, and children are executed, and the village is burnt to the ground. U.S. Troops involved suffer little to no punishment, however the massacre leads to further disapproval for the continuation of the war in the U.S. civilians back home
Richard Nixon also becomes elected in the 1968 U.S. presidential election.
Richard Nixon also becomes elected in the 1968 U.S. presidential election.
1969 - Nixon announces vietnamization, U.s. Troops begin Withdraw
In response to the Tet Offensive, Richard Nixon proposes the idea of Vietnamization, which basically will "expand, equip, and train South Vietnam's forces and assign to them an ever-increasing combat role, at the same time steadily reducing the number of U.S. combat troops."
1973 - Nixon Resigns
After the Water Gate Scandal, Richard M. Nixon resigns from Presidency, and Gerald Ford becomes President of the United States.
1975 - Last American SERVICEMEN are evacuated from vietnam
North Vietnam launches it's final massive assault on South Vietnam, and without the support of U.S. Troops, South Vietnam crumbles, and surrenders. The Last of American Servicemen in Vietnam are quickly evacuated.