Major+Incidents

Major Incidents 1960-Viet Cong is formed in South Vietnam

1962- First American combat mission

1963-South Vietnam President Diem assassinated. Buddist Monks begin to kill themselves in public to protest removal of Buddist government officials in favor of Catholics.

1964-General Nguyen Khanh seizes power. North Vietnamese PT boats attack a US navy ship, the USS Maddox, in the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Congress gives President Johnson power to wage total war on North Vietnam.

1965- Over 200,000 US troops sent to Viet Nam. Operation "Rolling Thunder" brings massive bombing to North Vietnam. War protests begin in some US universities.

1966-Protests intensify and Veterans begin to join into the protests

1967- Sec of Defense admits that bombing campaign is not working

1968-My Lai massacre is revealed and tarnishes US military reputation. Tet Offensive is launched by North Vietnam. Although it was soundly repelled by US forces, it shows that the North is not close to defeat. Johnson does not run for re-election. Nixon elected US president

1969- Ho Chi Minh dies.

1970- Protesters killed by US troops at Kent State

1973-Cease fire agreement signed. US military draft is ended. U.S. withdraws from Vietnam

1975- Saigon Falls to North Vietnamese forces