Forrest Gump Timeline

  • Elvis releases "Hound Dog"

    Elvis releases "Hound Dog"
    Elvis meets Forrest Gump while Forrest has a leg brace. Elvis sings and Forrest dances trying a new move, which Elvis uses later as his signature dance move. Forrest sees it on TV.
  • JFK Assassination.

    JFK Assassination.
    Forrest and his team meet with the President and share funny jokes and memories. Later, Forrest finds out that Mr. Kennedy was shot and killed. He was so sad because of how nice the President was to him.
  • Desegregation of university of Alabama

    Desegregation of university of Alabama
    During this time segregation was going on. The university of Alabama was segregated, but in 1963 was desegregated. Many people were on different sides about this matter.
  • Forrest enters the Vietnam War.

    Forrest enters the Vietnam War.
    In 1966, Forrest Gump enters the Vietnam War. He goes through traumatic events during the time. This is when the famous line "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get." was spoken.
  • Forrest saves members of his platoon in battle.

    Forrest saves members of his platoon in battle.
    Forrest Gump's platoon was ambushed. Forrest saves everyone, including his Lieutenant. His best friend however, dies in his arms.
  • Forrest receives Medal of honor and meets LBJ

    Forrest receives Medal of honor and meets LBJ
    Johnson was the 36th President at the time. He awarded Forrest the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War. Shortly after issuing the award, Forrest pulls down his pants and shows Johnson his wounded bottom.
  • U.S. lands on the moon.

    U.S. lands on the moon.
    One day Forrest comes to pass by the TV. On the TV, it shows the U.S. landing on the moon. Forrest is amazed by Apollo 11 and the astronauts landing.
  • John Lennon's first appearance on Dick Cavett Talk Show

    John Lennon's first appearance on Dick Cavett Talk Show
    Forrest Gump met John Lennon when he was invited to be on The Dick Cavett Show. This was after returning home to the United States from China playing ping-pong. It is said that Forrest accidentally inspires the lyrics to Lennon's song "Imagine".
  • John Lennon's song "Imagine" was released.

    John Lennon's song "Imagine" was released.
    "Imagine" is a song by John Lennon. Forrest Gump accidentally inspired the lyrics to the song while describing to Lennon the condition of the people in China after his return from ping-pong. It is implied that Forrest accidentally inspires the lyrics to this song.
  • Forrest goes to China.

    Forrest goes to China.
    Forrest Gump learned to play ping-pong while recovering from a gunshot wound in Vietnam. He quickly mastered the sport, fascinating his peers and eventually being sent to play in China on the All-American Ping-Pong Team as part of the ping-pong diplomacy program.
  • Watergate Break-In

    Watergate Break-In
    Forrest was awakened by a group of people with flashlights breaking into an unlit office. Mistaking it for a power outage, Forrest calls security guard Frank Wills to inform him about the break-in, inadvertently initiating the Watergate Scandal and leading to Richard Nixon's resignation in August 1974.
  • Nixon's resignation

    Nixon's resignation
    After the Watergate Break-In, which led to the big scandal, Richard Nixon resigned in August 1974. In that same year, Forrest was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of Sergeant.