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The Siege at Dien Bien Phu
The Viet Minh launched a siege against French troops in Dien Bien Phu that would eventually capture almost 10,000 French soldiers. The French looked to the U.S. for support, but the U.S. was not ready to get involved because of the possibility of numerous American casualties. source: http://www.history.com/topics/battle-of-dien-bien-phu -
Viet Minh Take Control Over North Vietnam
The Viet minh declared their independence from French and Japanese militaries. source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/viet-minh-take-control-in-the-north -
Ho Chi Minh Declares Peoples' War
Ho Chi Minh wanted to unite Vietnam, sparking the Vietnam War. source: http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/ho-chi-minh -
Deaths of Two American Military Advisors
Major Dale Ruis and Sergeant Chester Ovnand were killed by the Viet Minh while serving as military advisors in Bien Hao. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-americans-killed-in-south-vietnam -
Special Advisors arrive in South Vietnam
President Kennedy sends 400 Green Berets to South Vietnam to train the South Vietnamese soldiers in soldiering. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-kennedy-orders-more-troops-to-south-vietnam -
The Declaration on the Neutrality of Laos
This prohibited the U.S. from invading parts of the Ho Chi Minh trail located on the eastern side of Laos. source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/an-accord-on-laos-is-reached -
Foreign Assistance Act of 1962
President Kennedy signed the Foreign Assistance Act of 1962 in order to provide military assistance to countries that are on the brink of a Communist attack. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20689569?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents -
Self-Immolations
Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc set himself ablaze in the middle of a busy intersection in Saigon, protesting President Diem. This led to a coup between South Vietnamese officials and the U.S. against president Diem. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnamese-generals-plan-coup/print -
President Diem Assassinated
One day after the coup between the U.S. and the South Vietnamese officials, President Diem was captured and assassinated. This led to an opportunity for the Viet Cong to take control over much of South Vietnam. source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/diem-murdered-during-coup -
JFK Assassinated
President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX by Lee Harvey Oswald. source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-f-kennedy-assassinated -
President Johnson Sworn In
President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president the same day of JFK's assassination. Two days later, President Johnson declared that he will not lose vietnam. source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lbj-to-continue-kennedy-policy-in-vietnam -
U.S. Marines Land at Da Nang
3500 U.S. Marines arrive at Da Nang marking the first combat troops deployed to Vietnam. source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-marines-land-at-da-nang -
Anti-War Rallies of the War Begin
October 15, 1965, David Miller became the first protester to burn his draft card in protest of the Vietnam War. This led to protests in 40 U.S. cities and even some international cities as well. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-draft-card-burned -
My Lai Massacre
Nearly 500 people were killed, including children and women, by an Army unit in the Hamlet of My Lai. This brought even more negative sentiments to the war than what were already present. source: http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/my-lai-massacre -
Last Troops Withdraw from Vietnam
On April 30, 1975, the last of U.S. troops withdraws from Vietnam, putting an end to the war. In total, 58,220 U.S. personnel died in Vietnam. source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnam-surrenders
