TIMELINE OF THE VIETNAM ERA

1950
September
1953
August
1954
July
1956
February
June
July
1957
August
October
1958
March
1959
January
July
August
1961
January
August
November
1962
January
February
October
1963
January
August
November
December
1964
March
July
August
1965
March
August
November
1966
March
August
1967
October
November
1968
January
March
April
June
August
November
December
1969
April
May
July
August
September
November
1970
May
June
1971
June
1972
March
May
December
1973
January
February
March
1974
August
1975
May
1979
May
November
1980
July
1981
May
1982
November
1950
September
1
Truman sends advisory group
read more
1953
August
4
Eisenhower warns of ‘domino theory’
read more
1954
July
21
The Geneva Accords
read more
1956
February
22
Alabama Bus Boycott
read more
1956
June
8
First Official Death
read more
1956
July
1
Diem refuses to hold national elections
read more
1957
August
5
American Bandstand premieres
read more
1957
October
4
Soviets launch Sputnik
read more
1958
March
24
Elvis is drafted
read more
1959
January
3
Alaska became a state
read more
1959
July
8
First Two Americans Killed in Vietnam Conflict
read more
1959
August
21
Hawaii became a state
read more
1961
January
20
John F Kennedy became President
read more
1961
August
10
Agent Orange Sprayed
read more
1961
November
30
President Kennedy expanded American involvement in Vietnam
read more
1962
January
12
Operation Ranch Hand Began
read more
1962
February
20
John Glenn orbited Earth
read more
1962
October
14
Cuban Missile Crisis
read more
1963
January
2
Battle of Ap Bac
read more
1963
January
11
Buddhist protest
read more
1963
August
28
“I Have A Dream” Speech
read more
1963
November
2
Diem was assassinated
read more
1963
November
22
President Kennedy was assassinated
read more
1963
December
1
G.I. Joe debuted
read more
1964
March
26
Col. Floyd Thompson captured
read more
1964
July
2
Civil Rights Act signed
read more
1964
August
2
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
read more
1964
August
5
LT Everett Alvarez shot down
read more
1965
March
2
Rolling Thunder bombing campaign
read more
1965
March
8
First U.S. Ground Force Arrived
read more
1965
August
18
Operation Starlite Began
read more
1965
November
14
Battle of Ia Drang Valley
read more
1965
November
27
March on Washington for peace
read more
1966
March
8
Australia sent troops
read more
1966
August
6
President Johnson increased troops
read more
1967
October
21
Pentagon Protests
read more
1967
November
30
Deaths in Vietnam
read more
1968
January
21
Khe Sanh
read more
1968
January
30
North Vietnamese Launched Tet Offensive
read more
1968
March
31
President Johnson Does Not Seek Reelection
read more
1968
April
4
Dr. King assassinated
read more
1968
June
5
Robert Kennedy assassinated
read more
1968
August
26
Riots at Democratic National Convention
read more
1968
November
5
Nixon elected President
read more
1968
December
31
American deaths
read more
1969
April
30
Troops at peak strength in Vietnam
read more
1969
May
10
Battle of Hamburger Hill
read more
1969
July
20
Neil Armstrong sets foot on The Moon
read more
1969
August
15
Woodstock
read more
1969
September
3
Ho Chi Minh dies
read more
1969
November
12
My Lai Massacre Reaches US
read more
1970
May
4
Kent State shooting
read more
1970
June
24
Senate repeals Gulf of Tonkin
read more
1971
June
13
Pentagon Papers
read more
1971
June
22
26th Amendment signed
read more
1972
March
30
Easter Offensive
read more
1972
May
8
President Nixon orders Linebacker I
read more
1972
December
18
President Nixon orders Linebacker II
read more
1973
January
27
Draft comes to an end
read more
1973
February
12
POWs return to the United States
read more
1973
March
29
Last Combat troops leave Vietnam
read more
1974
August
8
President Nixon resigns
read more
1975
May
12
Mayaguez seized
read more
1979
May
28
VVMF news conference
read more
1979
November
8
Congress proposes legislation for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
read more
1980
July
1
President Carter signs legislation
read more
1981
May
6
Maya Lin wins contest
read more
1982
November
13
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dedication
read more