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TimeLines of Liberty
American Wars - Vietnam |
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Vietnam War -
1971 - 1975
The Vietnam war ended without victory,
some say without honor. The pressures of antiwar activists and
television bringing the horrors of war into our homes made the
war unpopular.
The politicians attempting to keep in grace with the voters tied
the hands of those who led our troops, endangering them and
preventing a decisive victory.
President Nixon promised an end to the war in his campaign. The
war had gone on long enough; America had not the fortitude to
allow the military the support and means to win. Nixon ended the
stalemate of the American people. Nixon ended America's
involvement in the war. America had failed its commitment to
South Vietnam, allowing a victory to Communism.
Page Four -
1971 -
1972 - 1973 - 1974 - 1975
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Pre-War
- 1930-1960
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The War - 1961-1965 -
The War - 1966-1970 -
Post War - 1976-2007
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page
5 |
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1971 - Vietnam War |
|
1971 |
Jan. |
President Nixon on January 4th
states, "the end is in sight." |
|
1971 |
Jan. |
The bill repealing the Gulf of Tonkin
resolution is signed by
President Nixon on January
13th. |
|
1971 |
Jan. |
U.S. fighter-bombers fly more air strikes against NVA
supply camps in Laos and Cambodia on January 19th. |
|
1971 |
Jan. |
In an all-South Vietnamese ground offensive,
occurs from January 30th to April 6th. 22,000 NVA are attacked
on the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos in an attempt to sever the
supply conduit. The South Vietnamese, aided by U.S. artillery,
air strikes and helicopter lifts, stall having reached their
first objective. The stall gives the North Vietnamese forces
time to bring in massive reinforcements. An increased force of
40,000 NVA push 8000 surviving South Vietnamese back into
Vietnam. It is estimated that the NVA suffered up to 20,000 dead
mostly from the American bombardment. The South Vietnamese
suffer nearly half the original force with 7682 dead. The U.S.
looses 215 with 100 helicopters lost and 600 damaged during the
support of the offensive. |
|
1971 |
Info |
325,000 American troops remain in Vietnam as of
February. To date, nearly 45,000 American soldiers have died in
the war. |
|
1971 |
Feb. |
A
conference to negotiate settlement of disputes in Indochina is
recommended by Congressman Aiken (R-VT) on February 10th. |
|
1971 |
Feb. |
LIFE magazine photographer
Larry
Burrows, having covered the Vietnam war for ten year, is
killed covering the South Vietnamese invasion of Operation Lam
Son 719 in Laos on February 10th. |
|
1971 |
Feb. |
A "resolution of purpose"
proposed by Senate Democrats (38-13) on February 23rd to urge
the 92nd Congress to end U.S. involvement in Indochina; to
"bring about the withdrawal of all US forces and the release of
prisoners in a time certain." |
|
|
March |
March Opinion polls show
Nixon's approval rating down
to 50% with his Vietnam War strategy slipping to just 34
percent. The polls indicate half of the country believe the war
in Vietnam to be "morally wrong." |
|
1971 |
March |
The Capitol building in
Washington,
D.C. is damaged on March 1st when a bomb explodes at 1:32 in a
restroom. The "Weather Underground" claimed responsibility.
Senator McGovern blames the bombing on "our Vietnam madness." |
|
1971 |
March |
On March 10th China announces its pledge to
completely support North Vietnam's struggle against the U.S. |
|
1971 |
March |
Lieutenant William Calley is found guilty, on
March 29th, for the murders of 22 civilians during the My Lai
massacre. Calley is sentenced to life imprisonment at hard
labor. His sentence is later reduced to 20 year then 10years. Of
those involved five were court-martialed with only Calley being
found guilty. |
|
1971 |
March |
It was discovered later that on March 30th
"a confidential Army directive orders personnel to intercept and
confiscate personal mail containing anti-war and other dissident
material sent to soldiers in Vietnam." |
|
1971 |
April |
Passing
the House (239-99) in a roll-call vote on April 1st was the bill
to extend the draft for another two years. The Senate will pass
the measure on June 24th. |
|
1971 |
April |
The release of Lieutenant William Calley, pending
appeal, is ordered by
President Nixon on April
1st. |
|
1971 |
April |
President Nixon in an April
7th speech says that setting a firm date for troop withdrawal
would "serve the
enemy's purpose, not our own." |
|
1971 |
April |
In April after Operation Lam Son 719 in Laos
ends,
President Nixon declares that "Vietnamization
has succeeded." In actuality, the failed
offensive indicates true "Vietnamization" of the war will be
difficult to achieve. |
|
1971 |
April |
John Kerry appears on NBC's Meet the Press on
April 18th and says, "There
are all kinds of atrocities and I would have to say that, yes,
yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of
other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings
in free-fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction
fire. I used 50-caliber machine guns which we were granted and
ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I
took part in search-and-destroy missions, in the burning of
villages. All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare. All of
this is contrary to the Geneva Conventions and all of this
ordered as a matter of written established policy by the
government of the United States from the top down. And I believe
that the men who designed these, the men who designed the
free-fire zone, the men who ordered us, the men who signed off
the air raid strike areas, I think these men, by the letter of
the law, the same letter of the law that tried Lieutenant Calley,
are war criminals." |
|
1971 |
April |
Dewey
Canyon III, "a military incursion into the country of Congress"
is led by Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) on April 18th
in Washington, D.C. 2,300 Vietnam Veterans participate. Several
veterans, camped at the mall 1/4 miles from the Capitol, throw
their medals and ribbons at the foot of the statue of Chief
Justice John Marshall. |
|
1971 |
April |
Organized by 'Vietnam Veterans Against the War' a
week of nationwide protests begin on April 19th. |
|
|
April |
The protests of Dewey Canyon III is given
enthusiastic coverage by the communist Daily World newspaper on
April 20th. |
|
1971 |
April |
John Kerry testifies before a special session of
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for two hours alleging
widespread atrocities by U.S. troops and supposed illegal
policies. Later during the John Kerry for President campaign
many veterans deny the allegations taking offense from Kerry's
"lies." |
|
1971 |
April |
On April 23rd on the Capitol steps Veterans throw their medals
over a makeshift fence. John Kerry takes part claiming to
throw his ribbons then later when discovered he still has
possession of his medals said they were someone else's ribbons. |
|
1971 |
April |
A group called the "Mayday Tribe" attempt to
effect work stoppages at several federal offices in
Washington,
D.C. on April 24th during the ongoing demonstrations. |
|
1971 |
April |
Total American deaths in Vietnam have exceeded 45,000
as of April 29th. |
|
1971 |
April |
The last departure of U.S. Marine combat
units in Vietnam occur on April 30th. |
|
1971 |
May |
Attempting to disrupt government businesses in
Washington,
D.C. 7,000 anti-war militants are arrested on May 3rd by 5,100
policemen backed by 10,000 federal troops. |
|
1971 |
May |
Anther 2,700 anti-war militants are arrested on May 4th. Most of
the nearly 11,000 arrests made over May 3rd, 4th and 5th are
later released. |
|
1971 |
May |
On the third day of protests, May 5th, 1,200 additional arrests
are made during a rally on the east Capitol steps. The rally was
attended by some members of Congress. |
|
1971 |
June |
Vietnam Veterans for a Just Peace, claiming representation of
most Vietnam veterans, speak out against the war protests. |
|
1971 |
June |
John Kerry, who later becomes a Vietnam anti-war activist, tells
the Washington Star on June 6th, he was ordered to shoot upon
villages along the shore killing innocent women and children.
During his later presidential campaign his story,
unsubstantiated is disbelieved
and taken as an offense by many Vietnam
Veterans. |
|
1971 |
June |
Drug
control and rehabilitation programs for the military are adopted
by the U.S. Senate on June 9th. |
|
1971 |
June |
President Nixon is incensed
by the New York Times June 13th publication of "Pentagon Papers"
excerpts. The "Pentagon Papers" were a secret Defense Department
archive of documents, and decisions on Vietnam, made by former
White House administrations. The papers were leaked to Time's
Neil Sheehan by former State Department official Daniel
Ellsberg. |
|
1971 |
June |
On June 15th, President Nixon
takes legal action against the New York Times in the U.S.
District court in attempts to stop the publication of the
"Pentagon Papers." |
|
1971 |
June |
The "end the war" bill
(158-255) was rejected by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Ohio Congressman
Charles Whalen, a republican was a co-sponsor. |
|
1971 |
June |
In June during a college
commencement speech Senator Mike Mansfield calls the Vietnam war
"a tragic mistake." |
|
1971 |
June |
FBI files show that during the summer of 1971
John Kerry meets with representatives from North Vietnam in
Paris. Kerry becomes a sought after guests by late night
talk shows. |
|
1971 |
June |
The U.S. Senate urges
removal of all American Troops from Vietnam by end of 1971 in a
resolution on June 22nd, that is non-binding. |
|
1971 |
June |
The U.S. Senate passes the 2-year extension of
the Draft Bill on June 24th following a debate that began on May
6th. It is estimated that 48% of the Army's manpower were
draftees or were "draft motivated" to join. |
|
1971 |
June |
The Mansfield (Mike
Mansfield, Democrat,
Montana)
Amendment is passed on June 24th. It attaches to the draft
extension bill, wording to set a national policy of withdrawing
troops from southeast Asia in 9 months. The wording is later
changed to "earliest practical date". This is the first time in
U.S. History that the U.S. Congress passes legislation that
urges ending a current war that America was involved in. |
|
1971 |
June |
Daniel Ellsberg surrenders
to police on June 28th for leaking the Pentagon Papers. |
|
1971 |
June |
4,100 pages of the Pentagon Papers were entered
into the record of his subcommittee on Buildings and Grounds by
Alaska's U.S. Senator Mike Gravel on June 29th. Those pages were
later published by Beacon Press. |
|
1971 |
June |
The U.S. Supreme Court
ruling on June 30th came down 6 to 3 in favor of the publication
of the Pentagon Papers by the New York Times and Washington
Post. |
|
1971 |
June |
William Colby is replaced
by George Jackson
as head of CORDS in June. |
|
1971 |
July |
On July 1st of the peace
talks a return of all American and allied POWs in North and
South Vietnam by end of 1971 was proposed by the Viet Cong
on the condition that all U.S. troops were withdrawn during the
same time period. Naturally the reaction by the U.S. was
cautious. |
|
1971 |
July |
July 1st sets a daily
record with 6,100 American soldiers departing Vietnam. |
|
1971 |
July |
In a major development in
diplomacy on July 15th,
President Nixon
announces he will visit Communist China in 1972. |
|
1971 |
July |
In the White House on July
17th the "Plumbers" unit is created by
Nixon aides John Ehrlichman
and Charles Colson for the purpose of plugging various leaks and
investigate Daniel Ellsberg, the leak of the Pentagon Papers.
Colson compiles a list of around 200 prominent American citizens
considered anti-Nixon |
|
1971 |
Aug. |
30,000 CIA-sponsored
irregulars operating in Laos is made public by the U.S. on
August 2nd. |
|
1971 |
Aug. |
Australia and New Zealand
announce on August 18th their intentions to withdraw all their
forces from Vietnam. |
|
1971 |
Sept. |
Captain Ernest L. Medina
is acquitted on all charges on September 22nd concerning the My
Lai Massacre. |
|
1971 |
Sept. |
Having lapsed on June 30th
the 2-year draft extension bill was signed into law on September
28th. Retaining deferments for upperclassmen, deferments were
abolished for 1971 freshmen. A non-binding provision of
the bill placed the backing of an early end to the Vietnam War,
by Congress, on record. |
|
1971 |
Oct. |
President Thieu ran for
re-election unopposed after Vice President Ky and General Duong
Van Minh dropped out claiming charges that Thieu had rigged the
election. On October 3rd. President Thieu is re-elected with a
minimum of 90 percent of the popular vote. |
|
1971 |
Oct. |
In one of a series of
"combat refusals," an assignment is refused by members of the
U.S. 1st Air Cavalry Division on October 9th when they expressed
"a desire not to go." |
|
1971 |
Oct. |
On October 29th the total
number of American troops reach the lowest number since January
1966 with a count of 196,700. |
|
1971 |
Oct. |
The Viet Cong
in Saigon release the first POWs on October 31st. |
|
1971 |
Nov. |
A 300-page report is
released on November 2nd, by a Senate subcommittee, describing a
PX scandal that spans Vietnam and other oversea bases as,
"corruption, criminality, and moral compromise." |
|
1971 |
Nov. |
Khmer Rouge forces on
November 10th attack Phnom Penh, Cambodia damaging nine
airplanes at the airport and killing 44 with another 30 wounded. |
|
1971 |
Nov. |
Stressing the importance
of continued air strikes on infiltration routes
President
Nixon on November 12th
announces the withdrawal of an additional 45,000 troops before
February, 1972. February 1st is set as the deadline. |
|
1971 |
Nov. |
A proposal to kill six pro-war senators was voted
on at a secret meeting of the VVAW held from November 12th to
the 15th, as revealed by declassified FBI documents. John Kerry
is identified as being in attendance and speaking against the
proposal that was voted down. Kerry and two others later
resign from their posts in the VVAW. During his campaign in
2004, Kerry will state that he was a no-show and resigned
before the meeting, he will then change his story and say he
does not remember attending the meeting. |
|
1971 |
Dec. |
Intensifying assaults on
government positions on December 1st., the Khmer Rouge force a
retreat of Cambodian forces from Kompong Thmar and Ba Ray, both
northeast of Phnom Phen. |
|
1971 |
Dec. |
American troops levels
drop to 156,800 on December 17th. |
|
1971 |
Dec. |
The "Christmas Bombing"
begins on December 18th against Hanoi and North Vietnam. |
|
1971 |
Dec. |
1,025 sorties are flown
from December 26th to the 30th, in the heaviest air strikes on
North Vietnam since 1968. The U.S. cites violations of the
agreements made in return for the 1968 bombing halt. |
|
© Copyright 2007
Roger W Hancock www.PoetPatriot.com |
|
1972 - Vietnam War |
|
1972 |
Jan. |
Peace Talks begin again in Paris during the
first week of January. |
|
1972 |
Jan. |
The 7th withdrawal of
troops is announced by President Nixon
in January. 70,000 troops by May 1st, 1972 dropping the level
down to 69,000. |
|
1972 |
Jan. |
President Nixon announced on
January 25th an eight point peace plan and tells the nation that
Henry Kissinger had been in secret negotiations with North
Vietnam. In true character, Hanoi rejects
Nixon's attempts at peace. |
|
1972 |
Feb. |
President Nixon visits the
People's Republic of China from February 17th to the 28th.
Nixon met with Mao Zedong
and Prime Minister Zhou Enlai during the historical visit to
China to forge improved diplomatic relations with the Communist
Nation.
The North Vietnamese feared that improved relations between the
U.S. and China may prompt China to pressure for an unfavorable
settlement for peace. |
|
1972 |
March |
The U.S. 101st Airborne Division,
on March 10th, was withdrawn from Vietnam. |
|
1972 |
March |
President Nixon charged
Hanoi with refusing to "negotiate seriously" and boycotts the
Paris Peace Talks on March 23rd. |
|
1972 |
March |
North Vietnamese Forces on March 30 enter the DMZ
zone to begin the Eastertide Offensive, the largest since the 1968 Tet Offensive.
The reduction of American forces, a strong American anti-war
movement, and the exposed weakness of South Vietnam's Army in
Operation Lam Son 719 prompts The Eastertide Offensive. General
Vo Nguyen Giap attempts a conquer of South Vietnam, commanding
200,000 North Vietnamese soldiers.
General Giap's initial strategy was to capture Quang Tri, just
south of the DMZ zone, then Kontum in mid South Vietnam and in
the south, An Loc. The Communists hoped these Victories would
sway the American public nd prevent the re-election of
President
Richard Nixon, much as when approval rating of President L. B.
J. dropped after the 1968 Tet offensive. Communist leaders
thought American aid to South Vietnam would be disrupted by
Nixon's removal. |
|
1972 |
April |
In retaliation of the latest offensive by the
North Vietnamese, Nixon orders the bombing of the Hanoi and
Haiphong areas. |
|
1972 |
April |
On April 2nd, President Nixon
okays air strikes and naval gunfire to target North Vietnamese
Army troops in and around the Demilitarized Zone. The attacks
are in response to the NVA's Eastertide Offensive. |
|
1972 |
April |
2 U.S. Carriers are
recalled on April 5th. An Armada is being made ready. |
|
1972 |
April |
Declaring in private on
April 4th, President Nixon
says, "The bastards have
never been bombed like they're going to bombed this time,"
after the authorization of a massive bombing campaign. The
campaign is an additional B-52 air strikes in response to
the Eastertide Offensive, targeting NVA troops that invade South
Vietnam. |
|
1972 |
April |
On April 10th the U.S.
begins the massive B-52 bombardments that extend 145 miles into
North Vietnam. |
|
1972 |
April |
On April 12 as part of the NVA's continued Eastertide Offensive
an attack on Kontum
begins in central South Vietnam. If the attack succeeds, South
Vietnam will effectively be cut in two. |
|
1972 |
April |
The U.S. hits the Vinh
Area with B52 bombings on April 12th. An "Insurance" Force
is readied. |
|
1972 |
April |
Hanoi and Haiphong harbor are bombed
by the U.S. on April 15th. |
|
1972 |
April |
Protests break out in America, over the B52 bombings, on April
15th and continue through the 20th. |
|
1972 |
April |
An attack on An Loc
begins on April 19th as part of the NVA's Eastertide Offensive. |
|
1972 |
April |
The withdrawal of 20,000
more troops are announced by President Nixon
on April 26th. Nixon
continues the bombing. |
|
1972 |
April |
The Paris Peace talks resume
on April 27th. |
|
1972 |
April |
U.S. troop levels have dropped to
69,000 by April 30th.. |
|
1972 |
May |
On May 1st. Quang Tri City attacked by the NVA. The South
Vietnamese will abandon the city on May 3rd. |
|
1972 |
May |
Participation in the Paris
Peace Talks are suspended "indefinitely," by both the U.S. and
South Vietnam on May 4th. Nixon
orders 125 additional warplanes to Vietnam. |
|
1972 |
May |
President Nixon, on May 8th,
orders the placement of mines in harbors of North Vietnam,
without informing congress. |
|
1972 |
May |
Nixon makes the
announcement, on May 8th, of Operation Linebacker I, the mining
of North Vietnam's harbors and intensified bombings of
transportation infrastructure and oil facilities. |
|
1972 |
May |
International condemnation
results from Nixon's
announcement of Operation Linebacker. More anti-war protests
break out. |
|
1972 |
May |
During an air strike on
May 8th, South Vietnamese Pilots accidentally drop Napalm bombs
on South Vietnamese civilians that, of course, included
children. A still shot and filmed footage show a badly burned
nude girl fleeing the destruction of her community. |
|
1972 |
May |
U.S. jets lay mines in Haiphong harbor on May 9th as Operation
Linebacker begins. |
|
1972 |
May |
Navy planes attack an NVA
camp near Hanoi on May 10th. |
|
1972 |
May |
The (USARV) U.S. Army Vietnam headquarters is decommissioned on
May 15th. |
|
1972 |
May |
On May 17th the U.S.
reports that the supply line to the Eastertide Offensive of NVA
troops in South Vietnam has been damaged by Operation
Linebacker. |
|
1972 |
May |
In a visit to the Soviet Union from May 22nd to the 30th,
President Nixon meets with
Leonid Brezhnev concerning relations with that Communist nation.
Again, Hanoi becomes concerned that they may be pressured into
an unfavorable settlement in the peace talks. |
|
1972 |
May |
South Vietnamese troops
aided by U.S. air strikes were able to ward off an NVA attack on
Kontum on May 30th. |
|
1972 |
June |
On June 1st the North
Vietnamese in Hanoi admit severe disruptions are being caused by
Operation Linebacker. |
|
1972 |
June |
President Nixon announced in
June that 10,000 more troops would be withdrawn by September. |
|
1972 |
June |
Information obtained from
North Vietnamese deserters, on and around June 7th, prove useful
in planning pre-emptive attacks against the NVA. |
|
1972 |
June |
On June 9th a helicopter crashes near Pleiku. Among the dead was
Senior U.S. military advisor John
Paul Vann. Vann had
been assisting South Vietnamese troops defending Kontum from NVA
attacks. |
|
1972 |
June |
Five arrests are made on
June 17th in the Watergate building in
Washington
D.C.. Those arrested were attempting to hide microphones in
the Democratic National Committee offices. Later investigations
will tie the five perpetrators to the White House. |
|
1972 |
June |
Aided by U.S.
Navy gunfire and B-52 bombardments, on June 28th, the South
Vietnamese troops commence a counter-offensive to retake Quang
Tri Province. |
|
1972 |
June |
Gen. Abrams is replaced on
June 30th by General Frederick C. Weyand as the MACV commander
in Vietnam. |
|
1972 |
July |
July 11, 1972 - NVA attack on An Loc is thwarted
by .
South Vietnamese troops aided by B-52 air strikes are able to
thwart a NVA attack on An Loc on July 11th. |
|
1972 |
July |
The Paris peace talks resume
on July 13th. |
|
1972 |
July |
Senator George McGovern an
outspoken critic of the war, advocates "immediate and complete
withdrawal." :Mc Govern is chosen on July 14th as the Democratic
Nominee for President. |
|
1972 |
July |
On July 18th, during a
visit to Hanoi, North Vietnam, Jane Fonda is heard on Hanoi
Radio spouting anti-war messages. |
|
1972 |
July |
South Vietnamese troops begin a
major counter-offensive, on July 19th, against NVA troops in Binh Dinh Province. |
|
1972 |
July |
From July 29th to August 12th
former
U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark travels, on behalf of the
Communist Stockholm International Commission for Inquiry, to
Hanoi, North Vietnam. U.S. bombing of North Vietnam is denounced by
Ramsey Clark. Having visited American POWs he reports that they
are in good health and the conditions "could not be better." |
|
1972 |
Aug. |
In August
President Nixon announced
that 12,000 more troops would be withdrawn from Vietnam. |
|
1972 |
Aug. |
Henry Kissinger meets with
Le Duc Tho in Paris on August 1st. |
|
1972 |
Aug. |
August 23, 1972 - The last
American combat troops
leave Vietnam on August 23rd. |
|
1972 |
Aug. |
South Vietnamese troops recapture Quang Tri City on September
16th.
|
|
1972 |
Sept. |
Ten percent of the North
Vietnamese air force is destroyed on September 29th by heavy
U.S. air raids. |
|
1972 |
Oct. |
Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho agree to major concessions on
October 8th ending the diplomatic stalemate. North
Vietnamese troops already in South Vietnam will remain and North
Vietnam will not demand the removal of South Vietnam's President Thieu
and the dissolution of the South Vietnamese government.
Kissinger's staff expressed concern over allowing NVA troops to
remain in South Vietnam. Kissinger dismisses them saying, "I
want to end this war before the election."
|
|
1972 |
Oct. |
On October 12th on the Navy aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Kitty Hawk,
almost 50 sailors are injured in a 100 sailor brawl that began
with an altercation of racial overtones. The Kitty Hawk was en
route to the Gulf of Tonkin. |
|
1972 |
Oct. |
Henry Kissinger briefs Thieu about the peace proposal on October 22nd.
Displaying obvious emotion Thieu vehemently opposes NVA troops
remaining in South Vietnam indefinitely. Angered, Kissinger
reports to President Nixon,
who threatens total cut-off of American aid. President Thieu
refuses to back down as Kissinger returns to
Washington. |
|
1972 |
Oct. |
Operation Linebacker I
ends on October 22nd.
U.S. warplanes had flown 40,000 sorties dropping over 125,000
tons of ordnance, disrupting North Vietnam's Eastertide
Offensive. 40,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died fending off the
offensive in the heaviest warfare of the entire war.
North Vietnam had approximately 100,000 military casualties.
Half of the North's tanks and artillery were lost during the
failed offensive. General Vo Nguyen Giap, legendary for past
victories, was forced out after the failed offensive and
replaced by deputy Gen. Van Tien Dung. |
|
1972 |
Oct. |
South Vietnam's President Thieu public
announcement, on October 24th, denouncing Henry
Kissinger's peace proposal. |
|
1972 |
Oct. |
North Vietnam on October 26th released the terms of the peace
proposal and accuses the U.S. for attempting to sabotage the
agreement. With the election a week away, Henry Kissinger
declares in a press conference, "We believe that peace is at
hand. We believe that an agreement is in sight." |
|
1972 |
Oct. |
Veteran's Health Care Expansion Act of 1972 failed to become law
when President Nixon" left
the bill unsigned and Congress had adjourned prior to the ten
day limit. health care services for veterans and their
dependents would have increased by $85 million. |
|
1972 |
Oct. |
In October the U.S.
Supreme Court remained staunch in its refusal to rule on the
constitutionality of America's involvement in Vietnam.
Sarnoff vs. Schultz was a case where taxpayers challenged the
use of foreign aid funds to finance American operations in
Vietnam. The court declined to hear the case voting 7 to 2.
Dissenting Justices, Douglas and Brennan, said that since
the Constitution specifically gives Congress the power to
declare war, and thus "impliedly bars its exercise by
the executive branch." |
|
1972 |
Nov. |
In the biggest
Presidential landslide to date in U.S. history,
Richard M. Nixon wins re-election
on November 7th. |
|
1972 |
Nov. |
In continued Vietnamization
of the war, the
United States Army transfers the Long Binh military
base to
South Vietnam. |
|
1972 |
Nov. |
President Nixon in a letter to President Thieu
on November 14th, secretly pledges "to take swift and severe retaliatory
action" against North Vietnam if it violates the proposed peace treaty.
|
|
1972 |
Nov. |
On November 22nd the first
U.S. B-52 Stratofortress is lost in the war. The crew of six is
rescued two days later on November 24th. |
|
1972 |
Nov. |
White House Press Secretary
Ron Ziegler, on November 30th, tells the press that there will be no more
public announcements concerning
American troop withdrawals from
Vietnam. The reason given was the fact that troop levels were down to
27,000. Shortly after, the American troop withdrawal from
Vietnam is completed, though 16,000 Army advisors and
administrators remained to assist South Vietnam's military
forces. |
|
1972 |
Dec. |
ON December 2nd in
Australia the Labor Party gains the office of Prime Minister for
the first time in 23 years. Gough Whitlam becomes Australia's
Prime Minister who is sworn in on election night and with his
first use of executive power orders the withdrawal of all
Australian personnel from the Vietnam War. |
|
1972 |
Dec. |
The Paris Peace Talks
collapse on December 13th, when the Communist's position changes
after Kissinger presented a list of new demands by South
Vietnam's President Thieu.
President Nixon sends an
ultimatum to North Vietnam to resume serious negotiations within
72 hours. Receiving no reply from North Vietnam,
Nixon orders Operation
Linebacker II. |
|
1972 |
Dec. |
U.S. bombing of North Vietnam is renewed in Operation Linebacker
II on December 18th, with eleven days and nights of B-52 bombers
attacking military targets, that includes the Christmas day
raids, ending on the 30th. The bombings spark more anti-war
protests. |
|
1972 |
Dec. |
The so called 'Christmas bombings'
of Operation Linebacker II are condemned
by the media, politicians, various world leaders
and the Pope. The outrage is further fueled by North Vietnamese film footage
showing civilian
casualties. POW, downed B-52 pilots are filmed, by the North
Vietnamese, making coerced statements against the
bombing. |
|
1972 |
Dec. |
Operation
Linebacker II is suspended, by President Nixon
on December 24th., for 36 hours to mark the Christmas holiday. |
|
1972 |
Dec. |
Bob Hope gives his last of
9 consecutive Christmas shows in Vietnam on December 24th. The
show is performed in Saigon for U.S. servicemen. |
|
1972 |
Dec. |
Operation Linebacker II is
resumed on December 25th. |
|
1972 |
Dec. |
On December 26th, North Vietnam agrees to
resume peace negotiations within five days if
President Nixon
ended the bombing. |
|
1972 |
Dec. |
Nixon
orders on December 29th, the end of Operation Linebacker II to stop
the bombings on December 30th, in response to the North Vietnamese promise to
return to the peace table.
|
|
1972 |
Dec. |
Operation Linebacker II ends
on December 30th. 121 B-52 bombers delivered more than 100,000
bombs that were dropped on Hanoi and Haiphong.
Fifteen B-52s participating were shot down by the
North Vietnamese who fired 1200 surface to air missiles.
Operation Proud Deep from December 26th to the 30th, of
Linebacker II was the most intensive bombing campaign of
the war. 1,025 sorties were flown in those four days.
Collateral damage from the bombings claimed 1318 civilian
deaths, according to Hanoi. |
|
1972 |
Dec. |
The North
Vietnamese announce a return to the Paris Peace Talks. Hanoi
cites violations of agreements surrounding the 1968 bombing
halt. Peace Negotiations resumed during the first week of
January, 1973. |
|
1972 |
Info. |
Late in 1972 Congress had voted to eliminate
funding for any military operations in Indochina.
It is estimated that by
1972, 70,000 "Draft Dodgers" had evaded military service by
leaving the country to live in Canada. |
|
© Copyright 2007
Roger W Hancock www.PoetPatriot.com |
|
1973 - Vietnam War |
|
1973 |
Jan. |
Resuming
negotiations in Paris on January 8th Kissinger and Le Duc Tho
begin meaningful negotiations that lead to the signing of a
cease fire set for January 27th. |
|
1973 |
Jan. |
Kissinger and Le Duc Tho
have worked out all remaining differences on January 9th.
South Vietnam President Thieu unwillingly accepts the peace
agreement, having once again been threatened by
Nixon with a total cut-off
of American aid. Thieu calls the treaty, "tantamount to
surrender" for South Vietnam. North Vietnamese troops are
allowed to remain in South Vietnam. |
|
1973 |
Jan. |
President Nixon citing
progress in the peace negotiations on January 15th announces a
suspension of all U.S. offensive action in North Vietnam. |
|
1973 |
Jan. |
United States, South Vietnam, and North Vietnam sign
the
Paris Peace Accords on January 23rd, ending America's combat
involvement. |
|
1973 |
Jan. |
President Richard Nixon announced
on January 23rd
an agreement has been reached to "end the war and bring
peace with honor in Vietnam and S.E. Asia." |
|
1973 |
Jan. |
President Nixon announces the
cease-fire in Vietnam on January 24th. The military draft
ends. |
|
1973 |
Jan. |
The U.S., North Vietnam,
South Vietnam and the Viet Cong sign the Paris Peace Accords on
January 27th.The U.S. will cease all military actions and
withdraw all such personnel within 60 days. North Vietnam agree
to an immediate cease-fire and the release of all American POWs
within 60 days.
Vietnam remains divided with South Vietnam having two
governments, President Thieu's regime and one led by the Viet
Cong. 150,000 NVA troops remain in South Vietnam. |
|
1973 |
Jan. |
Lt. Col. William B. Nolde is killed on January 27th. He is the
last American soldier to die before implementation of the
cease-fire. His services were held at Arlington National
Cemetery. |
|
1973 |
Jan. |
January 27th is the official end to the Vietnam War. North
Vietnam released 591 military and civilian prisoners between
January 27th and March 29th. In that two month period
23,000 U.S. troops were withdrawn from South Vietnam. |
|
1973 |
Jan. |
The Cease fire goes into effect on January 28th. |
|
1973 |
Feb. |
Operation Homecoming
begins in Hanoi on February 12th with the first release of
American POWs of the
Vietnam conflict. Hanoi claims somewhere around 591 American
Soldiers held as POWs. |
|
1973 |
March |
Maj. Kenneth Cordier an Air Force pilot, after 2,284 days as a
POW is released on March 4th. He stated the Vietcong
incessantly repeated John Kerry's one-line statement, "How do
you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"
Many other POWs had similar stories. George Day, Former POW is
quoted in "Stolen Honor" as saying about Kerry,
“This man committed an act of treason. He lied, he besmirched
our name and he did it for self-interest. And now he wants us to
forget.” |
|
1973 |
March |
67 more American POWs are freed in Hanoi on March 29th. |
|
1973 |
March |
The last 2,500 U.S. combat
troops leave Vietnam on March 29th, marking the actual end of
American military involvement in Vietnam.
President Nixon declared
"the day we have all worked and prayed for has finally come."
America's longest war and first "defeat" ends. Although there
was not a military victory, thus a defeat there was an ambiguous
victory; the cold war was stalled as attentions were pretty much
kept upon North and South Vietnam. |
|
1973 |
April |
President Nixon and
President Thieu meet at San Clemente,
California in April where
Nixon reiterates his
promise of a military response if North Vietnam violates the
peace agreement. |
|
1973 |
April |
Senate hearings
confirm that secret bombings in Cambodia had started a year
before the April 30th, 1970 incursions. |
|
1973 |
April |
On April 1st Hanoi
releases the last of the 591 American POWs. It is believed
others were still kept prisoner as America will for many years
seek more information on those unaccounted for. The last known
American POW that was released was Captain Robert White. |
|
1973 |
April |
H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman,
top Nixon aides resign on April 30th due to their involvement in
the Watergate break-in. |
|
1973 |
May |
Due to U.S. continued bombing of Laos and Cambodia the House of
Representatives voted 219 to 188, on May 10th, in favor of cutting off
Indochina funds. |
|
1973 |
May |
The U.S. Senate took action on May
31st to prohibit use of appropriated funds for combat activities
in Laos or Cambodia. |
|
1973 |
June |
In a veto-proof vote (278-124
in the House and 64-26 in the Senate) on June 19th the U.S.
Congress forbids U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia
beginning August 15th, by passage of the Case-Church Amendment.
The Amendment will allow another invasion of South Vietnam by
the NVA without concern for U.S. reprisals by bombing. |
|
1973 |
June |
Graham Martin becomes the
new U.S. ambassador to South Vietnam on June 24th. |
|
1973 |
July |
Mines installed during Operation Linebacker are removed from
North Vietnam ports in July by the U.S. Navy. |
|
1973 |
July |
Hearings on the 1969-70 secret bombings of Cambodia begin on
July 16th by the U.S. Senate Armed Forces Committee. |
|
1973 |
July |
On July 17th, the
second day of the U.S. Senate Armed Forces Committee hearings,
Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger testified that 3500
bombing raids into Cambodia were launched against NVA positions
for the purpose of protecting American troops.
The bombing campaign angers many of
President Nixon's
adversaries in Congress, prompting the first calls for his
impeachment. |
|
1973 |
Aug. |
U.S. bombing in Cambodia is curtailed on August 14th, in
compliance with the Case-Church Amendment. Thus ends 12 years of
combat in Southeast Asia. |
|
1973 |
Aug. |
President Nixon appoints
Henry Kissinger, as Secretary of State on August 22nd, to
replace William Rogers. |
|
1973 |
Sept. |
South Vietnamese troops attack the North Vietnamese Army near
Pleiku on September 22nd. |
|
1973 |
Oct. |
Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigns on October 10th in
response to a political scandal.
Gerald R. Ford is appointed
to the position of vice president. |
|
1973 |
Nov. |
The U.S. Congress overrides
President Nixon's veto of
the War Powers Act on November 7th. The legislation limits
presidential powers to commit American forces abroad without
approval of Congress. |
|
1973 |
Dec. |
The Viet Cong
attack a fuel storage facility near Saigon on December 3rd, destroying 18 million
gallons of fuel. |
|
|
Info. |
U.S.
"military involvement" ended in Vietnam during 1973.
Henry Kissinger received the Nobel Peace Prize.
The war has cost 150 billion American dollars.
Over 2,000,000 Americans served in Vietnam during the conflict.
500,000 of those saw actual combat.
47,244 Americans were killed in action during the conflict with
8000 of those being airmen. There were 10,446 non-combat deaths.
Among the 300,000 wounded, 153,329 were seriously wounded with
10,000 of those being amputees.
Vietnamese deaths will be calculated at just under 5,000,000 of
which 4,000,000 were civilians.
As of 1973 there were over 2,400 American POWs/MIAs that were
unaccounted for. |
|
© Copyright 2007
Roger W Hancock www.PoetPatriot.com |
|
1974 - Vietnam War |
|
1974 |
May |
Congress
initiates impeachment proceedings against
President Richard Nixon on
May 9th regarding involvement in the Watergate break-in. |
|
1974 |
Aug. |
Richard M. Nixon resigns as
President on August 9th rather than take the country through
impeachment proceedings. Gerald R. Ford becomes the 6th
president to cope with Vietnam when he is sworn in as the 38th
President of the United States of America. |
|
1974 |
Info. |
During 1974, North
Vietnam, in violation of the Paris Peace Treaty, initiates minor
attacks into South Vietnam to test America's response. There was
no military response by the U.S. |
|
1974 |
Sept. |
In September, Congress
appropriates a limited $700 million for South Vietnam. The South
Vietnamese Army is left under-funded reducing military
readiness. |
|
1974 |
Sept. |
President Gerald R. Ford
announced on September 16th the implementation of a clemency
program for Vietnam War draft evaders and military deserters.
The program required an oath of allegiance and up to two years
of community service. Less than 20 percent of those eligible
will avail themselves of the amnesty program; 22,5000 out of
124,000 eligible men. The amnesty program ended on March 31st in
1975. |
|
1974 |
Oct. |
In October
the Politburo of North Vietnam makes plans to invade South
Vietnam in 1975. |
|
1974 |
Nov. |
Convicted for murder of 22 civilians at My Lai
and having served 3 1/2 years under house arrest, William Calley
is freed on November 19th. |
|
1974 |
Dec. |
On December 13th North Vietnam tests
President Ford's resolve violating the Paris peace treaty.
The NVA attack Phuoc Long Province in South Vietnam.
Ford delivers diplomatic
protests only. The Congressional ban on U.S. military activity
in Southeast Asia prevents a military retaliation. |
|
1974 |
Dec. |
Leaders of North Vietnam meet on December 18th in
Hanoi to draw up plans for a final victory. |
|
© Copyright 2007
Roger W Hancock www.PoetPatriot.com |
|
1975 - Vietnam War - ends |
|
1975 |
Jan. |
The North Vietnamese Army, supplied by the Soviet Union has
become the fifth largest army in the world. The North Vietnamese
Army's general staff had planned a 20 division invasion of South
Vietnam anticipating a two year campaign before victory. The
plan is approved by North Vietnam's Politburo on January 8th.
South Vietnam's forces will collapse within just 55 days of the
offensive. |
|
1975 |
Jan. |
Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger testifies before Congress
on January 14th, stating the U.S. is not living up to an earlier
promise to President Thieu of South Vietnam. The promise was for
"severe retaliatory action" should North Vietnam violated the
Paris peace treaty. |
|
1975 |
Jan. |
During a January 21st press conference,
President Ford says the U.S. is unwilling to re-enter the
war. |
|
1975 |
Feb. |
NVA General Van Tien Dung secretly crosses into South Vietnam on
February 5th to personally command the planned two year
offensive. |
|
1975 |
March |
22 Divisions of NVA forces
begin the offensive against South Vietnam by attacking Ban Me
Thuot in the Central Highlands on March 9th. |
|
1975 |
March |
On March 10th while the battle at Ban Me Thuot continues other
NVA troops continue on towards Saigon. |
|
1975 |
March |
Ban Me Thuot falls on
March 11th after half of
4000 defending South Vietnamese soldiers surrender or
desert. |
|
1975 |
March |
On March 13th President Thieu
abandons the Highlands and two northern provinces to the NVA.
Roads are clogged causing a general chaos by the mass exodus of
civilians and soldiers. This retreat becomes known as "the
convoy of tears." |
|
1975 |
March |
With the South Vietnamese Army nearing collapse, NVA command met
on March 18th to modify the objective of victory by May 1st
rather then the original two years. |
|
1975 |
March |
Quang Tri City falls to
the North Vietnamese Army on March 19th.
|
|
1975 |
March |
Tam Ky is over-run on
March 24th by the North Vietnamese Army.
|
|
1975 |
March |
After a three day siege, Hue falls on March 25th without
resistance. South Vietnamese troops begin to break off running
from other threatened areas. Refugees numbering in the
millions flee southward. |
|
1975 |
March |
Chu Lai is evacuated on
March 26th in anticipation of a NVA attack. |
|
1975 |
March |
35,000 NVA troops prepare
on March 28th to attck Da Nang as shelling begins. |
|
1975 |
March |
Da Nang falls on March
30th when 100,000 South Vietnamese soldiers surrender after
their commanding officers fled, abandoning them. |
|
1975 |
March |
The Ho Chi Minh Campaign begins on March 31st with a final push
by the NVA toward Saigon. |
|
1975 |
April |
A
United States Air Force C-5A Galaxy transporting orphaned
children, in Operation Baby Lift, having just taken flight
crashes near Saigon killing 172 of those on board. |
|
1975 |
April |
38 miles from Saigon. 40,000 NVA attack Xuan Loc, on April 9th,
encountering the first real resistance from South Vietnamese
troops. |
|
1975 |
April |
The Cambodian government
surrenders, on April 17th, to Khmer Rouge forces. |
|
1975 |
April |
U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin meets with President Thieu on
April 20th to pressure a resignation. Washington considered the
gravity of the situation and unlikely negotiations between Thieu
and the Communists. |
|
1975 |
April |
President Thieu resigns on April 21st. In a TV speech to the
South Vietnam people Thieu, bitter and teary-eyed rambles for 90
minutes. Thieu read from
Nixon's 1972 letter
pledging "severe retaliatory action" should North Vietnam
threaten South Vietnam. Thieu blasts the Paris peace Accords,
Henry Kissinger and the U.S. Thieu charges that, "The United
States has not respected its promises. It is inhumane. It is
untrustworthy. It is irresponsible." The CIA then ushers Thieu
into exile in Taiwan. |
|
1975 |
April |
After two weeks of battling the 18th Army Division of the South
Vietnam Army Xuan Loc falls to the NVA on April 22nd. The
resitance against the NVA inflicted 5,000 casualties delaying
the Ho Chi Minh Campaign by two weeks. |
|
1975 |
April |
Saigon is overflowing with refugees as 100,000 NVA soldiers
advance on April 23rd. |
|
1975 |
April |
On April 23rd,
President Ford delivers a
speech at Tulane University stating the Vietnam conflict is "a war that is finished as far as America is concerned."
President Ford had asked Congress for $750,000,000 to help
America's ally. |
|
1975 |
April |
April 25 -
Vietnam War: As
NVA forces approach the
South Vietnamese capital
Saigon, the
Australian Embassy is evacuated, and closes nearly ten years since the first Australian troop commitment to South
Vietnam. |
|
1975 |
April |
Saigon is besieged by the NVA on April 27th. Within the city are
30,000 Vietnamese soldiers that are without leadership.
The NVA fire rockets into densely populated Civilian areas
causing chaos and looting. |
|
1975 |
April |
"Neutralist" General Duong
Van "Big" Minh, on April 28th, becomes president of South
Vietnam and appeals to North Vietnam for a cease-fire but is
ignored. |
|
1975 |
April |
The Tan Son Nhut air base in Saigon is shelled by the NVA on
April 29th. Two U.S. Marines at the gate to the compound are
killed. Chaos ensues with South Vietnamese civilians looting the
air base.
President Ford orders Operation Frequent Wind which was to
evacuate 7,000 Americans and South Vietnamese from Saigon by
helicopter. A pre-arraigned signal code is broadcast over the
radio; the song "White Christmas." When the helicopters are
swarmed by panicked civilians the mission is shifted to the
American Embassy where the situation deteriorates also as
thousands of civilians try to gain sanctuary inside.
Standing of the coast to take on incoming Americans and refugees
were three U.S. aircraft carriers. Flying American made
helicopters many South Vietnamese pilots also land on the
carriers. Those helicopters were pushed overboard to provide
room for more incoming crafts. Footage of $250,000 choppers
being dropped over the side becomes a vivid record of the war's
end. |
|
1975 |
April |
As the evacuation of U.S.
personnel and South Vietnamese refugees proceed, the NVA are
sweeping the city. The last American Soldier is killed in
Vietnam on April 29th. |
|
1975 |
April |
America's official
presence in Saigon ends at 8:35 a.m. on April 30th, with the
last Americans (10 marines) being evacuated by helicopter from
the roof of the U.S. Embassy. Hours later Saigon falls with
South Vietnamese President
Duong Van Minh broadcasting an unconditional surrender to the
Viet Cong. At 11:00 a.m. the flag of the Viet Cong flies from
the presidential palace. |
|
1975 |
April |
Saigon falls to North
Vietnam in the early hours of April 30th and is renamed Ho Chi
Minh City. The Independent Socialist Republic of Vietnam is
formed reuniting Vietnam under communist control.
Washington
extends
the
embargo of North Vietnam to all of Vietnam. |
|
1975 |
May |
The
American merchant ship SS Mayaguez, while in international
waters of the Gulf of Siam, was seized by the Cambodian navy on
May 12th. The Mayaguez was transporting non arms supplies, from
Hong-Kong to Sattahip, for military bases in Thailand. |
|
1975 |
May |
38 service members are killed on May 15th when U.S. Navy and
Marines rescue the
The American merchant ship SS Mayaguez |
|
|
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