Vietnam War Timeline

Use of the Draft

Nov 1, 1955

Men recruited to fill vacancies in the Armed Forces that could not be filled by voluntary means.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

Aug 2, 1964

International conflict that led the United States to become more involved in the Vietnam War.

Operation Rolling Thunder

Mar 2, 1965

Gradual and sustained aerial bombardment campaign conducted by the 2nd Air Division.

Tet Offensive

Jan 31, 1968

Tet Offensive was a great escalation and one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War.

Mai Lai Massacre

Mar 16, 1968

The mass murder of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians by US troops in Sơn Tịnh district.

Kent State Shooting

May 4, 1970

Murders of four and wounds of nine unarmed students at Kent State University by National Guard

Pentagon Papers

Jun 13, 1971

History of the United States Department of Defense of the political and military involvement in Vietnam.

Easter Offensive

Mar 30, 1972

Easter Offensive was a military campaign that was carried out by the People's Army of Vietnam.

Operation Linebacker

May 9, 1972

Codename of a campaign by the 7th Air Force and Navy Task Force 77 against North Vietnam.

Paris Peace Accords

Jan 27, 1973

Peace treaty signed on January 27, 1973 to establish peace in Vietnam and end Vietnam War.