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TheBitterEnd
19691975
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1969
January1,1969HenryCabotLodge,formerAmericanambassadortoSouthVietnam,isnominatedbyPresidentelectNixontobetheseniorU.S
negotiatorattheParispeacetalks.
January20,1969RichardM.Nixonisinauguratedasthe37thU.S.Presidentanddeclares"...thegreatesthonorhistorycanbestowisthetitleof
peacemaker.ThishonornowbeckonsAmerica..."HeisthefifthPresidentcopingwithVietnamandhadsuccessfullycampaignedonapledgeof
"peacewithhonor."
January22,1969OperationDeweyCanyon,thelastmajoroperationbyU.S.MarinesbeginsintheDaKrongvalley.
January25,1969ParispeacetalksopenwiththeU.S.,SouthVietnam,NorthVietnam
andtheVietCongallinattendance.

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February23,1969VietCongattack110targetsthroughoutSouthVietnamincluding
Saigon.
February25,196936U.S.MarinesarekilledbyNVAwhoraidtheirbasecampnearthe
DemilitarizedZone.
March4,1969PresidentNixonthreatenstoresumebombingNorthVietnamin
retaliationforVietCongoffensesintheSouth.
March15,1969U.S.troopsgoontheoffensiveinsidetheDemilitarizedZoneforthe
firsttimesince1968.
March1969LettersfromVietnamveteranRonaldRidenhourresultinaU.S.Army
investigationintotheMyLaimassacre.
March17,1969PresidentNixonauthorizesOperationMenu,thesecretbombingofCambodiabyB52s,targetingNorthVietnamesesupply
sanctuarieslocatedalongtheborderofVietnam.
April9,1969300antiwarstudentsatHarvardUniversityseizetheadministrationbuilding,throwouteightdeans,thenlockthemselvesin.They
arelaterforciblyejected.
April30,1969U.S.trooplevelspeakat543,400.Therehavebeen33,641Americanskilledbynow,atotalgreaterthantheKoreanWar.
May1969TheNewYorkTimesbreaksthenewsofthesecretbombingofCambodia.Asaresult,NixonordersFBIwiretapsonthetelephonesof
fourjournalists,alongwith13governmentofficialstodeterminethesourceofnewsleak.
May10May20Fortysixmenofthe101stAirbornedieduringafiercetendaybattleat'HamburgerHill'intheAShauValleynearHue.400
othersarewounded.Afterthehillistaken,thetroopsarethenorderedtoabandonitbytheircommander.NVAthenmoveinandtakebackthehill
unopposed.
ThecostlyassaultanditsconfusedaftermathprovokesapoliticaloutcrybackintheU.S.thatAmericanlivesarebeingwastedinVietnam.One
Senatorlabelstheassault"senselessandirresponsible."
ItisthebeginningoftheendforAmericainVietnamasWashingtonnowordersMACVCommanderGen.CreightonAbramstoavoidsuch
encountersinthefuture.'HamburgerHill'isthelastmajorsearchanddestroymissionbyU.S.troopsduringthewar.Smallunitactionswillnowbe
usedinstead.
AlongperiodofdeclineinmoraleanddisciplinebeginsamongAmericandrafteesservinginVietnaminvoluntarily.Drugusagebecomesrampant
asnearly50percentexperimentwithmarijuana,opium,orheroinwhichareeasytoobtainonthestreetsofSaigon.U.S.militaryhospitalslater
becomedelugedwithdrugrelatedcasesasdrugabusecausalitiesfaroutnumbercausalitiesofwar.
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May14,1969DuringhisfirstTVspeechonVietnam,PresidentNixonpresentsapeaceplaninwhichAmericaandNorthVietnamwould
simultaneouslypulloutofSouthVietnamoverthenextyear.TheofferisrejectedbyHanoi.
June8,1969PresidentNixonmeetsSouthVietnam'sPresidentNguyenVanThieuatMidwayIslandandinformshimU.S.trooplevelsaregoing
tobesharplyreduced.DuringapressbriefingwithThieu,Nixonannounces"Vietnamization"ofthewarandaU.S.troopwithdrawalof25,000
men.
June27,1969Lifemagazinedisplaysportraitphotosofall242AmericanskilledinVietnamduringthepreviousweek,includingthe46killedat
'HamburgerHill.'ThephotoshaveastunningimpactonAmericansnationwideastheyviewtheoncesmilingyoungfacesofthedead.
July1969PresidentNixon,throughaFrenchemissary,sendsasecretlettertoHoChiMinhurginghimtosettlethewar,whileatthesametime
threateningtoresumebombingifpeacetalksremainstalledasofNovember1.InAugust,HanoirespondsbyrepeatingearlierdemandsforViet
CongparticipationinacoalitiongovernmentinSouthVietnam.
July8,1969TheveryfirstU.S.troopwithdrawaloccursas800menfromthe9thInfantryDivisionaresenthome.Thephasedtroopwithdrawal
willoccurin14stagesfromJuly1969throughNovember1972.
July17,1969SecretaryofStateWilliamRogersaccusesHanoiof"lackinghumanity"inthetreatmentofAmericanPOWs.
July25,1969The"NixonDoctrine"ismadepublic.ItadvocatesU.S.militaryandeconomicassistancetonationsaroundtheworldstruggling
againstCommunism,butnomoreVietnamstylegroundwarsinvolvingAmericantroops.Theemphasisisthusplacedonlocalmilitaryself
sufficiency,backedbyU.S.airpowerandtechnicalassistancetoassuresecurity.
July30,1969PresidentNixonvisitsU.S.troopsandPresidentThieuinVietnam.ThisisNixon'sonlytriptoVietnamduringhispresidency.
August4,1969HenryKissingerconductshisfirstsecretmeetinginPariswithrepresentativesfromHanoi.
August12,1969VietCongbeginanewoffensiveattacking150targetsthroughoutSouthVietnam.
September2,1969HoChiMinhdiesofaheartattackatage79.HeissucceededbyLeDuan,whopubliclyreadsthelastwillofHoChiMinh
urgingtheNorthVietnamesetofighton"untilthelastYankeehasgone."
September5,1969TheU.S.ArmybringsmurderchargesagainstLt.WilliamCalleyconcerningthemassacreofVietnameseciviliansatMyLai
inMarchof1968.
September16,1969PresidentNixonordersthewithdrawalof35,000soldiersfromVietnamandareductionindraftcalls.
October1969Anopinionpollindicates71percentofAmericansapproveofPresidentNixon'sVietnampolicy.
October15,1969The'Moratorium'peacedemonstrationisheldinWashingtonandseveralU.S.cities.
DemonstrationorganizershadreceivedpraisesfromNorthVietnam'sPrimeMinisterPhamVanDong,whostatedinalettertothem"...mayyour
falloffensivesucceedsplendidly,"markingthefirsttimeHanoipubliclyacknowledgedtheAmericanantiwarmovement.Dong'scomments
infuriateAmericanconservativesincludingVicePresidentSpiroAgnewwholambastestheprotestersasCommunist"dupes"comprisedof"an
effetecorpsofimpudentsnobswhocharacterizethemselvesasintellectuals."
November3,1969PresidentNixondeliversamajorTVspeechaskingforsupportfrom"thegreatsilentmajorityofmyfellowAmericans"forhis
Vietnamstrategy."...themoredividedweareathome,thelesslikelytheenemyistonegotiateatParis...NorthVietnamcannotdefeatorhumiliate
theUnitedStates.OnlyAmericanscandothat."
November15,1969'TheMobilization'peacedemonstrationdrawsanestimated250,000inWashingtonforthelargestantiwarprotestinU.S.
history.
November16,1969Forthefirsttime,theU.S.ArmypubliclydiscusseseventssurroundingtheMyLaimassacre.
December1,1969ThefirstdraftlotterysinceWorldWarIIisheldinNewYorkCity.Eachdayoftheyearisrandomlyassignedanumberfrom
1365.Thosewithbirthdaysondaysthatwindupwithalownumberwilllikelybedrafted.
December15,1969PresidentNixonordersanadditional50,000soldiersoutofVietnam.
December20,1969AfrustratedHenryCabotLodgequitshispostaschiefU.S.negotiatorattheParispeacetalks.
Byyear'send,America'sfightingstrengthinVietnamhasbeenreducedby115,000men.40,024AmericanshavenowbeenkilledinVietnam.Over
thenextfewyears,theSouthVietnameseArmywillbeboostedtoover500,000meninaccordancewith'Vietnamization'ofthewarinwhichthey
willtakeoverthefightingfromAmericans.

1970
February2,1970B52bombersstriketheHoChiMinhtrailinretaliationfortheincreasingnumberofVietCongraidsthroughouttheSouth.
February21,1970AlthoughtheofficialpeacetalksremaindeadlockedinParis,behindthescenes,HenryKissingerbeginsaseriesofsecrettalks
withNorthVietnam'sLeDucTho,whichwillgoonfortwoyears.
March18,1970PrinceSihanoukofCambodiaisdeposedbyGeneralLonNol.
Sihanouk,whohadbeenoutofthecountryatthetimeofthecoup,thenalignswithCambodianCommunists,knownastheKhmerRouge,inan
efforttooustLonNol'sregime.
TheKhmerRougeareledbyanunknownfigurenamedPolPot,whoeagerlycapitalizesontheenormousprestigeandpopularityofPrince
SihanouktoincreasesupportforhisKhmerRougemovementamongCambodians.PolPotwilllaterviolentlyoustLonNolthenbeginaradical
experimenttocreateanagrarianutopia,resultinginthedeathsof25percentofthecountry'spopulation(2,000,000persons)fromstarvation,
overworkandsystematicexecutions.

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March20,1970CambodiantroopsunderGen.LonNolattackKhmerRougeandNorthVietnameseforcesinsideCambodia.AttheWhiteHouse,
NixonandtopaidesdiscussplanstoassistLonNol'sproAmericanregime.
March31,1970TheU.S.ArmybringsmurderchargesagainstCaptainErnestL.MedinaconcerningthemassacreofVietnameseciviliansatMy
LaiinMarchof1968.
April20,1970PresidentNixonannouncesthewithdrawalofanother150,000AmericansfromVietnamwithinayear.
April30,1970PresidentNixonstunsAmericansbyannouncingU.S.andSouthVietnameseincursionintoCambodia"...notforthepurposeof
expandingthewarintoCambodiabutforthepurposeofendingthewarinVietnamandwinningthejustpeacewedesire."Theannouncement
generatesatidalwaveofprotestbypoliticians,thepress,students,professors,clergymembers,businessleaders,andmanyaverageAmericans
againstNixonandtheVietnamWar.
TheincursionisinresponsetocontinuingCommunistgainsagainstLonNol'sforcesandisalsointendedtoweakenoverallNVAmilitarystrength
asapreludetoU.S.departurefromVietnam.
May1,1970MayDay,thetraditionalCommunistholiday.Acombinedforceof15,000U.S.andSouthVietnamesesoldiersattackNVAsupply
basesinsideCambodia.However,throughoutthisoffensive,NVAandVietCongcarefullyavoidlargescalebattlesandinsteadwithdraw
westward,furtherintoCambodia,leavingbehindtheirbasecampscontaininghugestoresofweaponsandammunition.
May1,1970PresidentNixoncallsantiwarstudents"bumsblowingupcampuses."
May2,1970AmericancollegecampuseseruptinprotestovertheinvasionofCambodia.
May4,1970AtKentStateUniversityinOhio,NationalGuardsmenshootandkillfourstudentprotestersandwoundnine.
Inresponsetothekillings,over400collegesanduniversitiesacrossAmericashutdown.InWashington,nearly100,000protesterssurround
variousgovernmentbuildingsincludingtheWhiteHouseandhistoricalmonuments.Onanimpulse,PresidentNixonexitstheWhiteHouseand
paysalatenightsurprisevisittotheLincolnMemorialandchatswithyoungprotesters.
May6,1970InSaigonoverthepastweek,450civilianswerekilledduringVietCongterroristraidsthroughoutthecity,thehighestweeklydeath
tolltodate.
June3,1970NVAbeginanewoffensivetowardPhnomPenhinCambodia.TheU.S.providesairstrikestopreventthedefeatofLonNol's
inexperiencedyoungtroops.
June22,1970AmericanusageofjungledefoliantsinVietnamishalted.
June24,1970TheU.S.Senaterepealsthe1964GulfofTonkinResolution.
June30,1970U.S.troopswithdrawfromCambodia.Over350Americansdiedduringtheincursion.
August11,1970SouthVietnamesetroopstakeoverthedefenseofborderpositionsfromU.S.troops.
August24,1970HeavyB52bombingraidsoccuralongtheDemilitarizedZone.
September5,1970OperationJeffersonGlenn,thelastU.S.offensiveinVietnambeginsinThuaThienProvince.
October7,1970DuringaTVspeech,PresidentNixonproposesa"standstill"ceasefireinwhichalltroopswouldstopshootingandremainin
placependingaformalpeaceagreement.Hanoidoesnotrespond.
October24,1970SouthVietnamesetroopsbeginanewoffensiveintoCambodia.
November12,1970ThemilitarytrialofLt.WilliamCalleybeginsatFortBenning,Georgia,concerningthemassacreofVietnameseciviliansat
MyLai.
November20,1970Americantrooplevelsdropto334,600.
December10,1970PresidentNixonwarnsHanoithatmorebombingraidsmayoccurifNorthVietnameseattackscontinueagainsttheSouth.
December22,1970TheCooperChurchamendmenttotheU.S.defenseappropriationsbillforbidstheuseofanyU.S.groundforcesinLaosor
Cambodia.
Americantrooplevelsdropto280,000byyear'send.Duringtheyear,anestimated60,000soldiersexperimentedwithdrugs,accordingtotheU.S.
command.Therewerealsoover200incidentsof"fragging"inwhichunpopularofficerswereattackedwithfragmentationgrenadesbymenunder
theircommand.Inaddition,manyunitsarenowplaguedbyracialunrest,reflectingthedisharmonybackhome.

1971
January4,1971PresidentNixonannounces"theendisinsight."
January19,1971U.S.fighterbomberslaunchheavyairstrikesagainstNVAsupplycampsinLaosandCambodia.
January30April6OperationLamSon719,anallSouthVietnamesegroundoffensive,occursas17,000SouthVietnamesesoldiersattack22,000
NVAinsideLaosinanattempttosevertheHoChiMinhtrail.AidedbyheavyU.S.artilleryandairstrikes,alongwithAmericanhelicopterlifts,
SouthVietnamesetroopsadvancetotheirfirstobjectivebutthenstallthusallowingtheNVAtimetobringinmassivetroopreinforcements.By
battle'send,40,000NVApursue8000SouthVietnamesesurvivorsbackacrosstheborder.TheSouthVietnamesesuffer7682causalities,nearly
halftheoriginalforce.TheU.S.suffers215killed,over100helicopterslost,andover600damagedwhilesupportingtheoffensive.NVAlossesare
estimatedupto20,000asaresultoftheintenseAmericanbombardment.AlsoamongthosekilledwasLifemagazinephotographerLarryBurrows
whohadbeenworkinginVietnamfortenyears.
AlthoughanupbeatPresidentNixondeclaresafterthebattlethat"Vietnamizationhassucceeded,"thefailedoffensiveindicatestrueVietnamization
ofthewarmaybedifficulttoachieve.
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March1971OpinionpollsindicateNixon'sapprovalratingamongAmericanshasdroppedto50percent,whileapprovalofhisVietnamstrategy
hasslippedtojust34percent.HalfofallAmericanspolledbelievethewarinVietnamtobe"morallywrong."
March1,1971TheCapitolbuildinginWashingtonisdamagedbyabombapparentlyplantedinprotestoftheinvasionofLaos.
March10,1971ChinapledgescompletesupportforNorthVietnam'sstruggleagainsttheU.S.
March29,1971Lt.WilliamCalleyisfoundguiltyofthemurderof22MyLaicivilians.Heissentencedtolifeimprisonmentwithhardlabor,
however,thesentenceislaterreducedto20years,then10years.Outof16militarypersonnelchargedwithoffensesconcerningtheMyLai
massacre,onlyfivewereactuallycourtmartialed,andonlyCalleywaseverfoundguilty.
April1,1971PresidentNixonordersCalleyreleasedpendinghisappeal.
April19,1971'VietnamVeteransAgainsttheWar'beginaweekofnationwideprotests.
April24,1971AnothermassdemonstrationisheldinWashingtonattractingnearly200,000.
April29,1971TotalAmericandeathsinVietnamsurpass45,000.
April30,1971ThelastU.S.MarinecombatunitsdepartVietnam.
May35Amassarrestof12,000protestersoccursinWashington.
June1971Duringacollegecommencementspeech,SenatorMikeMansfieldlabelstheVietnamwar"atragicmistake."
June13,1971TheNewYorkTimesbeginspublicationofthe'PentagonPapers,'asecretDefenseDepartmentarchiveofthepaperworkinvolvedin
decisionsmadebypreviousWhiteHouseadministrationsconcerningVietnam.PublicationoftheclassifieddocumentsinfuriatesPresidentNixon.
June15,1971NixonattemptstostopfurtherpublicationofthePentagonPapersthroughlegalactionagainsttheTimesintheU.S.DistrictCourt.
June18,1971TheWashingtonPostbeginsitspublicationofthePentagonPapers.
TheTimesandPostnowbecomeinvolvedinlegalwranglingwiththeNixonadministrationwhichsoonwindsupbeforetheU.S.SupremeCourt.
June22,1971AnonbindingresolutionpassedintheU.S.SenateurgestheremovalofallAmericantroopsfromVietnambyyear'send.
June28,1971ThesourceofthePentagonPapersleak,DanielEllsberg,surrenderstopolice.
June30,1971TheU.S.SupremeCourtrules63infavoroftheNewYorkTimesandWashingtonPostpublicationofthePentagonPapers.
June1971GeorgeJacksonreplacesWilliamColbyasheadofCORDS.
July1,19716100AmericansoldiersdepartVietnam,adailyrecord.
July15,1971PresidentNixonannounceshewillvisitCommunistChinain1972,amajordiplomaticbreakthrough.
July17,1971The'Plumbers'unitisestablishedintheWhiteHousebyNixonaidesJohnEhrlichmanandCharlesColsontoinvestigateDaniel
Ellsbergandto'plug'variousnewsleaks.Colsonalsocompilesan'enemieslist'featuringthenamesof200prominentAmericansconsideredtobe
antiNixon.
August2,1971TheU.S.admitstherearesome30,000CIAsponsoredirregularsoperatinginLaos.
August18,1971AustraliaandNewZealandannouncethependingwithdrawaloftheirtroopsfromVietnam.
September22,1971CaptainErnestL.MedinaisacquittedofallchargesconcerningthemassacreofVietnameseciviliansatMyLai.
October3,1971Runningunopposed,PresidentThieuofSouthVietnamisreelected.
October9,1971MembersoftheU.S.1stAirCavalryDivisionrefuseanassignmenttogooutonpatrolbyexpressing"adesirenottogo."Thisis
oneinaseriesofAmericangroundtroopsengagingin"combatrefusal."
October31,1971ThefirstVietCongPOWsarereleasedbySaigon.Therearenearly3000VietCongprisoners.
December17,1971U.S.trooplevelsdropto156,800.
December2630TheU.S.heavilybombsmilitaryinstallationsinNorthVietnamcitingviolationsoftheagreementssurroundingthe1968
bombinghalt.

1972
January25,1972PresidentNixonannouncesaproposedeightpointpeaceplanforVietnamandalsorevealsthatKissingerhasbeensecretly
negotiatingwiththeNorthVietnamese.However,HanoirejectsNixon'speaceoverture.
February2128PresidentNixonvisitsChinaandmeetswithMaoZedongandPrimeMinisterZhouEnlaitoforgenewdiplomaticrelationswith
theCommunistnation.Nixon'svisitcausesgreatconcerninHanoithattheirwartimeallyChinamightbeinclinedtoagreetoanunfavorable
settlementofthewartoimproveChineserelationswiththeU.S.
March10,1972TheU.S.101stAirborneDivisioniswithdrawnfromVietnam.
March23,1972TheU.S.stagesaboycottoftheParispeacetalksasPresidentNixonaccusesHanoiofrefusingto"negotiateseriously."
MarchSeptemberTheEastertideOffensiveoccursas200,000NorthVietnamesesoldiersunderthecommandofGeneralVoNguyenGiapwage
analloutattempttoconquerSouthVietnam.TheoffensiveisatremendousgamblebyGiapandisundertakenasaresultofU.S.troopwithdrawal,
thestrengthoftheantiwarmovementinAmericalikelypreventingaU.S.retaliatoryresponse,andthepoorperformanceofSouthVietnam'sArmy
duringOperationLamSon719in1971.
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Giap'simmediatestrategyinvolvesthecaptureofQuangTriinthenorthernpartofSouthVietnam,Kontuminthemidsection,andAnLocinthe
south.
NorthVietnam'sCommunistleadersalsohopeasuccessfuloffensivewillharmRichardNixonpoliticallyduringthispresidentialelectionyearin
America,muchasPresidentLyndonJohnsonhadsufferedasaresultofthe1968TetOffensive.TheCommunistsbelieveNixon'sremovalwould
disruptAmericanaidtoSouthVietnam.
March30,1972NVAEastertideattackonQuangTribegins.
April2,1972InresponsetotheEastertideOffensive,PresidentNixonauthorizestheU.S.7thFleettotargetNVAtroopsmassedaroundthe
DemilitarizedZonewithairstrikesandnavalgunfire.
April4,1972InafurtherresponsetoEastertide,PresidentNixonauthorizesamassivebombingcampaigntargetingallNVAtroopsinvading
SouthVietnamalongwithB52airstrikesagainstNorthVietnam."Thebastardshaveneverbeenbombedlikethey'regoingtobombedthistime,"
Nixonprivatelydeclares.
April10,1972HeavyB52bombardmentsranging145milesintoNorthVietnambegin.
April12,1972NVAEastertideattackonKontumbeginsincentralSouthVietnam.Iftheattacksucceeds,SouthVietnamwilleffectivelybecutin
two.
April15,1972HanoiandHaiphongharborarebombedbytheU.S.
April1520ProtestsagainstthebombingseruptinAmerica.
April19,1972NVAEastertideattackonAnLocbegins.
April27,1972Parispeacetalksresume.
April30,1972U.S.trooplevelsdropto69,000.
May1,1972SouthVietnameseabandonQuangTriCitytotheNVA.
May4,1972TheU.S.andSouthVietnamsuspendparticipationintheParispeacetalksindefinitely.125additionalU.S.warplanesareorderedto
Vietnam.
May8,1972InresponsetotheongoingNVAEastertideOffensive,PresidentNixonannouncesOperationLinebackerI,theminingofNorth
Vietnam'sharborsalongwithintensifiedbombingofroads,bridges,andoilfacilities.Theannouncementbringsinternationalcondemnationofthe
U.S.andignitesmoreantiwarprotestsinAmerica.
DuringanairstrikeconductedbySouthVietnamesepilots,NapalmbombsareaccidentallydroppedonSouthVietnamesecivilians,including
children.Filmedfootageandastillphotoofabadlyburnednudegirlfleeingthedestructionofherhamletbecomesyetanotherenduringimageof
thewar.
May9,1972OperationLinebackerIcommenceswithU.S.jetslayingminesinHaiphongharbor.
May1,1972NVAcaptureQuangTriCity.
May15,1972TheheadquartersfortheU.S.ArmyinVietnamisdecommissioned.
May17,1972AccordingtoU.S.reports,OperationLinebackerIisdamagingNorthVietnam'sabilitytosupplyNVAtroopsengagedinthe
EastertideOffensive.
May2230PresidentNixonvisitstheSovietUnionandmeetswithLeonidBrezhnevtoforgenewdiplomaticrelationswiththeCommunist
nation.Nixon'svisitcausesgreatconcerninHanoithattheirSovietallymightbeinclinedtoagreetoanunfavorablesettlementofthewarto
improveSovietrelationswiththeU.S.
May30,1972NVAattackonKontumisthwartedbySouthVietnamesetroops,aidedbymassiveU.S.airstrikes.
June1,1972HanoiadmitsOperationLinebackerIiscausingseveredisruptions.
June9,1972SeniorU.S.militaryadvisorJohnPaulVanniskilledinahelicoptercrashnearPleiku.HehadbeenassistingSouthVietnamese
troopsinthedefenseofKontum.
June17,1972FiveburglarsarearrestedinsidetheWatergatebuildinginWashingtonwhileattemptingtoplanthiddenmicrophonesinthe
DemocraticNationalCommitteeoffices.SubsequentinvestigationswillrevealtheyhavetiestotheNixonWhiteHouse.
June28,1972SouthVietnamesetroopsbeginacounteroffensivetoretakeQuangTriProvince,aidedbyU.S.NavygunfireandB52
bombardments.
June30,1972GeneralFrederickC.WeyandreplacesGen.AbramsasMACVcommanderinVietnam.
July11,1972NVAattackonAnLocisthwartedbySouthVietnamesetroopsaidedbyB52airstrikes.
July13,1972Parispeacetalksresume.
July14,1972TheDemocratschooseSenatorGeorgeMcGovernofSouthDakotaastheirpresidentialnominee.McGovern,anoutspokencriticof
thewar,advocates"immediateandcompletewithdrawal."
July18,1972DuringavisittoHanoi,actressJaneFondabroadcastsantiwarmessagesviaHanoiRadio.
July19,1972SouthVietnamesetroopsbeginamajorcounteroffensiveagainstNVAinBinhDinhProvince.
August1,1972HenryKissingermeetsagainwithLeDucThoinParis
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August23,1972ThelastU.S.combattroopsdepartVietnam.
September16,1972QuangTriCityisrecapturedbySouthVietnamesetroops.
September29,1972HeavyU.S.airraidsagainstairfieldsinNorthVietnamdestroy10percentoftheirairforce.
October8,1972ThelongstandingdiplomaticstalematebetweenHenryKissingerandLeDucThofinallyendsasbothsidesagreetomajor
concessions.TheU.S.willallowNorthVietnamesetroopsalreadyinSouthVietnamtoremainthere,whileNorthVietnamdropsitsdemandforthe
removalofSouthVietnam'sPresidentThieuandthedissolutionofhisgovernment.
AlthoughKissinger'sstaffmembersprivatelyexpressconcernsoverallowingNVAtroopstoremainintheSouth,Kissingerrebuffsthem,saying,"I
wanttoendthiswarbeforetheelection."
October22,1972InSaigon,KissingervisitsPresidentThieutodiscussthepeaceproposal.
MeetingsbetweenKissingerandThieugobadlyasanemotionalThieuadamantlyopposesallowingNorthVietnamesetroopstoremain
indefinitelyinSouthVietnam.AnangryKissingerreportsThieu'sreactiontoPresidentNixon,whothenthreatensThieuwithatotalcutoffofall
Americanaid.ButThieudoesnotbackdown.KissingerthenreturnstoWashington.
October22,1972OperationLinebackerIends.U.S.warplanesflew40,000sortiesanddroppedover125,000tonsofbombsduringthebombing
campaignwhicheffectivelydisruptedNorthVietnam'sEastertideOffensive.
Duringthefailedoffensive,theNorthsufferedanestimated100,000militarycasualtiesandlosthalfitstanksandartillery.Leaderoftheoffensive,
legendaryGeneralVoNguyenGiap,thevictoratDienBienPhu,wasthenquietlyoustedinfavorofhisdeputyGen.VanTienDung.40,000South
Vietnamesesoldiersdiedstoppingtheoffensive,intheheaviestfightingoftheentirewar.
October24,1972PresidentThieupubliclydenouncesKissinger'speaceproposal.
October26,1972RadioHanoirevealstermsofthepeaceproposalandaccusestheU.S.ofattemptingtosabotagethesettlement.AttheWhite
House,nowaweekbeforethepresidentialelection,HenryKissingerholdsapressbriefinganddeclares"Webelievethatpeaceisathand.We
believethatanagreementisinsight."
November7,1972RichardM.NixonwinsthepresidentialelectioninthebiggestlandslidetodateinU.S.history.
November14,1972PresidentNixonsendsalettertoPresidentThieusecretlypledging"totakeswiftandsevereretaliatoryaction"ifNorth
Vietnamviolatestheproposedpeacetreaty.
November30,1972AmericantroopwithdrawalfromVietnamiscompleted,althoughtherearestill16,000Armyadvisorsandadministrators
remainingtoassistSouthVietnam'smilitaryforces.
December13,1972InParis,peacenegotiationsbetweenKissingerandLeDucThocollapseafterKissingerpresentsalistof69changes
demandedbyPresidentThieu.
PresidentNixonnowissuesanultimatumtoNorthVietnamthatseriousnegotiationsmustresumewithin72hours.Hanoidoesnotrespond.Asa
result,NixonordersOperationLinebackerII,elevendaysandnightsofmaximumforcebombingagainstmilitarytargetsinHanoibyB52
bombers.
December18,1972OperationLinebackerIIbegins.Thesocalled'Christmasbombings'arewidelydenouncedbyAmericanpoliticians,the
media,andvariousworldleadersincludingthePope.NorthVietnamesefilmedfootageofciviliancasualtiesfurtherfuelstheoutrage.Inaddition,a
fewdownedB52pilotsmakepublicstatementsinNorthVietnamagainstthebombing.
December26,1972NorthVietnamagreestoresumepeacenegotiationswithinfivedaysoftheendofbombing.
December29,1972OperationLinebackerIIendswhathadbeenthemostintensivebombingcampaignoftheentirewarwithover100,000
bombsdroppedonHanoiandHaiphong.Fifteenofthe121B52sparticipatingwereshotdownbytheNorthVietnamesewhofired1200SAMs.
Therewere1318civiliandeathsfromthebombing,accordingtoHanoi.

1973
January8,1973KissingerandLeDucThoresumenegotiationsinParis.
January9,1973AllremainingdifferencesareresolvedbetweenKissingerandLeDucTho.
PresidentThieu,onceagainthreatenedbyNixonwithatotalcutoffofAmericanaidtoSouthVietnam,nowunwillinglyacceptsthepeace
agreement,whichstillallowsNorthVietnamesetroopstoremaininSouthVietnam.Thieulabelstheterms"tantamounttosurrender"forSouth
Vietnam.
January23,1973PresidentNixonannouncesthatanagreementhasbeenreachedwhichwill"endthewarandbringpeacewithhonor."
January27,1973TheParisPeaceAccordsaresignedbytheU.S.,NorthVietnam,SouthVietnamandtheVietCong.Undertheterms,theU.S.
agreestoimmediatelyhaltallmilitaryactivitiesandwithdrawallremainingmilitarypersonnelwithin60days.TheNorthVietnameseagreetoan
immediateceasefireandthereleaseofallAmericanPOWswithin60days.Anestimated150,000NorthVietnamesesoldierspresentlyinSouth
Vietnamareallowedtoremain.Vietnamisstilldivided.SouthVietnamisconsideredtobeonecountrywithtwogovernments,oneledbyPresident
Thieu,theotherledbyVietCong,pendingfuturereconciliation.
January27,1973SecretaryofDefenseMelvinLairdannouncesthedraftisendedinfavorofvoluntaryenlistment.
January27,1973ThelastAmericansoldiertodieincombatinVietnam,Lt.Col.WilliamB.Nolde,iskilled.
February12,1973OperationHomecomingbeginsthereleaseof591AmericanPOWsfromHanoi.
March29,1973ThelastremainingAmericantroopswithdrawfromVietnamasPresidentNixondeclares"thedaywehaveallworkedandprayed
forhasfinallycome."
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America'slongestwar,anditsfirstdefeat,thusconcludes.During15yearsofmilitaryinvolvement,over2millionAmericansservedinVietnam
with500,000seeingactualcombat.47,244werekilledinaction,including8000airmen.Therewere10,446noncombatdeaths.153,329were
seriouslywounded,including10,000amputees.Over2400AmericanPOWs/MIAswereunaccountedforasof1973.
April1973PresidentNixonandPresidentThieumeetatSanClemente,California.Nixonrenewshisearliersecretpledgetorespondmilitarilyif
NorthVietnamviolatesthepeaceagreement.
April1,1973CaptainRobertWhite,thelastknownAmericanPOWisreleased.
April30,1973TheWatergatescandalresultsintheresignationoftopNixonaidesH.R.HaldemanandJohnEhrlichman.
June19,1973TheU.S.CongresspassestheCaseChurchAmendmentwhichforbidsanyfurtherU.S.militaryinvolvementinSoutheastAsia,
effectiveAugust15,1973.Thevetoproofvoteis278124intheHouseand6426intheSenate.
TheAmendmentpavesthewayforNorthVietnamtowageyetanotherinvasionoftheSouth,thistimewithoutfearofU.S.bombing.
June24,1973GrahamMartinbecomesthenewU.S.ambassadortoSouthVietnam.
July1973TheU.S.NavyremovesminesfromportsinNorthVietnamwhichhadbeeninstalledduringOperationLinebacker.
July16,1973TheU.S.SenateArmedForcesCommitteebeginshearingsintothesecretbombingofCambodiaduring196970.
July17,1973SecretaryofDefenseJamesSchlesingertestifiesbeforetheArmedForcesCommitteethat3500bombingraidswerelaunchedinto
CambodiatoprotectAmericantroopsbytargetingNVApositions.TheextentofNixon'ssecretbombingcampaignangersmanyinCongressand
resultsinthefirstcallforNixon'simpeachment.
August14,1973U.S.bombingactivitiesinCambodiaarehaltedinaccordancewiththeCongressionalbanresultingfromtheCaseChurch
amendment.
August22,1973HenryKissingerisappointedbyPresidentNixonasthenewSecretaryofState,replacingWilliamRogers.
September22,1973SouthVietnamesetroopsassaultNVAnearPleiku.
October10,1973PoliticalscandalresultsintheresignationofVicePresidentSpiroT.Agnew.HeisreplacedbyCongressmanGeraldR.Ford.
November7,1973CongresspassestheWarPowersResolutionrequiringthePresidenttoobtainthesupportofCongresswithin90daysof
sendingAmericantroopsabroad.
December3,1973VietCongdestroy18milliongallonsoffuelstorednearSaigon.

1974
May9,1974CongressbeginsimpeachmentproceedingsagainstPresidentNixonstemmingfromtheWatergatescandal.
August9,1974RichardM.NixonresignsthepresidencyasresultofWatergate.GeraldR.Fordissworninasthe38thU.S.President,becoming
the6thPresidentcopingwithVietnam.
September1974TheU.S.Congressappropriatesonly$700millionforSouthVietnam.ThisleavestheSouthVietnameseArmyunderfundedand
resultsinadeclineofmilitaryreadinessandmorale.
September16,1974PresidentGeraldR.Fordannouncesaclemencyprogramfordraftevadersandmilitarydeserters.Theprogramrunsthrough
March31,1975,andrequiresfugitivestotakeanoathofallegianceandalsoperformuptotwoyearsofcommunityservice.Outofanestimated
124,000meneligible,about22,500takeadvantageoftheoffer.
OctoberThePolitburoinNorthVietnamdecidestolaunchaninvasionofSouthVietnamin1975.
November19,1974WilliamCalleyisfreedafterserving31/2yearsunderhousearrestfollowinghisconvictionforthemurderof22MyLai
civilians.
December13,1974NorthVietnamviolatestheParispeacetreatyandtestsPresidentFord'sresolvebyattackingPhuocLongProvinceinSouth
Vietnam.PresidentFordrespondswithdiplomaticprotestsbutnomilitaryforceincompliancewiththeCongressionalbanonallU.S.military
activityinSoutheastAsia.
December18,1974NorthVietnam'sleadersmeetinHanoitoformaplanforfinalvictory.

1975
January8,1975NVAgeneralstaffplanfortheinvasionofSouthVietnamby20divisionsisapprovedbyNorthVietnam'sPolitburo.Bynow,the
SovietsuppliedNorthVietnameseArmyisthefifthlargestintheworld.Itanticipatesatwoyearstruggleforvictory.Butinreality,South
Vietnam'sforceswillcollapseinonly55days.
January14,1975TestifyingbeforeCongress,SecretaryofDefenseJamesSchlesingerstatesthattheU.S.isnotlivinguptoitsearlierpromiseto
SouthVietnam'sPresidentThieuof"severeretaliatoryaction"intheeventNorthVietnamviolatedtheParispeacetreaty.
January21,1975Duringapressconference,PresidentFordstatestheU.S.isunwillingtoreenterthewar.
February5,1975NVAmilitaryleaderGeneralVanTienDungsecretlycrossesintoSouthVietnamtotakecommandofthefinaloffensive.
March10,1975Thefinaloffensivebeginsas25,000NVAattackBanMeThuotlocatedintheCentralHighlands.
March11,1975BanMeThuotfallsafterhalfofthe4000SouthVietnamesesoldiersdefendingitsurrenderordesert.
March13,1975PresidentThieudecidestoabandontheHighlandsregionandtwonorthernprovincestotheNVA.Thisresultsinamassexodus
ofciviliansandsoldiers,cloggingroadsandbringinggeneralchaos.NVAthenshellthedisorganizedretreatwhichbecomesknownas"theconvoy
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oftears."
March18,1975RealizingtheSouthVietnameseArmyisnearingcollapse,NVAleadersmeetanddecidetoacceleratetheiroffensivetoachieve
totalvictorybeforeMay1.
March19,1975QuangTriCityfallstoNVA.
March24,1975TamKyoverrunbyNVA.
March25,1975Huefallswithoutresistanceafterathreedaysiege.SouthVietnamesetroopsnowbreakandrunfromotherthreatenedareas.
Millionsofrefugeesfleesouth.
March26,1975ChuLaiisevacuated.
March28,1975DaNangisshelledas35,000NVApreparetoattack.
March30,1975DaNangfallsas100,000SouthVietnamesesoldierssurrenderafterbeingabandonedbytheircommandingofficers.
March31,1975NVAbeginthe'HoChiMinhCampaign,'thefinalpushtowardSaigon.
April9,1975NVAcloseinonXuanLoc,38milesfromSaigon.40,000NVAattackthecityandforthefirsttimeencounterstiffresistancefrom
SouthVietnamesetroops.
April20,1975U.S.AmbassadorGrahamMartinmeetswithPresidentThieuandpressureshimtoresigngiventhegravityofthesituationandthe
unlikelihoodthatThieucouldevernegotiatewiththeCommunists.
April21,1975Abitter,tearfulPresidentThieuresignsduringa90minuteramblingTVspeechtothepeopleofSouthVietnam.Thieureadsfrom
thelettersentbyNixonin1972pledging"severeretaliatoryaction"ifSouthVietnamwasthreatened.ThieucondemnstheParisPeaceAccords,
HenryKissingerandtheU.S."TheUnitedStateshasnotrespecteditspromises.Itisinhumane.Itisuntrustworthy.Itisirresponsible."Heisthen
usheredintoexileinTaiwan,aidedbytheCIA.
April22,1975XuanLocfallstotheNVAafteratwoweekbattlewithSouthVietnam's18thArmyDivisionwhichinflictedover5000NVA
casualtiesanddelayedthe'HoChiMinhCampaign'fortwoweeks.
April23,1975100,000NVAsoldiersadvanceonSaigonwhichisnowoverflowingwithrefugees.Onthissameday,PresidentFordgivesa
speechatTulaneUniversitystatingtheconflictinVietnamis"awarthatisfinishedasfarasAmericaisconcerned."
April27,1975Saigonisencircled.30,000SouthVietnamesesoldiersareinsidethecitybutareleaderless.NVAfirerocketsintodowntown
civilianareasasthecityeruptsintochaosandwidespreadlooting.
April28,1975'Neutralist'GeneralDuongVan"Big"MinhbecomesthenewpresidentofSouthVietnamandappealsforaceasefire.Hisappeal
isignored.
April29,1975NVAshellTanSonNhutairbaseinSaigon,killingtwoU.S.Marinesatthecompoundgate.ConditionsthendeteriorateasSouth
Vietnameseciviliansloottheairbase.PresidentFordnowordersOperationFrequentWind,thehelicopterevacuationof7000AmericansandSouth
VietnamesefromSaigon,whichbeginswiththeradiobroadcastofthesong"WhiteChristmas"asaprearraignedcodesignal.
AtTanSonNhut,franticciviliansbeginswarmingthehelicopters.TheevacuationisthenshiftedtothewalledinAmericanembassy,whichis
securedbyU.S.Marinesinfullcombatgear.Butthescenetherealsodeteriorates,asthousandsofciviliansattempttogetintothecompound.
ThreeU.S.aircraftcarriersstandbyoffthecoastofVietnamtohandleincomingAmericansandSouthVietnameserefugees.ManySouth
Vietnamesepilotsalsolandonthecarriers,flyingAmericanmadehelicopterswhicharethenpushedoverboardtomakeroomformorearrivals.
Filmedfootageofthe$250,000choppersbeingtossedintotheseabecomesanenduringimageofthewar'send.
April30,1975At8:35a.m.,thelastAmericans,tenMarinesfromtheembassy,departSaigon,concludingtheUnitedStatespresenceinVietnam.
NorthVietnamesetroopspourintoSaigonandencounterlittleresistance.By11a.m.,theredandblueVietCongflagfliesfromthepresidential
palace.PresidentMinhbroadcastsamessageofunconditionalsurrender.Thewarisover.
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