1962
Political instability in South Vietnam and the threat of a communist take over by the North Vietnamese who were backed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) led the United States to send military troops to train the democratic South Vietnamese army so that it could fend off further communist aggression.

1963
Diem’s leadership proved to be corrupt and was losing ground against the communist threat. The United States supported a coup to overthrow his government. The result was political instability in the country resulting in the need for increased protection of the region by the US military.

1964
Following a second alleged attack on U.S. ships in the waters outside South Vietnam, Congress authorizes President Johnson to take any measure necessary to "prevent further aggression."

1965
The United States escalated the war and increased the number of troops sent to Vietnam as it shifted its approach to the war from a defensive position to a more offensive stance.

1968
Viet Minh (North Vietnam) launched surprise attacks in over 100 cities across South Vietnam in an attempt to weaken American and South Vietnamese forces. While caught off guard, American forces quickly regained control, thus making the Tet Offensive a tactical failure. However, it created a political backlash in the United States increasing opposition to the war. This event was the major turning point of the Vietnam War.

1969
With American public opposition to the war increasing and the lack of military and political progress in Vietnam, newly elected U.S. President, Richard Nixon, instituted a policy of gradually returning the primary responsibility for conducting the war to the South Vietnamese and withdrawing American troops.

1975
The Fall of Saigon on April 30 marked the North Vietnamese victory which led to the communist take-over of South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, fulfilling American speculation of the "Domino Theory"