Category Archives: Vietnam War

Last official American combat casualty of Vietnam War buried at Arlington National Cemetery 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 5 1973)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-12) The End of the Tunnel' (Feb. 5, 1973, at 5:39)

(Monday, February 5, 1973; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. Army Colonel William B. Nolde, the last official American combat casualty of the Vietnam War, was buried with full honors today at Arlington National Cemetery. Continue reading Last official American combat casualty of Vietnam War buried at Arlington National Cemetery 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 5 1973)

U.S. involvement in Vietnam War ends after signing of Paris Peace Accords at Hôtel Majestic Paris 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1973)


Video: 'SYND 27-1-73 SIGNING OF VIETNAM PEACE AGREEMENT'

(Saturday, January 27, 1973, agreement effective at 7:00 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The Vietnam War cease-fire agreement was signed today at the Majestic Hotel in Paris in eerie silence, without a word or a gesture to express the world’s relief that the years of war were officially ending. Continue reading U.S. involvement in Vietnam War ends after signing of Paris Peace Accords at Hôtel Majestic Paris 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1973)

U.S. President Richard Nixon announces agreement to end Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 23 1973)


Video: 'President Richard Nixon Address to the Nation Announcing Vietnam Peace Agreement, January 23, 1973'

(Tuesday, January 23, 10:00 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War) — U.S. President Richard Nixon said tonight that U.S. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and North Vietnam’s chief negotiator, Le Duc Tho, had initialed an agreement in Paris today, “to end the war and bring peace with honor in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.” Continue reading U.S. President Richard Nixon announces agreement to end Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 23 1973)

President Richard Nixon ends U.S. ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam after Hanoi agrees to negotiate 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 30 1972)


Video: 'Wings over Vietnam - Part VIII of VIII - Linebacker II'

(Saturday, December 30, 1972, 9:45 a.m. EST; during Operation Linebacker II, part of the Vietnam War — part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The White House announced today that President Richard Nixon had ordered a halt to “The Christmas Bombing” of North Vietnam above the 20th Parallel after the North Vietnamese agreed to resume negotiations for a settlement in Paris on Jan. 8, 1973. Continue reading President Richard Nixon ends U.S. ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam after Hanoi agrees to negotiate 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 30 1972)

Massive U.S. ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam begin 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1972)


Video: 'Wings over Vietnam - Part VIII of VIII - Linebacker II'

(Monday, December 18, 1972, 7:45 p.m. Indochina Time; during Operation Linebacker II, part of the Vietnam War — part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Operation Linebacker II, described more generally as The Christmas Bombings — an aerial bombing campaign conducted by U.S. forces against targets in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) during the final period of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War — began this evening as the first wave of 129 B-52 bombers attacked the Yen Vien railroad yards. Continue reading Massive U.S. ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam begin 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1972)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated on National Mall in Washington, D.C. 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 13 1982)


Video: '1982 Vietnam War Memorial Dedication, Washington DC - CBS Evening News - November 13'

(Saturday, November 13, 1982, ceremony scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. EST) — Thousands of flag-waving Americans gave Vietnam veterans a belated welcome home Saturday as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a U.S. national memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring service members of the U.S. armed forces who served in the Vietnam War, was dedicated today (click here to watch the dedication ceremony). Continue reading Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated on National Mall in Washington, D.C. 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 13 1982)

South Vietnamese forces recapture Quang Tri from North Vietnamese 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1972)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Vietnamizing the War [7/11]' (Sept. 15, 1972, at 47:22)

(Friday, September 15, 1972, 5:00 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — South Vietnam’s Army of the Republic of Vietnam defeated the People’s Army of Vietnam today at the ancient citadel of Quang Tri, ending North Vietnam’s three-plus month occupation of South Vietnam’s northernmost provincial capital and the Second Battle of Quang Tri. Continue reading South Vietnamese forces recapture Quang Tri from North Vietnamese 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1972)

Iconic image of naked and severely burned Vietnamese girl fleeing napalm bombing captured 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 8 1972)


Video: 'The Harrowing Story of Napalm Girl'

(Thursday, June 8, 1972, shortly after 11:30 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Associated Press photographer Nick Ut took a picture today of a screaming 9-year-old girl, Phan Thi Kim Phuc, as she ran naked and severely burned on her back after a South Vietnamese Air Force jet dropped a napalm bomb onto the village of Trang Bàng, which had been attacked and occupied by North Vietnamese forces. Continue reading Iconic image of naked and severely burned Vietnamese girl fleeing napalm bombing captured 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 8 1972)

U.S. President Richard Nixon asks Congress to approve missile pact with Soviet Union following dramatic return from Moscow 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 1 1972)


Video: 'WATERGATE AFFAIR BBC DOKUMENTATION 1994' (June 1, 1972, at 49:13)

(Thursday June 1, 1972, 9:40 p.m. EDT, during the Cold War) — U.S. President Richard Nixon returned to Washington tonight from his two-week tour of four nations and told a joint session of Congress that his trip to Moscow had laid the basis for “a new relationship between the two most powerful nations on earth.” Continue reading U.S. President Richard Nixon asks Congress to approve missile pact with Soviet Union following dramatic return from Moscow 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 1 1972)

President Nixon orders mining of North Vietnamese ports to reduce flow of arms to enemy armies 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1972)


Video: 'President Richard Nixon Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia, May 8, 1972'

(Monday, May 8, 1972, 9:00 p.m. EDT/Tuesday, May 9, 1972, 9:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; Operation Pocket Money, during the Easter Offensive, part of the Vietnam War, the Cold War and the Indochina Wars) — In a nationally televised address, U.S. President Richard Nixon announced tonight that the United States would lay mines in North Vietnam’s harbors in order to stop further supply of weapons and material. Continue reading President Nixon orders mining of North Vietnamese ports to reduce flow of arms to enemy armies 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1972)