Video: 'The Mayaguez Incident'
(Thursday, May 15, 1975, 6:12 a.m. Indochina Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. forces launched an assault on the Cambodian island of Koh Tang today in an effort to rescue the crew of the American merchant ship SS Mayaguez, marking the last official battle of the Vietnam War. Continue reading 41 U.S. servicemen killed in Mayaguez incident 50 years ago this hour (May 15 1975)
Video: '14th May 1955: The establishment of the Warsaw Pact'
(Saturday, May 14, 1955, during the Cold War) — Representatives from eight Communist bloc countries, including the Soviet Union, signed the Warsaw Pact, a collective defense treaty to counter NATO, today in Poland. Continue reading Eight Communist bloc countries sign Warsaw Pact 70 years ago today (May 14 1955)
Video: 'The Mayaguez Incident'
(Monday, May 12, 1975, 2:18 p.m. Indochina Time; part of the aftermath of Cambodian Civil War) — The White House announced today the new Cambodian government had seized an American merchant ship, the Mayaguez, in international waters. Continue reading Cambodian navy seizes unarmed U.S. ship Mayaguez 50 years ago this hour (May 12 1975)
Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender' (May 7, 1975, at 44:24)
(Wednesday, May 7, 1975, during the Cold War) — On the same day that the Viet Cong celebrated its takeover of South Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, U.S. President Gerald R. Ford formally declared an end to the “Vietnam era,” ending wartime veteran’s benefits for new military recruits.
Video: 'WEST GERMAN SOVEREIGNTY and GERMAN FLAG HOISTED AT SHAPE'
(Thursday, May 5, 1955, 12 noon Central European Time; during the Cold War) — The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) became a sovereign state today when the United States, France, and Great Britain end their military occupation, which had begun with the end of World War II in 1945. Continue reading West Germany becomes a fully sovereign state 70 years ago this hour (May 5 1955)
Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 30, 1975, at 50:04)
(Wednesday, April 30, 1975, 10:45 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — South Vietnamese President Duong Van Minh announced today the unconditional surrender of the Saigon Government and its military forces to the Vietcong. Continue reading South Vietnam President Duong Van Minh surrenders to North Vietnamese forces 50 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)
Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender (Apr. 30, 1975, at 41:44)
(Sunday, April 30, 1975, 7:53 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — The last ten Marine security guards and their commander (Major Kean) at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, South Vietnam, were evacuated on a Marine Corps helicopter this morning, concluding the United States presence in Vietnam. Total U.S. casualties for the war: 58,303 dead and 303,644 wounded. Continue reading Last American troops depart Vietnam 50 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)
Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender (Apr. 30, 1975, at 39:55)
(Sunday, April 30, 1975, 4:58 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin boarded a Marine Corps helicopter this morning in Saigon and was flown to the USS Blue Ridge. Continue reading U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin flees Vietnam 50 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)
Video: 'Vietnam : A Television History ep.12 "End of the Tunnel, 1973-1975"' (Apr. 28, 1975, at 44:54)
(Tuesday, April 29, 1975, 2:00 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. President Gerald Ford ordered the emergency evacuation today of all Americans remaining in South Vietnam. Continue reading U.S. begins withdrawing Americans from Saigon by helicopter 50 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1975)
Video: 'Vietnam : A Television History ep.12 "End of the Tunnel, 1973-1975"' (Apr. 29, 1975, at 44:37)
(Tuesday, April 29, 1975, around 4:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut airport came under the heaviest rocket attack of the war early this morning, preventing passenger planes from taking off, as North Vietnamese troops assaulted parts of the city’s suburbs. But U.S. ambassador, Graham Martin was still reluctant to begin a full-scale helicopter evacuation. Continue reading Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut airport comes under rocket fire 50 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1975)
