Category Archives: Cold War

116 prisoners of war are flown from Hanoi to the Philippines in first release of U.S. POWs in North Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 12 1973)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Peace is at Hand [9/11]' (Feb. 12, 1973, at 51:53)

(Monday, February 12, 1973, 12:36 p.m. Indochina Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War)Operation Homecoming, the release of prisoners of war (POWs) in the Vietnam War, began today as three U.S. Air Force C-141 medical transports landed at the Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi in North Vietnam to pick up American POWs. Continue reading 116 prisoners of war are flown from Hanoi to the Philippines in first release of U.S. POWs in North Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 12 1973)

U.S. resumes secret bombing of Cambodia as Khmer Rouge closes in on Phnom Penh 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1973)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Cambodia and Laos [8/11]' (Operation Freedom Deal in 1973 at 37:07)

(Friday, February 9, 1973; during Operation Freedom Deal, part of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The U.S. resumed the secret bombing of Cambodia today after the communist Khmer Rouge refused to respond to pro-U.S. President Lon Nol’s unilateral cease-fire after the Paris Peace Accord was signed on Jan. 28, 1973. Continue reading U.S. resumes secret bombing of Cambodia as Khmer Rouge closes in on Phnom Penh 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1973)

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)

U.S. President Harry S. Truman says bids farewell to nation 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 15 1953)


Video: 'Truman's Farewell To The American Nation (1953)'

(Thursday, January 15, 1953, 10:30 p.m. EST) — Harry S. Truman bade his official farewell tonight to the American people, whose national destinies he has had a large share in directing for almost eight years as President of the United States. Continue reading U.S. President Harry S. Truman says bids farewell to nation 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 15 1953)

President Harry Truman announces the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 7 1953)


Video: 'Today in History: Truman Announce H-Bomb'

(Wednesday, January 7, 1953, 9:00 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman announced today in his State of the Union message to Congress that the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb and warned Joseph Stalin that a war provoked by Russia now would mean the ruin of the Soviet regime and homeland. Continue reading President Harry Truman announces the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 7 1953)

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)

President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower arrives in Seoul, seeking an end to Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1952)


Video: 'Eisenhower Visits Korea (1952)'

(Tuesday, December 2, 1952, 7:57 p.m. Korean Standard Time; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — Making good on his most dramatic promise of the 1952 presidential campaign, U.S. President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived in Korea tonight for a firsthand view of the bitter and frustrating Korean War, which Eisenhower vowed to end. Continue reading President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower arrives in Seoul, seeking an end to Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1952)