Category Archives: Vietnam War

South Vietnamese President Thieu resigns as Communist forces close in on Saigon 50 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 21, 1975, at 40:32)

(Monday, April 21, 1975, 8:40 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — With Communist forces closing in, South Vietnam’s President Nguyen Van Thieu denouncing the United States as untrustworthy, resigned tonight after 10 years in office. Continue reading South Vietnamese President Thieu resigns as Communist forces close in on Saigon 50 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1975)

Xuan Loc falls to North Vietnamese communist troops 50 years ago today (Apr 21 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 21, 1975, at 39:59)

(Monday, April 21, 1975; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — The Battle of Xuan Loc, the last major battle of the Vietnam War in which South Vietnamese army committed almost all their remaining mobile forces under General Le Minh Dao to the defense of Xuan Loc, ended today with a North Vietnamese strategic victory.

Cambodia’s five-year civil war ends as Phnom Penh falls to Khmer Rouge 50 years ago this hour (Apr 17 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-9) Cambodia and Laos' (Apr. 17, 1975, at 50:58)

(Thursday, April 17, 1975, 10:00 a.m. Indochina Time; during the Cambodian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — After five years of savage fighting, the Khmer Republic, the republican government of Cambodia, was defeated today when the victorious Khmer Rouge, followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, proclaimed the establishment of Democratic Kampuchea.

Last Americans leave Cambodia 50 years ago today (Apr 12 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-9) Cambodia and Laos' (Apr. 12, 1975, at 49:12)

(Saturday, April 12, 1975; during the Cambodian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War)Operation Eagle Pull, the United States military evacuation by air of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, began today as helicopters rescued remaining Americans to a naval task force in the Gulf of Thailand.

South Vietnamese troops move into position at Xuan Loc 50 years ago today (Apr 12 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 12, 1975, at 38:49)

(Saturday, April 12, 1975; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — South Vietnamese forces moved into position today to confront General Van Tien Dung’s North Vietnamese communist troops in Long Khanh province at Xuan Loc, on the main road to Saigon.

Ambassador Graham Martin remains optimistic following President Ford’s pitch for new aid for Saigon 50 years ago today (Apr 11 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 11, 1975, at 35:50)

(Friday, April 11, 1975; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — One day after U.S. President Gerald Ford appealed to Congress to approve “without delay” nearly a billion dollars in military and humanitarian aid for Saigon to give South Vietnam a chance to “save itself” as a country, U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam Graham Martin remained optimistic.

U.S. announces it will close embassy in Phnom Penh 50 years ago today (Apr 11 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 11, 1975, at 37:48)

(Tuesday, April 11, 1975; during the Cambodian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) –The United States announced today that because of the “seriously deteriorating military situation” it was closing its embassy in Phnom Penh and evacuating several hundred Americans and Cambodians from the encircled Cambodian capital.

President Ford seeks $972 million in aid for Saigon and right to use troops for evacuation 50 years ago this hour (Apr 10 1975)


Video: 'Gerald Ford-Address on U.S. Foreign Policy (April 10, 1975)'

(Thursday, April 10, 1975, 9:04-10:05 p.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. President Gerald Ford appealed to Congress tonight to approve “without delay” nearly a billion dollars in military and humanitarian aid for Saigon to give South Vietnam a chance to “save itself” as a country and make possible a large-scale evacuation of Americans and South Vietnamese “should the worst come to pass” (click here to watch the complete speech). Continue reading President Ford seeks $972 million in aid for Saigon and right to use troops for evacuation 50 years ago this hour (Apr 10 1975)

LBJ makes offers to start Vietnam peace talks unconditionally 60 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1965)


Video: 'President Johnson's Remarks on Vietnam at Johns Hopkins University, 4/7/65. MP549.'

(Wednesday, April 7, 1965, 9:00 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson said tonight that the United States was ready to begin, without prior conditions, diplomatic discussions to end the war in Vietnam. Continue reading LBJ makes offers to start Vietnam peace talks unconditionally 60 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1965)

Ford, Kissinger, Weyland conclude deadlock is best hope for Vietnam 50 years ago this hour (Apr 5 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 5, 1975, at 34:34)

(Saturday, April 5, 1975, 7:27-8:56 a.m. PDT; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Just back from South Vietnam, General Frederick Weyand met today with U.S. President Gerald Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at Palm Springs. Continue reading Ford, Kissinger, Weyland conclude deadlock is best hope for Vietnam 50 years ago this hour (Apr 5 1975)