Category Archives: Vietnam War

Kissinger and Le Duc Tho sign pact ‘consolidating’ Vietnam peace 40 years ago today (1973)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (June 13, 1973, at 12:19)

(Wednesday, June 13, 1973; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger signed an “amplification and consolidation” of the Vietnam peace agreement today in Paris and said it meets all major points of concern over peace violations.

The new accord, termed “satisfactory” by Kissinger, was also signed by Hanoi Politboro member Le Duc Tho and representiatives of the Saigon government and the Viet Cong’s Provisional Revolutionary Government.

Nixon hosts Vietnam POWs at White House 40 years ago this hour (1973)


Video: 'President Nixon Addresses Vietnam POWs at the White House'

(Thursday, May 24, 1973, 6:30 p.m.-2:00 a.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War) — President Richard Nixon honored some 600 former American prisoners of the Vietnam war and their guests tonight at a gala homecoming party held in a giant tent on the South Lawn of the White House. Continue reading Nixon hosts Vietnam POWs at White House 40 years ago this hour (1973)

‘Time to quit making heroes’ out of secrets thieves, Nixon says 40 years ago today (1973)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (May 24, 1973, at 10:23)

(Thursday, May 24, 1973; during the Watergate Scandal and the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Defending the government’s right to keep secrets in the national interest, U.S. President Richard Nixon told nearly 600 returned Vietnam prisoners of war today that it is time “to quit making national heroes out of those who steal secrets and publish them in the newspapers.” Continue reading ‘Time to quit making heroes’ out of secrets thieves, Nixon says 40 years ago today (1973)

Freed American POW captured in Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph 40 years ago today (1973)

(Monday, March 12, 1973; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm, a freed prisoner of the Vietnam War, was joyously greeted today by his family on the tarmac at Travis Air Force Base in California in a scene captured in a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Slava Veder of The Associated Press.

Thieu angered by interruption at daughter’s wedding 40 years ago today (1973)


Video: Thieu wedding interrupted (at 9:27)

(Friday, January 19, 1973; during the Vietnam War) — South Vietnamese President Thieu became angry today when Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker demanded to see him just as Thieu gave his daughter away in a wedding. Bunker wanted to communicate the latest letter from U.S. President Richard Nixon pressuring Thieu to agree to a peace agreement.

Soviet MiG fighters take brunt of ‘Christmas Bombings’ 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: Dec. 28, 1972 (5:58)

(Thursday, December 28, 1972; during Operation Linebacker II, part of the Vietnam War) — Hanoi’s Soviet MiG fighters are now taking the brunt of “The Christmas Bombings” battle over North Vietnam as ammunition is critically short. A thousand surface-to-air missiles have been used, but very few are now in evidence. By now, over 100,000 bombs have been dropped over Hanoi and Haiphong. But 33 U.S. air men are dead or missing.

Massive ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam resume 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: Dec. 26, 1972 (at 1:21)

(Tuesday, December 26, 1972; during Operation Linebacker II, part of the Vietnam War) — Following a pause for the Christmas holiday, 220 American aircraft struck targets in North Vietnam today over a fifteen minute period, destroying a missile assembly facility and crippling radar stations and airbases. Continue reading Massive ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam resume 40 years ago today (1972)

Bob Hope takes last bow in Vietnam 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: Bob Hope's last show in Vietnam (8:58)

(Sunday, December 24, 1972, Christmas Eve; during Operation Linebacker II, part of the Vietnam War) — Comedian Bob Hope, who has been visiting troops in Vietnam at Christmas since 1965 and entertaining American servicemen elsewhere overseas for 31 years, has performed his last show in Vietnam.

“This trip to Vietnam is my last,” he told troops attended a show today at the Tan Son Nhut airbase outside Saigon.