Category Archives: Vietnam War

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson retaliates for Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase 60 years ago this hour (Feb 7 1965)


Video: 'PBS LBJ Part 2' (Feb. 7, 1965, at 5:45)

(Sunday, February 7, 1965, 2:00 p.m. local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson ordered Operation Flaming Dart today in retaliation for the Feb. 6-7, 1965, Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase. Continue reading U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson retaliates for Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase 60 years ago this hour (Feb 7 1965)

Johnson adviser McGeorge Bundy arrives in Saigon 50 years ago this morning (Feb 4 1965)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Part 4 LBJ Goes to War 1964 65' (Feb. 4, 1965, at 26:33)

(Thursday, February 4, 1965, morning local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy, who had recently urged President Lyndon Johnson to bomb North Vietnam, arrived in Saigon this morning for a “fact” search.

Saigon renews appeal for U.S. aid 50 years ago today (Jan 31 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Jan. 31, 1975, at 23:17)

(Friday, January 31, 1975; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — 25 days after the fall of Phuoc Binh to North Vietnamese forces, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu today renewed his appeal for U.S. aid, warning that his government might collapse without it.

Radical group Weather Underground sets off bomb in U.S. State Department building 50 years ago this hour (Jan 29 1975)


Video: 'Weather Underground Bombs the Capitol, Pentagon, and State Department' (Jan. 29, 1975, at 6:08)

(Wednesday, January 29, 1975, 12:56 a.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — A bomb exploded in the State Department building in Washington early this morning shortly after callers identifying themselves as “Weather Underground” members warned news organizations they were setting off bombs in protest United States aid to South Vietnam. Continue reading Radical group Weather Underground sets off bomb in U.S. State Department building 50 years ago this hour (Jan 29 1975)

Saigon’s forces lose Phuoc Long 50 years ago this hour (Jan 7 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-12) The End of the Tunnel' (Battle of Phuoc Long at 22:31)

(Tuesday, January 7, 1975, 9:30 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Battle of Phuoc Long, part of Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — After a week-long siege, North Vietnamese forces today overran and captured Phuoc Binh, the encircled capital of Phuoc Long Province. Continue reading Saigon’s forces lose Phuoc Long 50 years ago this hour (Jan 7 1975)

U.S. President Gerald Ford offers conditional amnesty to Vietnam War draft evaders, deserters 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 16 1974)


Video: 'Gerald Ford-Remarks on Clemency for Vietnam Era Draft Evaders (September 16,1974)'

(Monday, September 16, 1974, 11:17 a.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War; also during the Watergate scandal) — Eight days after granting disgraced former President Richard Nixon an unconditional pardon, U.S. President Gerald Ford today offered conditional amnesty to thousands of Vietnam-era draft evaders and military deserters who agree to work for up to two years in public service jobs. Continue reading U.S. President Gerald Ford offers conditional amnesty to Vietnam War draft evaders, deserters 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 16 1974)

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson orders retaliatory strikes in Gulf of Tonkin, propelling U.S. into Vietnam War 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 4 1964)


Video: 'President Johnson's Vietnam Address, 8/4/64. MP498.'

(Tuesday, August 4, 1964, 11:34 p.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President Lyndon B. Johnson announced tonight that he had ordered retaliatory action against gunboats and “certain supporting facilities in North Vietnam” following renewed attacks on American destroyers in the second Gulf of Tonkin incident. Continue reading U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson orders retaliatory strikes in Gulf of Tonkin, propelling U.S. into Vietnam War 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 4 1964)

North Vietnamese gunboats fire on USS Maddox in Gulf of Tonkin incident 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1964)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Part 4 LBJ Goes to War 1964 65' (Gulf of Tonkin incident at 11:46)

(Sunday, August 2, 1964, 4:08 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Three North Vietnamese Navy torpedo boats from the 135th Torpedo Squadron fired torpedoes and 37-mm. shells at the destroyer USS Maddox today as U.S. forces conducted covert amphibious operations about 30 miles off North Vietnam in became known as the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Continue reading North Vietnamese gunboats fire on USS Maddox in Gulf of Tonkin incident 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1964)

1963 South Vietnamese coup d’état begins 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1963)


Video: 'Nov. 2, 1963 | CBS Special Report on Vietnam: "Death of a Regime"' (aired Sunday, Nov. 3, 1963 at 10:30 EST)

(Friday, November 1, 1963, 1:30 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1963 South Vietnamese coup d’état, part of the Buddhist crisis of the Vietnam War) — The 1963 South Vietnamese coup d’état in which President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother and advisor Ngo Dinh Nhu were deposed by a group of CIA-backed Army of the Republic of Vietnam officers who disagreed with Diem’s handling of the Buddhist crisis and the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong threat to South Vietnam, began today when three marine battalions of South Vietnam initiated their seizure of communications throughout the capital city, taking control of the city’s radio stations, national and municipal police stations, and the public and Defense Ministry telecommunications centers. Continue reading 1963 South Vietnamese coup d’état begins 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1963)

Anti-war radical Katherine Ann Power surrenders to Boston-area authorities 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1993)


Video: 'Unsolved Mysteries with Robert Stack - Season 2 Episode 13 - Full Episode' (Power profiled May 3, 1989, at 21:10)

(Wednesday, September 15, 1993, just before sunrise at 6:24 a.m. EDT)Katherine Ann Power, an anti-Vietnam War radical who spent 23 years as a fugitive from a fatal bank robbery, surrendered today after throwing a going-away party at which she revealed her identity to her friends. Continue reading Anti-war radical Katherine Ann Power surrenders to Boston-area authorities 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1993)