Historical Timeline of the War: 1960 - 1962
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April 1960 | Universal military conscription declared in North Vietnam. Time in military indefinite. In South Vietnam, Diem is petitioned to reform his corrupt government. Petition is ignored, several newspapers shut down, journalists and intellectuals arrested. | 
John F. Kennedy Lyndon Johnson Maxwell Taylor |
November 1960 | Failed coup against Diem results in arrest of 50,000. Thousands who fear arrest flee to the north. Many later sent back by Ho Chi Minh to infiltrate South Vietnam. |
December 20, 1960 | The National Liberation Front established in Hanoi as the official organization for Viet Minh guerrillas. Diem government calls the guerrillas “Vietcong.” |
January 1961 | Nikita Khrushchev pledges support for “wars of national liberation.” |
January 20, 1961 | Kennedy inaugurated as 35th U.S. President. Eisenhower tells him privately that troops most probably will need to be sent to Southeast Asia. |
May 1961 | Vice President Johnson visits South Vietnam and pledges continued support. Four hundred “Special Advisor” Green Berets sent to South Vietnam to train soldiers in fight against the Viet Cong. The initial group is later joined by the Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG), known as the Montagnards. |
Fall 1961 | Viet Cong attacks on the South expand. Diem asks U.S. for military aid. Kennedy aides Maxwell Taylor and Walt Rostow visit Vietnam and advise the President to send combat troops. President decides not to send troops. |
October 24, 1961 | Kennedy pledges support to Diem and South Vietnam on the sixth anniversary of the Republic. Additional military advisors sent to support South Vietnam’s army. |
December 1961 | U.S. increases financial support to South Vietnam to $1 million a day. Viet Cong maintains control of a good portion of the South Vietnam countryside. |
February 1962 | The Military Assistance Command for Vietnam (MACV) is formed and replaces MAAG. The presidential palace in Saigon is bombed by two South Vietnamese pilots. Diem and his brother, Nhu, are unharmed. | |
March 1962 | Operation Sunrise begins. Rural populations in South Vietnam are taken from their homes and farmlands and settled in 50 villages defended by local militia. The plan fails as communities are infilitarated by Viet Cong. Diem orders bombing or settlements suspected of being Viet Cong-controlled. | |
July 23, 1962 | The Declaration on the Neutrality of Laos signed in Geneva by 14 nations, and U.S. The agreement prohibits U.S. invasion of Ho Chi Minh trail inside Laos. | |
August 1962 | President Kennedy signs the Foreign Assistance Act which gives aid to countries who are “on the rim of the Communist world and under direct attack.” U.S. Special Forces sets up camp at Khe Sanh. U.S. Air Force begins using Agent Orange, a defoliant that came in orange metal containers to expose roads and trails used by Vietcong forces. | |
