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January
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26th
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Armed Forces Council (AFC) removes Huong as RVN (Republic of Vietnam) Prime Minister
and installs General Nguyen Khanh. President Suu remains in power.
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February
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7th
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Viet Cong attack the air base at Pleiku, killing 8 Americans. U.S. responds with
Flaming Dart bombing operation against southern targets in North Vietnam
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10th
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VC sappers blow up enlisted men’s billet in Qui Nhon killing 23 American servicemen.
Operation Flaming Dart II launched in response, with USAF, VNAF, and Navy aircraft
striking targets north of the
DMZ.
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16th - 20th
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AFC votes out Nguyen Khanh as Prime Minister and replaces him with Phan Huy Quat
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March
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2nd
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U.S. Air Force launches
Rolling Thunder, the sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam. The
air strikes are designed to convince the North Vietnamese to cease their support
of the insurgency in the South
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8th
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Two battalions of the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) land at Da Nang to
strengthen the security of the air base, which is being used as part of the Rolling
Thunder bombing campaign against North Vietnam.
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17th
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CIA estimates VC have 37,000 regulars and approximately 100,000 irregulars in South
Vietnam
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20th
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The JCS recommends that U.S. and Allied forces be introduced with a mission to assume
the offensive against the Viet Cong
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30th
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A car bomb explodes outside the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. 2 Americans and 20 Vietnamese
are killed. Nearly 200 people are wounded.
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April
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1st
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In National Security Action Memorandum (NSAM) 328, President Johnson approves the
deployment of two addition Marine Battalions and an 18-20,000 man increase in U.S.
forces to "fill out existing units and supply needed logistic personnel."
NSAM 328 also changes the security mission of U.S. in forces in Vietnam
"to permit their more active use".
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11th
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Two additional Marine Battalions begin landing at Phu Bai and Da Nang
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20th
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Honolulu Conference – Senior officials meet and propose sending an additional 17
U.S. / Free World Battalions to South Vietnam to establish four brigade-sized enclaves
at Bien Hoa / Vung Tau, Chu Lai, Qui Nhon and Quang Ngai
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May
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5th
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173rd Airborne Brigade arrives at Bien Hoa / Vung Tau to secure the air base, becoming
the first regular army combat unit to deploy in South Vietnam
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11th
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Viet Cong overrun Song Be, the capital of Phuoc Long Province
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13th
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U.S. pauses Rolling Thunder bombing campaign against North Vietnam to test Hanoi’s
willingness to negotiate. Bombing resumes on 18th May.
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June
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7th
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General Westmoreland requests
more troops to prevent the
ARVN from being defeated. He asks for a 35 battalion U.S. / 3rd Country
force and identified 9 additional battalions which may be required at a later date.
The appeal was subsequently dubbed the "the 44 Battalion request"
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8th
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State Dept Press Officer Robert McCloskey tells the press "American forces would
be available to fight alongside Vietnamese forces when and if necessary"
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiments arrives in RVN
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12th
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RVN Prime Minister Phan Huy Quat forced to resign
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18th
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First Arc Light mission - B-52s strike VC targets near Saigon
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19th
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Air Vice Marshall Nguyen Cao Ky becomes Prime Minister of RVN. Major General Nguyen
Van Thieu assumes role of Chief of State
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26th
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General Westmoreland given the authority to commit U.S. forces to combat in support
of GVN forces
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27th
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The first major ground combat operation by U.S. forces in the Vietnam War – 173rd
Airborne together with Australian and ARVN troops begin a search and destroy operation
into the Viet Cong base area of War Zone "D" northwest of Saigon
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July
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12th
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2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division arrives in Vietnam
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20th
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U.S Army, Vietnam (USARV) is established, replacing the U.S. Army Support Command,
Vietnam (USASCV )
Ho Chi Minh claims that his people
are willing to fight for 20 years or more until they win.
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24th
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First U.S. aircraft downed by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) over North Vietnam
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28th
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President Johnson announces U.S. troop levels will increase to 125,000 men and additional
forces will be needed later. As a result the monthly draft call will rise from 17,000
to 35,000
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29th
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1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division deploys near Cam Ranh Bay
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August
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17th
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U.S. Marines begin Operation Starlite against Viet Cong in the Van Tuong peninsula,
the largest American military operation of the war to date.
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September
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14th
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1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) arrives in RVN
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October
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8th
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The first elements of a Republic of Korea (ROK) infantry Division arrive in Vietnam
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19th
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North Vietnamese soldiers launch a major attack on the
Special Forces camp at Plei Me in the Central Highlands. The assault is
eventually repelled on October 25th.
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November
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14th - 18th
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The first major battle of the Vietnam War involving U.S. forces – In the Ia Drang
valley of the Central Highlands, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) uses helicopter
assault tactics to inflict heavy losses on the Vietnamese Peoples Army (VPA).
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27th
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ARVN 7th Regiment is overrun at Michelin Plantation
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December
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24th
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President Johnson orders a halt to the bombing of North Vietnam to explore peace
possibilities
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31st
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U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam: 184,314
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