|
|
Vietnam War History 1954 - News of Dien Bien Phu's impending fall reached the United States. The 16,000 French troops at the location had been surrounded by 60,000 Viet Minh with heavy artillery. Fighting continued at Dien Bien Phu until May 7. 1968 - The trial for the "Chicago Eight" began. The antiwar activists had been charged with conspiracy to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago, IL. 1968 - The New York Times published excerpts from General Westmoreland's classified end-of-year report. The report indicated that the U.S. command did not believe the communists were capable of any action approximating the Tet Offensive. 1968 - Retired U.S. Marine Corps Commandant General David Shoup estimated that up to 800,000 men would be required just to defend South Vietnamese population centers. He also stated that the U.S. could only achieve military victory by invading the North, but said that it would not be worth the cost. 1973 - The United States Flag was lowered at Da Nang Air Base.
|
|