|
January
North Vietnamese forces capture Phuoc Binh, the capital of Phuoc Long
Province, in a blow to the Saigon Government.
February
In the battle for Cambodia, control of the Mekong River is critical to the
survival of Phnom Penh.
March
The Saigon Government decides to abandon most of the Central Highlands of South
Vietnam because the area has become militarily indefensible.
Communist insurgents breaks through Government lines in Cambodia, about two
miles east of Phnom Penh.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General George Brown, says that
United States cuts in aid to Saigon are partially responsible
for the withdrawal of Saigon forces from the Central Highlands.
South Vietnamese forces withdraw from the northernmost part of their country,
leaving Quang Tn to the Communists.
Hue and many other places in the north are evacuated, and refugees continue to
head toward Da Nang.
Fighting erupts at a base camp 40 miles west of Saigon.
Hue falls to Communists and Da Nang may be the next to go.
Da Nang, under siege, is the last Government stronghold in the northern part
of South Vietnam. Efforts to evacuate some of the half million refugees have to
be suspended as thousands swarm over the city's two airfields.
The United States announces an emergency airlift of military equipment and
medical supplies to South Vietnam, but anti-American sentiment is running
high as many South Vietnamese blame cuts in United States aid for the
Communist gains.
One of the last evacuation planes out of Da Nang becomes a "flight out of
hell" as mobs of South Vietnamese soldiers force their way aboard a World
Airways flight.
The Communists capture Da Nang.
April
Qui Nhon, South Vietnam's third largest city, is abandoned by Government troops,
and the key port city of Nha Trang is reportedly being abandoned by Saigon
forces as the North Vietnamese press closer to Saigon.
A jet aircraft carrying 300 Vietnamese orphans crashes, killing 200 of them.
President Ford meets another planeload of children when they arrive in San
Francisco.
Refugees report that the Vietcong are rounding up South Vietnamese officials and
army officers in areas they have conquered, with only a few executions reported.
President Ford requests nearly $1 billion in military and humanitarian aid for
South Vietnam from Congress, as well as aid for evacuation. He says aid for
Cambodia may be too late.
The United States closes its embassy in Phnom Penh and evacuates several hundred
Americans and Cambodians from the encircled Cambodian capital.
Phnom Penh surrenders to rebel forces.
President Ford says that the failure of the United States to meet its
commitments to Saigon has led to "this present tragic situation" in
South Vietnam.
The Vietcong calls for an immediate withdrawal of American military personnel
"disguised as civilians" from Vietnam.
The Senate Armed Services Committee rejects President Ford's request for
military assistance for the Saigon Government.
The Phnom Penh Government surrenders to Cambodian Communists.
Communists capture Xuan Loc, the last checkpoint before Saigon.
President Thieu resigns, and appoints his Vice President to replace him. The
United States plans on the immediate evacuation of all Americans and their
dependents.
The French Government calls for a cease-fire in all of Vietnam, and urges the
resumption of negotiations to carry out the 1973 accords.
Panic overtakes Saigon as thousands try to find ways to flee the city.
Congress approves legislation giving the President authority to use American
troops to protect the evacuation of Americans and South Vietnamese citizens from
Saigon. Humanitarian aid is also authorized.
President Ford says the war in Indochina is over for Americans, and he urges the
beginning of "a great national reconciliation".
Prince Norodom Sihanouk is named Cambodian chief of state for life. President
Thieu leaves Saigon.
General Duong Van Minh, a neutralist, takes over as President of the South
Vietnamese government in the hope that he can end the war on Communist terms.
The Communists are within a mile of Saigon.
Helicopters take the last Americans and nearly 6,000 South Vietnamese to
aircraft carriers offshore.
As Communists enter and capture Saigon, President Minh announces unconditional
surrender. The Vietcong declare that Saigon is liberated.
A former Saigon official releases letters from President Nixon that promised the
Saigon Government that the United States would respond with force if North
Vietnam violated the Paris cease-fire accords.
The now vacant United States Embassy is looted by Saigonese.
May
President Ford asks the nation to open its doors to Vietnamese and Cambodian
refugees.
Sydney Schanberg of The New York Times reports on the Communist revolution in
Cambodia after he arrives in Thailand.
A United States merchant ship, the Mayaguez, is seized by Cambodian
Communists.
Marines undertake a rescue mission and recapture the ship.
August
The United States vetoes the admission of North and South Vietnam to the United
Nations.
December
The Communist-led Pathet Lao takes full control over Laos, announcing the end of
the monarchy, abolition of the 19—month—old coalition Government and
establishment of a People's Democratic Republic. The United
States says it will maintain diplomatic ties with the new government.
Cambodia approves a new, republican constitution and is renamed Democratic Kampuchea.
© 1940-1995 CBS, Inc. and The New York Times Company. All rights
reserved.
If you use this Chronology, give proper credit to The New York Times
Company, and as I had to retype this text, give credit to this site too.
|
