Vietnam War: CIA History Staff Chronology of the Conflict 1940-1973 (1974)

Vietnam War: CIA History Staff Chronology of the Conflict 1940-1973 (1974)

This 142-page chronology of events in the Vietnam Conflict, "Vietnam: A Draft Chronology, 1940 -1973," published in September 1974," was not declassified and released by the CIA to the public until May 2021.

The events are divided on each page into four columns marked United States, Non-Communist Vietnam, Communist Vietnam and Others.

The first event listed is dated 1940 and under the column "others" list:

"May and afterward: Soon after France fell in May, pro-Gaullist Gov. Gen. of Indochina-escaped, and French administration came under control of Petain/ Laval regime. In reality, Japanese took over the area in 1940, but left pro-Vichy French in nominal charge."

The first mention of the CIA comes from an October 4, 1963, entry under the United States column that reads:

"4 Oct: DCI John A. McCone recalls CIA Chief of Station in Saigon, Mr. John H. Richardson, highlighting rift in Administration over Vietnam policy."

The last two entries are

United States

1973

22 Jan: US troop strength in SVN 22,000.

27 Jan: Secretary of State Rogers joins Foreign Ministers of SVN, NVN, and PRG in signing Cease-Fire Agreement in Paris.

Also see:

Vietnam War: CIA Official Internal Secret History Studies

Vietnam War 1955- 1975 White House - CIA - DOD - NSC - State Dept Document Transcripts