| 111 B.C. | Chinese conquer what is now northern Vietnam |
| A.D. 939 | China ends its rule over the Vietnamese; an independent state is established. |
| 1802 | Nguyen Anh unites the country and calls it Vietnam. |
| 1858-1883 | France controls Vietnam. |
| 1940-1945 | Japan control Vietnam during World War II. |
| 1945 | Viet Minh,a broad front of Vietnamese patriots and nationalists controlled by Communist Party,seize power. Ho Chi Minh announces independence. |
| November, 1946 | French forces attack Viet Minh in Haiphong, sparking war of resistance against France. |
| 1950 | Democratic Republic of Vietnam is recognized by China and the USSR. |
| 1954 | At Geneva Conference Vietnam is split into the North and South at the17th Parallel. The Vietminh defeat the French. |
| 1956 | Ngo Dinh Diem (President of South Vietnam) begins campaign against political dissidents. |
| 1957 | Beginning of Communist insurgency in the South. |
| 1959 | Weapons and men from North Vietnam begin infiltrating the south. |
| 1960 | American aid to Diem decreases. |
| 1962 | Number of US military advisors in South Vietnam rises to 12,000. |
| November 1, 1963 | Ngo Dinh Diem killed, Vietnamese military took over. |
| August 7, 1964 | Congress adopts Gulf of Tonkin Resolution giving president broad military powers. |
| February 5, 1965 | US begins strategic bombing of the North. |
| March 8, 1965 | First US marines go ashore in direct combat role at Danang. |
| January 30, 1968 | North Vietnam and the Viet Cong begin new phase of the war known as the Tet Offensive. |
| March 15, 1968 | Captain Medina gathers troops for a pep talk. |
| March 16, 1968 | Assault on Son My Village |
| March 29, 1969 | Rob Ridenhour's writes letter descibing the My Lai incident and its cover-up. |
| April 23, 1969 | Inspector General makes full inquiry. |
| June 13, 1969 | Hugh Thompson identifies William Calley as the officer present at My Lai. |
| August 4, 1969 | General Westmoreland orders the I.G. to turn over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Division. September 4, 1969 Charges brought against Calley. |
| November 3, 1969 | Nixon announces "Vietnamization" program. |
| November 13, 1969 | First Story of My Lai published. |
| November 14, 1969 | Second story published, with eyewitness accounts. Haeberle photos published. |
| December 13, 1969 | Secretary of defense reports that anyone involved in the killings will be prosecuted. |
| March 10, 1970 | Captain Ernest Medina charged with murder. |
| March 14, 1970 | Peers Report delivered to Westmoreland. |
| March 17, 1970 | Fourteen officers charged with offenses related to My Lai. |
| February 26, 1971 | Charges against the officers not at My Lai dropped. |
| March 29, 1971 | Charges against several officers at My Lai dropped. |
| March 29, 1971 | Calley convicted. |
| March 31, 1971 | Calley sentenced to life. |
| April 3, 1971 | President Nixon promises to personally review Calley's case. |
| August 17, 1971 | Trial against Medina commences. |
| August 20, 1971 | Calley's sentence reduced to twenty years. |
| September 23, 1971 | Medina acquitted of all charges after jury deliberates for 60 minutes. |
| January 27, 1973 | The United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong sign a cease fire agreement. |
| March 29, 1973 | The last U.S. ground troops leave Vietnam. |
| July 31, 1973 | Congress votes to end all bombing in Indochina and to ban any future military moves in area without prior congressional approval. |
| December 21, 1973 | Military Court of Appeals upholds Calley's conviction. |
| April 16, 1974 | Calley's sentence reduced to ten years. |
| September 24, 1974 | Calley's conviction reviewed by District Court. |
| November 9, 1974 | Calley released on bond. |
| November 13, 1974 | Peers Report released in part. |
| April 30, 1975 | Saigon falls, the South is defeated and the war ends. |
| September 10, 1975 | Calley paroled, after serving only three and a half years. |
| 1998 | Hugh Thompson honored in 30th anniversary commemoration for his heroism at My Lai. |
| May 10, 1998 | Ron Ridenhour died of an apparent heart attack while playing handball. |
| Today | Calley manages a jewelry store in Georgia. (He married the owner's daughter.) |