Life magazine displays portrait photos of all 242 Americans killed in Vietnam during the previous week, including the 46 killed at 'Hamburger Hill.' The photos have a stunning impact on Americans nationwide as they view the once smiling young faces of the dead.

President Nixon, through a French emissary, sends a secret letter to Ho Chi Minh urging him to settle the war, while at the same time threatening to resume bombing if peace talks remain stalled as of November 1. In August, Hanoi responds by repeating earlier demands for Viet Cong participation in a coalition government in South Vietnam.

The very first U.S. troop withdrawal occurs as 800 men from the 9th Infantry Division are sent home. The phased troop withdrawal will occur in 14 stages from July 1969 through November 1972.

Secretary of State William Rogers accuses Hanoi of "lacking humanity" in the treatment of American POWs.

The "Nixon Doctrine" is made public. It advocates U.S. military and economic assistance to nations around the world struggling against Communism, but no more Vietnam-style ground wars involving American troops. The emphasis is thus placed on local military self-sufficiency, back by U.S. air power and technical assistance to assure security.

President Nixon visits U.S. troops and President Thieu in Vietnam. This is Nixon's only trip to Vietnam during his presidency.

Henry Kissinger conducts his first secret meeting in Paris with representatives from Hanoi.

Viet Cong begin a new offensive attacking 150 targets throughout South Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh dies of a heart attack at age 79. He is succeeded by Le Duan, who publicly reads the last will of Ho Chi Minh urging the North Vietnamese to fight on "until the last Yankee has gone."

The U.S. Army brings murder charges against Lt. William Calley concerning the massacre of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai in March of 1968.

President Nixon orders the withdrawal of 35,000 soldiers from Vietnam and a reduction in draft calls.

An opinion poll indicates 71 percent of Americans approve of President Nixon's Vietnam policy.

The 'Moratorium' peace demonstration is held in Washington and several U.S. cities. Demonstration organizers received praises from North Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Van Dong.