Short answers, pulled from the story.
Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on the 2nd of September 1945. This declaration followed years of struggle against French colonial rule and Japanese occupation during World War II.
3,500 U.S. Marines landed near Da Nang on the 8th of March 1965 marking the start of America's ground war. Deployments increased to nearly 200,000 by December of that same year.
PAVN/VC troops executed approximately 2,800 unarmed civilians and foreigners they considered spies during the Battle of Huế. The city remained under their control for 26 days before being recaptured within weeks.
Richard Nixon launched Operation Menu in March 1969 against communist sanctuaries along the Cambodia/Vietnam border. Only five congressional officials were informed about this secret bombing campaign.
Saigon fell to PAVN forces on the 30th of April 1975 marking the end of the war. Estimates of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians killed range from 970,000 to 3 million.