Doctor Manhattan travels to Saigon to intervene in the Vietnam War. There, he is reintroduced to Eddie Blake. Jon finds Blake's deliberate amorality fascinating.[1]
March to May[]
Doctor Manhattan uses his mental abilities to decimate the Viet Cong forces. Ultimately, Several of the Viet Cong soldiers surrender directly to him, their terror balanced by an almost religious reverence.[1]
The United States government predicts that the Viet Cong will surrender within a week.
31st[]
On the 50th anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre, Nelson Gardner modified his will to leave his entire estate to Will Reeves, and if he were to decline he would bequeath all proceeds from any auction of his Minutemen paraphernalia to the Southern Poverty Law Center. He even went so far as to order that his remains be cremated, with no funeral or grave marker, feeling it was what he deserved.[6]
The Vietnam War lasts a few weeks longer than expected, finally ending when Doctor Manhattan decimates the Việt Cộng’s guerrilla forces by molecularly restructuring the jungles in which they hide into noxious gases.[5]
29th[]
North Vietnam officially surrenders to the United States.
V.V.N. Day, celebrating American victory in the Vietnam War. Richard Nixon arrives in Saigon by helicopter to great applause. A pregnant Vietnamese woman accosts the Comedian. When he refuses to take responsibility for their baby, she slashes him across the face with a broken bottle, leaving a permanent scar. In return, he shoots her dead. Doctor Manhattan watches, but does not interfere.[7][1]
The end of the Vietnam War was followed by a series of purges against the rebels. U.S. Marine Judd Crawford, who served under Captain Robert S. Mueller in the Liberation of Vietnam, took part in the purge sweeps. Adrian Veidt intervened during this period and took in Viet Cong refugees as servants to Karnak, Antarctica including a woman named Bian My.
30th[]
The New York Gazette reports on North Vietnam's unconditional surrender.[5]
July[]
1st[]
Eddie Blake is court-martialed for killing the pregnant Vietnamese woman. To keep his identity a secret, members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff conduct the trial privately. He admits to the shooting, claims it was in self-defense since she was attacking him.[5]
The Joint Chiefs of Staff, presiding over Eddie Blake's court-martial for killing an unarmed civilian in Saigon, dismiss all charges, citing a lack of evidence.[5]
Max Shea takes up work as an art therapist at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Cleveland, Ohio; he facilitates an art therapy program for Vietnam War veterans suffering from PTSD. Their poignant stories of shattered worldview and guilty conscience inspires Shea to write Fogdancing.[10][11]
Five men are arrested for breaking and entering into the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C.. The FBI finds a possible connection to Richard Nixon's campaign, the Committee for the Reelection of the President.[13]
Members of the underground press deem the double homicide of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein suspicious, and the Berkeley Barb publishes an article suggesting a conspiracy.[16]
On his way home, Nelson Gardner loses control of his car and crashes into a barrier at a high rate of speed. He ejects through the front windshield and is decapitated. His severed head is never recovered.[6]
1975[]
Newspaper headline: "Third Term for Dick?" and "Ozymandias Quits: Smartest Man in World Goes Public."[1]
Will Reeves is presented with the contents of Nelson Gardner's will and accepts the role as beneficiary of Gardner's estate. Reeves moves into Gardner's old home in downtown New York.[22][23]
July[]
12th[]
Adrian Veidt's interview to Doug Roth is published in Nova Express.[21]
Alan Greenfeldt issues an internal memo discussing two studies conducted by Jacobs employees to prevent fuel tank flare-ups and assess liability in the event of a lawsuit.[5]
Captain Carnage makes his debut begging costumed heroes to beat him up.[17][5] He devises an fake theft ring that last for months to have Silk Spectre II track him down.[5] He approaches Nite Owl II begging him to beat him up, and but tells him to get lost.[17]
While pursuing a dope dealer, Dan Dreiberg takes a moment to urinate. By the time he finishes and dons his costume, his quarry escapes. Afterward, Dreiberg redesigns his outfit to make it easier to relieve himself in the future.
For a time, Rorschach types his journal entries instead of writing them by hand.
1977[]
Judd Crawford graduates from the University of Oklahoma on the G.I. Bill with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology.[3]
The Twilight Lady is released from prison after nine years. Returning to her now dilapidated Upper East Side mansion, she resumes the vice trade.
12th[]
The New York Gazette's front page headline reads "City Council Denies Cops Raise!" Upon reading the article, Adrian Veidt deems the council's decision shortsighted.
Dr. Thomas M. Dewey, the Smithsonian Institute's special programs curator, writes a letter to Laurie Juspeczyk, asking her to donate her Silk Spectre costume for display in the "Law and Order" exhibit.
22nd[]
The New York Gazette covers the Comedian's successful rescue of the U.S. hostages.[5]
1979[]
The United States launches a retaliatory bombing of Beirut, Lebanon violating international law.[26]
Pursued by a police officer, Rorschach runs into an ally. A cab driver recognizes him and offers him a ride, calling the fugitive his hero in the war against sinners, politicians, and false prophets. The vigilante later records a journal entry describing the conversation.[5]
