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13 YEARS AGO
Tony Stark attends a party accompanied by two women. Unbeknownst to Stark, that same day scientist Reed Richards and his crew are irradiated by intense cosmic rays during the test flight of his prototype rocket, developing superhuman powers to subsequently become the Fantastic Four.
 MSaga #1, '85. The "same day" (MSaga #1) that Richards launched his prototype rocket (FF #1, '61).
The government, engaged in a secret war against the drug trade, approaches Tony Stark to design a suit of battle armor for American troops. The armor uses technology and chemical stimulants to enhance a soldier's combat capabilities, but its AI would keep the wearer fighting until his death.
 IM v3 #50, '02.
After China occupies Timbetpal, Professor Ho Yinsen and his protégé Sun-Tao are abducted by terrorists, who fake his death. The Mandarin, patron of Sin-Cong warlord Wong-Chu, has Yinsen analyze his Makluan rings after securing he and Sun-Tao. Wong-Chu then places the abductees in an Afghanistan prison camp after their refusal to construct weapons of mass destruction.
 IM #274, '91; IM v3 #31, '00; IM v4 #9, '06. Yinsen was thought dead "months" (IM #267, '91) before he met Tony Stark 13 ya. Timbetpal was occupied "over a decade" (All-New Iron Manual, '08) before XX ya. The Vietnamese camp from ToS #39, '63 was retconned to an Afghani camp in IM v4 #5, '06.
Despite Pepper Potts managing his business affairs, Tony Stark realizes that Stark Industries is failing, and he decides to inspect some of his overseas plants. IM #288/2, '93; IM:IA #1, '98.
December. Arriving in Afghanistan during the War of the Middle East, Tony Stark inspects sabotage to his oversea plants and demonstrates his munitions for the US Army. He is abducted by terrorist Wong-Chu on the order of the Mandarin, but the assault leaves landmine shrapnel lodged near his heart, and critically wounds US Navy Sergeant Major Dennis Murray (later Heavy). With only one week to live, Tony is forced to design weaponry alongside Professor Ho Yinsen, but he instead constructs both the Model 01 armor and a chest plate to keep his heart beating. Yinsen records their designs in his journal and, unknown to Tony, is coerced by terrorist leaders (Zakim Karzai, Dennis Kellard, Aftaab Lemar, Kareem Mahwash Najeeb, Ara Tanzerian) to embed a magnetic control implant in his skull. After Yinsen seemingly sacrifices himself as a distraction, Tony completes the armor and, as Iron Man, destroys the encampment and departs. Wong-Chu, severely burnt by an ammunition explosion, escapes, but is punished for his failure by the Mandarin. After the dying Yinsen entrusts Sun-Tao with the journal and brain implant control, Doctor Midas opens a spatial rift and claims his deceased body.
Note: Contrary to some accounts, Tony Stark becomes Iron Man in Afghanistan, rather than in Vietnam.
Model 01
ToS #39, '63; IM #144/2, '81; IM #244, '89; IM #267-268, '91; IM #288/2, '93; AI:RIM #1, '96; IM:IA #1, '98; IM v3 #31-32, '00; IM Ann '00, '00; IM v3 #50, '02; IM v4 #1, '05; IM v4 #5, '06; IM v4 #9, '06; Order v2 #9, '08. Tony was held for about "one week" (ToS #39), and he escaped on "December twenty --" (IM Ann '00). [Almost] "15 years" (IM v4 #9) before Yinsen's son killed those involved in his parents' deaths XX ya. Iron Man's origin in Vietnam (ToS #39) was retconned to Afghanistan (IM v4 #1). Any reference to the Vietnam War (1959-1975) or Gulf War (1990-1991) was topical; the conflict was the War of the Middle East. ToS #39 was the 1st app of Iron Man, Model 01 armor, Ho Yinsen and Wong-Chu. Previously assumed to be Vietnamese, Wong-Chu revealed as from Sin-Cong in AvS #22/2, '89, and Yinsen from Timbetpal in IM v3 #31.
December. Iron Man encounters Lieutenant James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a US Marine pilot shot down during the War of the Middle East, and they destroy a hidden terrorist encampment. Before returning to the US, Tony Stark later renovates his armor, and offers Rhodey a position with his company should he ever need one. IM #144/2, '81; IM #244, '89; IM:IA #1, '98. "A short half-hour" (IM #144/2) after Iron Man escaped on "December twenty --" (IM Ann '00, '00). Iron Man's origin in Vietnam (ToS #39, '63) was retconned to Afghanistan (IM v4 #1, '05). Any reference to the Vietnam War (1959-1975) was topical; the conflict was the War of the Middle East.
Sergeant Major Dennis Murray, the US Navy officer gravely wounded in Afghanistan during the abduction of Tony Stark, is consigned to life support systems at a VA hospital, unable to move for years.
 Order v2 #9, '08. Murray later became Heavy XX ya.
Sun-Tao returns to Timbetpal, entrusting the widow of Yinsen with the implant control. He and the eleven Yinsen disciples form the Twelve, instructing thousands of Timbetpal citizens of the philosophies of Yinsen. Constructing the flying city of New Timbetpal, Sun-Tao becomes high priest of the Sons of Yinsen. IM Ann '00, '00; IM v4 #11, '06.
Burdened as his chest plate needs to be worn constantly and recharged frequently, Tony Stark drinks heavily to overcome his depression. His fiancée Joanna Nivena ends their engagement, but encourages him to use his armor to become a super hero. Joanna later weds Howard Finch and has two children. IM #244, '89; AI:RIM #1, '96; IM:IA #1, '98.
Iron Man pursues his career as a hero, giving his grey armor an untarnishable gold finish. When the populace of the town of Granville is hypnotized by Gargantus, an immense robot resembling Neanderthal man constructed by an unidentified extraterrestrial race to conquer Earth, Iron Man destroys the robot using magnets and the aliens flee.
Model 01 (gold)
ToS #40, '63. The alien race first came to Earth c. 78,000 BCE; they later returned 12 ya (Cap:SoL #5-6, '99). 1st app of Model 01 armor (gold).
After the prototype Guardian armor is stolen from Am/Can, operatives Logan (later Wolverine) and Colonel Rick Stoner recover it from Hydra. Tony Stark, unaware that Stark scientist Jacob Fury (later Scorpio) is an industrial saboteur for Hydra, and the US President support the formation of SHIELD (first conceived decades earlier as Project: SHIELD), dedicated to protecting the nations of Earth from all threats, with Stoner chosen as its first Director over Nick Fury and Glenn Talbot. Fury #1, '94. "A coupla decades" after "'44." Project: SHIELD from M:LG #10, '00. Talbot from Consp #2, '98.
Doctor Strange (Carlo Strange) and his forces, possibly including the Exiles, detonate an "s-bomb" in the upper atmosphere to demonstrate their power, demanding the world surrender. Iron Man penetrates their island fortress in the Atlantic Ocean, and with the betrayal of his daughter Carla, Strange and his allies are apprehended.
 ToS #41, '63; IM:IA #1, '98. A group resembling the Exiles from Cap #102-104, '68 appeared, and were identified as such in Marvel Comics Index #8A, '79. Strange should not be confused with sorcerer Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange) from ST #110/3, '63; his first name was revealed in OHMU:HC #3, '08.