Timeline, January 20th

[David]

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
January 20, 1961 (4th day of the 12th month, Year of the Rat): JFK takes office, facing a deteriorating situation in Southeast Asia: in Laos, a pro-American faction led by Phoumi Nosavan is losing ground to pro-Communist factions supported by the Soviet Union, while in South Vietnam, President Diem is fighting a losing battle with Communist insurgents. America's lack of strategic reserves, Western European opposition to armed intervention and the poor quality of the Royal Army of Laos persuade the president to settle for a neutral Laos.

"United, there is little we cannot do in a host of co-operative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do --for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder."
--John F. Kennedy, inaugural speech, January 20, 1961

January 20, 1966 (29th day of the 12th month, Year of the Snake)(US Counteroffensive): For the military, a three-day Tet ceasefire begins, although clashes will continue during this period, and at midnight the Vietnamese celebrate Giao Thua, the transition moment, to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one (the Year of the Horse)

January 20, 1967 (10th day of the 12th month, Year of the Horse)(US Counteroffensive Phase II): The 155th Aviation Company moves nine lift and four armed helicopters to Kontum to support a Special Forces unit, most probably in MACV-SOG's Operation Shining Brass.

January 20, 1967 (10th day of the 12th month, Year of the Horse) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Colby, a search and destroy operation, begins in the the Phuoc Chi Special Zone in Tuy Province, III Corps.

January 20, 1968 (21st day of the 12th month, Year of the Goat) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Khe Sanh: The I/23/26 attacks and, with the aid of air and artillery, badly mauls the NVA battalion entrenched on the southern slopes of Hill 881N. Seven Marines and 103 NVA KIA.

An NVA officer appears at the eastern end of the Khe Sanh airstrip holding a white flag and an AK47, saying that regiments of the NVA 325C and 304th divisions are preparing to overrun Khe Sanh. I/3/26 is withdrawn to Hill 881S and the Khe Sanh Base is placed on Red Alert. DASC of MASS-3 moves to Khe Sanh. Between January 20-21, an estimated NVA battalion attacks K/3/26 on Hill 861. After penetrating the southwestern portion of Marines' perimeter, the enemy is repulsed leaving 47 dead; NVA reserves are hit by heavy air strikes and artillery fire.

January 20, 1968 (21st day of the 12th month, Year of the Goat) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Operation McLain begins in Binh Thuan Province in II Corps, immediately following Operation Byrd.

January 20, 1968 (21st day of the 12th month, Year of the Goat) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): A/7/17 Cavalry sees action around Pleiku.

January 20, 1968 (21st day of the 12th month, Year of the Goat) (US Counteroffensive Phase III) (AR): 1st Cavalary Division chopper pilots find NVA hiding in "duck blinds."

January 20, 1968 (21st day of the 12th month, Year of the Goat) (US Counteroffensive Phase III) (AR): Chopper pilots break up a possible attack on the Cu Chi base camp of the 25th Infantry Division 25 miles northwest of Saigon.

January 20, 1968 (21st day of the 12th month, Year of the Goat) (US Counteroffensive Phase III) (AR): D/1/10 4th Cavalry 4th Infantry Division destroy a munitions dump near Plei Me.

January 20, 1968 (21st day of the 12th month, Year of the Goat) (US Counteroffensive Phase III) (AR): Elements of 196th LIB, Americal Division, uncover one of the largest weapons and ammunition caches ever found in I Corps area 17 miles west of Tam Ky.

January 20, 1968 (21st day of the 12th month, Year of the Goat) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): I Field Force Operation Decatur information.

NOTE: I am not sure how this relates to the October 1966 Operation Decatur.

January 20, 1968 (21st day of the 12th month, Year of the Goat) (US Counteroffensive Phase III) (AR): Operation Wheeler/Wallowa update: An Americal Division LRRP disrupts an NVA training session, resulting in at least 12 enemy soldiers killed.

[frisco-kid]

I've been in the Army for 10 days and it's my 19th birthday. I pull KP; I'm on Pots-n-Pans .

20JAN67

I've been in VN for almost 6mos. and it's my 20th birthday. I'm doing Search and Destroy patrols somewhere west of Kontum amazed that I'm still freakin' alive.

20JAN68

I've been married for less than a month [23DEC67] and it's my 21st birthday. I'm a paratrooper in the 82nd Abn. Div. at Ft. Bragg, NC. On the 24th we're put on stand-by alert. The N. Koreans have captured the spy ship "PUEBLO" and it's crew. We might have to take them back by force. On the 15FEB68, I'm on my way back to VN with the 3rd Bde. of the 82nd Abn. Div.. I have almost 11mos. left in the Army.

20JAN69

It's my 22nd birthday and I've been back from VN for 20 days, and a civilian for 19 days. I was blessed with an 8 day early out :re: . I'm trying to get re-acquainted with my bride, and to get to know my 3mos. old son.