Timeline, December 31st

[David]

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
December 31, 1951 (Year of the Hare [Tan Mao]): French casualties to date are over 90,000.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
December 31, 1959 (Year of the Boar [Ky Hoi]): General Phoumi Nosavan seizes control in Laos.

December 31, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): Binh Gia update: While on a search-and-recovery mission for a downed American helicopter crew with elements of the 4th Vietnamese Marines, Colonel Donald Cook is wounded and captured by the Viet Cong.

December 31, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): Total US military strength is 23,000.

December 1964 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): The Viet Cong have killed 24 South Vietnamese government officials and 88 other South Vietnamese this month, and abducted 100 government officials and 498 other South Vietnamese. For the year, 436 government officials and 1359 other South Vietnamese have been killed by the VC, who have also abducted 1131 government officials and 8423 other South Vietnamese. There have been 96 VC attacks this month, 1719 acts of terrorism, 318 sabotage incidents and 128 episodes of forced propaganda. Yearly totals have been 1832 attacks, 19,547 acts of terrorism, 3205 sabotage incidents and 2080 episodes of forced propaganda.

December 31, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Counteroffensive): Update on the year's Shining Brass operations.

December 31, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Counteroffensive): US troop strength is now at 184,300 (TVW says 181,000). US KIA 1,594. 25,000 air sorties have been flown against North Vietnam this year.

December 31, 1965 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Counteroffensive): Operation Market Time update: The USS Hissem detects a small trawler heading for shore off the Ca Mau Peninsula. When the trawler's master becomes aware of the allied presence, he turns around and heads north, aborting the mission.

December 31, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): US troop strength is now 385,000. 79,000 air sorties have been flown against North Vietnam this year. Enemy forces are estimated at 282,000. Overall strength of the South Vietnamese forces, 630,000.

December 31, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): President Johnson states that targets bombed in North Vietnam are military in nature and that the United States makes every effort to minimize civilian casualties.

December 31, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Chinook update: US Marines spot more than a thousand enemy troops taking advantage of the stand-down to move north.

December 31, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): 2/20 ARA is supporting four different operations in Binh Dinh and other provinces.

December 31, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Update on the year's Shining Brass operations.

December 31, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): US troop strength is now at 485,600, in 90 combat infantry battalions. Battalion strength at this time is some 700 men, of which some 150 are HQ staff, drivers, clerks, cooks, etc. Actual combat infantry strength is therefore 90 battalions at 550, equaling 49,500 men, or 10.46% of the men in country at this time. Of the rest, some 12% are artillery and engineers, 2% are in aviation and the remaining 75% are HQ and logistics personnel. NVA/VC strength in South Vietnam at this time is roughly estimated to be 152 battalions (of 320 men and women), 196 companies (of 100 men and women) and 70 platoons (of 30 men and women), totaling 63,060. 10% or less are administrative personnel. In addition, there are many tens of thousands of porters and other non-combat personnel. US KIA: 15,979. 108,000 air sorties have been flown against North Vietnam this year.

December 31, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): 57 AHC looks back over the year.

December 31, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Two platoons from C/3/5 Cavalry are ambushed about six miles south of Blackhorse. Out of 45 cavalrymen, 11 are killed and 25 are wounded.

December 31, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): C/7/17th Cavalry's activities for the month.

December 31, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III) (AR): "1967 Action Summarized"

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): US troop strength is now at 536,000. US KIA 30,568.

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): Operation Todd Forest begins in Thua Thien Province.

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): 155 AHC activities for the month.

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): Operation Blackhawk information.

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): Five-year POW Nick Rowe escapes and rejoins his countrymen.

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): 361 AWC maintenance report for November and December.

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): B/7/17th Cavalry activities for the month.

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): A/7/17th Cavalry finds a large rice cache near Camp Enari.

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): 326 Med, 101 Airborne newsletter information for the month.

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): Eleven ships and approximately 90 members of 61 AHC travel to Phu Cat AFB to catch the Bob Hope Christmas show.

December 31, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): Soldiers of the 82nd Division find three enemy bodies that have apparently been killed by artillery fire a few days earlier in an area eight miles west of Saigon.

December 31, 1969 (Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): US troop strength is 479,000 (TVW says 474,000). US KIA: 9,414 in 1969.

December 31, 1969 (Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): 361 AWC maintenance report for the year.

December 31, 1969 (Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): 326 Med, 101 Airborne newsletter information.

December 31, 1969 (Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): A look back at the year's efforts by the 1st Marines in the northern provinces. From the DMZ south to Duc Pho, III MAF combat operations during the year have killed or captured over 30,000 Communists, at cost of 2259 Marines KIA and 16,567 WIA.

December 31, 1970 (Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VII): US military strength is 335,800.

December 31, 1970 (Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VII): 5th Mobile Strike Force Command, the countrywide Civilian Irregular Defense Group reserve, is disbanded, and its advisory element, Detachment B-55, commences stand-down. South Vietnam's CIDG program countrywide is officially terminated.

December 31, 1970 (Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VII): Congress repeals the Tonkin Gulf Resolution.

December 1971 (Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi] (US Consolidation II): An Army Huey is downed 12 miles south of the DMZ.

December 1971 (Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi] (US Consolidation II): Since 1966, counting every month except February 1968 (as the number of civilian casualties during the Tet-68 offensive was never fully established), the Viet Cong have killed 26,367 and abducted 35,946 South Vietnamese civilians, according to statistics published by the Comptroller, Office of the US Secretary of Defense.

December 31, 1972 (Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]): Nguyen Hue/Easter Offensive: The NVA 95B Regiment forces a withdrawal by the 44th ARVN Regiment of the 23rd Division and secures a lodgment in the Chu Pao Pass on Highway 14 south of Kontum City.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR:
December 31, 1977 (Year of the Snake [Dinh Ti]): Cambodia (Kampuchea) accuses Vietnam of "criminal activities" in supporting abortive coupes in Kampuchea in 1975-76. Vietnam launches a major offensive into the Parrot's Beak. Talks between the US and Vietnam, aimed at stabilizing their relationship, are resumed. The number of refugees leaving Vietnam by sea in late 1977 is estimated at 1500 per month; about 7000 Vietnamese have been admitted to Australia since 1975.