Timeline, June 12th

[David]

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
June 12, 1962 (11th day of the 5th month, Year of the Tiger) (US Advisory): The American intelligence establishment estimates that the North Vietnamese Army at this point consists of 280,000 regular troops supported by 100,000 militia.

June 12, 1963 (21st day of the 4th month, Year of the Hare) (US Advisory): US officials tell Diem that, if he refuses to act on the Buddhists' grievances, the US will dissociate itself from his regime. Diem then starts negotiating with the Buddhists in earnest.

June 12, 1964 (3rd day of the 5th month, Year of the Dragon) (US Advisory): The 121st AVN conducts its first Eagle Assault flown with the new UH-1B's near Bac Lieu.

June 12, 1964(3rd day of the 5th month, Year of the Dragon) (US Advisory): McGeorge Bundy tells the President that, in the US retaliatory air strike on June 9, actually that half the US planes found and attacked the assigned target, which was a fort near Xieng Khouang, but other half dropped their bombs on a different fort about ten miles away near the town of Phong Savan.

June 12, 1966 (24th day of the 4th month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Australian forces conduct a sweep on the outskirts of Hoa Long following light mortar fire which caused casualties to a D Company 5 RAR patrol. A company operation named 'Parkes' is conducted in the area.

June 12, 1967 (5th day of the 5th month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Operation Billings starts.

June 12, 1968 (17th day of the 5th month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): A/7/17th Cavalry loses two men when an LOH explodes in mid-air west of Kontum.

June 12, 1969 (28th day of the 4th month, Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau])(US Summer-Fall 1969): The US 5th Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Division begin Operation Utah Mesa in Quang Tri Province.

June 12, 1970 (9th day of the 5th month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Sanctuary Counteroffensive): The Crocs cover the Gators in a combat assault at Landing Zone Marty in Pleiku Province.

June 12, 1972 (2nd day of the 5th month, Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter Offensive: The ARVN 7th Regiment finishes cleaning out enemy resistance in the western parts of An Loc. The siege of the city is now over.

In the Delta (MR-4), ARVN 7th Division HQ and two regiments are moved into the Elephant's Foot area north of Kien Tuong Province to counter the infiltration of the 5th NVA Division into the area. Soon this division is joined by its remaining elements. At the same time, U.S. tactical air and B-52 strikes repeatedly pound targets of enemy troop concentration there in order to stop the infiltration of major NVA units into MR-4 as well as to give IV Corps more time to consolidate the defense of Dinh Tuong Province, which from all indications is the enemy's choice for refuge and future actions. Several heavy engagements occur in the Elephant's Foot area, with the Communists using the heat-seeking SA-7 antiaircraft missile for the first time in the Delta. These weapons curtail the activities of allied helicopters and observation planes and inflict extensive damage on aircraft, but enemy units suffer heavy losses.


ONGOING OPERATIONS:
SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
June 1972: (4th and 5th months, Year of the Rat [Nham Ty] (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter offensive: By now, casualties on both sides are in the thousands. The 17th parallel has been eliminated as a division between North and South Vietnam.

The North Vietnamese have developed a line of communication from Dong Hoi in Quang Binh Province to Dong Ha and the logistical complex along Highway QL-9 from Dong Ha to Khe Sanh. ARVN forces are gathering at a line along the Song My Chanh (June 1-10) as plans for a push to retake Quang Tri City are put into effect. The North Vietnamese have cleared western Quang Tri Province for an alternate corridor from Khe Sanh to the B-3 Front in Kontum; the B-3 Front is the NVA command in the Central Highlands. The fighting in Kontum Province has reduced South Vietnamese influence north and west of Kontum City, although the South Vietnamese have defeated most of the Communist forces in the city itself, and are now clearing out the last pockets of resistance there. The Communists are trying to develop logistics complex at Duc Co and to extend the alternate corridor south to Binh Long Province but ARVN, in heavy fighting, continues to hinder these efforts.

The city of An Loc is still besieged, but the attackers have lost an estimated 10,000 men and a lot of equipment, and the city's ARVN defenders are going on the offensive to try to expand the city's defensive perimeter. The ARVN fire base at Tan Khe, 10 km south of the city, is successfully fending off repeated attacks by the 141 Regiment, 7 Division as the South Vietnamese relief effort continues to slowly push north.

In the Delta, the NVA campaign against Kien Luong District in Kien Giang Province using the 1 Division is underway, but ARVN Rangers of the 44th Special Tactical Zone are pushing the North Vietnamese back into Cambodia. Meanwhile, the NVA 5 Division has pulled away from battlefields in Binh Long Province, moved across Prey Veng Province in Cambodia, and has the capital of Kien Tuong Province, Moc Hoa, under attack, as well as Tuyen Binh District town. In conjunction with this, other NVA units, probably elements of the 9th Division, are moving toward Kompong Trabek.

June 1973 (5th and 6th months, Year of the Ox [Quy Suu]): South Vietnam: In I Corps, both sides are avoiding serious contact as the NVA continue to consolidate and defend their positions in South Vietnam, and to construct major logistical bases in northern Quang Tri and western Thua Thien provinces. The South Vietnamese are using artillery sparingly and no air power to defend military posts and communication lines along the coast.

In II Corps, both sides hold strong positions around Kontum City. The South Vietnamese are trying to keep North Vietnamese forces out of rocket range of the city, and to keep Route 14 south to Pleiku open. The NVA's 10 Division is pressing the city's defenses to the north and west, while another area of contact has developed around the western ARVN outposts of Plei Mrong and Plei Djereng, the latter of which is close to Duc Co, the major NVA logistical base in the highlands. The NVA are also improving their north-south logistical route from near Dak To southward through the Plei Trap Valley of western Kontum Province. Most fighting in the eastern part of II Corps is in Binh Dinh Province, where the NVA are harassing South Vietnamese posts in the populated areas and along lines of communication. ARVN is responding with sorties into NVA areas.

In III Corps, the NVA continue their siege against the ARVN outpost of Tong Le Chon, deep in Communist-held Tay Ninh Province. Elsewhere in the region, action is light, although Communist harassment of outlying hamlets and resettlement areas is constant.

In IV Corps, there is heavy action centered in the Seven Mountains area of Chau Doc Province, where ARVN Rangers are slowly destroying the remaining elements of the NVA 1 Division in its stronghold there. Other fighting is going on in the Hong Ngu region along the border region near where the Mekong River flows in from Cambodia. There is also ongoing harassment of Regional and Popular Forces outposts and of populated areas.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR:
June 1978 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Horse [Mau Ngo]): Unhappy with its troops' performance, PAVN conducts a major reorganization and modernization of its forces and professionalizes its officer corps. It also streamlines the chain of command by dropping the "dual commander" system that has been in place since 1952; now, the political officer of a regiment or division is subordinate to, rather than equal or superior to, its military commander.

June 1979 (5th and 6th months, Year of the Goat [Ky Mui]): As dry season ends, the Vietnamese consolidate their control of all major Cambodian/Kampuchean towns and cities and establishes a counter-insurgency General Headquarters, Front 478, at Chamka Morn in Phnom Penh, though rebel resistance is low.

June 1980 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Monkey [Canh Than]): As dry season ends, PAVN divisions (up to eight) withdraw from activities operating along the border to established garrisons in country. Rebel resistance during the dry season has been low.

June 1981 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Rooster [Tan Dau]): PAVN's 309 Division is at the border town of Pailin to counter Khmer Rouge advances at Phnom Malai, but is preparing to pull back as the rain season approaches.

June 1982 (4th month-supplemental and 5th month, Year of the Dog [Nham Tuat]): During the rainy season, PAVN conducts its first major troop rotation since 1978, sending up to 20,000 fresh soldiers, mostly southern draftees who will complete their basic training at the forward bases of divisions that are under strength. An equal number of seasoned troops are sent home.

June 1983 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Boar [Quy Hoi]): During the rainy season, the Khmer Rouge increase the number of attacks on PAVN garrisons.

June 1984 (5th and 6th months, Year of the Rat [Giap Ty]): PAVN conducts another troop rotation, sending home the 2 and 10 Border Defense Regiments (also called the 688 and 690 Brigades) and a third brigade, and replacing these with an estimated 14,000 fresh troops, many of whom reinforce the weakened 5 Division.

June 1985 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Ox [At Suu]): PAVN recalls the 2 and 7 divisions. Remaining in Cambodia are ten PAVN combat divisions, all of them under strength and some with as few as 5000 troops. These include the 5, 302, 309 and 330 divisions in Front 479, along the border; the 4 and 8 divisions in Front 579, on the coast; a division and several technical brigades in Front 779, in the interior; and the 9 and 339 divisions held in reserve around Phnom Penh.

June 1986 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Tiger [Binh Dan]): During the summer, PAVN withdraws Divisional Group 98, which includes the 8 Division, the 95 Brigade and the 37 Infantry Regiment. Part of the withdrawal is compensated for by the arrival of fresh troops.

June 1987 (5th and 6th months, Year of the Hare [Dinh Mao]): Counter-insurgency sweeps, with PAVN lowering its profile by conducting more artillery barrages and fewer infantry sweeps, and trying without much success to encourage greater participation by the military forces of the PRK.

June 1988 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Dragon [Mau Thin]): PAVN has moved most of its combat troops inland, with government forces deployed on the border.

June 1989 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Snake [Ky Ti]): PAVN continues counter-insurgency sweeps and training of the government army, navy and air force in preparation for the Vietnamese withdrawal in September.