Timeline, August 10th

[David]

HISTORICAL:
August 10, 1912 (Year of the Rat): Two US Army aircraft participate for the first time in ground force maneuvers.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
August 10, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): General Taylor reports that the military aspects of the counterinsurgency campaign in South Vietnam are showing signs of slow improvement since the period of deterioration that followed the two coups in November 1963 and January 1964. The personnel strength of the armed forces of SVN as well as of the paramilitary forces (regional forces and popular forces) is slowly rising. The desertion rate of the South Vietnamese army has dropped to about 5.72% or half of the rate of the previous March. In spite of unofficial reports of bad morale, only one unit in the Army, an infantry regiment on a static security mission, is considered by its US advisors to have unsatisfactory morale. The re-equipping of the VNAF with the A1H aircraft is on schedule. In the view of US advisors, more than 90% of the battalions of the South Vietnamese army are at least marginally effective. Two out of thirty regiments, one out of 101 battalions (infantry, marine, airborne), three out of twenty Ranger battalions and one out of 20 engineer battalions are rated as not combat effective. The principal defects throughout the army are low present-for-duty strengths and weak leadership at the level of junior officers and NCO's. In general, it is believed that the weaknesses in the military forces have been identified and are receiving corrective treatment. However, the accepted estimate in main and local force VC strength currently is between 28,000-34,000, in contrast with 23,000-27,000 estimated prior to July. In terms of equipment and training, the VC are better armed and led than ever. Infiltration continues both from Laos and Cambodia and there is no indication that the VC are having difficulty in replacing their losses in men and equipment. However, an overt military confrontation with South Vietnamese forces is not expected, although the Communists keep a sizable unused force in the Central Highlands with considerable offensive capability and have "unused dirty tricks in their bag," such as the mining of the Saigon River, sabotage of POL stocks and terrorist attacks on civilian communities and US dependents.

August 10, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): President Johnson signs into law the Tonkin Gulf Resolution as Public Law 88-408.

August 10-17, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Update on siege of Duc Co SF/CIDG camp.

August 10, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division conducts an operation southwest of Nha Trang which terminates on August 21.

August 10, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Joint Operation Toledo is conducted in Phuoc Tuy Province.

August 10, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): It is reported that NVA strength in South Vietnam has increased from 15,580 on January 1 to 47,100 as of July 31--the equivalent in battalion terms of from 31 to 81-and four divisional and ten regimental headquarters have been introduced since January 1. Average infiltration rate is 4,400 men per month. No evidence of serious food or ammunition shortage among major units is observable despite acknowledged effect of allied air strikes. 60% of enemy forces, it is estimated, have yet to be committed to combat. For the first time in thirteen weeks the total of VC-NVA dead has dropped below one thousand--to 649 for the week. Overall friendly military losses for the week are reported as 189 killed in action (including 59 Americans), 605 wounded in action (including 229 Americans), and 60 missing in action (including 6 Americans).

August 10, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Colorado update.

August 10, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): An SAS patrol kills three VC and wounds another 6 km northeast of Nui Dat.

August 10, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): A/7/17th Cavalry Scouts come under fire while exploring an area where fresh tunnels have been seen.

August 10, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V) (AR): Operation Burlington Trail update.

August 10, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V) (AR): Report on operations in Vinh Long Province, IV Corps.

August 10, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V) (AR): Report on operations in Quang Tri and Thua Thien provinces, I Corps.

August 10, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V) (US Counteroffensive Phase V) (AR): Report on operations in Binh Long Province, III Corps.

August 10, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V) (AR): Report on operations in Darlac and Kontum provinces, II Corps.

August 10, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V) (AR): Report on fighting near Saigon.

August 10, 1971 (Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi]) (US Consolidation I): Operation Inverbrackie begins with 3 RAR elements deploying in the immediate area surrounding Xuyen Moc. B Company immediately comes into contact with a well-armed enemy force entrenched in a bunker system just to the north of Xuyen Moc. Only after considerable artillery and air support is the enemy dislodged.