Timeline, October 23rd

[David]

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
October 23, 1945 (Year of the Rooster [At Dau]): The Viet Minh kill the leaders of the Socialist Workers Party of Vietnam, Tran Van Thach, Nguyen Van So, Nguyen Van Tien and many other workers at Kien-an (Thu-dau-mot).

October 23, 1952 (Year of the Dragon [Nham Thin]) The trek from Tu Le: During the night of the 22nd-23rd, the 6th BPC column, now joined by the 2nd Thai Battalion and the 56th Vietnamese Battalion, reach the Black River and cross it in dugouts. In the middle of the morning, they gather at the foot of the station of Ban Ta Bu on the right side of the river. The night of the 23rd, at a little after 2330, the 6th BPC, less 91 paras who are either dead or missing, is transported by truck back to Son La, their mission to delay the Viet Minh completed, although the campaign will go on and the Viet Minh continue to seize territory and abandoned supplies. Meanwhile, the survivors of the Muong Chen garrison are still struggling through the mountains toward the river further north, with two enemy companies in pursuit.

INTERBELLUM:
October 23, 1954 (Year of the Horse [Giap Ngo]: President Eisenhower sends a letter of support to President Diem.

October 23, 1955 (Year of the Goat [At Mui\): A rigged national referendum deposes Bao Dai and puts Diem in power, and he proclaims the republic of Vietnam.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
October 23, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Operation Shining Brass: On its third day in Laos, Recon Team Iowa makes contact with the NVA.

October 23, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Battle of Plei Me SF camp update. The ARVN armored relief column reaches the site of the NVA ambush. Project Delta is still trying to move the enemy off the high ground. Allied air strikes continue. Medevacs finally can come in and take out the wounded. Attempts to rescue the downed US pilot continue.

October 23, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Ia Drang campaign: Operation Silver Bayonet starts.

October 23-25, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): The 155th AHC supports the 23rd ARVN Division in the Ban Me Thuot area.

October 23, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): Operation Rich begins in Quang Tri Province.

October 23, 1972 (Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): President Nixon restricts allied bombing (Linebacker I) to targets below the 20th parallel in order to proceed with peace negotiations in Paris. However, negotiations with the North Vietnamese will again bog down, and they will strengthen air defenses around Hanoi and Haiphong, restore the rail lines to China, and once more stockpile war reserves during the pause.