Timeline, September 13th

[David]

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
September 13, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): Before dawn, military units led by former Minister of the Interior General Lam Van Phat and the Commander of IV Corps, General Duong Van Duc, begin to occupy strategic points in Saigon. At 10:35 a.m., U. Alexis Johnson, the Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam, reports that a "major military power play" is in progress. At 10:49 a.m., Johnson reports that he has ordered all Americans off the streets, that he is at the MACV command center with General Westmoreland, and that Phat is announcing that he has executed a bloodless coup. General Khanh, who is still in Dalat, asks the Americans if MACV will help with a counter plan and whether the United States will send Marines ashore if requested. The answer is no on both counts, though recognition of Gen. Phat and Gen. Duc is not considered, either. Documents in FRUS indicate that the coup quickly fails because of lack of popular support and that the rebellious troops withdraw because they are demoralized, but TVW reports that the coup is aborted by General Ky and other young officers, who rally to Khanh and threaten to bomb the positions of the rebellious troops. In any case, it's all over by September 14th, with Gen. Khanh still in power.

September 13, 1966 Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): In Operation Atlantic City, the 4th Battalion and B Battery/319th Artillery, 173rd Airborne provide security for Dau Ting Airfield.

September 13, 1966 Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Guns from the USS Stormes, one of the gunfire support ships off I Corps (where combat is heaviest and the geography most favorable for inshore bombardment) kill over 200 enemy troops in three hours of firing.

September 13, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): Operation Champagne Grove update: Battle near Quang Ngai City.

September 13, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): The 1st Brigade, 5th Mechanized Infantry conducts a preemptive strike into the DMZ with the 1/11th and 1/61st Infantry Battalions. Casualties: US 65 KIA, 77 WIA; enemy unknown.

September 13, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): Two LOH's of the A/7/17th Cavalry are hit by AA while evacuating wounded from a battle zone.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR:
September 1981 (Year of the Rooster [Tan Dau]): For the third time, the General Assembly votes to seat the Pol Pot government of Kampuchea rather than the Heng Samrin regime.

POSTBELLUM:
September 13, 1993 (Year of the Rooster [Quy Dau]): President Clinton announces the relaxing of America's trade embargo with Vietnam and says US companies can now bid for Vietnam projects that use funds from international organizations.