Timeline, June 15th

[David]

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
June 15, 1966 (27th day of the 4th month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): The CIA summarizes the results of the first year of Rolling Thunder.

June 15, 1967 (8th day of the 5th month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): A ten-man element from the Dak To Special Forces camp, consisting of two Americans and eight CIDG, is destroyed by the 24th NVA Regiment about 1400 meters southwest of their camp.

June 15, 1968 (20th day of the 5th month, year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): In the past six weeks, Camp Coryell has experienced six enemy attacks by fire. Beginning this date, the 155th AHC starts sending up one flare ship each night, which dramatically cuts down the number of attacks.

June 15, 1969 (1st day of the 5th month, Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau])(US Summer-Fall 1969): A column of eight river assault craft of River Assault Division 152 is attacked on the Ong Muong Canal in Kien Hoa Province while extracting a company of US Army infantrymen.

Mid-June 1972 (5th month, Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter Offensive: As part of a number of clearing operations launched north and northwest of Kontum city after the victory there, the 23rd ARVN Division conducts an air-mobile raid into the Tan Canh area with its reconnaissance company to create a psychological impact on the population living in the occupied area and to throw the enemy off balance. In the Delta, in an effort to infiltrate the Tien Giang area, NVA units, probably elements of the 9th Division, take Kompong Trabek. With the support of local Khmer Rouge units, these NVA forces attempt to tighten control over Route QL-l from the Parrot's Beak area to Neak Luong on the Mekong River. Meanwhile, enemy regiments - two of the 5th NVA Division and the 24th and Z18 - push westward deeper into the Tien Giang area toward Base Area 470, where they are supposed to join forces with the Z15 and Dong Thap 1 Regiments.


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.

[Bill Farnie]

Firebase Currahee Attacked 15June69


At 160125 June 15, 1969, an enemy sapper attack was launched against Fire Support Base Currahee located on the Floor of the A Shau Valley by approximately 200 NVA of the 29th Regiment, who had been decimated the month before on Dong Ap Bia.

Units occupying and defending the Fire Support Base were B, E, and Comrnand Post of 2-502, A/2-319 Artillery (105), B/2-11 Artillery (155), ARVN Artillery Battery (105), Metro Station, counter mortar radar section, and a pathfinder detachment.

The attack was triggered by the detection of one sapper who had penetrated the wire on the west side of the perimeter, The enemy was engaged with small arms fire and M-79?s.Immediately 81mm illumination was provided and direct fire from the l05mn artillery battery was used, At 0200 hours, 75 of the enemy began a series of attacks against the entire northwest side of the perimeter. Artillery engaged this activity with continuous direct fire and illumination, A flare ship was on station at 0230 hours to assist and at 0300 hours ARA Cobras were on station and were employed until 0630 hours. At 0440 hours the western portion of the perimeter came under attack with the enemy using mortars for covering fire. Dco 1-506, the RRF, was employed to reinforce the bunker line by making a night combat assault into the firebase. At 0545 hours the northern portion of the perimeter was attacked and gunships were called to fire within 150 meters of the perimeter wire. This caused approximately 30 enemy to charge the wire firing RPG's. At 0500 hours an air re-supply of ammunition began to arrive and was delivered by 0730 hours, Total results were 54 NVA killed, 3 NVA prisoners of war, with only seven US wounded of which three were evacuated.

My company was the Ready Reaction Force (RRF) and that combat assault in the dead of night was one of the scariest times I had in VN. We were in our NDP in the boonies when we received the warning order to pack up and get to the nearest LZ for the CA. Needless to say the LZ was hot. My platoon was the first into the firebase and we came in while, as mentioned above, it was being mortared. My company deployed along the perimeter with my platoon reinforcing a part of the northern portion. When the NVA attacked our side, it was the first and only time I saw 105?s use direct fire. They used beehive rounds. After the attack was over, the dead NVA bodies in front of our position were riddled with the barbed hooks of the beehive rounds. The NVA never really had a chance and they were sitting ducks, so to speak, for with Currahee being on the flat floor of the A Shau Valley a very large field of fire was able to be cleared and the NVA had absolutely no cover.

Our CO ordered the company?s medics to bury the dead NVA. The senior medic, Richard Daniels, told him that he didn?t think it was such a good idea and we backed him up by telling the CO that the medics would be in the M-60?s field of fire in case the NVA weren?t done with us yet. Our CO reluctantly agreed and instead of the medics digging graves with D handled shovels, the 326th engineers dug a big hole and the bodies were bulldozed into it and covered. As luck would have it, an arm was sticking straight up in the air out of the mass grave and someone took the hand and shaped it into the one finger salute. GI humor, at its sickest.