Timeline, April 7th

[David]

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
April 7, 1954 (5th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Horse [Giap Ngo]) (Fall): More calm. More trenches around Isabelle that have to be cleared in a costly hand-to-hand counterattack beyond Isabelle 5. On Huguette 2, a company of T'ai desert after their French officer, Capt. Guilleminot, is wounded, feeling that their bond of fidelity to the French has been severed. At 2200, 60 wounded Communists are turned over to the Viet Minh. During the night, Bigeard has his men start digging approach trenches from E4 in the direction of E1.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR: April 7, 1965 (6th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Counteroffensive): LBJ sets forth U.S. policy regarding Vietnam.

April 7, 1967 (28th day of the 2st month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): In Huong Tra District, the 1st ARVN Division Reaction Company, their Australian advisor and some armoured personnel carriers come under heavy small arms fire.

April 7, 1968 (10th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): Units from the 155th AHC work with various intelligence agencies and conduct a combat assault east of Ban Me Thuot to liberate a group of Montangards and two Americans from a VC prison camp.

April 7, 1968 (10th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): A SEAL Team Two platoon and a Team One platoon engage an estimated VC platoon in a heavy firefight four miles northeast of Vinh Long.

April 7, 1968 (10th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): During the week of April 1-7, the 7/17th Cavalry Squadron supported the 1st and 3rd Brigades, 4th Infantry Division in an area from Dak To south to Polei Kleng, concentrating on the area west and southwest of Polei Kleng. The Squadron also supported TF 1/12 north of Ban Me Thuot. A total of 8 NVA are KIA.

April 7, 1969 (21st day of the 2nd month, Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Tet69/Counteroffensive): Operation Blackhawk update.

April 1969 (2nd and 3rd months, Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Tet69/Counteroffensive): The Secretary of Defense orders the American military chiefs to prepare a withdrawal plan for US troops in South Vietnam.

April 7, 1969 (21st day of the 2nd month, Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Tet69/Counteroffensive): Operation Silver Mace II begins in the Mekong Delta. This strike operation in the Nam Can Forest on the Ca Mau Peninsula is conducted by ground, air, and naval units from each of the American services, the Vietnamese Navy, and the Vietnamese Marine Corps. The enemy avoids heavy contact with the allied force, but his logistical system is disrupted. The USS Crockett becomes the first US patrol gunship to support river combat operations.

April 7, 1970 (2nd day of the 3rd month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): Elements of A/7/17th Cavalry begin reconnoitering an area southwest of Dak Seang that turns out to be a major enemy infiltration route.

April 7, 1971 (12th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi]) (US Counteroffensive, Phase VII): President Nixon announces a further withdrawal of 100,000 US troops.

April 7, 1972 (24th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter Offensive: In the south, the enemy has cut the supply lines and An Loc must be supplied entirely by air. Intense fighting is still going on in nearby Loc Ninh.

April 1973 (2nd and 3rd months, Year of the Ox [Quy Suu]): Viet Cong shoot down a helicopter carrying international observers of the Vietnam cease-fire. (VHPA) April 1973/KBD> (2nd and 3rd months, Year of the Ox [Quy Suu]): As part of Operation End Sweep, MSS 2, an old, decommissioned LST, filled with foam and other buffers and crewed by a few daring volunteers, makes eight check runs up the Haiphong channel to ensure that no mines threaten the vital waterway. Meanwhile, U.S. naval instructors train 50 North Vietnamese personnel to conduct minesweeping operations on rivers and inland waterways. (OS) April 7, 1975 (26th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Hare [At Mao]): Cambodia: The American command, preparing to evacuate American and allied personnel from Phnom Penh in Operation Eagle Pull, puts Amphibious Ready Group Alpha on three-hour alert and positioned the force off the Cambodian coast. The force, along with the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit, consists of three amphibious ships escorted by four destroyers; the Marine Heavy Lift Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 463 with its 25 choppers; 22 more choppers from the Okinawa; the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, to defend the evacuation landing zone near the U.S. Embassy; and reinforced naval medical-surgical teams to care of any casualties. Land-based USAF helicopters and tactical aircraft are also on hand to back up the naval effort.