Timeline, April 11th

[David]

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
April 11, 1954 (9th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Horse [Giap Ngo]) (Fall): Dien Bien Phu: The defense organization of the fortress is reorganized. Morale on the French side is at its highest, and among the Viet Minh at its lowest during this week. French intelligence picks up radio messages from lower-unit commanders reporting that certain units are refusing to obey orders. Prisoners admit that in some instances they've been made to advance under threat of being shot from behind by their own guns. Still, trenches continue to approach every French position. A company from Huguette 1 goes out to clear those that are encircling them and is attacked by three Viet Minh companies. While the survivors are extracted with the aid of reinforcements and artillery and tank support from the fort, for the first time the Communists succeed in holding on to the trenches in broad daylight. 154 men parachute into the fortress overnight. As night falls, Communist artillery opens up on Eliane 1 again, and two battalions of Viet Minh infantry attack the position. With no obstacles in front of the first trenches and bunkers on E1, the whole fight almost immediately turns into hand-to-hand combat that lasts all night long, with the Viet Minh holding a seven-to-one numerical superiority against the defenders.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
April 11, 1964 (29th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): A guerrilla assault on the Civil Guard post at Kien Long, about 135 miles south of Saigon, leads to an intense five-day battle.

April 11, 1964 (29th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory: Update on the 121st AVN at Soc Trang after the VC mortar attack the previous day.

April 11, 1965 (10th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): The first Marine fixed-wing Squadron 531, flying F-4B Phantoms, arrives at Da Nang.

April 11, 1966 (21st day of the 3rd month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Operation Abilene update: the battle of Xa Cam My. US soldiers of Charlie Company are ambushed and pinned down; two Huskie's of the USAF's 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery, with crews and an off-duty pararescue medic who asked to come along, go in to pick up the wounded.

April 11, 1967 (2nd day of the 3rd month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): The Australians complete a minefield enclosed by a wire fence from the village of Dat Do to the coast along Route 44 that's intended to keep the VC away from the population centers in the area. "Though it had some initial success, the minefield proved the validity of the Australian "Manual of Mine Warfare" that "minefields should be covered at all times by view and fire". It was to become an almost inexhaustible supply of mines to the Viet Cong, who cheekily cached some of them within the precincts of the minefield itself."

April 11, 1968 (14th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): The 155th AHC does another combat assault from Cheo Reo for the MACV team there.

April 11, 1968 (14th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): Operation Alcorn Grove update.

April 11, 1968 (14th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): Operation Toan Thang update.

April 11, 1968 (14th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): An SAS patrol kills one VC 7 km northeast of Binh Gia.

April 11, 1968 (14th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): Khe Sanh: Engineers complete renovation of Route 9 and the road is officially opened. Elements of 1st ACD begin withdrawal to Quang Tri City in preparation for Operation DELAWARE; 37th ARVN Ranger Battalion is airlifted to Da Nang.

April 11, 1970 (6th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): A/7/17th Cavalry in the thick of things south of Dak To.

April 11, 1970 (6th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): Near Da Nang, US Marines returning from a night ambush operation spot two enemy soldiers fleeing for cover.

April 11, 1970 (6th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): C and D Companies 8 RAR deploy to ambush positions south and west of Hoa Long Village.

April 11, 1972 (28th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter Offensive: The NVA continues its attack on FSB Pedro, but is repelled.

The forward base where the SEAL-led team is waiting to go out after the other downed pilot is hit by a devastating mortar and rocket attack. Nonetheless, the SEAL and a three-man team go out but are unable to locate the other pilot.

The first survivors of the battle at Loc Ninh, 50 ARVN soldiers, reach An Loc. On the 11th and 12th, the 8th Regiment, 5th ARVN Division with its two battalions is deployed to augment the defense of An Loc, all by helicopter. The defending force in the city by this time numbers nearly 3,000 men, including Ruff-n-Puffs (Regional and Popular Force troops). Chinook CH-47 helicopters are used extensively to move in more supplies and evacuate the wounded and refugees, while ARVN patrols outside the perimeter report increased and heavy contacts with the enemy in the northeast and southeast.