Timeline, April 3rd

[David]

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
April 3, 1954 (1st day of the 3rd month, Year of the Horse [Giap Ngo]) (Fall): Dien Bien Phu: At 0500 Viet Minh infiltrators break through the outer barbed wire at H1, already almost completely encircled by trenches, with Bangalore torpedoes, but it's clear to the defenders that the next object of a major attack is going to be H6, which has already been hit hard during the night of April 2-3. It comes at 1925. Air intervention on 30 minutes' stand-by is immediately requested and the fort's commander commits the last force he has in reserve, a company from Sparrowhawk, led by three tanks. The enemy is caught in the open and the three tanks have a field day. In 30 minutes, the Viet Minh start to fall back, pursued by tank fire. The tanks remain until late in the night, when it's clear no further enemy attack is coming, after which both tanks and the relief force withdraw. Starting at 2000, the first of a total of 305 reinforcements and 16 equipment bags are air-dropped into Dien Bien Phu.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
April 1963 (10th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]) (US Advisory): The Do Xa campaign at the border between I and II Corps.

April 3, 1965 (2nd day of the 3rd month, Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Advisory): Dean Rusk informs the embassy in Saigon that more units have been approved to go to Vietnam and that the mission of the Marines is to be expanded.

April 3, 1965 (2nd day of the 3rd month, Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Advisory): Rolling Thunder update: The first series of raids against bridges on the road to Hanoi begins. US Navy pilots destroy the Dong Phuong Thong bridge, 70 miles south of Hanoi. Several MiG-15s attack a flight of USN F-8 Crusaders near the Thanh Hoa bridge, damaging one of the American planes.

April 3, 1965 (2nd day of the 3rd month, Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Advisory): Operation Steel Tiger starts, according to many sources.

April 3, 1966 (13th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): In Hue, 3000 soldiers of the 1st ARVN Division march in uniform behind their band through the streets, shouting for the resignation of Thieu and Ky. A momentary confrontation occurs between US Marines defending the air base at Da Nang and the dissident ARVN troops who plan to occupy the base. Until now, Thieu and Ky have ignored the disturbances, but now that South Vietnamese troops have become involved, they decide to act, sending two Vietnamese Marine battalions, field police and military security elements, psywar teams, and a command group to Danang under cover of darkness the next day. As Ambassador Lodge describes a conversation with Thieu, "There is now no doubt in his mind that the Communists are striving for a "soulevement", that is a general uprising. He said: 'If I am weak they will succeed, but if I am strong they will not. History will judge whether I have done well or not, but I am ready to make the supreme sacrifice.' He was deeply moved and so was I."

April 3, 1967 (24th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): While the 155th AHC is supporting elements of the 101st Airborne in the Khanh Duong area of II Corps, one aircraft is hit by enemy fire and the crew chief is wounded. He is immediately evacuated to the 8th Field Hospital in Nha Trang and will be later released for duty.

April 3, 1967 (24th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II: Operation Portsea starts in III Corps, per some sources.

April 3, 1968 (6th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): Khe Sanh: In Operation Pegasus, 2nd Brigade, 1st ACD assaults LZs Tom and Wharton.

April 3, 1970 (27th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): A Company 8 RAR reacts to an area north of Ap Nui Nhon.

April 3, 1972 (20th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter Offensive: RVNAF units have consolidated along a line from Dong Ha to Quang Tri combat base. The NVA advance in the northern part of the country is halted, giving defense forces time to regroup and reinforce. South Vietnamese infantry units regroup around Ai Tu Combat base and Quang Tri City, while the 3rd Marine Battalion defends the northern line, managing over the next five days to repel several assaults and destroy three NVA PT-76 tanks attempting to cross the Cua Viet and Dong Ha rivers. Also, the Joint General Staff airlifts the Marine Division Headquarters, the 369th Marine Brigade and the Ranger Group Headquarters to I Corps. Marine Headquarters is stationed inside the Hue citadel, and the 369th is a reserve for the defense of fire bases Nancy, Jane, and Evan, as well as for the My Chanh defensive line and the border between Quang Tri and Thua Thien provinces. USS Kitty Hawk, the first of four additional aircraft carriers, joins the two carriers already on station off Vietnam. Meanwhile, in III Corps, rather than advancing on Tay Ninh City as expected, the Communists confine their movements to reconnaissance forays.

April 3, 1975 (22nd day of the 2nd month, Year of the Hare [At Mao]): Ho Chi Minh campaign: Cam Ranh Bay falls. In Saigon, without authority from either South Vietnamese or American officials, a World Airways DC-8 lifts off carrying about 50 orphan children, destined for homes in the U.S. A few hours later, President Ford announces his decision to launch what becomes known as "Operation Babylift"; US military transports fitted with seats and comfort facilities for the enterprise are already on their way to Southeast Asia. Air evacuation of other Vietnamese, Americans and people of other nationalities is also beginning, but goes slowly at first, blocked by red tape and the unwillingness of many Americans to leave Vietnamese dependents and friends.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR:
April 3, 1983 (20th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Boar [Quy Hoi]): PAVN opens a second front against the Sihanoukist forces at O-smack. However, both this and the Phnom Malai offensive have begun too late, leading to a PAVN withdrawal from the border in May because of the approaching rainy season.