Timeline, September 21st

[David]

PREBELLUM:
September 21, 1945 (Year of the Rooster [At Dau]): General Gracey declares what amounts to a state of martial law in Saigon.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
September 1961 (Year of the Ox [Tan Suu]): Due to intense VC activity in the Central Highlands, US aircraft start flying random missions over suspected infiltration routes. On September 21st, President Kennedy announces a program to provide additional military and economic aid to Vietnam. The 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, which will eventually be charged with the conduct of all Special Forces operations in Vietnam, is also activated this date at Fort Bragg. and JFK begins to show particular interest in the SF, visiting the Special Warfare Center in the fall of 1961 to review the program and authorizing the use of the Green Beret for SF members.

September 21, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Near Bong Son, a column of Company C, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division is pinned down by machine gun cross-fire from two concealed enemy bunkers.

September 21, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Golden Fleece I update: US troops destroy an enemy complex in the hamlet of Van Ha (1).

September 21, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Con Thien update: Lance Corporal Jedh Barker's squad is suddenly attacked by enemy snipers during a reconnaissance mission.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): A/7/17th Cavalry LOHs perform an emergency medevac near Duc Lap.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Operation Wheeler/Wallowa update.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities in Vinh Long Province.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities in Hau Nghia Province.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities in Long An Province.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities in Darlac Province.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Operation Nevada Eagle update.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Operation Jeb Stuart III update.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities in Binh Duong Province.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on 199th LIB activities in and around Duc Hoa.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities in Quang Tri Province.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Operation Cochise/Dan Sinh.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Two revetments for Chinooks built at Dak To.

September 21, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): "Boy Scouts fly in US helicopters"

September 21, 1969 (Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Summer-Fall 1969): Thirty-five B-52s drop more than 1000 tons of bombs on North Vietnamese targets near the DMZ.

September 21, 1970 (Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VII): C Company 8 RAR returns to Nui Dat and takes up ambush tasks to the east of Dat Do.

September 21, 1971 (Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi]) (US Consolidation I): Operation Ivanhoe update: In the battle of Niu Le, D Company 4 RAR engages a battalion of the 33rd NVA Regiment in an intensive battle from roughly 0830 to 2100. Five Australians are killed and 30 wounded. The enemy retreats northeast and successfully avoids the blocking companies. Searching will continue until October, but the Communists have abandoned the area, although many small installations, camps and tracks will be located.

September 21, 1971 (Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi]) (US Consolidation I): US planes bomb North Vietnam.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR:
September 21, 1989 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]): Withdrawal from Cambodia (Kampuchea): The 330 Division and remaining units of Front 479 begin moving by boat down the Tonle Sap and by land through Battambang, Pursat and Phnom Penh, linking up with Front 478 and PAVN 901 Regimental Command (Air). This combined force then proceeds by boat down the Mekong to Hong Ngu and then by land through Takeo to Tinh Bien.