Timeline, September 23rd

[David]

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR - THE BEGINNING
September 23, 1945 (Year of the Rooster [At Dau]): Saigon uprising: French and Japanese troops search the whole center of town for any insurgents, but in spite of this, various important buildings in the area, such as the Manufactured Rubber Company and warehouses, are torched. During the night of September 23-24, guerillas attack the port without respite. Although American OSS representatives are present in both Hanoi and Saigon and ostensibly support the Viet Minh, the U.S. takes no official position regarding either the DRV, or French and British actions in South Vietnam. Meanwhile, during the first days after the coup/insurrection, some members of the Viet Minh Provisional Committee temporarily establish themselves in the Cholon area, while other Communist groups are still dispersed throughout the area after fleeing Saigon.

As for armed resistance forces, Lai Van Sang has a student group, the Avant-Garde Youth, two thousand strong. Bai Van, under the Viet Minh, has a force of some hundred men. Workers at the Tramway Depot of Go Vap (about 8 km from Saigon), helped by Tia Sang militants, had already established a workers' militia before the French coup, organized into combat groups of 11 men under elected leaders and under the overall command of Tran Dinh Minh, and now join in the insurrection but, to the discomfiture of the local Viet Minh, insist on fighting under their own red flag rather than under the Viet Minh's red flag with a yellow star on it.

As insurrection spreads into the countryside, peasants start seizing those local officials known for cruelty or extortion, and many are killed. But following a tendency that had started to appear earlier in the year, the Viet Minh are more and more redirecting popular anger against exploiters onto those who dissent. People who don't rally immediately to the Viet Minh flags are denounced as traitors and those who don't identify with the "patriotic cause" are called "saboteurs" and "reactionaries". In the north, southerner Ta Thu Thau, head of the Trotskyite Socialist Workers Party, leaves the Dan Phuong region to rejoin his people in the south, but is arrested in Quang Ngai by the Viet Minh and tried by a "people's tribunal." Due to his great prestige in the workers' movement, the tribunal can't be persuaded to find him guilty of anything, but he is shot anyway.

In Laos, the Chinese arrive in Luang Prabang and disarm the French Commissioner and his men, who are then imprisoned by Free Laos forces.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
September 23, 1963 (Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]) (US Advisory): A US helicopter draws sniper fire vicinity of Vinh Son. The attached recon company there reports two separate contacts with VC, losing three personnel as a result of a VC mine, one killed outright, two wounded.

September 23, 1963 (Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]) (US Advisory): Secretary of Defense McNamara arrives in Saigon and, after assessing the situation, recommends a cutback in the American economic aid program for South Vietnam as well as suspension of support for the special South Vietnamese Military units, under control of President Diem's brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu, that had raided Buddhist pagodas in August. Dissident South Vietnamese general interpret the decision as a signal that the US would welcome a change in government and they contact Ambassador Lodge to tell him they are once more preparing a coup. Despite disagreement between Lodge and General Harkins over who is best capable of leading South Vietnam, the generals are told that the US will support any government that can both attract the allegiance of the people and fight the Communists effectively.

September 23, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): The battle of Phu Cu Pass, in Binh Dinh Province.

September 23, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): The US reports that jungles near the DMZ are being defoliated.

September 23, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Prairie update: Battle for Mutter's Ridge. In the morning lead elements of the US Marine 3rd Battalion approach Hill 400 just behind the withdrawing NVA. However, when Company K pushes forward to Hill 400, NVA troops in heavily reinforced bunkers counterattack, assisted by spotters in the trees who direct fire. Still, at a cost of six Marines and fifty enemy, the Americans control Hill 400 by afternoon. However, resistance is stronger on Hill 484, and the enemy retains control there.

September 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): The Mobile Riverine Force conducts a landing and sweep maneuver in the eastern Rung Sat, uncovering a cache of 105 rifles and machine guns, 165 grenades, 60 howitzer and mortar shells, and 56,000 rounds of small arms ammunition. A small enemy hospital and 850 pounds of medicine are found soon afterward.

September 23, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): The 155th AHC loses a Huey while flying in a CA near Duc Lap and later receives an award from ARVN in appreciation for its support during the battle of Duc Lap.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR - OTHER:
September 23, 1977 (Year of the Snake [Dinh Ti]): Following reports that 20 Soviet MiG aircraft have been delivered to Vientiane, Thailand imposes an embargo on oil, food and "strategic supplies" for Laos.