Timeline, June 6th

[David]

INTERBELLUM:
June 1954 (5th month, Year of the Horse [Giap Ngo]): While the Geneva Conference is in session, France recognizes the existence of an independent Vietnam south of the demarcation line ruled by the one-time emperor (1925-45) Bao Dai who, after collaboration with the Japanese and a brief period as 'Citizen Prince' under Ho Chi Minh, had fled the country in 1946 only to return as a French-backed puppet premier in 1949. Now Bao Dai needs a premier strong enough to form a cabinet, but not powerful enough to unseat him, and chooses Ngo Dinh Diem, a former provincial administrator under the French and Bao Dai's Minister of the Interior in the 1930s, who had collaborated with neither Japanese nor French, and after World War II had turned down high administrative positions offered to him by both Bao Dai and Ho Chi Minh, going instead into voluntary exile, during which he traveled to the United States for a two-year stay. In 1954, Diem insists on full authority over both the Army and the civil administration, which Bao Dai is loathe to grant but does, after exacting an oath of personal loyalty from Diem.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
June 6, 1964 (26th day of the 4th month, Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): A U.S. reconnaissance aircraft is shot down over the Plain of Jars by Pathet Lao ground fire.

June 6, 1966 (18th day of the 4th month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Operation Apache begins in Quang Tin Province.

June 6, 1968 (11th day of the 5th month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): Fire Base Coral is abandoned. During the period of its existence, from May 12 to June 6, enemy losses here have been 267 confirmed killed, with a possible further 60. Twenty-one Australian soldiers have died during the same period.

June 6, 1969 (22nd day of the 4th month, Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Tet69/Counteroffensive): The Battle of Binh Ba. D Company 5 RAR with Centurion tanks and APCs fight an eight-hour battle with North Vietnamese troops at the town of Binh Ba near a French rubber plantation straddling Route 2 approximately 6 km north of Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province. The Aussies are reinforced with another infantry Company and a Bushranger gunship. More than 100 enemy are killed with Australian losses of 1 killed and 10 wounded.

June 6, 1970 (3rd day of the 5th month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Sanctuary Counteroffensive): B Company 8 RAR deploys to night ambush tasks around Hoa Long.

June 6, 1971 (14th day of the 5th month, Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi]) (US Counteroffensive, Phase VII): Operation Overlord update: Late in the afternoon, after sweeping to the south, west, and then north, 5 Platoon B Company reports hearing the enemy, and comes into contact with a few enemy in bunkers in very thick jungle. The platoon is ordered to withdraw, occupy a tight defensive position and engage the enemy with artillery and mortars. The area suspected of being occupied by the enemy is between 5 Platoon and B Company's landing zone of the day before.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR:
June 1978 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Horse [Mau Ngo]): Following strikes by F-5's of the former South Vietnamese Air Force and supported by tanks and artillery, the Vietnamese enter Cambodia, penetrating to within ten miles of Kompong Cham.


ONGOING OPERATIONS:
SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
June 1972: (4th and 5th months, Year of the Rat [Nham Ty] (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter offensive: By now, casualties on both sides are in the thousands. The 17th parallel has been eliminated as a division between North and South Vietnam.

The North Vietnamese have developed a line of communication from Dong Hoi in Quang Binh Province to Dong Ha and the logistical complex along Highway QL-9 from Dong Ha to Khe Sanh. ARVN forces are gathering at a line along the Song My Chanh (June 1-10) as plans for a push to retake Quang Tri City are put into effect. The North Vietnamese have cleared western Quang Tri Province for an alternate corridor from Khe Sanh to the B-3 Front in Kontum; the B-3 Front is the NVA command in the Central Highlands. The fighting in Kontum Province has reduced South Vietnamese influence north and west of Kontum City, although the South Vietnamese have defeated most of the Communist forces in the city itself, and are now clearing out the last pockets of resistance there. The Communists are trying to develop logistics complex at Duc Co and to extend the alternate corridor south to Binh Long Province but ARVN, in heavy fighting, continues to hinder these efforts.

The city of An Loc is still besieged, but the attackers have lost an estimated 10,000 men and a lot of equipment, and the city's ARVN defenders are going on the offensive to try to expand the city's defensive perimeter. The ARVN fire base at Tan Khe, 10 km south of the city, is successfully fending off repeated attacks by the 141 Regiment, 7 Division as the South Vietnamese relief effort continues to slowly push north.

In the Delta, the NVA campaign against Kien Luong District in Kien Giang Province using the 1 Division is underway, but ARVN Rangers of the 44th Special Tactical Zone are pushing the North Vietnamese back into Cambodia. Meanwhile, the NVA 5 Division has pulled away from battlefields in Binh Long Province, moved across Prey Veng Province in Cambodia, and has the capital of Kien Tuong Province, Moc Hoa, under attack, as well as Tuyen Binh District town. In conjunction with this, other NVA units, probably elements of the 9th Division, are moving toward Kompong Trabek.

June 1973 (5th and 6th months, Year of the Ox [Quy Suu]): South Vietnam: In I Corps, both sides are avoiding serious contact as the NVA continue to consolidate and defend their positions in South Vietnam, and to construct major logistical bases in northern Quang Tri and western Thua Thien provinces. The South Vietnamese are using artillery sparingly and no air power to defend military posts and communication lines along the coast.

In II Corps, both sides hold strong positions around Kontum City. The South Vietnamese are trying to keep North Vietnamese forces out of rocket range of the city, and to keep Route 14 south to Pleiku open. The NVA's 10 Division is pressing the city's defenses to the north and west, while another area of contact has developed around the western ARVN outposts of Plei Mrong and Plei Djereng, the latter of which is close to Duc Co, the major NVA logistical base in the highlands. The NVA are also improving their north-south logistical route from near Dak To southward through the Plei Trap Valley of western Kontum Province. Most fighting in the eastern part of II Corps is in Binh Dinh Province, where the NVA are harassing South Vietnamese posts in the populated areas and along lines of communication. ARVN is responding with sorties into NVA areas.

In III Corps, the NVA continue their siege against the ARVN outpost of Tong Le Chon, deep in Communist-held Tay Ninh Province. Elsewhere in the region, action is light, although Communist harassment of outlying hamlets and resettlement areas is constant.

In IV Corps, there is heavy action centered in the Seven Mountains area of Chau Doc Province, where ARVN Rangers are slowly destroying the remaining elements of the NVA 1 Division in its stronghold there. Other fighting is going on in the Hong Ngu region along the border region near where the Mekong River flows in from Cambodia. There is also ongoing harassment of Regional and Popular Forces outposts and of populated areas.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR:
June 1978 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Horse [Mau Ngo]): Unhappy with its troops' performance, PAVN conducts a major reorganization and modernization of its forces and professionalizes its officer corps. It also streamlines the chain of command by dropping the "dual commander" system that has been in place since 1952; now, the political officer of a regiment or division is subordinate to, rather than equal or superior to, its military commander.

June 1979 (5th and 6th months, Year of the Goat [Ky Mui]): As dry season ends, the Vietnamese consolidate their control of all major Cambodian/Kampuchean towns and cities and establishes a counter-insurgency General Headquarters, Front 478, at Chamka Morn in Phnom Penh, though rebel resistance is low.

June 1980 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Monkey [Canh Than]): As dry season ends, PAVN divisions (up to eight) withdraw from activities operating along the border to established garrisons in country. Rebel resistance during the dry season has been low.

June 1981 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Rooster [Tan Dau]): PAVN's 309 Division is at the border town of Pailin to counter Khmer Rouge advances at Phnom Malai, but is preparing to pull back as the rain season approaches.

June 1982 (4th month-supplemental and 5th month, Year of the Dog [Nham Tuat]): During the rainy season, PAVN conducts its first major troop rotation since 1978, sending up to 20,000 fresh soldiers, mostly southern draftees who will complete their basic training at the forward bases of divisions that are under strength. An equal number of seasoned troops are sent home.

June 1983 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Boar [Quy Hoi]): During the rainy season, the Khmer Rouge increase the number of attacks on PAVN garrisons.

June 1984 (5th and 6th months, Year of the Rat [Giap Ty]): PAVN conducts another troop rotation, sending home the 2 and 10 Border Defense Regiments (also called the 688 and 690 Brigades) and a third brigade, and replacing these with an estimated 14,000 fresh troops, many of whom reinforce the weakened 5 Division.

June 1985 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Ox [At Suu]): PAVN recalls the 2 and 7 divisions. Remaining in Cambodia are ten PAVN combat divisions, all of them under strength and some with as few as 5000 troops. These include the 5, 302, 309 and 330 divisions in Front 479, along the border; the 4 and 8 divisions in Front 579, on the coast; a division and several technical brigades in Front 779, in the interior; and the 9 and 339 divisions held in reserve around Phnom Penh.

June 1986 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Tiger [Binh Dan]): During the summer, PAVN withdraws Divisional Group 98, which includes the 8 Division, the 95 Brigade and the 37 Infantry Regiment. Part of the withdrawal is compensated for by the arrival of fresh troops.

June 1987 (5th and 6th months, Year of the Hare [Dinh Mao]): Counter-insurgency sweeps, with PAVN lowering its profile by conducting more artillery barrages and fewer infantry sweeps, and trying without much success to encourage greater participation by the military forces of the PRK.

June 1988 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Dragon [Mau Thin]): PAVN has moved most of its combat troops inland, with government forces deployed on the border.

June 1989 (4th and 5th months, Year of the Snake [Ky Ti]): PAVN continues counter-insurgency sweeps and training of the government army, navy and air force in preparation for the Vietnamese withdrawal in September.