Timeline, October 21st

[David]

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
October 21, 1952 (Year of the Dragon [Nham Thin]) The trek from Tu Le: At 0100, survivors of the 6th BPC and their companions regroup at the hill of Kao Pha, having managed to fight off the Viet Minh and gain a short lead between them and the column rear, but a delaying action is necessary if the bulk of the column is to reach the Black River. At about 0200, Bigeard starts the column for the small station of Muong Chen, some 33 km from Nghia Lo, but at around 0800, the Viet Minh catch up with them again and start harassing the rear units. The paras and other soldiers there, however, put up such a fierce fight throughout the morning that the Viet Minh back off somewhat, and by mid-day, the column reaches Muong Chen with a one-hour lead over the pursuing forces. The weather clears sufficiently for aircraft to bombard the surrounding peaks and ravines at around 1600 and, a half-hour later, to drop some food and ammunition. The station, which guards the highway near the Black River, was originally intended to house just a police force, and consists only of a log blockhouse, two small quarters and an unfinished blockhouse, surrounded by a hedge of sharpened bamboo and a few light machine gun nests, but Bigeard asks the station's commander, Regimental Sergeant Major Peyrol, his three French warrant officers and the 80-man garrison of local volunteers to delay the oncoming Viet Minh division for three additional hours. At around 1815, the 6th BPC column sets off again, heading west along the Nam Chang toward Ban It Ong, some 25 km away, where they hope to meet up with other French forces. Less than an hour later, the first Viet Minh mortar rounds start falling on Muong Chen and soon after, taking advantage of the terrain to avoid defensive fire, the Communists attack the southern end of the station with several waves of infantrymen, overrunning the blockhouse, the bamboo hedge and the machine gun sites. The defenders respond with grenades, but though the Viet Minh take heavy casualties, they keep coming on. Though greatly outnumbered, and with the station buildings on fire and collapsing, the garrison still holds on for almost exactly three hours. At 2200, the situation is impossible, and the survivors break out, expending the last of their ammo in simultaneous automatic fire as they run for a path Peyrol had previously had cut through the jungle. The Viet Minh are not aware of the path, and darkness helps hide the escapees, many of whom are local and know the land better than the Viet Minh do. Three French, including Peyrol, and 40 native volunteer troops evade capture this way and set off for the Black River. The Viet Minh send two companies after them.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
October 21, 1956 (Year of the Monkey [Binh Than]): The first US soldier to die in this war, Captain Harry G. Cramer, of the 14th Special Forces Operational Detachment, is killed in "a mysterious explosion" while training South Vietnamese cadre at Nha Trang.

October 21, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Battle for Plei Me SF Camp: An A company, 1st Aviation Battalion Huey crashes while on a reconnaissance of a possible LZ north of the camp. Early in the morning, two companies from the 91st ARVN Airborne Rangers attached to Project Delta are inserted into an LZ about 41/2 miles from the camp. They manage to avoid NVA ambushes and wait outside the camp during the night. Meanwhile, 1st Cavalry troops start arriving by helicopter to reinforce the camp.

October 21, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Operation New Hope begins as elements of the 173rd Airborne (the 2/503rd and B/3/319th) clear the Di An/Phu Loi area in preparation for the establishment of the 1st Infantry Division there.

October 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Prairie update: In late October, action starts to taper off as the monsoon rains come in. There are a few intense skirmishes.

October 21, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III) (AR): "17th Aviation Group Helps Korean Aviation Company Get Off Ground."