Timeline, April 25th

[David]

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
April 25, 1954 (23rd day of the 3rd month, Year of the Horse [Giap Ngo]) (Fall): Dien Bien Phu: At 0235, French positions report suspicious noise and digging, and at dawn both Dominique 4 and the nameless position in the drainage ditch start reporting enemy infiltration. French artillery starts hitting the enemy there. Viet Minh grenades, mortars, and with daylight, artillery, have been hammering the French atop Eliane 1, starting at 0330, as well as the forward positions of Claudine. A French counterbattery fire reduces the intensity of the enemy artillery attack somewhat, but the defenders are using up their shells at a rapid rate, while resupply remains problematical. A total of 61 tons of supplies, instead of the necessary 125 tons, are dropped this date, along with 51 reinforcements. One plane misdrops its whole cargo of ammo on the Communist side. When news comes that the Viet Minh are installing new firing positions, the garrison's artillery commander decides not to shell them, in order to save his ammo to fend off a serious attack, if and when it comes. In other strongpoints in the fort, the defenders consolidate their positions. At 1800, the enemy once again begins firing on French artillery positions and what is left of E1, and at 1820 Communist radio traffic seems to indicate that troops are being relieved on the southwestern flanks, probably preparatory to a new push.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
April 25, 1967 (16th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Khe Sanh: 2/3 and 3/3 airlifted to the base to counter the enemy drive but fog complicates the situation. Fighting on the hills around the base continues.

Meanwhile attacks continue elsewhere throughout the region, spreading confusion, lowering morale and interrupting logistical routes. A diversionary attack on the Lang Vei camp, four miles west of Khe Sanh near the Laotian border, makes it appear that the enemy threat is focused there. Mortar attacks on Dong Ha, Gio Linh, Con Thien, and Camp Carroll are all designed to upset Marine fire support and logistic arrangements. A mortar attack on Phu Bai endangers helicopter support. Bridges and key stretches of Route 9 are blown up to sever overland logistic supply. The compound that is the "home" of a tank company and an APC Troop of the ARVN 7th Cavalry in Quang Tri city is attacked one night during this period while the tank company is on operation. The NVA comes in and every building but one is destroyed and every vehicle but two are destroyed. About 68 troops on the compound are killed. The damage and loses are so severe that the unit is rendered combat ineffective and has to be completely reconstituted. The NVA also release prisoners from the city jail. Quang Tri City is for all intents and purposes in enemy hands for several hours, but the enemy pulls out at sunrise.

April 25, 1967 (16th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Near Duc Pho, a squad from Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, makes contact with a company of North Vietnamese riflemen while on a search-and-destroy operation.

April 25, 1968 (28th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): Two SAS patrols kill seven VC who are approaching FSB Dyke in Bien Hoa Province.

April 25, 1968 (28th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase IV): During combat in South Vietnam, the company commander and many men of Company D, 5/7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, are wounded and separated from the main body of the company.

April 25, 1969 (9th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Tet69/Counteroffensive): Operation Toan Thang III update: the battle of Patrol Base Frontier City.

April 25, 1970 (20th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): C and D Companies 8 RAR move to Hoa Long and lay ambushes. While at Le Loi, 8 RAR develops an unusual ambush tactic in which squads hide in the upraised scoopers of "earth scrapers" (earth moving vehicles) that then drop them off at ambush positions along Rte 2 without the local VC operatives observing them leaving the compound.

April 25, 1970 (20th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): The US starts a program of direct military assistance to the Lon Nol government, later agreeing to the Cambodian request for $7.5 million in arms and supplies. Saigon, for its part, gives Phnom Penh thousands of captured AK-47s and sends a contingent of advisors in.

April 25, 1972 (12th day of the 3rd month, Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter Offensive: The II Corps commander decides to evacuate fire bases 5 and 6 on Rocket Ridge because of their untenable positions, although this means the entire area west of the Krong Poko River is abandoned to the enemy and Kontum City now lies exposed to direct enemy attacks. NVA forces are now able to maneuver toward the city along Route QL-14 as the friendly positions in this area are evacuated one by one under heavy enemy artillery fire. ARVN troops and the local population head south, while U.S. tactical air tries to destroy the positions and equipment they have left behind.

In spite of the air attacks, the NVA gradually moves forces to the southeast toward Kontum City, while, south of the city, the short stretch of Route QL-14 which connects it with Pleiku is also interdicted by solid enemy road blocks in the Chu Pao area. Kontum is thus being isolated and surrounded as the NVA builds up enough supplies and combat forces in staging areas before the final assault.

In An Loc, heavy shelling continues and the city's hospital is destroyed. Now, no medical treatment is available for the wounded, military and civilian alike. All casualties have to be treated in the areas where they are wounded. Medical evacuation in the meantime has become impossible because of intense antiaircraft fire. The city is littered with bodies, most of them unattended for several days. To avoid a possible epidemic, these are buried in common graves.