Timeline, August 6th

[David]

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
August 1963 (Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]) (US Advisory): As political turmoil in Saigon reaches a peak, the Seventh Fleet deploys the Amphibious Ready Group and the Marine Special Landing Force to a point off Vung Tau, where they prepare to take out the 4,600 American noncombatants in the capital. However, things quiet down before evacuation is needed.

August 6, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): The US establishes direct contact with North Vietnam through the North Vietnamese representative in Paris, Mai Van Bo, and sends an authorized but unofficial U.S. representative to Paris to explore with Bo the possibility of negotiations with North Vietnam.

August 6, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Operation Thunderbolt begins along the Song Tra Bong.

August 5, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): 1 ATF begins Operation 1/66, "Holsworthy," a battalion cordon-and-search of Xa Binh Ba, a three-hamlet village with a total perimeter of over 6 km and a population of approximately 2300. Xa Binh Ba has a VC cadre and about 20% population support; a platoon of D445 Provincial Mobile Battalion and elements of the local guerrilla platoon are in the general area. VC provincial headquarters may be located in the area subject to the search-and-destroy operation. ANZAC units involved in Holsworthy include 5 RAR, with under command 1 APC Squadron (minus), one troop 1 Forward Squadron, two companies of 6 RAR, one section 1 Tpt PI, with 105 Forward Battery in direct support and one OH-13 of 161 (Indep) Recce Flight and one UH-1 No 9 Squadron RAAF in support. Pacification and the opening of Route 2 are to follow the cordon-and-search. An additional task, a battalion search-and-destroy operation 4 km southeast of Xa Binh Ba in an AO of about 3 square km is ordered after the cordon-and-search. The general area of the operations conducted is some 20 square km of undulating terrain with rubber plantations and hamlets astride Route 2; beyond these are mainly jungle and clear forest.

Casualties include 1 ANZAC KIA, 17 VC PWs and 77 detained as suspects. Several small defensive positions are located outside the area of Xa Binh Ba. In practical terms, the operation eliminates the Xa Binh Ba guerrilla platoon, gives the villagers security from VC tax and rice collectors, and provides opportunity for regular commerce with local villages, as well as Ba Ria. VC access to intelligence is also inhibited.

August 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Viet Cong mines in the Long Tau heavily damage the SS Baton Rouge Victory, a Vietnamese Navy motor launch minesweeper, and the US MSB 54. Enemy mines also sink a US mine-sweeping launch (MLMS) in the Rung Sat.

August 6, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Joint Operation Colorado/Lien Ket 52 begins in Quang Nam Province.

August 6, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Prairie I update.

August 6, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): 7 RAR (and possibly 2 RAR) start Operation Atherton, which incorporates Operations Mosman, Burnside amd Ulmarra.

August 6, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Operation Greeley update: ARVN troops assault an NVA bunker complex on a hill near Dak Seang.

August 1972 (Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): The Newport News, destroyer Rowan, and naval air units sink two of the PT boats that attack the American ships blockading the mined port of Haiphong.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR:
August 6, 1977 (Year of the Snake [Dinh Ti]: The prime minister of Thailand announces that there have been 400 border incursions by Cambodia (Kampuchea) since the beginning of the year and threatens military action.