Timeline, November 18th

[David]

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
November 1962 (Year of the Tiger [Nham Dan]): The Soviet Union stops its airlift operation from Hanoi to Communist forces in northern Laos and turns over most of the aircraft to North Vietnam, doubling its air assets. Hanoi continues the Laotian airlift, but stops operations into the Laotian panhandle by 1964 because of the danger from Laotian and US air strikes. Military flights to Pathet Lao HQ in Sam Neua, however, are continued.

November 18, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Nham Thin]) (US Advisory): A massive US-Vietnamese air and ground search for an alleged VC stronghold in Binh Duong and Tay Ninh provinces results in only light contact.

November 18, 1964 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Nham Thin]) (US Advisory): The US Defense Department announces that a US jet fighter has been shot down by ground fire in south-central Laos.

November 18, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Ia Drang Valley: In the morning, the fighting near LZ Albany subsides and the surviving NVA, including an estimated 150 wounded, withdraw, leaving behind 33 light machine guns, 112 rifles, four mortar tubes, two rocket launchers, and over 400 bodies. Out of approximately 400 Americans involved, over 150 are dead and 121 are wounded. Evacuation of the dead and wounded begins. Meanwhile, the NVA are attempting to escape toward Cambodia; in the eight days since November 11, the enemy has lost a confirmed 1180 KIA and an additional 1370 estimated KIA's. At around this time, the 1st Cavalry's commander, General Harry Kinnard, requests permission to pursue the enemy into Cambodia; it is not granted. This date, 2,500 ARVN troops are airlifted from Duc Co Airfield into an area of the valley that is located between the retreating enemy and the Cambodian border.

November 18, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Attleboro update: The 1/5th Mech conducts RIFs and establishes a new base. Company A arrives at the new base at 1700 after a quiet day. Company B contacts an estimated two VC shortly before 1000, killing one. A search of the area reveals a command-detonated claymore mine, two freshly dug firing positions, one gas mask, one first aid packet and a dozen dry cell 1.5 volt batteries, made by the Cambodian Battery Company, which are connected in series. Company C finds an abandoned VC base camp shortly after 0900, with several firing positions found on the west side of the clearing. A mess hall to accommodate 40 VC is found and destroyed along with two showers, 300 meters of electrical wire, six bicycles, one pair of legs for a claymore and miscellaneous clothing. Documents taken from the area. describe a large VC base camp in the general area that has a radio station and a hospital, is a political training center, and is outposted with guards and telephones. Company C finds another abandoned VC base camp at 1106 hours that also has a 40-man mess hall, a large class room, two showers and six buildings. At 1335 hours, several APC's get stuck, and can't be extracted before darkness, so C company remains in the area overnight.

November 18, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): 6 RAR begins Operation 19/66, Ingham, a battalion search-and-destroy operation directed at the D445 Provincial Mobile Battalion, in an AO of 95 square km midway between 1 ATF Base and Xuyen Moc in the vicinity of the Song Rai. This area of undulating terrain flanking and astride the Song Rai, covered mainly in jungle with clear forest in the north, and clear forest, rice and brushwood in the south, is believed to be a major VC supply base area, as well as containing the D445. Results: Casualties: own: KIA one, one man who dies of wounds; WIA 21; VC: KIA 10, wounded/escaped 10, and one prisoner (WIA). Nineteen civilians detained. Approximately 73 tonnes of rice backloaded, nineteen tonnes destroyed. A number of weapons, some ammunition and medical supplies taken, and fifteen ox-carts and two boats are destroyed.

November 18, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): At around 0200, a fire support base west of Cai Lay sustains a heavy enemy mortar attack, while simultaneously an estimated reinforced Viet Cong battalion launches a ground assault upon the base.

November 18, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Operation Macarthur/battle of Dak To update: Early in the afternoon, the 1/503rd starts out to take a nearby hill, Hill 882, with A Company in the lead They fire on one NVA just as the lead platoon is entering the night`s laager site. Shortly afterward, in the same location, eight to nine NVA troops are observed moving toward the LZ within the battalion`s perimeter, and from then until 1905 hours, A Company is under fire, receiving 60mm mortar fire, B-40 rockets, rifle grenades, hand grenades and automatic weapons and sniper fire from an estimated reinforced rifle company. As contact ends, A Company receives an emergency resupply, and a short time later kills one NVA who jumped into one of the company`s foxholes in the dark. Friendly casualties are six KIA and 29 WIA. B Company that afternoon finds four dead NVA in graves that are about three days old.

November 18, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): Operation Nam Hoa I begins in I Corps.

November 18, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): B/7/17 Cavalry finds and destroys a VC radio position northwest of Song Mao.

November 18, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI) (AR): "Huey Cobra company deals death to Charlie"

November 18, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): An O-2 and an F-100 are downed over Laos.

[39mto39g]

Forget sleep for the next three days.

Ron