Timeline, September 18th

[David]

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
September 18, 1961 (Year of the Ox [Tan Suu]): General Taylor reports that the VC currently number an estimated 15,000 and discusses their infiltration routes through Laos and by sea.

September 18, 1961 (Year of the Ox [Tan Suu]): Phuoc Thanh becomes the first provincial capital in South Vietnam to be temporarily captured by the Viet Cong. The Communists reportedly stage a "people's trial" and execute the province chief and chief assistant in the market place.

September 18, 1962 (Year of the Tiger [Nham Dan]) (US Advisory): Michael Forrestal of the NSC reports on the situation on Vietnam to President Kennedy.

September 18, 1962 (Year of the Tiger [Nham Dan]) (US Advisory): Supported by fighter bombers, amphibious forces, and U.S. helicopters, a 2,500-man South Vietnamese force kills 168 Viet Cong and captures 38 in fighting around the village of An Hu in the Plaine des Joncs.

September 18, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): At 1943, the destroyers Morton and Edwards on a DeSoto patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin report surface radar contacts. After maneuvering for 40 minutes and failing to elude the pursuit, the two ships open fire and apparently score hits, as the images disappear from the radar screen. During the next two hours, the images reappear twice and are fired upon. By 2137 the episode is over. LBJ decides not to bomb North Vietnam in retaliation, since visual contact was never made and no torpedoes or gunfire originated from the contacts. He also suspends DeSoto patrols and postpones the resumption of South Vietnamese 34A operations.

September 18, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): The first flight of the "light ship" around 2/20 ARA's base camp at An Khe.

September 18, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Operation Gibraltar begins; it will produce the first defeat of a VC main force unit by US Army forces.

September 18, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Operation Arkansas City begins.

September 18, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): A/7/17 Cavalry Scouts spot three enemy and kill one of them, while observing a rest area with NVA ponchos and fresh sleeping mats.

September 18, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): Private Dewayne Williams' combat patrol is ambushed while moving into its night position in Quang Nam Province.

September 18, 1971 (Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi]) (US Consolidation I): 4 RAR begins Operation Ivanhoe.