Timeline, October 14th

[David]

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR: October 14, 1952 (Year of the Dragon [Nham Thin]): A massive 1-1/2-month-long Viet Minh campaign in the northern highlands begins. The 308th, 312th and 316th divisions, reinforced by the 148th Independent Regiment, cross the Red River on a broad front. They will succeed in overrunning the first line of French defensive positions in less than a week. The Communists are temporarily slowed by the deliberate sacrifice of French paras (paratroopers), but soon reach the French main line along Provincial Road 41, where French resistance centers on the airstrip of Na San. With support of a continuous stream of airlifted troops and artillery, Na San is quickly converted into a Base Aero-Terrestre ("air-land base," or airhead), surrounded by two rings of strongpoints whose automatic weapons are mutually supporting; these are in turn supported by the base howitzers. The garrison hastily put together at the last minute to defend Na San consists of paratroop remnants, Moroccans, Vietnamese, Foreign Legionnaires and two battalions of Tai mountaineer riflemen. General Giap throws both the 308th and 312th divisions at the base in human wave assaults, but though the outer strongpoint line is twice breached, the garrison will fend off both attacks successfully. While these Viet Minh forces besiege Na San, the 316th Division and the 148th Independent Regiment continue on into Tai territory, wiping out the small outposts that stand between them and the Laos border. In response, a Laotian light infantry battalion sets out from San Neua to meet the Communist forces at the village of Dien Bien Phu.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
October 14, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): In the Soviet Union, Nikita Khruschev is ousted; first Alexei Kosygin and then Leonid Brezhnev take over.

October 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): A mobile strike force, the "Eagle Flight," is formed in II Corps and placed under unilateral US Special Forces command. It consists of highly trained CIDG units organized into separate companies at Special Forces company (corps or field force) and Special Forces operational base level for use as reserve and reinforcement elements to CIDG camps.

October 14, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Con Thien update: Early in the morning, the defensive position occupied by the US 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, to protect a bridge on the road leading from Con Thien to Cam Lo is suddenly attacked by heavy mortar and artillery fire, which is followed by an enemy ground assault.

October 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Update on contact between the 1st Cavalry and upland Communists in I Corps: The surviving Communists divide into small parties that escape through allied lines. As contacts with the enemy lessen on the coast, American efforts shift inland, with several sharp engagements occurring when enemy forces try to delay pursuit or to divert the allies from entering base areas. For the rest of the month, the fights will continue, with large caches of supplies, equipment, and food being uncovered by the Americans. The VC organization in some coastal hamlets and villages is severely damaged, with some hamlets reverting to government control for the first time in several years.

October 14, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): A/7/17 Cavalry Scouts are observing a camouflaged hootch near Ban Me Thuot when three VC run out and try to escape. Only one escapes.