Timeline, February 20th

[David]

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
February 1964 (late Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]/early Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): During 217 VC attacks and 1389 acts of terrorism during the month, 34 South Vietnamese government officials and 110 others are killed, while 113 government officials and 590 others are abducted. There are an additional 201 acts of VC sabotage and 271 incidents of forced propaganda sessions. (TVW)

February 20, 1965 (19th day of the 1st month, Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Advisory): Battle of Mang Yang Pass update.

February 20, 1966 (1st day of the 2nd month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Operation Lien Ket 24 begins.

February 20, 1966 (1st day of the 2nd month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Operation Double Eagle II update.

Mid-February 1967 (1st month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): In an area west of the Nam Sathay River near the Cambodian border, Communist forces unsuccessfully try to overrun several American fire bases.(OS)

February 20, 1968 (23rd day of the first month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): As part of Operation Lam Son 68, C/1/28 Infantry engages a VC force of unknown size near Thu Duc in a brief but violent fight. Casualties: US - 19 KIAs, 11 WIAs; enemy 123 KIAs (VHPA)

February 20, 1968 (23rd day of the first month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): MAG-16 update.

February 20, 1968 (23rd day of the first month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): 7 RAR conducts cordon-and-search Operation Clayton in Long Dien village. (OS)

February 20, 1970 (15th day of the 1st month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): A/7/17th Cavalry Scouts spot a large enemy complex in Pleiku Province.

February 20, 1970 (15th day of the 1st month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): Henry Kissinger begins secret Paris peace talks. (IWC)

February 20, 1971 (25th day of the 1st month, Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VII): Operation Lam Son 719 udpate: Heavy ground fighting stalls the South Vietnamese advance into Laos as heavy anti-aircraft fire hinders U. S. air support(VHPA)

SINO-VIETNAMESE WAR:
February 20, 1979 (24th day of the 1st month, Year of the Goat [Ky Mui]): Official Chinese sources say that a field army of 30,000 troops -- out of 210,000 massed on the border -- has penetrated more than six miles into Vietnam, inflicting 10,000 casualties. China appears to have halted the advance in order to limit its "punitive action," but denies that withdrawal is imminent. Vietnam says that China has taken territory in five border provinces and has occupied the provincial capital of Lao Cai: Chinese troops have been given "a bloody nose," losing 5000 men and 80 tanks. ASEAN nations condemn both Chinese aggression and Vietnam's commitment in Kampuchea. Khmer Rouge guerrillas claim to have killed or wounded 1500 Vietnamese troops in one week and to have forced a Vietnamese withdrawal from key areas of northwest Kampuchea. (TVW)