Timeline, December 13th

[David]

PREBELLUM: December 1935 (Year of the Boar [At Hoi]): In Song Phuoc (My Tho) police arrest two La Lutte members who have escaped from the Paulo Condore prison and are trying to persuade a farmer to vote for the La Lutte candidate in upcoming elections. According to police reports, the Indochinese Communist Party (now banned) had hesitated to back La Lutte earlier in the year, but now has agents participating in the La Lutte political campaign.

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
December 13-14, 1951 (Year of the Hare [Tan Mao]): Hoa Binh campaign: Viet Minh pressure from the 312 Division lessens, and Mobile Group 4 is pulled from Rocher Notre-Dame and sent north to clear the Trung Ha-Yen Khoi region. CEFEO high command reinforces Mobile Group 7, whose Black River sector includes critical points between La Phu and Tu Vu, with Mobile Group 1, Armored Subgroup 1, the 1st Foreign Legion Paratroops, and the 1st Tank Battalion of the Far East Armored Regiment. Together with Mobile Group 4, these forces are to conduct an envelopment operation to clear the 312 Division from the Ba Trai region and off the western slopes of Ba Vi mountain.

December 12-13, 1953 (Year of the Snake [Quy Ti]): Operation Pollux update: One group of companies, including the 416th, 418th and 428th Light Companies, a HQ element and dependents from the 301st Vietnamese Battalion, is under heavy attack and disappears during Viet Minh attacks overnight.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
December 2-14, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Rolling Thunder update: Targets in the Hanoi region, but outside Hanoi city limits, are bombed, including the Van Dien vehicle depot and the Yen Vien railroad yards. Many sources call this the first bombing near Hanoi, but the US Ambassador to Poland, John Gronouski, points out (in FRUS #345, paragraph 8, below) that petroleum facilities closer to Hanoi than either of these two targets were hit in June.

December 13, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo])(US Counteroffensive Phase II): Construction begins on the Plei Djereng SF/CIDG camp in Pleiku Province, the first "fighting camp," designed to be a base for extended operations throughout the tactical area of responsibility rather than a walled fortress in the middle of hostile territory.

December 13, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): C/7/17th Cavalry conducts "The Detailed Reconnaissance of Tich An."

December 13, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): With Operation Meade River concluded, the 3/26th Marines return to Khe Sanh because of increased enemy activity in the area.

December 13, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): Camp Coryell receives 82mm mortar fire, but no damage is reported.

December 13, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): A C-123 is shot down over Laos.

December 13, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): A starlight mission for the 61st AHC north of LZ English.

December 13, (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): Operation Taylor Common update: With security forces in position and supporting artillery batteries in place, rifle companies of the 3/5th start a cloverleaf pattern of search-and-clear operations. Hill 214 is opened by the 2/5th Marines, who establish Fire Base Pike there.

December 13, 1972 (Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter Offensive: In Paris, the North Vietnamese walk out after President Thieu's 69-point program is presented.

December 13, 1974 (Year of the Tiger [Giap Dan]): North Vietnam, which has up to 300,000 NVA troops in or adjacent to South Vietnam, violates the Paris Accords by beginning a series of actions in Phuoc Long Province.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR:
December 13, 1978 (Year of the Horse [Mau Ngo]): Invasion of Cambodia update: PAVN Dac Cong commando teams are near the strategic Pich Nil Pass and threaten to severe Route 4, which connects Phnom Penh with the sea.