Timeline, March 12th

[David]

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
March 1962 (1st and 2nd months, Year of the Tiger [Nham Dan]) (US Advisory): The Vietnamese Air Force swears loyalty to President Diem after an unsuccessful coup attempt.

March 12, 1966 (21st day of the 2nd month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Defense): SF/CIDG camp at A Shau update: The second group of survivors is picked up. Lt. Col. House and Captain Blair later will speak their minds in interviews to CBS and a syndicated columnist, causing consternation in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and other high places. Not publicized is the rift that also begins to develop between the Marines, some of whose officers begin to privately express doubt about the efficiency and competency of SF troops, and the Green Berets, some of whom in turn feel that the Marines had bungled the rescue attempt.

March 12, 1967 (2nd day of the 2nd month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): In Kontum Province, Company A, 2/35th, 25th Infantry Division, is in heavy contact with the enemy.

March 12, 1968 (14th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): The fall of Lima Site 85, per VHPA.

March 12, 1968 (14th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): Near Duc Co, a six-man LRRP patrol is in danger of being overrun.

March 12, 1969 (25th day of the 1st month, Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Tet69/Counteroffensive): Operation Lulu starts in III Corps.

March 12, 1969 (25th day of the 1st month, Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Tet69/Counteroffensive): Operation Massachusetts Striker update: The fight is still going on for Charlie Company's 2nd and 3rd platoons, but the fog lifts about mid morning and gunships and fighter-bombers are sent in. At the same time, the rest of the battalion is CA'd in. The NVA flee and the American battalion is ordered after them, pursuing them for the next 33 days straight west toward the A Shau Valley.

March 12, 1970 (5th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Counteroffensive, Phase VII): NVA sappers attack a US position at the Khe Gio Bridge.

March 12, 1973 (8th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Ox [Quy Suu]): Operation Endsweep begins when, in accordance with the Paris Accords, Navy Task Force 78, composed of 4 ocean minesweepers ('minesweeper, ocean', or MSO) plus Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 12, begins sweeping the North Vietnamese waters of the mines laid in 1972.

March 11-12, 1975 (30th day of the 1st month, Year of the Hare [At Mao]): Ho Chi Minh campaign update: Ban Me Thuot: Gen. Dung's officers report that the battle for the city is "basically over." Dung in turn informs General Giap that he intends to consolidate and expand the victory, possibly extending operations northward. Fighting meanwhile continues east of the city, where government helicopters move in reinforcements despite heavy losses to enemy fire.

BORDER CLASHES:
March 12, 1977 (23rd day of the 1st month, Year of the Snake [Dinh Ti]): In Laos, Hmong dissidents attack installations near Luang Prabang. Ex-King Savang Vetthana and Crown Prince Vongsavang are arrested and sent for reeducation.

SINO-VIETNAMESE WAR:
March 12, 1979 (15th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Goat [Ky Mui]): Hanoi claims that Chinese troops have moved border markers to new positions deep in Vietnamese territory. Western analysts estimate that China assembled some 20 divisions for the invasion, using fewer than 15. They deployed three artillery divisions; long-range artillery duels constituted a major part of the conflict. Neither side made significant use of air power.