Timeline, August 18th

[David]

PREBELLUM:
August 18, 1945 (Year of the Rooster [At Dau]): In Hanoi, a member of the Viet Minh Municipal Committee announces to a crowd of 200,000 gathered in Ba Dinh Square that the general uprising has begun. The crowd breaks up immediately after that and heads for various key buildings around the city, including the palace, city hall and police HQ, where they accept the surrender of the Japanese (apparently a second surrender, as the Japanese had already surrendered to local Vietnamese authorities on the 16th) and Vietnamese government forces, mostly without resistance. Ho Chi Minh moves his HQ to Hanoi soon after the city falls. The Viet Minh send telegrams throughout Tonkin announcing their victory, and local Viet Minh units are able to take over most of the provincial and district capitals in the north without a struggle. In Annam and Cochinchina, however, the Communists have neither the advantage of long careful preparation nor of an established base area and army. Hue falls in a manner similar to Hanoi, with the takeover first of the surrounding area, but Saigon and the provinces west and south of it resist.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
August 18, 1963 (Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]) (US Advisory): The showplace strategic hamlet of Ben Tuong, the first of those built under Operation Sunrise, is overrun by the Viet Cong.

August 18, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): The major part of the US Marines' Operation Starlite opens up on the Van Tuong Peninsula, some nine miles southeast of Chu Lai, in terrain that is dominated by sandy flats and broken by numerous streams and an occasional wooded knoll. At 0615, a cruiser and two destroyers begin pounding VC 1st Regiment fortified positions with naval gunfire and strike aircraft drop 18 tons of bombs and napalm on the estimated 1500 VC there. At 0630, the Seventh Fleet Amphibious Ready Group lands the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines' India and Kilo Companies on Green Beach, where the two companies start to push inland in a northwesterly direction towards Phase Line Bronze, which has been drawn between roughly the Tra Bong River and the southern edge of the peninsula in a NW-SE line parallel to the eastern coast in order to drive the VC into the sea. M/3/3, which has already established a blocking position further up the peninsula between the VC and Chu Lai simultaneously begins to advance on the enemy, heading southeast.

To the west, the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines are helilifted from the Iwo Jima and from Chu Lai into three LZ's, Red, White and Blue, running roughly parallel to Phase Line Bronze below the Tra Bong River to just west of Hill 43, respectively. G/2/4 arrives at LZ Red at 0645 and starts searching its AO, heading seaward toward the northern end of Phase Line Bronze. E/2/4 is landed at LZ White and starts heading northeast to the coast and toward the village of Van Tuong, which is on the VC side of Phase Line Bronze. Echo Company has the longest distance to cover. At one point during their advance they spot 100 VC out in the open and call in arty, wiping out 90% of the enemy force. The 2/4's Golf and Echo Companies don't meet much resistance, but fierce fighting breaks out at LZ Blue, where the H/2/4 is landed just west of Hill 43 where, unbeknownst to the Americans, the 60th VC Battalion is located. As they have done with the South Vietnamese in the past, the Communists let the first helicopters come in and then open up on later waves of incoming choppers and troops. US helicopter gunships are called in and the American infantry attacks Hill 43, first with one platoon unsuccessfully and then with all three of the platoons that are on the ground far. Reinforced by close air support, the Marines take the hill.

Meanwhile, heavy fighting has broken out two miles northeast of Hill 43, where two I/3/3 platoons have been trying to clear enemy snipers out of the village of An Cuong. India Company's commander is killed in the early fighting, but his XO assumes command and throws in the company's third platoon, which had been held in reserve, and conducts a successful counterassault. The Marines clear the village and count over 50 VC KIAs afterward. India Company is ordered to join Kilo Company and Hotel Company, remaining near Nam Yen, to clean out all enemy opposition there and then link up with the 3/3 CP. As Hotel starts to advance on India Company's left flank, however, they are caught in a VC crossfire from positions in Nam Yen and from Hill 30. Despite receiving fire from all directions, one Hotel Company squad kills 9 VC at a mortar position. Lance Corporal Joe C. Paul will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the fighting. Forced to withdraw, the lead platoon is separated from the main body but unexpectedly links up with India Company's helicopter security detail. The force is engaged by a VC unit but together the two units fight their way to An Cuong Corporal Robert O'Malley will be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroism during this fighting.

The main body of Hotel is directed to establish a defensive perimeter and await reinforcements; however these never arrive because they have been diverted. India Company has instead been ordered to lead a rescue mission for the supply column that had been sent in to help them between 11 and noon, only to be ambushed by the VC west of An Cuong. The column, which included three flame tanks, the only tactical fire support available, had gotten lost and a sudden VC attack with recoilless rifles and a barrage of mortar rounds had put the tanks out of action. Using only small arms, the trapped Marines in the supply column are attempting to hold the advancing VC infantry, but the panicked radio operator is hindering rather than helping commanders locate the besieged column. By luck, one of the trapped flame tanks manages to break through the VC infantry and return to the command post, and its crew chief is able to lead the rescue mission to the column. The relief force quickly draws heavy fire as it nears the column, with recoilless rifle fire knocking out its only tank, an M48. Within minutes five Marines are dead and 17 are wounded. Artillery fire and air support are called in, however, and Communist fire soon subsides.

Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, which is in reserve on the Iwo Jima, is ordered to land join India Company in search of the supply column. With darkness approaching the Marines are ordered into defensive positions, especially after word comes that the column, although immobilized, is no longer in danger. L/3/7 is to join L/3/3 and K/3/3, and I/3/3 is ordered back to the CP. During the night the rest of the reserve force, which is the 3rd Battalion 7th Marines, comes ashore.

The first day of Operation Starlite is rough on H/2/4 and I/3/3. Together the two companies have sustained casualties amounting to over 100 of their original 350 men, including 29 dead, but in return they can claim 281 VC dead.

August 18, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): The VC overrun the interim SF CIDG camp at Dak Sut in Kontum Province.

August 18, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): The first ship-to-shore satellite radio message ever is sent from the USS Annapolis in the South China Sea to Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor.

August 18, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Smithfield update: The Battle of Long Tan begins. In the morning, 48 men of B Company 6 RAR return to base for their rostered turn on leave, leaving only 30-some men to continue the search for the enemy force that mortared the base on the 17th. At approximately 1100, D Company 6 RAR begins moving out to relieve B company. D Company has three platoons, 10 PL, 11 PL and 12 PL, with a total strength of 108 men, all of them recent arrivals. They proceed east and meet up with B Company at around 1300. The troops then take a meal break and B Company heads back toward the base while D company continues on its way toward the Long Tan rubber plantation at about 1500. After proceeding about 200 meters, the enemy track forks, one branch heading northeast, the other almost due east. 10 PL follows the northeast track on the left and 11 PL follows the eastern track, which leads straight through the middle of the plantation. At 1540, 11 PL spots a group of enemy troops and opens fire, apparently wounding one before they disappear into the trees. 11 PL is ordered to proceed in extended line and the men move out at a brisk pace to catch the enemy. By 1600, 11 PL and 10 PL are separated by some 300 meters, out of sight of each other in the rubber trees. Some distance behind is 12 PL and the HQ group, covering the area between 10 PL and 11 PL. At 1608, 11 PL begins taking heavy fire from their front and left and soon the Aussies estimate they are facing at least a company of enemy soldiers. At that same time, a monsoon rain opens up. The platoon leader calls for artillery and soon after is killed. 10 PL is taking fire now, with mortar rounds falling to the right and the troops pull back to the left and quickly establish a DP and begin digging in. 12 PL and the HQ also begin taking mortar fire and they, too, pull back to their left.

10 PL is ordered to form up for a flanking attack to relieve 11 Platoon from the left. With two sections up front and one following in trace, 10 PL starts walking through the rain toward the sound of gunfire. About 200 meters along, they encounter an assault line of enemy troops passing in front of them on their way to continue the attack on 11 PL. The Australians open fire, wiping out the right-hand portion of the assault line. The enemy survivors give up the attack. After another 30 meters, 10 PL comes under heavy fire. Their radio is destroyed and they are forced to take whatever cover they can find.

At 1630, back at the Nui Dat base camp, the battalion commander places A company, just back from a three-day patrol, on standby and orders 3 Troop of APCs to prepare to move out. B Company, which had stopped on its way back to the base when it heard gunfire, is told to turn around and attempt to reinforce D Company.

By 1700, 11 PL's commander is dead, along with several other soldiers, and their radio, too, is out. At 1702, D Company's commander requests an ammo resupply, but the RAAF refuses, citing regulations that LZs must be "relatively secure where enemy resistance is not expected." The Americans are contacted, who say they can get helicopters out there in 20 minutes. The seven APCs of 3 troop, augmented by three APCs from 2 Troop, are ordered to load up the men of A Company and proceed out to D Company's rescue.

Meanwhile on the battlefield, D Company's HQ group and 12 PL are shifted closer to the battle, but hold not far from the edge of the rubber plantation for artillery control. Keeping one section back for security, at 1715 the D Company commander sends the rest of 12 PL in to 11 PL's rescue. After advancing only 500 meters they are stopped by large groups of enemy troops advancing from the north and attempting to surround them. 12 PL's commander overhears on the radio that the company commander is going to throw colored smoke to guide in the resupply choppers, which are about to arrive, and decides to throw yellow smoke himself in the hopes that it will be seen by 11 PL. At the same time, coincidentally, the sergeant who has taken over command of 11 PL decides that there's no option left but withdrawal. They spot 12 PL's yellow smoke as they head out and head for it, thinking it's the company HQ. They join 12 PL and, after regrouping for a moment, 12 PL's leader gives the order to withdraw. D Company overall is now down to its last 100 rounds, approximately one bullet per man. At 1800, the RAAF arrives, having decided to ignore orders in the face of having the Americans do what they refused to do, and drops more ammo to D Company's infantrymen. At the same time, the APCs, minus two APCs called back to pick up the battalion commander and his group, with A Company aboard clear the task force area at Nui Dat and head out to relieve D Company.

The APCs progress to the Suoi Da Bang creek, now flooded almost two meters deep. They are ordered to stop there and await the battalion commander, but their leader hears D Company's plight on the radio and decides to disobey this order. Leaving one APC behind for security, the remaining seven APCs ford the creek with difficulty. Again ordered to halt on the other side, the commander instead advances.

By 1810, all three D Company platoons are now together for the first time in the battle. They occupy a slight depression so that the troops face slightly uphill, the ground cresting some 60 meters away, which shelters them a bit from enemy rifle and MG fire, but prevents the Australians from firing effectively on the enemy until they close to within 60 meters. Ammo is distributed and 11 PL, with 15 of its men missing, is placed on the northwestern perimeter, where a nearby hill and bamboo stand make an attack unlikely. The two stronger platoons complete the circle. At 1820, the Australians start taking MG fire from the east and southeast. By 1835, the Communists have located D Company and begin forming up assault waves. As the first wave gets to within 150 meters of the Australians, with its reserve following 100 meters behind, Australian artillery starts coming in, wiping out most of the reserve, but the first wave continues the assault, with whistles and bugles. As more waves keep coming and darkness closes in, the company commander sends the message: "If you don't come within half an hour, don't worry about coming for us."

Meanwhile, the APCs have entered the edge of the rubber plantation at about 1830 and spot over 100 enemy troops advancing in front of them in assault formation. The APCs open up with their .50 caliber machine guns and a number of A Company exit the carriers, forming a skirmish line and taking the enemy under fire. While one APC takes the wounded back to base camp, the infantry then remounts the remaining six carriers and the APCs push through the enemy. After 200 meters, they again come across small groups of enemy troops, and open up on them with the MGs, but these Communists are armed with antitank weapons, and the APCs are halted for about five minutes, but soon proceed on again. As they close in on D Company's position, the three APCs on the left, raked by MG fire that causes casualties among the crews, stop. The third on the left, unaware of this, continue on, reaching D Company's cheering survivors, plowing through the massed VC as well as firing on them with MGs. Suddenly aware of their stranded comrades, they loop back and meet up with them some 300 meters to the southeast, where they're joined by three additional APCs carrying the battalion commander and his men. With six vehicles abreast, and the three new additions forming a second wave, the APCs assault forward again, sweeping past D Company's position and beyond them for another 500 meters before turning northwest and entering D Company's position at 1910, about the same time that the 30-some men of B Company finally arrive. B Company had faced mortar fire along the way, but has suffered no casualties.

The Australians organize their defenses, and at 2050 decide that they don't have the troops necessary to secure the battlefield and so decide to withdraw to a position where the dead and wounded can be evacuated by helicopter. D Company, and the dead and wounded, are loaded onto the APCs and withdraw at 2245, with A and B Companies leaving on foot some 45 minutes later. However, I think 11 PL is not with them, having been isolated near the hill/bamboo stand away from the rest of the company at some point during the battle; am not sure about 11 PL's location at this point. Artillery pounds the area during the night, but specifically avoids areas where Australians may still remain.

August 18, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): Elements of B and D Companies, 4/31st Infantry, 196th LIB, 23rd Infantry Division are ambushed in AK Valley, Quang Tin Province.

August 18, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): Operation Proud Hunter begins.

August 18, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): The heaviest fighting in three months breaks out as the Communists launch 19 separate attacks throughout South Vietnam (VHPA). A composite VC battalion attacks the SF CIDG camp at Loc Ninh. The 5th VC Sapper Battalion rockets and then assaults the Katum SF CIDG camp, a border surveillance camp located just slightly more than 4 kilometers south of the Cambodian border in War Zone C.

August 18, 1971 (Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi]) (US Consolidation I): The Australian government announces that 1 ATF will be withdrawn by late December, with logistics units shortly after. New Zealand also announces their withdrawal. At the end of 1970, there were 6,763 Australian military personnel in Vietnam and 441 New Zealanders. Some training and advisory elements will remain.