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On This Day

11 January, 1956

President Diem issued Ordinance Number 6 which permitted the imprisonment of communists and others "dangerous to national defense and common security". Diem's anti-communist repression reduced communist party membership in South Vietnam by about two-thirds between 1955 and 1959, but the repression also alienated many non-communists.

In the words of scholar Bernard Fall, Ordinance No. 6 gave the Diem government "almost unchecked power to deal with the opposition--and the non-Communist opposition, least inured to clandestine operations, was hit hardest. The non-communist opposition to Diem came mostly at this time from the Cao Đài and Hòa Hảo religious sects and the Bình Xuyên criminal mafia.

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

14 Dec. 65-17 Jan.66
Operation VIPER II, 2/18 (1st Infantry) search and destroy in Bien Hoa Province

31 Dec.65-13 Jan.66
Operation MATADOR I&II is launched. The 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division will conduct a search and destroy operation west of the Plei Djereng CIDG Camp along the Se San River between Pleiku and Kontum Provinces.

1-16 Jan.
The 2d ROK Marine Brigade, one ARVN Airborne Battalion and the 47th ARVN Regiment will launch a search and destroy operation named JEFFERSON to clear the coast south of Tuy Hoa around Phu Hiep.

8-14 Jan.
Operation CRIMP/1-66 begins. The 173d Airborne Brigade and the 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will conduct a search and destroy operation in the Ho Bo Woods to locate and destroy the VC Military Region 4 Headquarters

9-11 Jan.
Operation FLYING TIGER VI, ROK Capital Division search and destroy in Binh Dinh Province

10-17 Jan.
The 1/3, 3/7 and 1/12 Marines will launch Operation MALLARD northwest of the An Hoa industrial complex, the VC R20 Doc Lap Battalion has been reported in the area.

New Operations today in 1966:

11-14 Jan.
Operation QUICK KICK II, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy in Binh Duong Province, Song Be river.

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!

On This Day

12 January, 1962

Operation Chopper was the first combat operation for United States Army soldiers in Vietnam. U.S. pilots transported about 1,000 Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldiers by helicopter to land and attack VC guerrillas about 10 miles (16 km) west of Saigon. The operation was deemed a success. Chopper heralded a new era of air mobility for the U.S. Army, which had been growing as a concept since the Army formed twelve helicopter battalions in 1952 during the Korean War. U.S. President John F. Kennedy said only that the U.S. was helping the ARVN with "training and transportation." He declined to offer more details about Operation Chopper to avoid "assisting the enemy."

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

14 Dec. 65-17 Jan.66
Operation VIPER II, 2/18 (1st Infantry) search and destroy in Bien Hoa Province

31 Dec.65-13 Jan.66
Operation MATADOR I&II is launched. The 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division will conduct a search and destroy operation west of the Plei Djereng CIDG Camp along the Se San River between Pleiku and Kontum Provinces.

1-16 Jan.
The 2d ROK Marine Brigade, one ARVN Airborne Battalion and the 47th ARVN Regiment will launch a search and destroy operation named JEFFERSON to clear the coast south of Tuy Hoa around Phu Hiep.

8-14 Jan.
Operation CRIMP/1-66 begins. The 173d Airborne Brigade and the 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will conduct a search and destroy operation in the Ho Bo Woods to locate and destroy the VC Military Region 4 Headquarters

10-17 Jan.
The 1/3, 3/7 and 1/12 Marines will launch Operation MALLARD northwest of the An Hoa industrial complex, the VC R20 Doc Lap Battalion has been reported in the area.

11-14 Jan.
Operation QUICK KICK II, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy in Binh Duong Province, Song Be river.

New Operations today in 1966:

12-25 Jan.
Operation SHORT FUSE, 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy in Tay Ninh Province.

12-31 Jan. Operation BUCKSKIN initiated. The 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will conduct a clearing operation around Cu Chi to protect the establishment of the 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!

On This Day

13 January, 1969

In the ongoing Operation Bold Mariner, the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines continue to clear, search and depopulate the Batangan Peninsula, a VC stronghold in Quảng Ngãi Province.

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

14 Dec. 65-17 Jan.66
Operation VIPER II, 2/18 (1st Infantry) search and destroy in Bien Hoa Province

31 Dec.65-13 Jan.66
Operation MATADOR I&II is launched. The 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division will conduct a search and destroy operation west of the Plei Djereng CIDG Camp along the Se San River between Pleiku and Kontum Provinces.

1-16 Jan.
The 2d ROK Marine Brigade, one ARVN Airborne Battalion and the 47th ARVN Regiment will launch a search and destroy operation named JEFFERSON to clear the coast south of Tuy Hoa around Phu Hiep.

8-14 Jan.
Operation CRIMP/1-66 begins. The 173d Airborne Brigade and the 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will conduct a search and destroy operation in the Ho Bo Woods to locate and destroy the VC Military Region 4 Headquarters

10-17 Jan.
The 1/3, 3/7 and 1/12 Marines will launch Operation MALLARD northwest of the An Hoa industrial complex, the VC R20 Doc Lap Battalion has been reported in the area.

11-14 Jan.
Operation QUICK KICK II, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy in Binh Duong Province, Song Be river.

12-25 Jan.
Operation SHORT FUSE, 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy in Tay Ninh Province.

12-31 Jan. Operation BUCKSKIN initiated. The 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will conduct a clearing operation around Cu Chi to protect the establishment of the 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

New Operations today in 1966:

13-17 Jan.
Operation MATADOR II, one battalion of 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division reinforces the 1st Brigade in continuing Operation MATADOR.

13-17 Jan.
Operation QUICK HOP/TYLER, 2/327 (101st Airborne) search and destroy in Binh Thuan Province.

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!

On This Day

14 January, 1964

Theodore Sorensen, one of former President John F. Kennedy's most trusted aides, wrote President Johnson to oppose the neutralization of South Vietnam as proposed by French President Charles de Gaulle and others. Sorensoen said neutralization would result in a communist takeover of South Vietnam, weaken the U.S. position in Asia, and cause political problems for the Democratic Party. Johnson's principal advisers—Dean Rusk, Robert McNamara, McGeorge Bundy and Walter Rostow—echoed Sorensen's views. In December, Senator Mike Mansfield had proposed negotiation of a neutral South Vietnam.


Lieutenant general William C. Westmoreland is appointed deputy commander of MACV.

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

14 Dec. 65-17 Jan.66
Operation VIPER II, 2/18 (1st Infantry) search and destroy in Bien Hoa Province

31 Dec.65-13 Jan.66
Operation MATADOR I&II is launched. The 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division will conduct a search and destroy operation west of the Plei Djereng CIDG Camp along the Se San River between Pleiku and Kontum Provinces.

1-16 Jan.
The 2d ROK Marine Brigade, one ARVN Airborne Battalion and the 47th ARVN Regiment will launch a search and destroy operation named JEFFERSON to clear the coast south of Tuy Hoa around Phu Hiep.

8-14 Jan.
Operation CRIMP/1-66 begins. The 173d Airborne Brigade and the 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will conduct a search and destroy operation in the Ho Bo Woods to locate and destroy the VC Military Region 4 Headquarters

10-17 Jan.
The 1/3, 3/7 and 1/12 Marines will launch Operation MALLARD northwest of the An Hoa industrial complex, the VC R20 Doc Lap Battalion has been reported in the area.

11-14 Jan.
Operation QUICK KICK II, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy in Binh Duong Province, Song Be river.

12-25 Jan.
Operation SHORT FUSE, 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy in Tay Ninh Province.

12-31 Jan.
Operation BUCKSKIN initiated. The 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will conduct a clearing operation around Cu Chi to protect the establishment of the 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

13-17 Jan.
Operation MATADOR II, one battalion of 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division reinforces the 1st Brigade in continuing Operation MATADOR.

13-17 Jan.
Operation QUICK HOP/TYLER, 2/327 (101st Airborne) search and destroy in Binh Thuan Province.

New Operations today in 1966:

None

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!

On This Day

15 January, 1962

Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara met with his top military advisers. CINCPAC intelligence told him that the VC now numbered 20,000 to 25,000 and were increasing by 1,000 per month after casualties. South Vietnam's armed forces had suffered more than 1,000 casualties in the previous month, most by the paramilitary Self Defense Corps. McNamara ordered sending 40,000 M-1 carbines to South Vietnam to arm the Self Defense Corps and the Civil Guard, although those two organizations were the sources of many of the VC's captured weapons.

McNamara pressed for a "clear and hold" operation in a single South Vietnamese province. Clear and hold envisioned the ARVN securing the province followed by civic and political action to exclude the VC permanently. Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) chief General Lionel C. McGarr proposed instead using two ARVN divisions in a conventional military sweep focused on killing VC but without the follow-up to hold the area.

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!

On This Day

16 January, 1966

Operation Van Buren was a harvest security operation recently launched by the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and the South Korean 2nd Marine Brigade in the Tuy Hòa Valley, Phú Yên Province. Over forty days of fighting, the operation resulted in 346 PAVN killed and 33 captured, 55 U.S. and 45 Koreans killed.

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

14 Dec. 65-17 Jan.66
Operation VIPER II, 2/18 (1st Infantry) search and destroy in Bien Hoa Province

1-16 Jan.
The 2d ROK Marine Brigade, one ARVN Airborne Battalion and the 47th ARVN Regiment will launch a search and destroy operation named JEFFERSON to clear the coast south of Tuy Hoa around Phu Hiep.

10-17 Jan.
The 1/3, 3/7 and 1/12 Marines will launch Operation MALLARD northwest of the An Hoa industrial complex, the VC R20 Doc Lap Battalion has been reported in the area.

12-25 Jan.
Operation SHORT FUSE, 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy in Tay Ninh Province.

12-31 Jan.
Operation BUCKSKIN initiated. The 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will conduct a clearing operation around Cu Chi to protect the establishment of the 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

13-17 Jan.
Operation MATADOR II, one battalion of 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division reinforces the 1st Brigade in continuing Operation MATADOR.

13-17 Jan.
Operation QUICK HOP/TYLER, 2/327 (101st Airborne) search and destroy in Binh Thuan Province.

15 Jan.
A new CIDG camp opens at Ba Xoai for detachment A-421.

15-17 Jan.
Operation BIG LODGE, 2/9 Marines search and destroy in Quang Nam Province.

15-19 Jan.
Operation RED BALL IV, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division resupply operation in III CTZ (?)

New Operations today in 1966:

None

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!

On This Day

17 January, 1960

In what has been called "the start of the Vietnam War", the VC attacked and took temporary control of several districts in Kiến Hòa Province (now Bến Tre Province) in the Mekong Delta. The VC set up "people's committees," and confiscated land from landlords and redistributed it to poor farmers. One of the leaders of the uprising was Madame Nguyễn Thị Định who led the all-female "Long Hair Army." Dinh was the secretary of the Bến Tre Communist Party and later a VC Major General.[5]

Although the ARVN recaptured the villages, uprisings spread to many other areas of South Vietnam. The uprisings were spontaneous, and contrary to the restrained and defensive policy of the Communist government in Hanoi.

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

14 Dec. 65-17 Jan.66
Operation VIPER II, 2/18 (1st Infantry) search and destroy in Bien Hoa Province

10-17 Jan.
The 1/3, 3/7 and 1/12 Marines will launch Operation MALLARD northwest of the An Hoa industrial complex, the VC R20 Doc Lap Battalion has been reported in the area.

12-25 Jan.
Operation SHORT FUSE, 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy in Tay Ninh Province.

12-31 Jan.
Operation BUCKSKIN initiated. The 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will conduct a clearing operation around Cu Chi to protect the establishment of the 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

13-17 Jan.
Operation MATADOR II, one battalion of 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division reinforces the 1st Brigade in continuing Operation MATADOR.

13-17 Jan.
Operation QUICK HOP/TYLER, 2/327 (101st Airborne) search and destroy in Binh Thuan Province.

15-17 Jan.
Operation BIG LODGE, 2/9 Marines search and destroy in Quang Nam Province.

15-19 Jan.
Operation RED BALL IV, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division resupply operation in III CTZ (?)

New Operations today in 1966:

17-21 Jan.
Operation ON GUARD, 173d Airborne Brigade search and destroy around Di An.

17-24 Jan.
Operation PIONEER I, 2/16 (1st Infantry) search and destroy in Bien Hoa Province.

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!