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On This Day

14 May, 1966

Across the U.S., more than 400,000 college students took the draft deferment examination, given at 1,200 colleges and universities, in order to be exempted from being drafted into the United States military during the war, while anti-war demonstrations took place outside many of the testing centers. Students were allowed three hours to answer 150 questions in order to see whether they could retain their 2-S draft classification. Out of 1.8 million students who were 2-S, one million had registered for the test, which would be repeated on 21 May, 3 June and 24 June. Afterwards, the test score and class rank would be evaluated by local draft boards.

On This Day

15 May, 1967

Two days in, Operation Crockett was an operation during the Vietnam War conducted by the United States Marine Corps against People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces around Khe Sanh Combat Base in northwest Quảng Trị Province that took place from 13 May to 16 July 1967. The PAVN tested U.S. defenses, forcing the Marines to deploy additional forces to the area, following which the PAVN disengaged but did not withdraw from the area. The operation resulted in 111 PAVN killed and one captured for Marine losses of 34 killed.

On This Day

16 May, 1965

Ho Chi Minh met with Chinese leader Mao Zedong in China. Ho said that North Vietnam would "take the main burden of the war by themselves" but requested additional Chinese economic and military support. Mao agreed, and they set the ground rules for Chinese assistance: North Vietnamese would fight the war with Chinese logistical help, but the Chinese would not intervene militarily unless the United States invaded North Vietnam. Chinese assistance to North Vietnam took three forms: engineers and laborers to build and maintain defense works, airfields and roads, anti-aircraft personnel to defend North Vietnam from air attacks, and military equipment. The total number of Chinese stationed in North Vietnam and dedicated to these tasks was about 160,000 with the first tranche arriving in May 1965.

On This Day

17 May, 1966

In an interview with Japanese television, U.S. Navy Commander Jeremiah Denton used Morse code to blink the word "torture", alerting the U.S. military to the mistreatment of prisoners of war in North Vietnam. Denton was captured on 18 July 1965 when his A-6A Intruder was shot down near the Thanh Hóa Bridge. He was held as a prisoner of war until 12 February 1973.

On This Day

18 May, 1967

Operation Barking Sands was a pacification operation during the Vietnam War conducted by the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division that took place in Hậu Nghĩa and Bình Dương Provinces, lasting from 18 May to 7 December 1967.

On This Day

19 May, 1968

Operation Mameluke Thrust was a US Marine Corps operation that took place in Happy Valley southwest of Danang lasting from 19 May to 23 October 1968. Operation Mameluke Thrust concluded on 23 October, the Marines having suffered 269 dead and 1730 wounded, while the PAVN casualties were 2728 killed and 47 captured.

berto wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 10:51 amI'm back.

Yeah! Glad your back Berto!

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

26 Mar.-23 Sep.
Operation SU BOK, battalion-size operation by elements of the ROK Marine Brigade and Capital Division in Binh Dinh Province.

26 Mar.-21 Jul.
Operation FILLMORE starts. The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, 2d ROK Marine Brigade and the 47th ARVN Regiment will continue search and destroy and rice harvest security operations in Phu Yen Province in an area centered 10km west-southwest of Tuy Hoa.

17 Apr.-9 Jun.
Operation LEXINGTON III begins. The 1/18 (1st Infantry Division) will start a saturation patrolling campaign in the Rung Sat Special Zone south of Nhon Trach to protect the Long Tau Shipping Channel.

1-18 May
Operation AUSTIN IV, the last in the series, begins. The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (1/327, 2/502), the 2/503 (173d Airborne) and the 45th ARVN Regiment will mount a search and destroy operation in Quang Duc and Phuoc Long provinces along the II/III CTZ boundaries near the Cambodian border between Bu Gia Map, Bu Prang and Nhon Co.

10 May-31 Jul.
MISSION: Operation PAUL REVERE I begins. The 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division operating from LZ OASIS will launch a campaign along the Cambodian border to prevent a sortie from then 1st PAVN Division and a possible attack of the CIDG Camps at Plei Djereng, Duc Co and Plei Me. Keeping one of its battalion in reserve at OASIS, the brigade will push its other two maneuver units to the southwest in the direction of the Ia Drang Valley. The 2d and 3d Brigades of the 1st Cavalry Division will reinforce if needed.

16-27 May
Operation WAHIAWA, 1st and 2d Brigades, 25thInfantry Divisions search and destroy 15km NNW of Cu Chi in Boi Loi and Ho Bo Woods.

16 May-5 Jun.
Operation CRAZY HORSE/BUN KHE 66-7 begins. The 1/5, 2/8, 1/9 and 2/12 Cav (1st Cavalry Division) and a battalion from the Cavalry Regiment, ROK Capital Division will launch a search and destroy operation in the mountainous area between the Vinh Thanh (155,90) and Suoi Ca (160,90) Valleys. Intelligence believes an NVA regiment is massing there to attack the CIDG Camp at Vinh Thanh.

16 May-8 Jun.
Operation HARDIHOOD I&II initiated. The 173d Airborne Brigade with 5RAR opconed will clear the area around Nui Dat to protect the movement of the 1st Australian Task Force to its permanent basecamp there.

17-21 May
Operation PROVIDENCE, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy, road security from Tan Uyen to Phuoc Vinh.

New Operations today in 1966:

19 May
After completion of Operation AUSTIN IV, the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (less 2/327 still in Tuy Hoa on operation FILLMORE) is moved by air to Cheo Reo for a
period of rest and to serve as I FFV reserve.

19-26 May
The 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division is alerted to move by air to the Loc Ninh CIDG Camp (87,154) and launch Operation EL PASO I to the northwest. The 9th VC Division is apparently massing for an attack on the town.

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!

On This Day

20 May, 1955

French military forces withdrew from Saigon to a coastal enclave. From there they would be slowly withdrawn from Vietnam.

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

26 Mar.-23 Sep.
Operation SU BOK, battalion-size operation by elements of the ROK Marine Brigade and Capital Division in Binh Dinh Province.

26 Mar.-21 Jul.
Operation FILLMORE starts. The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, 2d ROK Marine Brigade and the 47th ARVN Regiment will continue search and destroy and rice harvest security operations in Phu Yen Province in an area centered 10km west-southwest of Tuy Hoa.

17 Apr.-9 Jun.
Operation LEXINGTON III begins. The 1/18 (1st Infantry Division) will start a saturation patrolling campaign in the Rung Sat Special Zone south of Nhon Trach to protect the Long Tau Shipping Channel.

10 May-31 Jul.
MISSION: Operation PAUL REVERE I begins. The 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division operating from LZ OASIS will launch a campaign along the Cambodian border to prevent a sortie from then 1st PAVN Division and a possible attack of the CIDG Camps at Plei Djereng, Duc Co and Plei Me. Keeping one of its battalion in reserve at OASIS, the brigade will push its other two maneuver units to the southwest in the direction of the Ia Drang Valley. The 2d and 3d Brigades of the 1st Cavalry Division will reinforce if needed.

16-27 May
Operation WAHIAWA, 1st and 2d Brigades, 25thInfantry Divisions search and destroy 15km NNW of Cu Chi in Boi Loi and Ho Bo Woods.

16 May-5 Jun.
Operation CRAZY HORSE/BUN KHE 66-7 begins. The 1/5, 2/8, 1/9 and 2/12 Cav (1st Cavalry Division) and a battalion from the Cavalry Regiment, ROK Capital Division will launch a search and destroy operation in the mountainous area between the Vinh Thanh (155,90) and Suoi Ca (160,90) Valleys. Intelligence believes an NVA regiment is massing there to attack the CIDG Camp at Vinh Thanh.

16 May-8 Jun.
Operation HARDIHOOD I&II initiated. The 173d Airborne Brigade with 5RAR opconed will clear the area around Nui Dat to protect the movement of the 1st Australian Task Force to its permanent basecamp there.

17-21 May
Operation PROVIDENCE, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy, road security from Tan Uyen to Phuoc Vinh.

19-26 May
The 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division is alerted to move by air to the Loc Ninh CIDG Camp (87,154) and launch Operation EL PASO I to the northwest. The 9th VC Division is apparently massing for an attack on the town.

New Operations today in 1966:

20-22 May
Operation MORGAN, 3/7 Marines, 2/4 ARVN Bn search and destroy in Quang Ngai Province.

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!

On This Day

21 May, 1962

John Paul Vann was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, later retired, who became well known for his role in the Vietnam War. Although separated from the military before the Vietnam War reached its peak, he returned to service as a civilian under the auspices of the United States Agency for International Development and by the waning days of the war was the first American civilian to command troops in regular combat there. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was the only civilian in Vietnam to receive the Distinguished Service Cross.

Vann was voluntarily assigned to South Vietnam in 1962 as an adviser to Colonel Huỳnh Văn Cao, commander of the ARVN IV Corps. On May 21, 1962, Vann arrived in Mỹ Tho in the Mekong Delta 40 miles (64 km) south of Saigon as head of the U.S. advisory mission to the ARVN 7th Division. The southern half of the delta was under VC control and the northern half was contested.

In the thick of the anti-guerrilla war against the Viet Cong, Vann became concerned with the way in which the war was being prosecuted, in particular the disastrous Battle of Ap Bac. Directing the battle from a spotter plane overhead, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery in taking enemy fire. He attempted to draw public attention to the problems through press contacts such as New York Times reporter David Halberstam, directing much of his ire towards MACV commander General Paul D. Harkins. Vann completed his Vietnam assignment in March 1963 and left the Army within a few months, having completed 20 years of service.

Vann accepted a job in Denver, Colorado with defense contractor Martin Marietta. Although he succeeded there for nearly two years, he missed Vietnam and angled to return. Vann returned to Vietnam in March 1965 as an official of the Agency for International Development (AID).

After an assignment as province senior adviser, Vann was made Deputy for Civil Operations and Rural Development Support (CORDS) in the Third Corps Tactical Zone of Vietnam, which consisted of the twelve provinces north and west of Saigon—the part of South Vietnam most important to the US. CORDS was an integrated group that consisted of USAID, U.S. Information Service, Central Intelligence Agency and State Department along with U.S. Army personnel to provide needed manpower. Among other undertakings, CORDS was responsible for the Phoenix Program, which involved neutralization of the Viet Cong infrastructure, controversially often by way of assassination.

Vann served as Deputy for Civil Operations and Rural Development Support CORDS III (i.e., commander of all civilian and military advisers in the Third Corps Tactical Zone) until November 1968 when he was assigned to the same position in IV Corps, which consisted of the provinces south of Saigon in the Mekong Delta.

After his assignment to IV Corps, Vann was assigned as the senior American advisor in II Corps Military Region in the early 1970s when American involvement in the war was winding down and troops were being withdrawn. For that reason, his new job put him in charge of all United States personnel in his region, where he advised the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) commander to the region and became the first American civilian to command U.S. regular troops in combat. His position was the equivalent in responsibilities of a major general in the US Army.

Vann died in a helicopter crash in 1972 at 47 years old.

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

26 Mar.-23 Sep.
Operation SU BOK, battalion-size operation by elements of the ROK Marine Brigade and Capital Division in Binh Dinh Province.

26 Mar.-21 Jul.
Operation FILLMORE starts. The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, 2d ROK Marine Brigade and the 47th ARVN Regiment will continue search and destroy and rice harvest security operations in Phu Yen Province in an area centered 10km west-southwest of Tuy Hoa.

17 Apr.-9 Jun.
Operation LEXINGTON III begins. The 1/18 (1st Infantry Division) will start a saturation patrolling campaign in the Rung Sat Special Zone south of Nhon Trach to protect the Long Tau Shipping Channel.

10 May-31 Jul.
MISSION: Operation PAUL REVERE I begins. The 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division operating from LZ OASIS will launch a campaign along the Cambodian border to prevent a sortie from then 1st PAVN Division and a possible attack of the CIDG Camps at Plei Djereng, Duc Co and Plei Me. Keeping one of its battalion in reserve at OASIS, the brigade will push its other two maneuver units to the southwest in the direction of the Ia Drang Valley. The 2d and 3d Brigades of the 1st Cavalry Division will reinforce if needed.

16-27 May
Operation WAHIAWA, 1st and 2d Brigades, 25thInfantry Divisions search and destroy 15km NNW of Cu Chi in Boi Loi and Ho Bo Woods.

16 May-5 Jun.
Operation CRAZY HORSE/BUN KHE 66-7 begins. The 1/5, 2/8, 1/9 and 2/12 Cav (1st Cavalry Division) and a battalion from the Cavalry Regiment, ROK Capital Division will launch a search and destroy operation in the mountainous area between the Vinh Thanh (155,90) and Suoi Ca (160,90) Valleys. Intelligence believes an NVA regiment is massing there to attack the CIDG Camp at Vinh Thanh.

16 May-8 Jun.
Operation HARDIHOOD I&II initiated. The 173d Airborne Brigade with 5RAR opconed will clear the area around Nui Dat to protect the movement of the 1st Australian Task Force to its permanent basecamp there.

17-21 May
Operation PROVIDENCE, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy, road security from Tan Uyen to Phuoc Vinh.

19-26 May
The 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division is alerted to move by air to the Loc Ninh CIDG Camp (87,154) and launch Operation EL PASO I to the northwest. The 9th VC Division is apparently massing for an attack on the town.

20-22 May
Operation MORGAN, 3/7 Marines, 2/4 ARVN Bn search and destroy in Quang Ngai Province.

New Operations today in 1966:

21-23 May
ARVN units launch two-day Operation LONG PHU 971 in Kien Giang Province.

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!

On This Day

22 May, 1966

The VC killed 18 sleeping men, a woman and four children during an attack on a housing center for canal workers in An Giang Province.

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

26 Mar.-23 Sep.
Operation SU BOK, battalion-size operation by elements of the ROK Marine Brigade and Capital Division in Binh Dinh Province.

26 Mar.-21 Jul.
Operation FILLMORE starts. The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, 2d ROK Marine Brigade and the 47th ARVN Regiment will continue search and destroy and rice harvest security operations in Phu Yen Province in an area centered 10km west-southwest of Tuy Hoa.

17 Apr.-9 Jun.
Operation LEXINGTON III begins. The 1/18 (1st Infantry Division) will start a saturation patrolling campaign in the Rung Sat Special Zone south of Nhon Trach to protect the Long Tau Shipping Channel.

10 May-31 Jul.
MISSION: Operation PAUL REVERE I begins. The 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division operating from LZ OASIS will launch a campaign along the Cambodian border to prevent a sortie from then 1st PAVN Division and a possible attack of the CIDG Camps at Plei Djereng, Duc Co and Plei Me. Keeping one of its battalion in reserve at OASIS, the brigade will push its other two maneuver units to the southwest in the direction of the Ia Drang Valley. The 2d and 3d Brigades of the 1st Cavalry Division will reinforce if needed.

16-27 May
Operation WAHIAWA, 1st and 2d Brigades, 25thInfantry Divisions search and destroy 15km NNW of Cu Chi in Boi Loi and Ho Bo Woods.

16 May-5 Jun.
Operation CRAZY HORSE/BUN KHE 66-7 begins. The 1/5, 2/8, 1/9 and 2/12 Cav (1st Cavalry Division) and a battalion from the Cavalry Regiment, ROK Capital Division will launch a search and destroy operation in the mountainous area between the Vinh Thanh (155,90) and Suoi Ca (160,90) Valleys. Intelligence believes an NVA regiment is massing there to attack the CIDG Camp at Vinh Thanh.

16 May-8 Jun.
Operation HARDIHOOD I&II initiated. The 173d Airborne Brigade with 5RAR opconed will clear the area around Nui Dat to protect the movement of the 1st Australian Task Force to its permanent basecamp there.

19-26 May
The 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division is alerted to move by air to the Loc Ninh CIDG Camp (87,154) and launch Operation EL PASO I to the northwest. The 9th VC Division is apparently massing for an attack on the town.

20-22 May
Operation MORGAN, 3/7 Marines, 2/4 ARVN Bn search and destroy in Quang Ngai Province.

21-23 May
ARVN units launch two-day Operation LONG PHU 971 in Kien Giang Province.

New Operations today in 1966:

None

Good Morning, Vietnam !!!

On This Day

23 May, 1968

The U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Long Beach, operating off of the coast of North Vietnam shot down a Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) jet fighter with a RIM-8 Talos missile fired from a distance of 65 nautical miles (120 km; 75 mi) making it the first combat kill by a naval surface to air missile.

Ongoing operations today in 1966:

26 Mar.-23 Sep.
Operation SU BOK, battalion-size operation by elements of the ROK Marine Brigade and Capital Division in Binh Dinh Province.

26 Mar.-21 Jul.
Operation FILLMORE starts. The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, 2d ROK Marine Brigade and the 47th ARVN Regiment will continue search and destroy and rice harvest security operations in Phu Yen Province in an area centered 10km west-southwest of Tuy Hoa.

17 Apr.-9 Jun.
Operation LEXINGTON III begins. The 1/18 (1st Infantry Division) will start a saturation patrolling campaign in the Rung Sat Special Zone south of Nhon Trach to protect the Long Tau Shipping Channel.

10 May-31 Jul.
MISSION: Operation PAUL REVERE I begins. The 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division operating from LZ OASIS will launch a campaign along the Cambodian border to prevent a sortie from then 1st PAVN Division and a possible attack of the CIDG Camps at Plei Djereng, Duc Co and Plei Me. Keeping one of its battalion in reserve at OASIS, the brigade will push its other two maneuver units to the southwest in the direction of the Ia Drang Valley. The 2d and 3d Brigades of the 1st Cavalry Division will reinforce if needed.

16-27 May
Operation WAHIAWA, 1st and 2d Brigades, 25thInfantry Divisions search and destroy 15km NNW of Cu Chi in Boi Loi and Ho Bo Woods.

16 May-5 Jun.
Operation CRAZY HORSE/BUN KHE 66-7 begins. The 1/5, 2/8, 1/9 and 2/12 Cav (1st Cavalry Division) and a battalion from the Cavalry Regiment, ROK Capital Division will launch a search and destroy operation in the mountainous area between the Vinh Thanh (155,90) and Suoi Ca (160,90) Valleys. Intelligence believes an NVA regiment is massing there to attack the CIDG Camp at Vinh Thanh.

16 May-8 Jun.
Operation HARDIHOOD I&II initiated. The 173d Airborne Brigade with 5RAR opconed will clear the area around Nui Dat to protect the movement of the 1st Australian Task Force to its permanent basecamp there.

19-26 May
The 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division is alerted to move by air to the Loc Ninh CIDG Camp (87,154) and launch Operation EL PASO I to the northwest. The 9th VC Division is apparently massing for an attack on the town.

20-22 May
Operation MORGAN, 3/7 Marines, 2/4 ARVN Bn search and destroy in Quang Ngai Province.

21-23 May
ARVN units launch two-day Operation LONG PHU 971 in Kien Giang Province.

New Operations today in 1966:

23 May
Da Nang restored to GVN control as the main struggle-force pagoda surrenders without opposition, followed by the final pockets of resistance. Struggle forces in Hue vow to defend that city against a GVN takeover.

23 May-25
Jun. Operation ATHENS, 3/4 Marines road clearing operation between Phu Bai and Phu Loc.