Timeline, February 3rd

[David]

HISTORICAL:
February 1930 (1st month, Year of the Horse [Canh Ngo]): The Indochinese Communist Party is founded in Hong Kong by Nguyen Ai Quoc, former leader of the Revolutionary League of the Youth of Vietnam (Thanh Nien). The young revolutionary, who was also known at various times as Nguyen That Thanh, Ly Thuy, Song Man Tcho, Nguyen O Phap and Nguyen Sinh Chin, before he became known generally as Ho Chi Minh, used the Thanh Nien as a nucleus for the new party, which was formed out of an amalgamation of rival Communist groups.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
February 3, 1962 (28th day of the 12th month, Year of the Ox [Tan Suu)]: President Diem's Strategic Hamlet program begins. Peasants are moved from their ancestral holdings to defended locations, sometimes in the midst of traditional Montagnard tribal areas, chosen by the government where they could be protected and indoctrinated.. Both mountain people and peasants resent the scheme, and as well, the peasants are further annoyed because they are forced to do unpaid labor to build the defensive works of the hamlets. The government also fails to protect them -- VC cadres easily slip into the fortified settlements to spread counterpropaganda and the number of killings and abductions of government officials steadily increases.

Still, in a February 1, 1964 cable sent to the American Embassy in Saigon, after Gen. Khanh had taken power, the US Dept of State still urges that Khanh "should make prompt announcement of government's intention to maintain and continue Strategic Hamlet program. Announcement should make it clear to both local officials and populace importance government attaches to this program as central element in counterinsurgency concept ..."

February 3, 1964 (20th day of the 12th month, Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]) (US Advisory): The MACV compound in Kontum City is attacked.

February 3, 1964 (20th day of the 12th month, Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]) (US Advisory): A mission to resupply an ARVN unit that had fallen under ambush near Long Khanh succeeds despite complications.

February 3, 1965 (2nd day of the 1st month, Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): National Security Adviser, McGeorge Bundy, and a team of experts arrive in Saigon on an observation mission.

February 3, 1965 (2nd day of the 1st month, Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Operation Black Ferret begins in Quang Ngai Province, I Corps.

February 3, 1966 (14th day of the 1st month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Operation Quick Kick IV begins northeast of Saigon.

February 3, 1966 (14th day of the 1st month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Operation Taro Leaf begins northeast of Saigon.

February 3, 1966 (14th day of the 1st month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Joint Operation Roundhouse begins in the Phuoc Luoc area north of Saigon.

February 3, 1966 (14th day of the 1st month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Operation Double Eagle update.

February 3, 1968 (6th day of the 1st month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): Tet-68 update in Marble Mountain, southern I Corps (Operation Muscatine), Tay Ninh Province (Operation Yellowstone and Saratoga forces), the Central Highlands, Tan An, the Cambodian border (Operation Fargo), Cu Chi, and Dak To. One of the few American units to have reached Hue City is Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. They've had to fight their way into the city since the offensive began on January 31, first through an ambush near the village of Lang Van Lrong and again through heavy fire after crossing a river just south Hue. The commander of 3rd Platoon, Company A, Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez is possibly one of the highest-ranking US Marines currently on the scene, most of the other officers having been killed or wounded by now.

February 3, 1968 (6th day of the 1st month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III) (AR): On the lot of artillerymen, and how an airlift helped the 1/92nd Arty in I Field Force Vietnam.

POSTBELLUM:
February 3, 1994 (23rd day of the 12th month, Year of the Rooster [Quy Dau]): President Clinton announces the lifting of the trade embargo against Vietnam.