Timeline, August 27th

[David]

PREBELLUM:
August 27, 1945 (Year of the Rooster [At Dau]): After the surrender, the Japanese in Laos hand over their weapons to Prince Chao Phetsarat's Civic Guard. The Viceroy decides to call in his half-brother Prince Chao Souphanouvong, who is in Vietnam (having met Ho Chi Minh - the OSS had provided an aircraft to take him there from his residence in Vinh), to take command of the nationalist armed forces.

August 27, 1946 (Year of the Dog [Binh Tuat]): A "modus vivendi" is signed between Laos and France, granting Laos autonomous status within the French Union.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
August 27, 1961 (Year of the Ox [Tan Suu]): US Navy ships make their first official visit to Phnom Penh.

August 1963 (Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]) (US Advisory): Captain Barry Petersen is posted to the AATTV in Vietnam and attached to CSD based at a provincial capital at Ban Me Thuot in the southern central highlands. Petersen is without responsibility, authority or direction on arrival but spends his time visiting the Rhade (a local Montagnard tribe) villages and learning their dialect. Involving himself in the security and welfare of the Rhade, he gains the responsibility of supporting and supervising the operations of Montagnard paramilitary political action teams in the province, which the VC infiltrate from Cambodia. Thus begins a two-year legendary adventure, which involves Captain Petersen living in some of the most isolated areas of Vietnam, gaining acceptance as a Rhade chieftain, acting as a central figure in the quelling of a widespread tribal revolt against the South Vietnamese Government and, at the height of his influence, leading an army of over a thousand whom he has recruited, trained and organized. He ultimately will become suspect to both American and Vietnamese authorities (three years later, General Taylor will mention in a memo how US success in winning over the Montagnards led to accusations of subversion from the GVN) and eventually Captain Petersen will be removed from his post, leaving the country in October 1965.

August 27, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): ARVN begins Operation Binh Thuan 39.

August 27, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): The Joint Chiefs of Staff present the Secretary of Defense with the paper, "The Over-All US Concept for Vietnam."

August 27, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Two helicopters are hit by enemy fire while extracting 180 SF and CIDG from Duc Lap.

August 27, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): A/7/17 Cavalry Scouts come across 3 NVA taking evasive action and kill one.