Timeline, November 16th

[David]

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
November 1945 (Year of the Rooster [At Dau]): In the North, the occupying Chinese expeditionary forces of Chang Kai-shek have demanded that the Communists negotiate with the Vietnamese nationalist parties, and Ho Chi Minh's government therefore begins negotiations with the Vietnamese Nationalist Party (Viet Nam Quoc Dan Dang, or VNQDD) and the League for the Restoration of Vietnam (Viet Nam Phuc Quoc Dong Minh Hoi), both of which initially take a hard line in their demands, but finally consent to work out a final agreement that calls for a provisional coalition government with Ho as president and nationalist leader Nguyen Hai Than as vice president. Meanwhile, in the south, French troops are still battling the Binh Xuyen-led and other resistance forces (notably the Tramway militia) in the Rung Sat and elsewhere, and are continuing to occupy towns in the Mekong Delta with their new riverine force. Plagued by clashes with the religious sects, lack of weapons, and a high desertion rate, the Viet Minh are being driven deep (or fleeing, depending on source) into the inaccessible countryside.

November 16, 1951 (Year of the Hare [Tan Mao]): Hoa Binh campaign: Mobile Group 3 has continued to clear Viet Minh forces from Colonial Route 6, with two engineer battalions repairing the road in their wake. By the evening of the 16th, CEFEO Muong allies push out of the forest and down into the Hoa Binh depression, where they cross the Black River to link up with the paras. Hoa Binh is now officially in French hands.

November 16, 1952 (Year of the Dragon [Nham Thin]): Operation Lorraine: The paras withdraw down Colonial Route 2. The rest of the CEFEO units are to follow them on the 17th.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
November 16, 1961 (Year of the Ox [Tan Suu]): President Kennedy decides to increase military aid to South Vietnam without committing US combat forces.

November 16, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Ia Drang Valley: Trip flares near some defensive positions at LZ X-Ray go off just before 0400, and soon the first of four major NVA attacks is on the way. However, the Americans have put fresh troops from the 2/7th in position; as well, the delay between the previous day's attack and these has enabled the cavalrymen to dig deep, replenish their supplies and ammo, and to place defensive weapons for maximum effectiveness. The first attack is driven back; some 20 minutes later, NVA come streaming down the mountain in great strength, but are destroyed in "an avalanche of shells" (Woodruff). A third attack comes at 0503, towards the right side of the defensive line, but within 30 minutes the attackers have been destroyed. In the lulls between attacks, the British-born platoon leader of 1st Platoon, B/2/7, sings choruses of the Australian bush ballad, "Wild Colonial Boy" (... He drew a pistol from his belt and spun it like a toy; "I'll fight, but I won't surrender," said the wild colonial boy..." to steady his men, though they are outnumbered three to one. At 0627, the NVA launch their last, all-or-nothing attack and end up with nothing: they run into heavy defensive ground fire as well as airbursts of 105mm artillery and 81mm mortars, and the attack is over in less than 15 minutes. Shortly before 1000, after a massive series of air strikes, the Americans push out from their perimeter, killing another 27 NVA and ending all resistance. Part of the 2/7th is sent marching in from LZ Columbus, and by the afternoon, the 1/7th has been airlifted back to the rear to reorganize, leaving the area in the hands of the 2/5th and those elements of the 2/7th who have arrived from LZ Columbus. The troops at X-Ray spend the night with their companies on 100% alert and, with sporadic gunfire echoing around the perimeter, no one gets any sleep.

November 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Operation New Life update: For the first time, the 173rd uses LRRPs, infiltrating them by helicopter deep into the enemy rear where they operate independently for weeks at a time. Note: this is per the brief New Life description -- Stanton, in "Rangers At War," doesn't mention New Life, saying that the 173rd initially relied on its motorized jeep and aeroscout elements of Troop E (Airborne), 17th Cav, for reconnaissance; that the cavalry scouts were organized to fight in an 'airborne pocket' and perform the traditional role of mounted scouts in road reconnaissance; and that, starting in May 1965, the brigade began routine reconnaissance of a light cavalry nature to secure field artillery positions, escort motorized convoys and screen battalion movements, with the first foot patrols not performing ranger-type activities but being 'dismounted patrols' supplementing the jeep-riding 'mounted patrols' being used to clear roads and accompany convoys. According to Stanton, the Brigade's first LRRP was organized in April 1966; these eventually became Company N (Airborne Ranger) of the 75th Infantry, choosing the field name 'November Rangers.'

November 16-18, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Operation Coronado IX: The allies engage enemy troops along the border between Dinh Tuong and Kien Phong provinces.

November 16, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Information on Operation Kien Gang.

November 16, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Operation Macarthur/battle of Dak To update: The fight goes on. Allied forces try to dislodge the enemy from the surrounding hills, but the North Vietnamese are holding fast in fortified positions. The center of enemy resistance is Hill 875, a veritable fortress that has bunkers and trenches connected by tunnels. The underground bunkers have as much as 2 m of overhead cover to protect their occupants from bombing and artillery, and slit gun ports opening onto excellent fields of fire. When the NVA infantry goes on the attack, the soldiers are camouflaged and have prepared avenues of entry to and withdrawal from the battlefield. A/4/503 of the 173rd engages an unknown size force, killing one NVA, and later in the afternoon, finds a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun.

November 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): Operation Sheridan Sabre update: Battle west of Katum.

November 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): Operation SEALORDS update: Operation Tran Hung (or possibly Tran Hung Dao - am still studying this), the second SEALORDS barrier operation in the western Mekong Delta, begins.

November 16-19, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VI): The 361st AWC supports MACV SOG CCC missions in Kontum Province.

November 16, 1969 (Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Winter-Spring 1970): An F4 is downed near Mu Gia Pass.

November 16, 1972 Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter Offensive: An F105G is shot down over North Vietnam.