Timeline, October 30th

[David]

PREBELLUM:
October 1936 (Year of the Rat [Binh Ty]): Trotsky's "Whither France?" is published.(Trotskyites)

"In Saigon the Trotskyists were inspired by the conclusions of the manifesto Whither France?, which Trotsky had published in October. The last lap of the race between Fascism and the workers' revolution had started: no third way was possible but only short detours, which led to one or the other. In the end a recourse to violence was inevitable."--From "La Lutte and the Vietnamese Trotskyites", Daniel Hemery

"...To bring the petty bourgeoisie to its side, the proletariat must win its confidence. And for that it...must have a clear program of action and must be ready to struggle for power by all possible means...The peasants will understand such language. Only, they must have faith in the capacity of the proletariat to seize power. . .A revolutionary situation does not fall from the skies. It takes form with the active participation of the revolutionary class and its party. "-- From "Whither France?" (excerpts), Leon Trotsky

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
October 30, 1945 (Year of the Rooster [At Dau]): In Laos, the Provisional Government signs a treaty and alliance with the Viet Minh.

October 1950 (Year of the Tiger [Canh Dan]): At the end of the month, the eight-man US Navy section of MAAG processes the first shipment of naval material (Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters) to French forces in Indochina. At this time (late 1950), the Viet Minh are estimated to have a military reserve almost equal to that of the French Expeditionary Force (CEFEO). Supporting Viet Minh forces are the first three formations trained and equipped in China: the 308 "Capital" Division, and Regiments 174 and 209. The 308 Division, built around the earlier Regimental Group 308, follows the standard Chinese structure of three infantry regiments, one heavy weapons (artillery) regiment, and support units. During the next four years, as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program, the US will deliver a total of $2.6 billion in military aid to the French, including two light aircraft carriers (renamed by the French Bois Belleau and La Fayette), 438 amphibious landing ships and craft, armored river patrol boats and other vessels, and 500 aircraft. In addition, MAAGs Navy section will oversee the provision of spare parts and the development of base facilities such as the Naval Shipyard in Saigon and the Naval Amphibious Base in Haiphong.

INTERBELLUM:
October 1954 (Year of the Horse [Giap Ngo]): Following the departure of the French from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh returns after spending eight years in the jungle, and formally takes control of North Vietnam. In South Vietnam, Bao Dai installs the Catholic anti-Communist Ngo Dinh Diem as premier. Some one million Catholics leave the north for the south, although many Catholics choose to remain there. Some 90,000 Communists in the south head north, although about 10,000 of them are instructed by Hanoi to stay where they are.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
October 30, 1962 (Year of the Tiger [Nham Dan]) (US Advisory): A VC assault battalion attacks Father Tong's Catholic Youth unit of the CIDG at Long Phu (also known as Tra Lang).

October 30, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): An Army Huey crashes in I Corps and its crew is rescued.

October 30, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Two days after attacking US air bases at Marble Mountain and Chu Lai, the VC probe US Marine defenses near Da Nang, at Hill 22, south of the Tuy Loan River, manned by the Marines of Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines.

October 30, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): 1 ATF, with under units including 5 RAR and 6 RAR, begins Operation Bundaberg, a combined operation with Phuoc Tuy sector to cordon and search the village of Hoa Long, 1 km south of the 1 ATF base. The village of 3756 people includes the former population of a pro-VC village, Xa Long Phuoc, who were resettled here in May 1966, and its northern sector is now VC-dominated, with VC cadres, hard-core VC, and their supporters gathering intelligence, taxes and food; conducting terrorism and visits; and facilitating other VC forces acting against ARVN forces in the village and in South Vietnamese/allied activities, especially on Route 2. 1 ATF establishes the cordon at dawn, and Phuoc Tuy sector forces carry out the search of all dwellings, evacuated suspects, and are responsible for their security and interrogation at Sector HQ in Ba Ria. Results: 41 suspects are detained, 38 of whom are determined to be VC. Also 46 South Vietnamese draft evaders are caught.

October 30, 1966 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): A 155th AHC Huey is shot down near Plei Djereng.

October 30, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Operation Shenandoah II update: Once again, elements of the US 1/18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, encounter the enemy in War Zone D near Srok Silamite.

Meanwhile, as the series of Communist attacks in remote and border areas, such as Song Be, Loc Ninh and Dak To continue, drawing off ARVN and allied troops from their defensive positions around South Vietnamese cities, and as the rate of infiltration of troops from the North rises to 20,000 per month, MACV leadership begins to suspect that something bigger may be in store for early in the coming year.

October 30, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): One of four 155th AHC Huey's crashes while transporting refugees to Ba Ria; only one person is injured. Update on other 155th AHC activities.

October 30, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive): A Company, 3 RAR begins Operation Diamond Pin in AO Rapier.

Fall 1970 (Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat] (US Counteroffensive Phase VII): NVA troops in Cambodia engage the Cambodian Republican army near the town of Kompong Tham. By the end of the year, there will be 10,000 NVA troops in that area, including the 1 Division astride Route 4 and elements of the 5, 7 and 9 Divisions operating east of the Mekong.

October 1972 (Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Cease-Fire): Nguyen Hue/Easter Offensive: By the end of the month, the ARVN Airborne Division in Thua Thien Province reoccupies FSB Barbara and sets out to retake FSB Anne to the north.

October 30, 1973 (Year of the Ox [Quy Suu]): The NVA 208th Artillery begins softening up ARVN positions at Bu Prang and Bu Bong with 85mm and 122mm field guns and 120mm mortars. Meanwhile, the NVA 271st Regiment with the 46th Reconnaissance Battalion moves toward Dak Song. In the Delta, the NVA 101D Regiment has been so badly mauled by the RVNAF 44th Special Tactical Zone and its 7th Ranger Group that it withdraws back to its Cambodian base and never again becomes a significant threat to South Vietnam's Military Region 4.

THIRD INDOCHINA WAR:
October 1977 (Year of the Snake [Dinh Ti]): PAVN launches an multi-divisional incursion into southern Cambodia led by General Tran Van Tra, who commanded the NVA in the Parrot's Beak during the Second War and knows the area well. The PAVN 9 Division (probably, according to Osprey), with artillery and armor support, push 20 km into Cambodia from Tay Ninh Province, while a second division rolls down Route 7 into Mimot. A Khmer Rouge counteroffensive (dates unavailable) reclaims most of the territory.

POSTBELLUM:
October 30, 1997 (Year of the Ox [Dinh Suu]): King Sihanouk declares that his mission to Cambodia to bring peace between the two warring factions led by Hun Sen and Prince Ranariddh has failed. He leaves the country, saying that 'only his Buddhist faith prevented him from suiciding.'