21 APR--This Day in US Military History

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 10:08:46 -0400

1914 – A German arms shipment to Mexico is intercepted by the U.S. Navy near Veracruz, Veracruz.

The Ypiranga Incident occurred at the port of Veracruz in Mexico. The SS Ypiranga was a German steamer that was commissioned to transport arms and munitions to the Mexican federal government under Victoriano Huerta. The United States had placed Mexico under an arms embargo to stifle the flow of weaponry to the war-torn state, then in the throes of civil war, forcing the Mexican government to look to Europe for aid.
The Ypiranga tried to enter the harbor at Veracruz to unload on the first day of the US occupation but was detained by US troops who were ordered by President of the United States Woodrow Wilson to enforce the arms embargo he had placed on Mexico. There was neither a declaration of war on Mexico by the United States nor a formal blockade on its ports, thus the detention of the Ypiranga was not legal and it was released. It proceeded to a port where the US military was absent, Puerto México (modern-day Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz), and was able to offload its cargo to Huerta’s officials. The arms on the Ypiranga required “three trains of ten cars each” to unload.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/april-21/

April 21

21 April 1649 - The Maryland Toleration Act, which provided for freedom of worship for all Christians, was passed by the Maryland assembly. 1828 - Noah Webster published the first American dictiona...

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Apr 21 at 2015 10:22 AM

SSG Gerhard S. — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 10:22:35 -0400

Amazing the lengths countries will go to in order to redirect resources of their foes during times of war.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 21 at 2015 10:34 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 10:34:09 -0400

50 years ago today

1965 – The Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency report a “most ominous” development: a regiment of the People’s Army of Vietnam–the regular army of North Vietnam–division is now operating with the Viet Cong in South Vietnam. Prior to this, it was believed that South Vietnam was dealing with an internal insurgency by the Viet Cong; the report detailed that, in fact, the Viet Cong forces were being joined in the war against the Saigon government by North Vietnamese army units. In short, the report revealed that South Vietnam was now involved in a much larger war than originally believed. The situation far outstripped the combat capability of the South Vietnamese forces. In order to stabilize the situation, President Lyndon B. Johnson would have to commit U.S. ground combat units, leading to a much greater American involvement in the war. Indeed, eventually over 500,000 U.S. troops were stationed in South Vietnam