Good R.E.D Friday Morning RallyPoint on this, 19 February, 2021, thank you for your service. Here is your history for the Vietnam War on this day 19 February through the years of the war. Also today I have the honor of introducing RP members to an Army SF Medal Of Honor recipient due to actions taken on this day 19 February in Vietnam History.
Welcome home all Veterans.. and to those that gave their all, …may you rest in peace...!

Today, 19 February in Vietnam war history;

19 February 1960, United States Ambassador to South Vietnam Elbridge Durbrow requested that U.S. Army Special Forces provide anti-guerrilla training to the 50,000 man para-military Civil Guard. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Operative Colonel Edward Lansdale in Washington concurred with the request. Up until this time MAAG in South Vietnam had provided training only for conventional warfare and only to the ARVN.

19 February 1962, Seabee Technical Assistance Teams Established The Navy establishes and begins training 13-man Seabee Technical Assistance Teams (STATs) to counter Communist insurgents through civic action programs and to support CIDGs. The first STATs deploy to Vietnam in January 1963. In South Vietnam, STATs build military installations, village fortifications, houses, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, and wells. They also fortify isolated bases held by U.S. Special Operations forces and their paramilitary troops.

19 February 1965, Operation: 2-65, 5th SFGA., Det B-52 Project DELTA, 91st Abn Rgr Bn., Reconnaissance operation of the Vung Ro Bay area.

19 February 1965, Fourteen Vietnam War protesters were arrested for blocking U.N. doors in New York.

19 February 1965, US jets used for the first time in RVN as USAF F-100'sand B-57's conduct interdiction strikes against VC targets in Phuoc Tuy Province.

19 February 1965, Colonel Phạm Ngọc Thảo and General Lam Van Phat mounted a coup d'état to overthrow General Khánh, head of the Armed Forces Council. The coup failed but the instability forced Khanh from power. General Khanh escaped to Dalat with the aid of Air Vice Marshal Nguyen Cao Ky, commander of the South Vietnamese Air Force, who then threatened to bomb Saigon and the Tan Son Nhut Airport unless the rebel troops were withdrawn. Ky was dissuaded from this by Gen. William Westmoreland, Commander of U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam, who told Ky that more political instability might have a negative impact on continued U.S. aid. Khanh was able to get troops to take over from the insurgents without any resistance on February 20. Meanwhile, Ky met with the dissident officers and agreed to their demand for the dismissal of Khanh. On February 21, the Armed Forces Council dismissed Khanh as chairman and as commander of the armed forces. General Lam Van Phat replaced him. The next day, Khanh announced that he had accepted the council’s decision, after which he was appointed a “roving ambassador,” assigned first to go to the United Nations and present evidence that the war in South Vietnam was being directed from Hanoi by the North Vietnamese. North Vietnam later revealed that Thao was a communist agent.

19 February 1966 – 1 March 1966, Operation: DOUBLE EAGLE II/LIEN KET 24, Controlling headquarters: Task Force DELTA. Task organization: 3/1 Marines, 2/3 Marines (SLF), 2/7 Marines, 2/9 Marines; 2nd ARVN Div (elts), one VNMC Bn., Road Security Operation, Route 13, Binh Duong Province. Execution: After terminating DOUBLE EAGLE, Task Force DELTA moved 50 miles to the north, acting on intelligence pointing the 1st PLAF Regiment west of Tam Ky but found little of the enemy. The 2nd ARVN Division with a VNMC Bn participated in companion operation LIEN KET 24.Results: 125 enemy killed, 15 detained, 6 US KIA, 136 US WIA.

19 February 1966, U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy became the first member of the Senate to break with President Johnson in proposing that the VC be allowed "a share of power and responsibility" in peace talks with the United States.

19 February 1967 – 20 February 1967, Operation: SUITLAND, 2d Bde, 1st Inf Div., 2-16 Inf, 52nd ARVN Rgr Bn, Search and destroy, Cordon and search, an Hiep, Co Ni Jungle, Dong Nai Sensitive Zone, Bien Hoa Province. This was a sub operation of LAM SON 67 consisting of a cordon and search of Tan Hiep and a search and destroy mission in the adjacent Co Ni Jungle 4 km northeast of Di An. Results: 18 enemy detained.

19 February 1967 – 14 May 1967, Operation Ala Moana, 25th Infantry Division operation, Hua Nghai, Tây Ninh and Bình Dương Provinces, 382 VC/PAVIN KIA, 38 U.S. KIA

19 February 1968, A VC rocket attack on Tan Son Nhut Air Base hit the civilian air terminal at Tan Son Nhut Airport killing one person. Six further rocket/mortar attacks over this day killed another six people and wounded 151.


19 February 1970, The Sơn Thắng massacre /sənˈtæŋ/, [ʂəːŋ˧˧ tʰaŋ˦˧˥]) was a massacre conducted by the United States Marine Corps during Operation Imperial Lake on 19 February 1970, in which five women and 11 children were killed. The Marines reported the civilians killed as being Vietcong (VC) killed in a firefight.[1] These incidents were reported by civilians and charges were brought up against the Marines. Four Marines were court-martialed and one was sentenced to 5 years in prison and the other to life, but Major General Charles F. Widdecke reduced each sentence to less than year.

Background;
On 12 February, a VC ambush had killed 9 Marines from Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines.
A five-man Marine "hunter-killer" patrol led by Lance Corporal Randell D. Herrod, who had been in the country for 7 months, alongside Private Thomas R. Boyd Jr., PFC Samuel G. Green, PFC Michael A. Schwarz and Lance Corporal Michael S. Krichten had been in Vietnam for only a month, was sent out from Firebase Ross. The Company commander 1Lt Ambort had ordered the team to avenge the company's casualties and "get some gooks tonight." The Sơn Thắng hamlet located 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Firebase Ross had previously been asked to move to a "safe-zone" in the region but had declined.

Massacre;
Upon arriving at Sơn Thắng, the team had encountered three small huts in the area. They had ordered the inhabitants, all women and young children out. Herrod had then ordered the team to fire upon the group. The team then proceeded to a second hut, and killed all of its inhabitants, including five young children and a woman. Following this, the team had came upon a third hut and proceeded to kill four children and a woman for a total of 5 women and 11 children killed. Upon returning to the base, the team "reported a fire-fight with 15-20 Việt Cộng" and had a body count of 6 enemy killed. The following morning, after advice from Vietnamese civilians, another Marine patrol entered Sơn Thắng and found the dead. Marines Battalion headquarters challenged 1Lt Ambort's after action report and he eventually admitted to having falsified it. On 20 February 1st Marine Division commander MG Edwin B. Wheeler reported to III Marine Amphibious Force that a "possible serious incident" had occurred at Sơn Thắng.

Aftermath
On 23 February 1Lt Ambort was removed from command and the next day a pre-trial investigation commenced which charged the 5 Marines on the patrol with murder. 1LT Ambort received a letter of reprimand and fine for making a false report. On 15 May 4 members of the patrol were court-martialed, while the other member, LCPL Krichten agreed to assist the prosecution. The trial began in June. Schwarz was found guilty of 12 counts of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison. Green was found guilty of 12 counts of unpremeditated murder and sentenced to 5 years in prison. Herrod and Boyd were both acquitted. Extremely favorable testimony as character witness was given by Herrod's friend Oliver North. Oliver North, whose life was saved by the lance corporal a few months earlier. On 15 December 1970 Major General Charles F. Widdecke reduced each of Schwartz and Green's sentences to one year.


Today is 19 February 2021
Vietnam War Memorial facts
151 Names on the wall were born on 19 February
194 Names on the wall died on 19 February
245 men earned the Medal Of Honor in the Vietnam war and 160 of those men are listed on the wall

Other wall information/stories/quotes;

“I visited the wall and found a classroom friend, Ronald Knosky who was killed in 1967. He was a sweet, funny guy, also known as Goosey. It brought tears to my eyes as I remember his wake and funeral. He was only 21. I touched his name and wish[ed] him peace.” – Nancy C., New Jersey


Vietnam war info of interest, Quotes, etc.

“I would not trade you a billion dollars for the kids I led to combat in Vietnam or in fact any of the Marines that I served with for a quarter of a century.”-Oliver North

“I am afraid if the present trend in Vietnam continues that direct confrontation, first of all between Washington and Peking, is inevitable. “-U Thant

“The bombs in Vietnam explode at home; they destroy the hopes and possibilities for a decent America.”-Martin Luther King, Jr.

“How do you know there’s not a door to heaven in the sky between Malaysia and Vietnam?”-Sarah Palin

“If the Mets can win the World Series, the United States can get out of Vietnam. “-Tom Seaver


Links of interest?

Looking for a Brother or sister you served with? This might help you.
The Viet Nam Veterans Home Page to be quite useful in finding living veterans. They maintain a Lost and Found section http://www.vietvet.org/lostfnd.htm, with listings of people looking for people.

To find information on the availability of U.S. Navy deck logs during the Vietnam war era, check out this link. https://historyhub.history.gov/community/military-records/blog/2020/10/08/update-on-availability-of-vietnam-era-1956-1978-us-navy-deck-logs

Unit Reunions, Homecomings, Gatherings, Newsletters, Etc. can be found at http://www.vietvet.org/unitlist.htm
There are two replica versions of The Vietnam Veterans Memorial that tour the United States regularly. The first of them which is called The Moving Wall, has been traveling the country for almost twenty years. You can find their schedule at http://www.themovingwall.org/
Where can I find the latest information on the status of Prisoners of War and those listed as Missing in Action? A: The Library of Congress maintains POW/MIA information at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pow/powhome.html


Quotes;
"Our Nation' s motto - "In God We Trust" - was not chosen lightly. It reflects a basic recognition that there is a divine authority in the universe to which this nation owes homage."- President Reagan, March 19, 1981

“It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.”- Abraham Lincoln

"Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth." - George Washington

“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”- William Jennings Bryan

"As much as I converse with sages and heroes, they have very little of my love and admiration. I long for rural and domestic scene, for the warbling of birds and the prattling of my children." - U.S. President John Adams


One Congressional Medal of Honor Citations for actions taken in the Vietnam War on this day 19 February in Vietnam War history; Sergeant First Class (then S/Sgt.) Fred William Zabitosky U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Biography;
Zabitosky joined the Army from his birth city of Trenton, New Jersey in 1959, and by February 19, 1968 was serving as a Staff Sergeant with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). On that day, while on reconnaissance patrol in Laos, his small team came under intense enemy fire. Zabitosky directed the defense until rescue helicopters arrived, and when the helicopter that was to extract him from the battlefield crashed, he ignored his own injuries to save the downed craft's pilot. Zabitosky was later promoted to Sergeant First Class and, in 1969, was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon. He retired from the Army after 30 years of service (1959-1989) with the rank of Master Sergeant.
Zabitosky, aged 53 at his death, was buried in Lumbee Memorial Park, Lumberton, North Carolina. A street, the former Community Access Road, on nearby Fort Bragg was named in his honor.

ZABITOSKY, FRED WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class (then S/Sgt.), U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 19 February 1968. Entered service at: Trenton, N.J. Born: 27 October 1942, Trenton, N.J.

Medal of Honor citation;
Sergeant First Class Zabitosky's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Zabitosky, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as an assistant team leader of a 9-man Special Forces long-range reconnaissance patrol. Sfc. Zabitosky’s patrol was operating deep within enemy-controlled territory when they were attacked by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army unit. Sfc. Zabitosky rallied his team members, deployed them into defensive positions, and, exposing himself to concentrated enemy automatic weapons fire, directed their return fire. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sfc. Zabitosky ordered his patrol to move to a landing zone for helicopter extraction while he covered their withdrawal with rifle fire and grenades. Rejoining the patrol under increasing enemy pressure, he positioned each man in a tight perimeter defense and continually moved from man to man, encouraging them and controlling their defensive fire. Mainly due to his example, the outnumbered patrol maintained its precarious position until the arrival of tactical air support and a helicopter extraction team. As the rescue helicopters arrived, the determined North Vietnamese pressed their attack. Sfc. Zabitosky repeatedly exposed himself to their fire to adjust suppressive helicopter gunship fire around the landing zone. After boarding 1 of the rescue helicopters, he positioned himself in the door delivering fire on the enemy as the ship took off. The helicopter was engulfed in a hail of bullets and Sfc. Zabitosky was thrown from the craft as it spun out of control and crashed. Recovering consciousness, he ignored his extremely painful injuries and moved to the flaming wreckage. Heedless of the danger of exploding ordnance and fuel, he pulled the severely wounded pilot from the searing blaze and made repeated attempts to rescue his patrol members but was driven back by the intense heat. Despite his serious burns and crushed ribs, he carried and dragged the unconscious pilot through a curtain of enemy fire to within 10 feet of a hovering rescue helicopter before collapsing. Sfc. Zabitosky’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
SS/ R. M. Nixon

The other Americans who were killed in the crash were Warrant Officer John W. Cook, from Long Beach, California; Staff Sergeant Melvin C. Dye, from Carleton, Michigan; Staff Sergeant Robert S. Griffith, from Hapeville, Georgia (all three were part of the helicopter rescue crew); and Sergeant First Class Douglas J. Glover, from Cortland New York. Glover was a Special Forces soldier and had been under Zabitosky’s command. The men are memorialized on Panels 40 E and 42 E of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.