Good Morning RallyPoint on this October 15, 2020. Here is your history for the Vietnam War on this day 15 October. I also have the honor of presenting another Medal of Honor earned on this day 15 October 1967. Welcome home all Veterans and those that gave their all may you all rest in peace...!

Today, 15 October in Vietnam war History

15 October 1960, USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599) begins successful firing of four Polaris test vehicles under operational rather than test conditions. Tests are completed on 18 October.

15 October 1962, Despite State Department denials, several sources report that US helicopter crewmen have begun to fire first on Vietcong formations encountered during missions with South Vietnamese troops.

15 October 1964, It was announced that Soviet leader Nikita S. Khrushchev had been removed from office. He was succeeded as premier by Alexei N. Kosygin and as Communist Party secretary by Leonid I. Brezhnev.

15 October 1965, Operation Flip Flop, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment search and destroy and security operation, Bình Dương Province

15 October 1965 – 16 October 1965, The National Coordinating Committee to End the War in Vietnam, founded in August 1965 in Washington, D.C., organizes the “International Days of Protest,” along with the Berkeley Vietnam Day Committee and other groups. Protests of various sizes against U.S. involvement in Vietnam take place in dozens of American and several European cities. Perhaps as many as 100,000 people participate in total.

15 October 1965, The first public burning of a draft card in the United States took place in New York. The pacifist that burned the card was later arrested, tried, found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison.

15 October 1966 – 24 November 1966, U.S. troops moved into Tay Ninh Province as part of Operation Attleboro. The operation ended on November 25. Operation Attleboro was the first field test of the U.S. Army's new search and destroy doctrine and set a pattern that would be later exhibited other large operations including Cedar Falls and Junction City. These operations began with massive B-52 Arc Light bombing strikes followed by helicopter and ground sweeps that usually made sporadic contact with PAVN/VC forces. Americans often uncovered evidence of hasty departure (i.e. abandoned camps, vacated tunnels, caches of food and supplies) indicating that the PAVN/VC forces had been alerted by the preparations for upcoming search-and-destroy missions. Operation Attleboro grew to be the largest series of air mobile operations to that time, involving all or elements of the 196th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, 1st Infantry Division and a brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, as well as numerous Army of the Republic of Vietnam and Regional Forces/Popular Forces and Nùngs. In the end, the operation became a Corps operation commanded by II Field Force, Vietnam The VC left 1,106 dead on the battlefield and had 44 captured. Friendly losses were 155 killed and 494 wounded.

15 October 1967 – 17 October 1967, Operation Onslow, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and ARVN 2nd Ranger Battalion search and destroy operation, Quảng Nam Province

15 October 1967 – 31 December 1967, Operation Boudinot, 5th Special Forces Group, 27th MSF Company and CIDG operation, Đắk Lắk Province, 14 enemy killed, 2 captured, 1 USSF KIA, 1 USSF WIA, 2 CIDG WIA.

15 October, 1968, Operation War Bonnet, Special Forces Detachment B-52, Project DELTA and 282nd Assault Helicopter Company reconnaissance operation, around An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province

15 October 1969, Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam. An informal coalition mobilizes the largest nationwide day of protest against the war. Over two million people across the United States participate in marches, rallies, teach-ins, religious services, vigils, casualty memorials, and candlelight events. These widespread and overwhelmingly peaceful civil protests attract many who are new participants in the public antiwar movement. At least 100,000 people gather in Boston, the largest event. Print media covers the Moratorium heavily, reporting that it is orderly, supports moderate views, and essentially non-violent. With polls suggesting that six out of ten Americans consider the war a mistake, the Nixon administration takes steps to solidify support for its policies with a series of information releases, public statements, and speeches by administration officials. Peace demonstrators staged activities across the US, including a candlelight march around the White House, as part Vietnam Moratorium Day.

15 October 1967, Webster Anderson (July 15, 1933 – August 30, 2003) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Anderson joined the Army from his birth city of Winnsboro, South Carolina in 1953 and served during the Korean War, and by October 15, 1967, was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 320th Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Infantry Division (Airmobile). On that day, Anderson's artillery unit was attacked by North Vietnamese forces near Tam Kỳ in the Republic of Vietnam. Anderson directed the defense of the unit's position and continued to lead after twice being severely wounded. Despite losing both of his legs and part of an arm, he survived his wounds and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class before being retired and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle. Webster Anderson died at age 70 of colon cancer and was buried in Blackjack Baptist Church Cemetery in his hometown of Winnsboro, South Carolina.

Citation:
Sfc. Anderson (then S/Sgt.), distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as chief of section in Battery A, against a hostile force. During the early morning hours Battery A's defensive position was attacked by a determined North Vietnamese Army infantry unit supported by heavy mortar, recoilless rifle, rocket propelled grenade and automatic weapon fire. The initial enemy onslaught breached the battery defensive perimeter. Sfc. Anderson, with complete disregard for his personal safety, mounted the exposed parapet of his howitzer position and became the mainstay of the defense of the battery position. Sfc. Anderson directed devastating direct howitzer fire on the assaulting enemy while providing rifle and grenade defensive fire against enemy soldiers attempting to overrun his gun section position. While protecting his crew and directing their fire against the enemy from his exposed position, 2 enemy grenades exploded at his feet knocking him down and severely wounding him in the legs. Despite the excruciating pain and though not able to stand, Sfc. Anderson valorously propped himself on the parapet and continued to direct howitzer fire upon the closing enemy and to encourage his men to fight on. Seeing an enemy grenade land within the gun pit near a wounded member of his gun crew, Sfc. Anderson heedless of his own safety, seized the grenade and attempted to throw it over the parapet to save his men. As the grenade was thrown from the position it exploded and Sfc. Anderson was again grievously wounded. Although only partially conscious and severely wounded, Sfc. Anderson refused medical evacuation and continued to encourage his men in the defense of the position. Sfc. Anderson by his inspirational leadership, professionalism, devotion to duty and complete disregard for his welfare was able to maintain the defense of his section position and to defeat a determined attack. Sfc. Anderson's gallantry and extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Today is Saturday, October 15, 2020
Vietnam War memorial facts
166 Names on the wall were born on 15 October
93 Names on the wall died on 15 October
245 men earned the Medal Of Honor in the Vietnam war and 160 of those men are listed on the wall

Memorial Wall facts:
1st Lieutenant Sharon Ann Lane, U.S. Army was killed by a rocket explosion on June 8, 1969, less than 10 weeks a er she arrived in Vietnam. Assigned to the 312th Evacuation Hospital, 1LT Lane was working in the Vietnamese ward of the hospital when the rocket exploded, killing her and her patients. She was from Ohio and her name can be found on Panel 23W, Line 112.


Other facts of interest:
As of April 14, 2017, there are 1,611 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War across Vietnam (1,258), Laos(297), Cambodia(49), and China(7).

Vietnam war quotes:
Combat is fast, unfair, cruel, and dirty. It is meant to be that way so that the terrible experience is branded into the memory of those who are fortunate enough to survive. It is up to those survivors to ensure that the experience is recorded and passed along to those who just might want to try it. BRUCE H. NORTON, Force Recon Diary, 1969: The Riveting, True-to-Life Account of Survival and Death in One of the Most Highly Skilled Units in Vietnam

During the day on Monday, Washington time, the airport at Saigon came under persistent rocket as well as artillery fire and was effectively closed. The military situation in the area deteriorated rapidly. I therefore ordered the evacuation of all American personnel remaining in South Vietnam. GERALD FORD, statement announcing the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the Republic of Vietnam, April 29, 1975

The Vietnam War is more than 50 years old and veterans of that conflict are aging. We need to get them to share their stories and experiences during the war with young people who know very little about it. RODNEY WHATLEY, "PSC Theater Director Bridging Gaps With Play About Vietnam War", Pensacola State College News, October 18, 2016