10/14/1964: US to Accompany Laotian Air Force
1964: The Pentagon authorizes U.S. fighters from Navy aircraft carriers at “Yankee Station” off the coast in the Gulf of Tonkin to fly escort for Laotian Air Force T-28 fighter-bombers on bombing missions against Viet Cong and North Vietnamese targets in Laos, protecting the T-28s from North Vietnamese MiGs. (Article for “Vietnam War Timeline” / [...]
10/14/1968: 24,000 Sent Back to Vietnam for 2nd Tours
The U.S. Department of Defense announces that 24,000 troops from the Army and the Marines will be sent back to Vietnam for involuntary second tours. This was due to the high troop turnover and the scarce supply of soldiers for what was proving to be a long war with very high personnel requirements: by January [...]
10/14/1968: Australia’s First Draft Dodger Conviction
John Zarb becomes the first Australian conscientious objector convicted of failing to comply with his draft notice. He’s sentenced to two years’ prison time. He was 21 years old, and had previously been refused official conscientious objector status. Publicity of his conviction increased public opposition to conscription, and he became a poster child for the anti-war [...]