13th Valley (103 page)
Authors: John M Del Vecchio
NVA:
    North Vietnamese Army. Also, a North Vietnamese soldier.
OD:
    Olive drab.
Oh-Deuce:
    Nickname of the 7th Battalion, 402d Infantry.
OP:
    Observation Post.
opcon:
    Operational Control.
opposition:
    The enemy.
OSCAR:
    The military phonetic for the letter O.
P-38:
    A tiny collapsible can opener.
PAPA:
    The military phonetic for the letter P.
PIO:
    Public Information Office or Officer or a person who works for such office.
piss-tube:
    A vertical tube buried in the ground for urinating into.
point: or pointman.
    The first man of a patrol.
PRC-25: or Prick-25.
    The standard infantry radio used in Vietnam. Carried by RTOs, the radio was heavy and considered an ass-kicker.
PRC-77:
    A radio similar to the PRC-25 but with a kryptographic scrambling/ descrambling unit attached. Sometimes called the Monster, it was a âreal ass-kicker.' Transmission frequencies on the PRC-77 were called the secure net.
PSP:
    Perforated Steel Plate.
PsyOps:
    Psychological Operations.
PZ:
    Pick-up Zone.
QUAD 50s:
    A four-barrelled assembly of .50 caliber machine guns.
QUEBEC:
    The military phonetic for the letter Q.
RBF:
    Recon By Fire.
redball:
    An enemy high speed trail or road.
red bird:
    A Cobra helicopter.
REMF:
    (rim-ph) Rear Echelon Mother Fucker.
RIF:
    Recon in force, a heavy reconnaissance patrol. Later, Reduction in force, an administrative mechanism for retiring career soldiers prior to the end of their 20 year term.
rock'n'roll:
    Firing a weapon on full automatic.
ROK:
    Republic of Korea.
ROMEO:
    The military phonetic for the letter R.
RPD:
    A light machine gun. See LMG.
RPG:
    Rocket Propelled Grenade. See B-40.
R&R:
    Rest and Relaxation.
RTO:
    Radio-Telephone Operator.
ruck, rucksack:
    Backpack issued to infantry in Vietnam.
rumor control:
    The most accurate source of information prior to the actual occurrence of an event.
RVN:
    Republic of Vietnam (South).
S & S:
    Supply & Service, designation of a support unit.
S-l:
    Personnel.
S-2:
    Intelligence.
S-3:
    Operations.
S-4:
    Supply.
S-5:
    Civil Affairs.
SAF:
    Small Arms Fire.
sappers:
    Enemy demolition/ assault teams.
SEATO:
    Southeast Asia Treaty Organization.
secure net:
    See PRC-77.
SERTS:
    Screaming Eagle Replacement Training School.
set:
    A party.
Shake 'n' Bake:
    Sergeant who attended NCO school and earned rank after only a very short time in uniform.
shit-hook:
    A CH-47.
SIERRA
:
    The military phonetic for the letter S.
sit-rep:
    Situation report.
SKS:
    A Simonov 7.62mm semi-automatic carbine.
sky:
    To leave. Also, sky up.
Skycrane:
    A CH-54.
slackman:
    The second man back on a patrol, directly behind the point.
Slicks:
    Hueys.
Snakes:
    Cobras.
soul brother:
    A black soldier.
stand-down:
    An infantry unit's return from the boonies to base camp for refitting and training. Later, a unit being withdrawn from Vietnam and redeployed to the US
steel pot:
    A GI helmet.
Tac Air:
    Tactical air (Air Force) support. Fighter-bombers.
TANGO:
    The military phonetic for the letter T.
TAOR:
    Tactical Area of Operational Responsibility.
tee-tee:
    Very small or little.
Tet:
    Vietnamese Lunar New Year Holiday. As a result of NVA/VC offensives during 1968, the term took on a special military significance.
three-quarter:
    A three-quarter-ton truck.
TOC:
    Tactical Operations Center.
TO&E:
    Table of Organization and Equipment.
201 FILE:
    A US Army personnel file.
UH-1H:
    A Huey slick.
UNIFORM:
The military phonetic for the letter U.
USAF:
    United States Air Force.
USARV:
    United States Army, Vietnam.
VC:
    Viet Cong.
VICTOR
:
    The military phonetic for the letter V.
ville:
    A village.
WHISKEY
:
    The military phonetic for the letter W.
wake-up:
    As in â13 and a wake-up.' The last day of a soldier's Vietnam tour.
weed:
    Marijuana.
white bird:
    A LOH.
WIA:
    Wounded In Action.
widow maker:
    An MA.
willie peter:
    Also WP. White phosphorus, usually an incendiary artillery round.
World:
    The USA or anyplace other than NAM.
X-RAY
:
    The military phonetic for the letter X. Also, a reconnaissance patrol from an NDP.
XO:
    Executive Officer.
YANKEE
:
    The military phonetic for the letter Y.
YD:
    The grid 100,000 meters x 100,000 meters square from the Universal Transmercator (UTM) Grid Zone 48Q. The UTM map of the world dispenses with latitude and longitude in favor of a system of metric coordinates (usually six digits) which enable the user of the map to specify a location to within 100 meters. Thus the center of the Khe Ta Laou river valley is located at YD 150320.
ZULU:
The military phonetic for the letter Z.
11-B:
    See Eleven-Bravo.
16:
    See M-16.
51s:
    A communist .51 caliber heavy machine gun.
60:
    See M-60.
60s, 81s:
    US mortars (millimeters).
61s, 82s:
    Communist mortars.
79:
    See M-79.
122:
    122mm communist rocket capable of traveling, with booster, 22 kilometers.
H
ISTORICAL
D
ATES
“
We think ourselves into war. The antecedents are in our minds
. Brooks, 23 August 70.
| 2879 to 258 BC | âThe First Vietnamese Kingdom (Van Lang or Van Tang, The Country of Tattooed Men). |
| âThe Bac-sonians, a wave of Australoids from the north settle in the Red River Valley area (Hanoi-Haiphong). | |
| âFirst wave of Malays from Central Asia settle coastal area from Saigon to Hue. | |
| 500 BC | âHan Chinese advance into Vietnam (Red River Valley) and force earlier settlers south setting off the first North/ South conflict. |
| 258 to 207 BC | âThe Second Vietnamese Kingdom (Au Lac). The King of Thuc conquers Van Lang. |
| 207 BC | âAu Lac overrun by Central Chinese peoples who establish the Kingdom of Nam Viet in the Red River Valley. |
| 111 BC to AD 939 | âChinese occupy northern portion of Vietnam, Nam Viet, a conglomerate of smaller states falls.âSecond wave of Malays. |
| 87 BC | âHan Wu Ti, Emperor of China, spreads Chinese territory south to Hue. |
| AD 39 | âTrung sisters lead a two-year revolt against Chinese, reestablish Nam Viet. |
| 45 | âNam Viet again overrun and annexed by China. |
| 197 | âKingdom of Champa established by peoples from India and further west under Lam Ap settling coastal area from Da Nang south to Cam Ranh. A trading people. |
| 220 | âHan Dynasty of China falls. |
| 542-4 | âLy Bon (Ly-Nan-De) leads successful rebellion against China. For the next 60 years there is constant pressure from the north and the âVietnamese' extend their settlements south along the coast. |
| 602 | âChina again imposes foreign rule on Vietnam. During this period Chinese method of agriculture adopted. A poor land becomes rich, the people remain poor. |
| 938 | âNgo-Quyen leads armies which decisively defeat Chinese at Bach Dang River. Independence lasts for most of next 900 years. Language reverts back to ancient âVietnamese' language. |
| 1215 | âMongols invade the Red River Valley area without success. A few years later they invade again. This time led by Kublai Khan. They are partially successful and keep the pressure from the north on until 1287. |
| 1284 | âTran Hung Dao writes Essential Summary of Military Arts . “The enemy must fight his battle far from his home base for a long time. We must further weaken him by drawing him into protracted campaigns. Once his initial dash is broken, it will be easier to destroy him.” |
| 1287 | âMongols withdraw from Vietnam. |
| âWith the overthrow of the Chinese (in 939) and for almost 500 years, the peoples of the Red River Valley area direct their efforts to the colonialization of the South. The Chams are destroyed in a systematic genocide, city by city. The remaining terrorized Chams fled into the highland jungles. | |
| 1407 | âChinese under the Ming Emperors invade the Red River Valley area and gain control. They are eventually defeated by guerrilla warfare and attrition. |
| 1418 to 1427 | âMing Chinese defeated by Viet King, Le Loi. Le Dynasty comes to power in northern Vietnam. Nguyen feudal lords come to power in southern Vietnam. |
| 1459 to 1497 | âCompletion of destruction of kingdom of Champa by Le Thanh. This period is known as The Golden Age of Vietnam. |
| 1535 | âFirst Europeans, Portuguese, drop anchor at Da Nang. This marks the beginning of the era of colonialization by Europeans of Asia. |
| 1540 | âVietnam politically divided into North and South (Le and Nguyen). |
| 1590 1613 | âVietnam reunified. |
| 1613 | âVietnam again divides into two countries. The Nguyen rulers of the South construct two walls at Dong-Hoi. One wall is six miles long, the other twelve miles long. Both are 18 feet high. Dong-Hoi is less than ten miles north of the DMZ established by the Geneva Accords of 1954. |
| 1615 | âFirst Catholic missionaries, Italian and Portuguese Jesuits, land at Da Nang. |
| 1636 | âFirst Dutch arrival in Vietnam. |
| 1672 | âEnglish open trading post. |
| 1680 | âFrench open first trading office. |
| 1770 to 1776 | âRevolt of the Tay-Son Village against the Nguyen Dynasty in the South. Trinh family defeats Le Dynasty in the North. Nguyen Anh, King of Cochin China (Southern South Vietnam area), holds on to his throne in South, very unstable, negotiates for French assistance and support. |
| 1776 | âVietnam and the Thai Kingdom clash over Cambodia. |
| 1790 to 1800 | âNew, unsuccessful, Chinese invasion of North. |
| âNguyen Anh and French force land in North (July 1789). Nominal reunification of country. | |
| 1799 | âNguyen Anh recaptures most of South and exterminates Tay-Son leaders. |
| 1802 | âHue falls, the Tay-Son movement ends. Hanoi falls. Prince Nguyen Anh becomes Emperor Gia Long. Gia Long restores the name Vietnam to the entire country. Gia Long's rule is anti-European. Ends with his death in 1820. |
| 1820 to 1841 | âThe Emperor Minh Mang: under his rule the last Europeans are driven from the emperor's service. He effectively isolates Vietnam from development (technological and military) during a period of rapid European advancement. Persecutes Catholic missionaries. |
| 1827 to 1856 | âA period of genocide. 130,000 Catholics put to death. |
| 1839 | âThe Opium War. Opium had been brought into China by the British who found it very profitable. When the Chinese try to stop the opium trade the British attack and defeat China. This becomes a pattern for colonialization in Asia. |
| 1841 to 1847 | âThe Emperor Thieu Tri loses part of Vietnam to the French. |
| 1845 | âUSS Constitution puts into Da Nang. The Marines land to assist in halting the killing of a French bishop. Marines stay four days. America's first Vietnam involvement. |
| 1847 to 1883 | âThe Emperor Tu Duc loses all of Vietnam to the French. |
| 1850 | âThe French view Vietnam as a staging area and foothold into the rich markets of China held by the English. |
| 1858 | âFrench attack and capture Da Nang. |
| âFrench capture Saigon. | |
| âVietnam cedes Saigon and surrounding provinces to France. | |
| 1883 | âFrench expansion continues until all of Vietnam is under French control. |
| 1880 to 1920 | âMajor immigration of Europeans to America. |
| 1887 | âVietnam, Cambodia and Laos grouped into the French Protectorate called the Indochinese Union. |
| 1920 to 1936 | âA series of ill-fated nationalistic uprisings |
| 1937 | âFrom Mao Tse-tung: (compare with 1284) |
| The enemy advances, we retreat; | |
| The enemy camps, we harass; | |
| The enemy tires, we attack; | |
| The enemy retreats, we pursue. | |
| âJapanese capture Nanking (China), a war where only one side shows upâ200,000 civilians murdered. | |
| 1939 to 1945 | âJapan occupies military installations in Vietnam, allows Vichy France to administer colony. |
| 1941 | âIraqis oust British. |
| âFirst Airborne Infantry operation in warfare, Germany invades Crete. | |
| âJapanese land in Indochina. US cuts off oil to Japan. | |
| âViet Nam Doc Lap Dong Minh, THE LEAGUE FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF VIETNAM, established by Ho Chi Minh. | |
| 1945 | âJapanese intern French administrators. |
| âViet Minh take control throughout Vietnam and inter Japanese occupation forces. Democratic Republic of Vietnam is established. | |
| âBritish army enters Saigon, Chinese (Koumintang) army enters Hanoi, per Yalta agreement. The British will yield to the French, Chaing Kai-shek to Ho Chi Minh. Neither Ho nor the French will accept this result, and war begins in 1946. | |
| 1946 | âUS/ USSR divide Korea at 38th parallel. |
| â19 December, Viet Minh launch attacks against French. The beginning of the First Indochina War. | |
| âThe TRUMAN DOCTRINE pledges economic and military aid to any nation threatened by communism. | |
| âThe Berlin Blockade and Airlift. | |
| âThe creation of NATO. | |
| âMao Tse-tung rises to power in China. | |
| 1950 | âA period of Civil Rights sit-ins and boycotts begins in the southern United States. |
| âThe Korean War begins. | |
| âKorean truce talks get underway. US role is mostly defensive. | |
| âJan-Apr, First Viet Minh invasion of Laos. | |
| â28 July, French attack Regiment 95 of Viet Minh along Street Without Joy; | |
| â22 October, French/Laotian Treaty of Association affirms Laos independence as a member of the French Union. | |
| 1954 | â7 May, Fall of French Garrison at Dien Bien Phu marks French defeat in First Indochina War. Ten thou sand French soldiers surrender to Viet Minh. France's attempt to send relief force fails. American (Eisen hower/ Dulles) official response to request for relief is a telegram of encouragement. (American public revul sion to Korean War is said to have deterred Eisenhower from committing to intervention in Indochina.) |
| â21 July, Geneva Cease-Fire Conference splits Vietnam into communist North and non-communist South along historical line at 17th parallel. | |
| âAugust, First Indochina War officially declared ended. | |
| â24 August, Communist Party outlawed in the United States. | |
| âUS sends 200 military advisors to Ngo Dinh Diem, President of South Vietnam. | |
| 1955 | âWarsaw Pact formed. |
| âThe Eisenhower/Khrushchev Geneva Summit, the cold war begins. | |
| âRussian tanks crush Hungarian Insurrection. | |
| âNAACP outlawed in Alabama. | |
| âLast French troops leave Indochina.âScheduled elections on reunification of Vietnam not held. | |
| 1959 | âThe Second Indochina War begins. |
| âLaotian rebellion begins in earnest. | |
| âJohn F. Kennedy, “We will bear any burden ⦔ | |
| âBay of Pigs. | |
| âBerlin Wall. | |
| âCuban Missile Crisis. | |
| 1962 | âMACV (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam) established. |
| âNeutralization of Laos under coalition government. | |
| 1963 to 1968 | âSecond Indochina War, troop build-up phase. Generally, the US public believes US is winning, dismay grows gradually. JFK to news media, “Get on the team.” |
| âJohn F. Kennedy assassinated. | |
| âRed China explodes nuclear bomb. | |
| âGulf of Tonkin Incident. | |
| â5 August, first US pilot (shot-down) captured by North Vietnam. Navy Lt (jg) Everett Alvarez, Jr., be comes first POW. US Veterans Administration declares this date as beginning of American Vietnam Era. | |
| 1965 | âFirst US ground troops land near Da Nang. |
| âUS begins operation Rolling Thunder. Bombing of the North. | |
| âViet Cong attack US airbase at Pleiku, 70 US KIA | |
| âWar in the Dominican Republic. | |
| âMay, first five-day bombing halt of the North. | |
| â19 June, Air Vice Marshal Nguyen Cao Ky leads military junta, takes control of Saigon Gpvernment. | |
| â27 June, first major ground action by US forces. | |
| â30 June, LBJ announces doubling of US troop strength by addition of 44 battalions increasing strength from 65,000 to 130,000. | |
| â29 July, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division arrives in Vietnam. | |
| âChina states its support for Viet Cong as central strategy for world communist movement to encircle western world. | |
| âFirst (clandestine) peace negotiations between Washington and Hanoi begin in Paris. Hanoi demands total control of all Vietnam. The negotiation issues never change. | |
| â24 December, LBJ halts bombing of North, announces âpeace offensive.' | |
| â31 Jan, US air bombardment of North resumes after efforts to negotiate prove fruitless. | |
| â10 March, Roman Catholic Premier Ky fires Buddhist General Nguyen Chan The, thus provoking Buddhists. The's troops revolt in Da Nang. | |
| âSpecial Forces CIDG camps at A Loui, Ta Bat and A Shau (all in A Shau Valley) are closed because of VC/ NVA pressure (overrun?). For the next two years the valley belongs to the communist forces who openly ship tons of supplies down Highway 548 which runs the length of the A Shau. | |
| â7 May, Ky declares he will not leave office no matter what election results follow voting for constituent Assembly. Da Nang Buddhists demonstrate. | |
| â15 May, Ky sends his troops to Da Nang to quell demonstrationâmeet resistance from 1st Division troopsânear civil war in South. Hue becomes center of Buddhist resistance and anti-American demonstrations. | |
| â29 May, Buddhist nun burns self to death at Hue pagoda. |