On this day - December 25th 1965 – The second pause in the bombing of North Vietnam occurs. This bombing pause will last for 37 days while the U.S. attempts to pressure North Vietnam into a negotiated peace. However, the North Vietnamese denounce the bombing halt as a “trick” and continue Viet Cong terrorist activities in the South. By year’s end, U.S. troop levels in Vietnam reached 184,300. An estimated 90,000 South Vietnamese soldiers deserted in 1965, while an estimated 35,000 soldiers from North Vietnam infiltrated the South via the Ho chi Minh trail. Up to 50 percent of the countryside in South Vietnam is now under some degree of Viet Cong control. Time Magazine chooses General William Westmoreland as 1965’s “Man of the Year.” Also on this date in 1965 – American comedian Bob Hope arrives with his USO troupe for a show in Bien Hua, South Vietnam. Bob Hope and his troupe included song and dance performances by Kaye Stevens, Anita Bryant, John Bubbles, Jerry Colonna and Carroll Baker. Harold and Fayard Nicholas performed as a dance team. The group had entertained during the prior week at military bases in Thailand, which then included Joey Heatherton, Miss World and Jack Jones. 1972 – Linebacker II resumes after Christmas pause. After a 36-hour respite for Christmas, the U.S. resumes Operation Linebacker II. The extensive bombing campaign was resumed because, according to U.S. officials, Hanoi sent no word that it would return to the peace talks. On December 13, North Vietnamese negotiators walked out of secret talks in Paris with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. President Nixon issued an ultimatum that North Vietnam send its representatives back to the conference table within 72 hours or else. The North Vietnamese rejected Nixons demand and the president ordered Operation Linebacker II, a full-scale air campaign against the Hanoi area that began on December 18. During the 11 days of Linebacker II, 700 B-52 sorties and more than 1,000 fighter-bomber sorties dropped an estimated 20,000 tons of bombs on North Vietnam--half the total tonnage of bombs dropped on England during World War II. Also on this day: U.S. headquarters in Saigon announces that American military strength in South Vietnam was reduced by 700 men during the previous week. The reduction brought the total U.S. forces in South Vietnam to 24,000, the lowest in almost eight years.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 16:13:50 +0000
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