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30 January 1968

Tet Offensive

The Tet Offensive begins on the first day of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Viet Cong broke a prior agreement of a cease-fire on the Tet holiday to launch the “largest and best coordinated offensive” of the Vietnam War. More than 80,000 North Vietnamese forces attacked over 100 towns and cities in South Vietnam. A 19-man Viet Cong force seized the US Embassy, in Saigon. The Viet Cong held the Embassy for six hours until US paratroopers landed on the roof and freed the building. Five US personnel were killed in the siege.

The Offensive was largely subdued by February 10^th, although it did damage the outlook, and President Johnson’s handling of the Vietnam War back in the United States.

3 February 1944

Marshall Islands Captured

Japan had controlled the Marshall Islands since the First World War and they were using the islands military base of operations in the Second World War. The 5^th Fleet from Pearl Harbor, aided by the 4^th Marine Division, invaded the islands with 53,000 troops. The island of Kwajalein, an atoll that was part of the Marshall Islands, housed the administrative and communications center for the Japanese and had been bombed by the US prior to the invasion. By February 3^rd, the Marshalls had been captured. 400 Americans troops were lost.

4 February 1962

US Helicopter Shot Down

The first US helicopter is shot down in the Vietnam War. Fifteen helicopters were transporting South Vietnamese Army troops into combat in the Mekong Delta.

George Washington Elected

George Washington became the first United States President to be elected. The commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, Washington was unanimously chosen by the 69 electors. He would achieve the same feat on the same day four years later.

Sources

History.com

United States Marine Corps History Division

Image from Cosmeo.com

23 January 1968 

North Korea Captures USS Pueblo

While performing routine surveillance 16 miles offshore of the North Korean coast, the Navy intelligence vessel USS Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans. The Americans aboard attempted to escape but the ship was fired upon. The commander and two others were wounded. The Pueblo took further fire when they stalled for time to destroy classified information. Several others were wounded. 

The crew of 83 men was captured and taken to Pyongyang, where they were charged with spying within North Korea’s 12-mile territorial limit. A confession and apology was coerced from Pueblo commander Bucher and the rest of the crew. They were forced to praise the “humane treatment” by their captors in a news conference but, instead, the Americans used sarcasm to undermine the North Koreans. Prisoners received beatings for rebelling in photo shoots in which they would stick out their middle finger. At first the North Korean did not understand what the gesture meant.

On December 23, 1968, 11 months after being captured, the United States and North Korea reached an agreement to free the prisoners. The US admitted that the USS Pueblo was inside North Korean territory, under terms of the settlement.  They had to apologize and pledge to cease any such future actions.

26 January 1970

POW’s 2,000^th Day

Navy Lieutenant Everett Alvarez, Jr spends his 2,000^th day as a Prisoner of War in Southeast Asia. His plane was shot down on August 5, 1964 during the first bombing raids in North Vietnam. Everett was brutally tortured during his captivity. He was finally released in 1973 after spending over eight years being held captive. He was the longest-held POW in United States history.

27 January 1988

First World War II Bombing of the Germans

The first American bombing raid against the Germans was flown by the 8^th Air Force. 64 planes, dispatched from bases in England, targeted warehouses and factories in the Wilhelmshaven port. 53 planes reached the target and only three were lost in the return. 22 German planes were shot down.

29 January 1991

Desert Storm Ground Fighting 

The first serious ground fighting of Operation Desert Storm broke out when Iraqi troops mounted an attack into Saudi Arabia along a 40-mile front. Iraqi units centered their efforts on Khafji, a port city six miles south of the border. Saudi and Quatari troops, supported by artillery from the 1st Marine Division and attack helicopters and other allied coalition aircraft, recaptured the town two days later.

Sources:

History.com

United States Marine Core History Division 

16 January 1991

Operation Desert Storm Commences

At 7 p.m. EST, Operation Desert Shield formally became Operation Desert Storm as forces of the allied coalition had begun bombing missions against targets in Iraq and Iraq-occupied Kuwait. The United Nations deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait had passed at midnight of the night before.

General Norman Schwarzkopf commanded an international coalition of forces from 32 nations. The aerial assault would occur for the next six weeks. A ground offensive began in Iraq on February 24^th and would only last four days until Iraq surrendered. President George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire on February 28^th.

Overall, in the theater of operations, the coalition forces included more than 415,000 U.S. troops. 125 American soldiers died and another 21 were declared missing-in-action.

21 January 1968

The Siege of Khe Sanh

The United States Marines had seized Khe Sanh, a base located in South Vietnam 14 miles below the Demilitarized Zone, a year earlier. North Vietnamese forces opened fire on the 3^rd Battalion, 26^th Marines on Hills 861 and 881 northwest of the base. The North Vietnamese would reach the village of Khe Sanh where they would hit the base with a barrage of mortars and rockets. The US countered with air strikes, dubbed Operation Niagara, which dropped 5,000 bombs a day for a 66-day period.

Operation Pegasus was launched in early April to aide the marines entrenched at the base. The 1^st Cavalry, 9^th Marines and a South Vietnamese battalion were able to help halt the siege on April 6^th. 205 Marines were killed in action and over 1,600 were wonded.

21 January 1918

1^st Aeronautical Company

The 1st Aeronautical Company arrived at Ponta Delgada, Azores, for anti-submarine duty. That unit was one of the first completely equipped American aviation units to serve overseas in World War I.

22 January 1969

Operation Dewey Canyon

Operation Dewey Canyon, perhaps the most successful high-mobility regimental-size action of the Vietnam War, began in the A Shau Valley. The 9th Marines, commanded by Colonel Robert H. Barrow, swept through the valley killing 1,617 North Vietnamese and discovering 500 tons of weapons and ammunition. 130 Marines were killed and 932 wounded.

Remember all of the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces when you have your morning cup of coffee. 

January 9, 1945

Philippines Invasions Continues

General Douglas MacArthur and the American 6^th Army continued their objective to capture the Philippine Islands from the Japanese by landing on the Lingayen Gulf of Luzon. Two days later the Marine Aircraft Group 24, commanded by Colonel Lyle H. Meyer, would aid the 6th Army by providing close air support for the forces.

More than 60,000 troops would land on the largest island in the Philippines on that day. They would find that the Japanese had created a defensive setup of caves and tunnels. MacArthur called it the “decisive battle for the liberation of the Philippines and the control of the Southwest Pacific.” On July 5^th, he would announce that the Philippines had been liberated.

January 10, 1923

U.S Troops Ordered Home From Germany

After four years occupying Germany, President Warren G. Harding ordered the remaining troops there to return home. 16,000 men had been sent to occupy Germany in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles.

January 12, 1966

President Johnson Commits To Staying In Vietnam

In his State of the Union address, President Lyndon Johnson says that United States troops shall remain in Vietnam. 400,000 U.S. troops would be in Vietnam by the end of the year.

January 15, 1973

President Nixon Ceases Attack On North Vietnam

President Richard Nixon halted all military action against North Vietnam because of progress in peace negotiations.

When you sit down to enjoy a cup of coffee this week, be sure to remember all of the men and women who serve in our armed forces.

Sources:

History.com

United States Marine Corps History Division

Photo from Gallery M