As an emergency measure in response to the 1968 communist Tet Offensive, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara approves the deployment of 10,500 troops to cope with threats of a second offensive. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had argued against dispatching any reinforcements at the time because it would seriously deplete the strategic reserve, immediately sent McNamara a memorandum asking that 46,300 reservists and former servicemen be activated. Not wanting to test public opinion on what would no doubt be a controversial move, Johnson consigned the issue of the reservists to "study." Ultimately, he decided against a large-scale activation of the reserve forces.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- Galileo in Rome for Inquisition, 1633
- American Revolution
- Patrick Henry named colonel of First Virginia battalion, 1776
- Automotive
- Actor Mel Gibson completes DUI probation, 2008
- Civil War
- Unoin General John Rawlins born, 1831
- Cold War
- Chernenko becomes general secretary, 1984
- Crime
- Serial killer strikes in Colorado, 1982
- Disaster
- Cinema burns in Turin, 1983
- General Interest
- William and Mary proclaimed joint sovereigns of Britain, 1689
- First Medal of Honor action, 1861
- Dresden devastated, 1945
- Hollywood
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon gets 10 Oscar nominations, 2001
- Literary
- Long-lost Twain manuscript authenticated, 1991
- Music
- ASCAP is founded, 1915
- Old West
- Ashley advertises for western fur trappers, 1822
- Presidential
- Teddy Roosevelt discusses America's race problem, 1905
- Sports
- Downhill skier Hermann Maier crashes in Olympics, 1998
- Vietnam War
- Johnson approves Operation Rolling Thunder, 1965
- Additional troops ordered to South Vietnam, 1968
- World War I
- League of Nations recognizes perpetual Swiss neutrality, 1920
- World War II
- Firebombing of Dresden, 1945
Feb 13, 1968:
Additional troops ordered to South Vietnam
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This Week in History, Feb 13 - Feb 19
- Feb 13, 1965
- Johnson approves Operation Rolling Thunder
- Feb 13, 1968
- Additional troops ordered to South Vietnam
- Feb 14, 1962
- Kennedy authorizes U.S. advisors to fire in self-defense
- Feb 14, 1970
- Gallup Poll released
- Feb 15, 1966
- DeGaulle offers to help end Vietnam War
- Feb 15, 1970
- Chicago Eight defense attorneys sentenced
- Feb 16, 1968
- Tet Offensive results in many new refugees
- Feb 17, 1966
- Taylor testifies on Operation Rolling Thunder
- Feb 17, 1968
- U.S. casualty rate reaches record high
- Feb 18, 1965
- United States warns of forthcoming bombing operations
- Feb 19, 1965
- South Vietnamese coup unsuccessful
- Feb 19, 1970
- Chicago Seven sentenced
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