Australia and New Zealand announce the end of the year as the deadline for withdrawal of their respective contingents from Vietnam. The Australians had 6,000 men in South Vietnam and the New Zealanders numbered 264. Both nations agreed to leave behind small training contingents. Australian Prime Minister William McMahon proclaimed that the South Vietnamese forces were now able to assume Australia's role in Phuoc Tuy province, southeast of Saigon and that Australia would give South Vietnam $28 million over the next three years for civilian projects. Total Australian losses for the period of their commitment in Vietnam were 473 dead and 2,202 wounded; the monetary cost of the war was $182 million for military expenses and $16 million in civilian assistance to South Vietnam.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- Soviet hard-liners launch coup against Gorbachev, 1991
- American Revolution
- British win at Fishing Creek, lose at Musgrove’s Mill, 1780
- Automotive
- Walter P. Chrysler dies, 1940
- Civil War
- Union attacks railroad at Globe Tavern, 1864
- Cold War
- Coup attempt against Gorbachev begins, 1991
- Crime
- A Seattle judge involved in a sex scandal commits suicide, 1988
- Disaster
- Yangtze River peaks in China, 1931
- General Interest
- Genghis Khan dies, 1227
- Roanoke Colony deserted, 1590
- Woman suffrage amendment ratified, 1920
- Meredith graduates from Ole Miss, 1963
- Hollywood
- Director Roman Polanski born, 1933
- Literary
- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is published, 1958
- Music
- Chic's "Good Times" hits #1 on the U.S. pop charts, 1979
- Old West
- Cyrus Skinner released from San Quentin, 1853
- Presidential
- George Washington signs Jay Treaty with Britain, 1795
- Sports
- Larry Bird hangs it up, 1992
- Vietnam War
- Marines launch Operation Starlite, 1965
- Australians defeat VC at Long Tan, 1966
- Communists launch new offensive, 1968
- Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw troops from Vietnam, 1971
- World War I
- Italians launch the 11th Battle of the Isonzo , 1917
- World War II
- Hitler suspends euthanasia program, 1941
Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw troops from Vietnam
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
This Week in History, Aug 18 - Aug 24
- Aug 18, 1965
- Marines launch Operation Starlite
- Aug 18, 1966
- Australians defeat VC at Long Tan
- Aug 18, 1968
- Communists launch new offensive
- Aug 18, 1971
- Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw troops from Vietnam
- Aug 19, 1968
- Many Americans against a bombing halt
- Aug 19, 1970
- Cambodia and U.S. sign military aid pact
- Aug 19, 1972
- Democratic candidate McGovern attacks Nixon policy in Vietnam
- Aug 20, 1954
- United States decides to support Diem
- Aug 20, 1971
- Minh and Ky withdraw from presidential race
- Aug 20, 1974
- Military aid to Saigon slashed
- Aug 21, 1963
- Nhu's Special Forces attack the Buddhists
- Aug 21, 1965
- U.S. pilots given green light to go after anti-aircraft missiles in the North
- Aug 21, 1969
- Nixon meets with South Korean President
- Aug 21, 1971
- Antiwar protestors raid draft offices
- Aug 22, 1962
- Kennedy reports stalemate in Vietnam
- Aug 22, 1967
- Graduated bombing policy condemned
- Aug 22, 1968
- VC repudiates Johnson's peace overture
- Aug 22, 1972
- Demonstrators disrupt Republican National Convention in Miami Beach
- Aug 23, 1966
- U.S. cargo ship strikes a mine near Saigon
- Aug 23, 1968
- Communist forces renew offensive
- Aug 24, 1963
- Washington changes policy on support for President Diem
- Aug 24, 1969
- U.S. unit refuses commander's order
- Aug 24, 1970
- B-52s conduct heavy raids along the DMZ
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