August 18

This Day in History

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

Vietnam War

Aug 18, 1966:

Australians defeat VC at Long Tan

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The First Australian Task Force (ATF) inflicts a major defeat on Viet Cong forces in Phuoc Tuy Province. Australia had first sent troops to Vietnam in 1962 and eventually expanded its commitment in response to President Lyndon Johnson's call for "Free World Military Forces" to form an alliance of "Many Flags" in South Vietnam. By 1966, the First Australian Task Force included two infantry battalions and associated logistical support elements; it had also been joined by a New Zealand unit made up of two infantry companies and a Special Air Service troops. In the Battle of Long Tan, the ATF acquitted itself very well, inflicting a major defeat on the communist forces, killing 245 while sustaining 17 dead.

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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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