October 27

This Day in History

Also on This Day

Lead Story
New York City subway opens, 1904
American Revolution
King George III speaks to Parliament of American rebellion, 1775
Automotive
Chick-fil-A founder takes last Ford Taurus, 2006
Civil War
Yankees are turned back at the Battle of Hatcher's Run, 1864
Cold War
The United States and Soviet Union step back from brink of nuclear war, 1962
Crime
Mafia boss John Gotti is born, 1940
Disaster
Avalanche buries homes in Iceland, 1995
General Interest
Quakers executed for religious beliefs, 1659
Teddy Roosevelt born, 1858
Dylan Thomas born, 1914
U.S. prison population exceeds one million, 1994
Hollywood
Actress Ruby Dee born, 1924
Literary
Sylvia Plath is born, 1932
Music
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber release Jesus Christ Superstar, 1970
Old West
Joseph Glidden applies for a patent on his barbed wire design, 1873
Presidential
Theodore Roosevelt is born, 1858
Sports
Red Sox win first championship since 1918, 2004
Vietnam War
Ambassador Harriman sent to explain Manila offer, 1966
Cambodian troops battle Communists north of Phnom Penh, 1971
World War I
German general Erich Ludendorff resigns , 1918
World War II
De Gaulle sets up the Empire Defense Council, 1940

Vietnam War

Oct 27, 1971:

Cambodian troops battle Communists north of Phnom Penh

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Fighting intensifies as Cambodian government forces battle with Khmer Rouge, Viet Cong, and North Vietnamese forces northeast of Phnom Penh. In March 1970, a coup led by Cambodian General Lon Nol had overthrown the government of Prince Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh. Lon Nol and his army, the Forces Armees Nationale Khmer (FANK), with U.S. support and military aid, fought the Communist Khmer Rouge for control of Cambodia. In addition, the government forces had to contend with the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong, who continued to use Cambodia as a sanctuary for their forces attacking into South Vietnam. In this round of the fighting, the major engagements occurred around the provincial capitals of Kompong Thom and Rumlong. The Communists began a siege of these garrisons after their demolition frogmen destroyed a crucial bridge along Route 6, the main supply line for the 20,000 Cambodians on the northeast front. Some 400 government soldiers were reported dead as a result of the combat.

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This Week in History, Oct 27 - Nov 2

Oct 27, 1966
Ambassador Harriman sent to explain Manila offer
Oct 27, 1971
Cambodian troops battle Communists north of Phnom Penh
Oct 28, 1962
Khrushchev orders withdrawal of missiles from Cuba
Oct 28, 1964
U.S. officials deny any involvement in bombing of North Vietnam.
Oct 28, 1965
Viet Cong commandos raid U.S. airfields
Oct 29, 1969
Bobby Seale gagged during his trial
Oct 29, 1971
U.S. troop strength reaches five-year low
Oct 30, 1965
Marines repel attack near Da Nang.
Oct 30, 1970
Heavy monsoon rains hit Vietnam
Oct 31, 1968
President Johnson announces bombing halt
Oct 31, 1970
Thieu vows to never accept a coalition government
Nov 01, 1964
Military and political situation in South Vietnam deteriorates
Nov 01, 1968
Two new programs initiated in South Vietnam
Nov 02, 1963
Diem murdered during coup
Nov 02, 1967
Johnson meets with "the Wise Men"

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