February 23

This Day in History

Also on This Day

Lead Story
U.S. flag raised on Iwo Jima, 1945
American Revolution
Friedrich von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge, 1778
Automotive
Formula One champ kidnapped, 1958
Civil War
President-elect Lincoln arrives in Washington, 1861
Cold War
First council meeting of SEATO, 1955
Crime
A remarkable reprieve for a man sent to the gallows, 1885
Disaster
Earthquake strikes Mediterranean, 1887
General Interest
Children receive first polio vaccine, 1954
Spanish rebels storm Parliament, 1981
Hollywood
Schindler’s List shown uncut on network television, 1997
Literary
W.E.B. DuBois is born, 1868
Music
It's a tie for Song of the Year at the 20th annual Grammy Awards, 1978
Old West
Guthrie writes "This Land is Your Land", 1940
Presidential
Lincoln avoids assassination attempt, 1861
Sports
Eric Heiden speed skates into Olympic history, 1980
Vietnam War
Desertion up in South Vietnamese army, 1966
South Vietnamese advance stalls, 1971
World War I
Germans begin withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, 1917
World War II
Marines raise the flag on Mt. Suribachi, 1945

Vietnam War

Feb 23, 1966:

Desertion up in South Vietnamese army

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According to the U.S. military headquarters in Saigon, 90,000 South Vietnamese deserted in 1965. This number was almost 14 percent of total South Vietnamese army strength and was twice the number of those that deserted in 1964. By contrast, the best estimates showed that fewer than 20,000 Viet Cong defected during the previous year.

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This Week in History, Feb 23 - Mar 1

Feb 23, 1966
Desertion up in South Vietnamese army
Feb 23, 1971
South Vietnamese advance stalls
Feb 24, 1968
Hue recaptured
Feb 24, 1969
Airman wins Medal of Honor for action on this day
Feb 25, 1971
Congress moves to block widening of the war
Feb 25, 1972
U.S. troops fight biggest battle in nearly a year
Feb 26, 1965
First South Korean troops arrive
Feb 26, 1968
Mass graves discovered in Hue
Feb 27, 1962
Diem survives coup attempt
Feb 27, 1965
United States assails North Vietnamese "aggression"
Feb 27, 1969
Communist offensive continues
Feb 28, 1968
Wheeler says Westmoreland will need more troops
Mar 01, 1965
U.S. informs South Vietnam of intent to send Marines
Mar 01, 1968
Clifford replaces McNamara
Mar 01, 1971
Bomb explodes in Capitol building

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