July 12

This Day in History

Also on This Day

Lead Story
Ferraro named vice presidential candidate, 1984
American Revolution
The Battle of Huck's Defeat, 1780
Automotive
First Dymaxion car produced, 1933
Civil War
Confederacy signs treaties with Native Americans, 1861
Cold War
Yeltsin resigns from Communist Party, 1990
Crime
The Moors Murderers begin their killing spree, 1963
Disaster
Heat wave hits Chicagoland, 1995
General Interest
Medal of Honor created, 1862
A new Aga Khan, 1957
Hollywood
Angelina Jolie gives birth to twins, 2008
Literary
Geoffrey Chaucer is named chief clerk by Richard II, 1389
Music
Disco is dealt death blow by fans of the Chicago White Sox, 1979
Old West
Wild Bill Hickok's first gunfight, 1861
Presidential
Eisenhower takes first presidential ride in a helicopter, 1957
Sports
France beats Brazil to win FIFA World Cup, 1998
Vietnam War
First Marine wins Medal of Honor, 1965
North Vietnam urged to treat U.S. POWs better, 1966
World War I
Allied attack on Achi Baba, 1915
World War II
Russians halt German advance in a decisive battle at Kursk, 1943

Vietnam War

Jul 12, 1966:

North Vietnam urged to treat U.S. POWs better

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The National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE) and American socialist Norman Thomas appeal to North Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh on behalf of captured American pilots. The number of American captives was on the increase due to the intensification of Operation Rolling Thunder, the U.S. bombing campaign against North Vietnam. On July 15, 18 senators opposed to President Lyndon B. Johnson's Vietnam policy signed a statement calling on North Vietnam to "refrain from any act of vengeance against American airmen." The next day, the United Nations Secretary General also urged North Vietnam to exercise restraint in the treatment of American prisoners of war. On July 19, North Vietnamese ambassadors in Beijing and Prague asserted that the captured Americans would go on trial as war criminals. However, Ho Chi Minh subsequently gave assurances of a humanitarian policy toward the prisoners, in response, he said, to the appeal he received from SANE and Norman Thomas. Despite Ho's assurances, the American POWs were routinely mistreated and tortured. They were released in 1973 as part of the provisions of the Paris Peace Accords that were signed on January 27, 1973.

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This Week in History, Jul 12 - Jul 18

Jul 12, 1965
First Marine wins Medal of Honor
Jul 12, 1966
North Vietnam urged to treat U.S. POWs better
Jul 13, 1968
Rockefeller announces new peace proposal
Jul 13, 1969
Wallace criticizes Nixon's handling of the war
Jul 14, 1964
North Vietnamese regulars are fighting in South Vietnam
Jul 14, 1968
Clifford visits South Vietnam
Jul 15, 1964
Goldwater nominated for president
Jul 15, 1971
Nixon announces a visit to China
Jul 16, 1965
McNamara visits South Vietnam
Jul 16, 1973
Senate begins investigations into secret bombing of Cambodia
Jul 17, 1969
Wheeler visits South Vietnam
Jul 17, 1972
South Vietnamese paratroopers fight for Citadel
Jul 18, 1955
Soviet Union agrees to grant Hanoi economic aid
Jul 18, 1968
Johnson meets Thieu in Honolulu

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