U.S. Defense Department officials announce that the Army and Marines will be sending about 24,000 men back to Vietnam for involuntary second tours because of the length of the war, high turnover of personnel resulting from the one year of duty, and the tight supply of experienced soldiers. This decision had an extremely negative impact on troop morale and the combat readiness of U.S. forces elsewhere in the world as troops were transferred to meet the increased personnel requirements in Vietnam.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- Yeager breaks sound barrier, 1947
- American Revolution
- Patriots sting Loyalists at Shallow Ford, North Carolina, 1780
- Automotive
- Elwood Haynes, "Grandsire of Gasoline Cars," is born, 1857
- Civil War
- Union repels Rebels at the Battle of Bristoe Station, 1863
- Cold War
- The Cuban Missile Crisis begins, 1962
- Crime
- Trial begins in Amityville murders, 1975
- Disaster
- Coal miners die in Wales, 1913
- General Interest
- The Battle of Hastings, 1066
- Theodore Roosevelt shot in Milwaukee, 1912
- King wins Nobel Peace Prize, 1964
- Hollywood
- Pulp Fiction debuts, 1994
- Literary
- Victor Hugo marries Adele Foucher, 1822
- Music
- "Wake Up Little Susie" becomes the Everly Brothers' first #1 hit, 1957
- Old West
- Ralph Lauren, designer of popular western-style clothing, is born in New York, 1939
- Presidential
- Dwight D. Eisenhower is born, 1890
- Sports
- Steve Bartman catches ball, 2003
- Vietnam War
- Khrushchev ousted as premier of Soviet Union, 1964
- U.S. servicemen sent to Vietnam for second tours, 1968
- World War I
- Adolf Hitler wounded in British gas attack, 1918
- World War II
- "The Desert Fox" commits suicide, 1944
Oct 14, 1968:
U.S. servicemen sent to Vietnam for second tours
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
This Week in History, Oct 14 - Oct 20
- Oct 14, 1964
- Khrushchev ousted as premier of Soviet Union
- Oct 14, 1968
- U.S. servicemen sent to Vietnam for second tours
- Oct 15, 1965
- First draft card burned
- Oct 15, 1966
- Operation Attleboro continues in Tay Ninh Province
- Oct 15, 1969
- National Moratorium demonstrations held across the United States
- Oct 16, 1968
- Bombing halt discussed
- Oct 16, 1973
- Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho awarded Nobel Peace Prize
- Oct 17, 1966
- President Johnson goes to Asia
- Oct 18, 1955
- Emperor Bao Dai attempts to dismiss Diem
- Oct 18, 1968
- Stock market soars with rumors of bombing halt in Vietnam
- Oct 19, 1965
- Communists attack Plei Me Special Forces camp
- Oct 19, 1972
- Kissinger discusses draft peace treaty with President Thieu
- Oct 20, 1964
- Relations between South Vietnam, the United States, and Cambodia deteriorate
- Oct 20, 1973
- Watergate special prosecutor dismissed
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