On January 30, 1968, the North Vietnamese Army launched a surprise attack on South Vietnam during the Tet (New Year) holiday truce. The offensive was largely considered a failure for the North Vietnamese as they didn’t meet any of their objectives.
On January 12, 1962, American forces participated in their first major combat of the Vietnam War – Operation Chopper.
America’s 37th president, Richard Milhous Nixon was born into a poor Quaker family in Yorba Linda, California, on January 9, 1913. Largely remembered for the Watergate scandal and his resignation, he was considered an effective leader by many prior to his fall from grace.
On October 18, 1997, the Women in Military Service for America Memorial (WIMSA) was officially dedicated in Arlington County, Virginia. This stamp was issued at the memorial’s dedication ceremony.
On April 21, 1962, the Seattle World’s Fair, also known as the Century 21 Exposition, opened to the public. The fair’s themes of space and the future helped to make it a tremendous success – one of the few to turn a profit.
On April 4, 1968, the USPS issued a $1 stamp that, when combined with a parcel post stamp, was used to send mail and packages to American service members overseas.
On January 21, 1968, one of the most controversial and highly publicized battles of the Vietnam War began at Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSCB) in South Vietnam.
On November 13, 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was officially dedicated in Washington, DC. It stands as a tribute to the thousands of Americans who gave their lives in the conflict.
Dean Gooderham Acheson was born on April 11, 1893, in Middletown, Connecticut. Serving in the state department for over a decade, he was influential in many of the United States’ World War II and post-war initiatives, including the Lend-Lease Act, Marshall Plan, and NATO.