Summary of Major Events Leading up to Operation Freedom

April 1945 -- Ho Chi Min, the leader of the Vietnamese fight for independence, educated in France, is 51 years old.

Summer 1945 -- Americans joined Viet Minh(later called Viet Cong) in defeating Japanese.

September 1945 -- Independence declared and the Americans pull out.

1946 -- France reoccupies French Indo China and all hopes of independence are lost.

1947 -- Vietnamese begin war with France about 180 miles from Hanoi.

November 1953 -- France occupies Dien Bien Phu. The objective is to cut the Viet Minh supply lines from Laos and China.

March 1954 -- Dien Bien Phu becomes France's last remaining Strong Point

Viet Minh destroy the air strip and the French garrison can only be supplied by air drop.

May 1954 -- Viet Minh defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu at a cost of 8,000 dead. The French Commander commits suicide. 10,000 French prisoners are taken. 1,000 die during march to prison camp.

October 1954 -- Viet Minh victory parade in Hanoi

October 29, 1954 -- LST 1159 joins ships in Henrietta Pass that are participating in Operation Passage To Freedom.

November 1, 1954 -- LST 1159 beaches at Briqueitte Beach for first load of French troops and vehicles that will be transported to Saigon.

November 10, 1954 -- Lst 1159 returned to Briqueitte Beach to load troops and vehicles for transport to Tourane(now Danang)

November 1954 -- Arrived at Tourane, off loaded and were released from Operation Passage to Freedom.

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