28 June 1965 – U.S. forces launch the first major offensive in the Vietnam War.
“In the first major offensive ordered for U.S. forces, 3,000 troops of the 173rd Airborne Brigade–in conjunction with 800 Australian soldiers and a Vietnamese airborne unit–assault a jungle area known as Viet Cong Zone D, 20 miles northeast of Saigon. The operation was called off after three days when it failed to make any major contract with the enemy. One American was killed and nine Americans and four Australians were wounded. The State Department assured the American public that the operation was in accord with Johnson administration policy on the role of U.S. troops.” (1)
Seven years later on June 28, 1972, “President Nixon announced that no more draftees would be sent to Vietnam unless they volunteered for that duty. He also announced that a force of 10,000 troops would be withdrawn by September 1, which would leave a total of 39,000 in Vietnam.” (2)
Source (1)(2): The History Channel