On Nov. 14, 1965, the U.S. Army’s first major military operation of the Vietnam War began with the start of the five-day Battle of Ia Drang. (The fighting between American troops and North Vietnamese forces ended on Nov. 18 with both sides claiming victory.)

Ten years ago

Two separate suicide attackers rammed car bombs into vehicles belonging to NATO-led peacekeepers in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing a German soldier and an Afghan child. President George W. Bush hurled new arguments against Iraq war critics as he headed to Asia, accusing some Democrats of “sending mixed signals to our troops and the enemy.”

Five years ago

A 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting in Yokohama, Japan, concluded with a unanimous pledge by members to avoid raising more trade barriers and to roll back those they may have erected in the midst of crisis. Somali pirates released British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler, who were held for 388 days after they were abducted from their 38-foot-yacht.

One year ago

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced the Pentagon would spend an additional $10 billion to correct deep problems of neglect and mismanagement within the nation’s nuclear forces. During his visit to Asia, President Barack Obama mounted a warm show of support for Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, appearing with the democracy activist on the back porch of her lakeside home. Jane Byrne, the first and, to date, only female mayor of Chicago, died at age 81.

— By The Associated Press