Deaths on October 17

Vola Vale, American actress (b. 1897)

Vola Vale (born Vola Smith; February 12, 1897 – October 17, 1970) was a silent film actress.

12 Jan

Nigerian Civil War
Biafra capitulates, ending the Nigerian Civil War.
28 Apr

Richard Nixon
Vietnam War: U.S. President Richard Nixon formally authorizes American combat troops to fight communist sanctuaries in Cambodia.
5 Sep

101st Airborne Division
Vietnam War: Operation Jefferson Glenn begins: The United States 101st Airborne Division and the South Vietnamese 1st Infantry Division initiate a new operation in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province.
28 Sep

Gamal Abdel Nasser
Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack in Cairo. Anwar Sadat is named as Nasser's temporary successor, and will later become the permanent successor.
8 Oct

Richard Nixon
Vietnam War: In Paris, a Communist delegation rejects US President Richard Nixon's October 7 peace proposal as "a manoeuvre to deceive world opinion".