title: Converting string vector to date
body: <p>I have below vector of string</p>
  <pre><code>dates = c('1997 Jan- 6', '1997 Jan-13')
  </code></pre>
  <p>I wish I could have a generic approach so that I can get a <code>date</code> vector from this string.</p>
  <p>Is there any straightforward way to do this?</p>
  <p>Thanks for your insight</p>