sql: change varchar to DATE format without loosing any data in the column.

gistfile1.txt

- add tmp column to have DATE format
ALTER TABLE requests
ADD tmp DATE;

/update Varchar format of mm/dd/yyyy
UPDATE requests
SET	
tmp = STR_TO_DATE(date_due,'%m/%d/%Y');

//drop date_due column
ALTER TABLE requests
DROP date_due;

//change tmp col to date_due col
ALTER TABLE requests
CHANGE tmp date_due DATE;