• -

The illsigllia q(Colllpall)' H (Rallger) , 75th I,ymllr )' (Airbome), origillall), lI'as IIlorll b)' lIIelllbers q( the 5307th COIllPO­site L-lIit, PrOllisiolllll. l\'iclwallled Mer­rill's lvIarallders for Brigadier Gmeral Frallk D. Merrill, the first (Ollllllallder, the IlIIit lIIade deep pelletratiolls behilld <'IIelll), lilies ill the C/rilla mId Bllmra jllllgies ill 19~4. It Illas a firtillgformlll­lIer of today's rmlgers. T/re star ill the IIpper I~(t (omer is the sYlllbol of the Repllblic of C/rilla, Ill/r ose troops worked Illith the IlIlit. The star ill the IOlller right comer collies FOIII the Alllericall jlag.

COMPANY H, (RANGER) 75th INFANTRY (AIRBORNE)

On February 2, 1967, the I st Air Cavalry Divi sion organized its first division-operated Long Range Recon­naissa nce Patrol (LRRPs). Attached to 191st Military Intelligence Company, the LRRPs were composed of two patrols of six men each. The men were all hand picked volunteers who had successfull y passed a grueling 12 day training course.

In April of 1967 the LRRPs were attached to Headquarters and Head­quarters Company of the I st Air Cavalry Di vision under the operational control of the G-2 section. As before their mis­sion "as to find the enemy.

On December 20, 1967, the LRRPs were reorga nized as Company E, 52nd Infantry. They continued to provide the division with valuable intelligence about enemy acti vi ty. They proved thro ughout III Corps that the fewer aircraft used to make an insertion into enemy occupied territory. the more certain they could be of remaining undetected. Using their special opera tiona l procedure. they proved to be invaluable to the divi sion.

On Ja nuary 5, 1969, one team from Company E. 52nd Infantry. commanded by Captain George A. Paccerelli. made contact with an enemy force northwest of Phouc Vinh that outnumbered it by 20 to one. For two hours the men were pinned down by enemy fire.

196

As a result of their action two men were awarded Silver Stars and three received Bronze Stars with "V" devices.

Staff Sergeant Ronald J . Bitticks, 24, and Sergeant Howard Fatzinger III , 19, both received Silver Stars and were promoted to their present ranks. Ser­geant Edward Moline, 21, Sergeant John Geiger, 21 , and Staff Sergeant Guy Mc­Connell, 23, were awarded the Bronze Stars.

ihis is their story as told by their team leader, SSG Bitticks:

" We were in serted by helicopter shortly after dawn and began movi ng through the thick bamboo. Our mi ssion was to try and locate enemy elements believed to be operating in the area. We hadn't been on the ground too long when SGT Geiger, our medic, spotted so me commo wire running along the ground. I called in and reported it and received instructions to check out the area.

" We spotted a trail that was so well­used it was difficult trying to determine how many individual s had used it. While I was examinin'g the tra il , SGT Moline, th e front scout, spotted two enemy soldiers wearing light-colored uniforms and carrying AK-47s moving down the trail so me 50 feet away. They were approaching rapidly and afforded us no opportunity to set up an ambush.

"A second part of our mIssIon in­volves detaining suspects when possible . Thinking that this might give us the opportunity to complete that part of the mi ssion, I jumped out on the trail 10 to 15 feet from the VA and yelled 'Chieu Hoi!'

" It was evident by the surprised expressions upon their faces that they didn't believe what they saw. For a few seconds they just stared; then they went for their weapons. I opened up with my M-16, killing one while the other managed to escape into the bamboo.

"By 3 p.m. we had moved only 300 meters from the contact area. We were forced to move slowly through the thick growth in order to keep noise at a minimum. The trail off to our right flank made a sharp bend , a nd coming around the bend about 50 meters away we spotted a group of enemy soldiers.

" We counted over 42 enemy. It was like watching the ducks at Coney Island come on line in the shooting gallery. I thOUght the line would never end.

"We figured the. enemy hadn't spotted us so we tried to signal the gunship which had arrived on station without giving our position away by using a mirror. evert he less three of the enemy advanced towards our position ."

"They got to within 20 feet of us. Realizing they would soo n spot us, we

opened up, killing all three. This gave our our position away and we began receiving a heavy volume of fire from three sides.

'This went on for over two hours. If it hadn't been for the gunship we never would have got out alive. At 5: 15 p.m. we were extracted. The gunships again hit the area followed by an Air Force jet strike. A scout team counted 32 confirmed enemy dead from the air.

"When we got back to the company emotions took over. The scene was one as though we hadn't seen one another for years. Tears flowed freely."

On February I , 1969, Company E, 52nd Infantry, was reorganized as Company H (Ranger), 75th Infantry (Airborne).

Upon joining the 75th Infantry, each Ranger goes through a 12-day training period where he is qualified to perform the duties of a radio-telephone operator, medic and scout. Other courses offered in the school are combat intelligence, map reading, use of ropes, and escape

Men of the 75th Ranger Company swing beneath a UH-IH Huey (opposite page) after practicing an emergency jungle extrac­tion with the "McGuire rigging." Another ranger rappels from a Huey frequent practice jumps. Rappelling is one means the rangers use to get into thick jungle.

and evasion. By the time a man completes the ~ourse he is fully qualified to call in artillery on enemy locations or treat the wounded as are most artillery and medical specialists.

At one time or another most Rangers travel to Nha Trang for a special course in long range patrols. The school is operated by the 5th Special Forces, lasts three weeks, and goes deeper into the art of jungle patroling.

Company H (Ranger), 75th Tnfantry (Airborne), is attached to the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, and is supported by it. The company operates with 12 patrol teams, with an average of five men per team.

One typical mission, Team 32 was inserted by Troop C, I st of the 9th, into the jungle near Song Be. "We went out on visual reconnaissance with the 9th Cav and trekked through triple canopy jungle after our drop," said Sergeant Stanley D. Edwards.

Moving out from its landing zone, the team came across a recently used footpath leading to a trail which had been used by an NVA company. Com­munication was now essential, and the Rangers raised their long whip antenna to make contact with FSB Buttons. Aft­er a quiet night, the Rangers' patience was rewarded when seven VA in khakis and carrying A K-47s wandered up the trail.

"We were sitting about eight meters off the trail," said SGT Edwards, "but we were well camouflaged and were try­ing to look like part of the trees."

A call from Charlie Troop, 1st of the 9th scout team, alerted the Rangers to a bunker complex about 600 meters down the trail. Carefully timing the VA move toward the bunkers, the Rangers called in 155 mm howitzer fire from Buttons at the moment the enemy reached the bunkers.

Fifteen minutes later, three NVA staggered down the trail, one of them wounded by shrapnel. The Rangers quickly ambushed the trio, killing all three and capturing three AK-47 rifles.

The Blues from Troop C, I st of the 9th, combat assaulted into the bunker complex to give the Rangers reinforce­ment. Five AK-47s and a collection of documents rewarded their search. Its work done, Ranger Team 32 headed back to Buttons.

The Rangers from Buttons played a cruica l role again when on November 4,

(Continued on P. 257)

• e...

This ranger, b~e -;amo~ged before going on a mission, carries the CAR-IS, a favorite ranger weapon because of its short metal stock and fast

The ranger way is the" ay of stealth. Though the rangers often make contact ~ jth the enemy, when faced with an enemy battalion the four-man ranger team must usc discre­tion, back-off, and call in the big guns.

197

SCOUT DOGS & COMBAT TRACKERS

You won't find their names in the division roster, but anyone contending that Bruno and Tux and King and Duke are not Sky troopers of the first order would get a good argument from mem­bers of the 25th and 34th Infantry Pla­toons (Scout Dog) and the men they work with.

The two platoons supply scout dogs and handlers to company size units in the I st Air Cavalry. The sign on a handler's locker reads, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll be right back. I'm just out

RADAR DETACHMENTS

The 268th and 273rd Radar Detach­ments, along with an additional radar section, scan Cav Country with sophis­ticated electronic equipment in search of the enemy. Under the control of Division Artillery, the detachments employ $35,000 radar systems mobile enough to be lifted by Chinook helicopter to any area where they are needed. The opera­tion .of the system is basically !I simple

198

walking the dog." The sign's simplicity belies the important mission the handler and his canine perform.

The four-footed pointman makes good use of his extra-keen senses and animal instincts as he guides troops through enemy territory.

Having spent months developing a close, pitcher-catcher rapport with his particular dog, the handler walks point with the dog, devoting his complete and concentrated attention to the dog alone, not the jungle around him. The handler waits and watches his dog for some sign of an "alert." It may bea perkingof the ears, a tense position, a jerking of the head or a subtle move, but the skilled handler is taught to recognize the indicator immediately.

The handler will rely solely on his dog to warn him of an approaching enemy or of an enemy ambush, because the dog will detect the enemy's presence long before human sense could detect him. Some dogs have been known to "blow the whistle" on ail enemy force as far as 750 meters distant.

Employing the tracker dog in their operations, the four highly autonomous tracker teams in the division are usually inserted into a combat area following heavy contact or after another unit has sprung an ambush and some of the enemy have fled. Though they pack plenty of fire support to take care of themselves, their job is to track the enemy. not make contact with him.

one. While an electrical wave sweeps across a field or search and is reflected on an oscilloscope screen, an operator watches for the telltale blip indicating troop or vehicle movement. An audio system helps confirm the spottings.

The radar section, consisting of smaller, less powerful systems, is spread throughout the division at basecamps and firebases and is used in ground surveil­lance and in counter-mortar and rocket attacks.

RED CROSS SERVICES

They see as much of Cav Country as any Sky trooper, these energetic Donut Dollies. She doesn't really need a white uniform- a striking contrast to the universal olive drab of Vietnam- to stand out in the crowd. Her good looks and charm and the memories she jogs of the sweetheart back home are enough to serve as conversational starting points with Air Cavalrymen.

The girls are part of the American Red Cross organization, which, in Vietnam just as in the states, helps soldiers coor­dinate confirmation of emergencies back home and obtain leaves whenever necessary. This work is done by a unit of field directors who live and work with staff of the FIRST TEAM. But the frosting on the Red Cross cake for Gis is the Donut Dolly.

SERVICE CLUBS

An important part of the Army's effort to keep morale among the troops at a healthy level is played by the Service Clubs in the division. Operated by civil­ian, professional and military personnel of the Special Services Branch, the clubs involve themselves in a myriad range of activities geared to "assisting in the development of the efficiency and morale of enlisted personneL" in their military mission. The clubs stage floor shows, coffee calls, hail and farewell parties, birthday celebrations and tournaments for would-be pool, chess and pingpong champions.

Keeping in tune with the Cav's paci­fication and Vietnamization programs, the clubs employ Vietnamese nationals who devote their time and efforts toward acquainting Sky troopers with a greater knowledge, a nd, therefore, greater under­standing of the people they seek to befriend and aid.

AIR FORCE FACS & WEATHER

They belong to another branch of the military- the United States Air Force (USA F)- but the Cav patch they wear on their left shoulder makes them unmis­takable members of the FIRST TEAM.

Most glamourous of the two Air Force units working with the division is part of the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron- the men who fly the two­seat, turbo-prop OV-IO Bronco fixed wing aircraft. With forward air control (FAC) parties supporting each of the division's brigades, the Air Force pilots' primary missions a re to provide visual reconnaissance, control and mark Air Force air strikes and adjust artillery .

Operating Location 2 of the Air Force's 5th Weather Squadron provides 1st Cav ground troops and helicopter pilots with weather forecasts and observa­tions on a twice-daily basis. Drawing on field reports from their own teams as well as Path Finders at forward areas,the ob-

/ /

'/ seners play a ~ey role in allO\\ing com­manders to consider potential weather threats before completing tactical plans.

~

An Air Force OY·I0 "Bronco" slips into a steep, banking dive on a rocket marking run against an enemy position in m Corps.

100

The following units Irere attached to the division at various times in its his/Dry. They played an important and valuable role in the operations of the FIRST TEA M, and Sky troopers are as thankful for their contributions as these unils were proud 10 serve wilh the lsI Cavalry Division.

ARTILLERY

The 6th Battalion, 14th Artillery, was attached to the division on October 29, 1965. Its 175 mm self-propelled guns pro­vided heavy support for the 1st Cavalry in the division's early operations. The bat­talion was detached in February of 1966.

The eight-inch self-propelled howitzers of the 3rd Battalion, 18th Artillery, were attached to the division from October 29, 1965, to February I , 1966, and took part in Operation SHINY BAYONET, one of the division's first operations.

The 2nd Platoon (Searchlight), B Battery, 29th Artillery, served with the division from October 23, 1965, until early 1968. The platoon's searchlights

200

This mighty eight-inch self-propelled howitzer, "Cherry Buster," was one of the 3rd Battalion, 18th Artillery's guns which assisted the Cav during the division's early months in Vietnam.

sliced the darkness around division basecamps to detect enemy movements and attempts to breach the wire. It also shares the Pleiku Campaign PUc.

In spring of 1966, C Battery, 6th Bat­talion, 16th Artillery, was attached to the division. The ISS mm howitzers of the battery were at LZ Bird in December 1966 when the LZ was attacked by three battalions of NV A. The Redlegs helped hurl back the attack, which cost the enemy 200 dead. The battery was de­tached from the division in early 1967.

Charlie Battery, 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery, provided Quad-50, (truck­mounted .50 caliber machineguns), Dust­Until 1969 the 478th Aviation Company (Heavy Helicopters) was an integral part of the division's operations. The huge CH-54 Flying Cranes, at the time organic to the Cav, made the first combat lift of 155 mm howitzers in 1966.

ers (truck-mounted 40 mm cannon) and jeep-mounted searchlight support to the di\ision in 1968 and 1969. The 5th Bat­talion. 2nd Artillery. replaced the unit in December of 196'1. These units generally operated to beef up baseeamp perimeter defense.

AV IATION

From September 1965 through October 1966, the 17th Aviation Com· pany was attached to the FI RST TEAM, its Caribous providing in stantly responsive fixed-wing cargo support.

The CH-54A Flying Cranes of the 478th Aviation Comp,.ny (Heavy Helicopter» were an integral pa rt of the division's operat ions from Septem ber 1965 until 1969. when the 478th was replaced b) the 273rd Aviation Company (He,\\ y Helicopters). The 478th made the fjr>t combat lifts of 155 mm howitzers in 1966. flying batteries to firing positions that would othe rwise be inaccessible. Without the heavy hauling capabilities of the CH·54A the division's airmobility would be severely limited.

Both aviation units earned a share of the Pleiku Campaign PUc.

The 241th Signal Detachment (Avi ­onics) suppo rted the 478th Flying Crane company from fall of 1966 through early 1968.

CIV IL AFFA IRS

Several elements of the 41st Civ il Affairs Company were attached to the division from January 1967 through early 1968. The company carried out various civic action programs to improve the lot of the Vietnamese people and strengthen their allegiance to the Viet­namese government.

I FANTRY

From September 1965 until detached January 17, 1968, the 54th Infantry Detachment (Ground Surveillance) swept the perimeters of the division's firebases with its radar, sea rching for enemy movement and firing positions. It often brought a quick halt to mortar attacks by discovering their source a nd calling in counterfire. Organic units replaced the 54th.

From August 1967 through April 1968, the 1st Battalion , 50th Mechanized

Tanks of the 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry C\1cchanizcd), mo\'c inland from the northern coastline in support of Cal' troops from 1st Battalion, 12th C,,·alry. It was early 1967.

The M-42 self-propelled track, better known as a "Duster," moves along the road in support of division operation operations in Quang Tri Province. This I Field Force weapon lent the sup­port of its imposing twin, 40 mm cannon to Cav ground operations.

Infan try, provided tanks and armored personnel ca rrie rs to the division for operations against fortified enemy posi tion s.

The 7th and 8th Combat Tracker Teams were attached to the division in 1968. Four teams from the 62nd Infantry served with the division in 1969. The tracker dogs of the team sniff out enemy personnel who may ha~e escaped from an ambu sh. firefight or probe on a firebasc.

RADIO RESEARCH

The 10th Radio Research unit was

attached to the division from September 1965 through January 1967. The 37 1st Radio Research Compa ny replaced it and was still attached to the divisif'n as of January 1970.

SIG AL

Detachment I, 54th Signal Battalion, was attached to the division from October 1965 through spring 1966. The 586th Signal Company (Support) was attached to the division from September 1965 through January 1967.

WEATHER

'01

A member ofthe 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery, and his "Quad-SO" (four.50 caliber machine­guns mounted together), are silhouetted against the darkening sky as night falls over Vietnam.

The 30th Air Force Weather Squadron provided information on weather condi­tions in the Cav's AO, information vital to the division's operations. It was allached in October 1965. In ovember 1966 it was replaced by the 24th Detach­ment of the 5th Weather Squadron. In 1968 that unit leflthe Cav and the 31st Detachment, 5th Weather Squadron, replaced it.

Any unit , assigned , allached or under the FIRST TEAM's operat ional control shared in the Pleiku Campaign Presi­dential Un it Citat ion. This included the 34th Quartermaster Ballalion DS{GS, and the 70th Engineer Battalion, both working at An Khe, as well as the smaller units listed above . ~

The long barrel of a big 175 mm self-propelled gun bespeaks of the weapon's long reach. The gun belongs to the 6th Battalion, 27th Artillery, which pro\'ides heavy fire support for the troops near Camp Gonad, Phuoe Vinh.

MAJOR COMBAT ACTION

-1965-

MAJOR OPERATIONS IN WHICH SKYTROOPERS TOOK PART OR COMPLETED

j\'ame Dale Cnits Enemy KIA Location Pleiku Campaign Oct. 19- Division 3,561 Pleiku Province

Nov, 26

Clean House Dec. 17-31 3rd Bde 137 Suoi Ca Valley, 11 Corps

MAJOR BATTLES

(BASED ON 50 OR MORE ENEMY KIA TO A SINGLE, IDENTIFIABLE ACTION)

Bailie Dale Units Enemr KIA Loca/ioll Map Key Battle of Nov. 4 1/8, 1/9 lIO South Bank A-Pit I Due Co of la Drang River Battle at LZ X-Ray Nov. 14-16 1/7,2/7,2/5 2,049 Chu Pong Massif, B-Plt I

Pleiku Province Battle at LZ Albany Nov, 17 2/7, 1/5 503 Chu Pong Massif, C-Plt I

Pleiku Province Battle on the Nov. 1/9,2/12 282 North bank of the a-Pit I Tae River Tae River Battle at LZ Wing Nov. 6 2/8 198 West of PJei Me b-Plt I

203

204

lOG OF SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS 1 "PEGASUS" 2 "JEB STUART" 3 "DELAWARE" 4 "WHEELER WALLOWA" 5 "KONTUM" 6 "PERSHING" 7 "MASHER WHITE WING" 8 "THAYER I, II" 9 "IRVING" 10 "DAVY CROCKETT" 11 "MATADOR" 12 "PAUL REVERE II, III, IV" 13 "PLEIKU CAMPAIGN" 14 "LINCOLN" 15 "NATHAN HALE" 16 "HENRY CLAY" 17 "BYRD" 18 "PHUOC LONG" 19 "BINH LONG" 20 "WAR ZONE C" 21 "WAR ZONE D" 22 "NAV CAV"

CAMP GORVAD

CAMP RADCLIFF

KONTUM

® Kontum

® Pleiku

PLEIKU

e...- ------ .-.

PLATE I

BINH DlNH

Camp ~ Radcliff 'J

-'

Qui Nhon® 0

® Chuo Reo

Pleiku

Campaign

PHU BON

• •

1966 MAJOR OPERATIONS IN WHICH SKYTROOPERS TOOK PART OR COMPLETED

Name Date Units Enemy KIA Location Masher/White Wing Jan. 25 Division, "I 1,744 Binh Dinh Province

Mar. 6 Marine Task Force, 22nd ARVN Div, ARVN Abn, ROK Capital Div.

Lincoln Mar. 25 1st & 3rd Bdes 453 Chu Pong Massif, Apr. 8 25th Inf Div " Corps

3rd Bde Davy Crockett May 4-10 3rd Bde 374 Northeastern Binh

Dinh Province Crazy Horse May 16 1st Bde, 501 Area between Vinh

June 5 4th ARVN TF Thanh and Suoi Ca Valleys

Nathan Hale June 19 1st & 3rd Bdes 459 Phu Yen Province July I

Paul Revere" Aug. 1-25 2nd & 3rd Bdes 809 la Drang-Chu Pong area Byrd Aug. 25 TF,2/7 849 Binh Thuan and

Jan. 30 Phan Thiet Thayer I Sep. 13 1st & 2nd Bdes 231 Kim Son Valley

Oct. I Irving Oct. 2-24 1st & 3rd Bdes 681 South China Sea Coast,

Binh Dinh Province Thayer" Oct. 25 Division 1,757 Bong Son, eastern

Feb. 12 Binh Dinh Province Paul Revere IV Oct. 31 2nd Bde, 977 I a Drang-Chu Pong area

Dec. 27 4th Inf Div

MAJOR BATTLES (BASED ON 50 OR MORE ENEMY KIA KEYED TO A SINGLE, IDENTIFIABLE ACTION)

BailIe Date Units Enemy KIA Lo('ation Map Key Battle with the Jan. 29-30 217 81 Binh Dinh Province E-Plt II Quyet Tan R<;gimen t Battle of the Feb. 7 2/7 57 An Lao Valley F-Pit " An Lao Assault Battle of the Feb. 18-21 2nd Bde 312 12 miles south of G-Pit II Iron Triangle

Bong Son Battle near Ch u Mar. 30-31 Ajlj9,1/12 197 Chu Pong Massif H-Plt "' Pong Massif First Battle of May 16-17 B/2/8, A/I/12 132 Vinh Thanh I-Pit II Crazy Horse

Mountains Battle at June 22 1/8 134 Tuy Hoa Vicinity, J-Plt II Position Eagle

Phu Yen Province Battle in Darlac Aug. 8 1/7,1/12 106 la Orang Valley, K-Plt II I Province Darlac Province

Battle of Hill 534 Aug. 14-15 1(5. 2/5 138 Chu Pong Massif L-Plt II I Battle of Hoa Hoi Oct. 2-3 1(12.1/9,1/5 233 Hoa Hoi Village, M-Pit I V An Lac Peninsula Battle of Phan Thiet Oct. 25 2/7 52 Phan Thiet OO-Pit VII Battle of Charlie, Nov. 21 elli5 145 Chu Pong Massif N-Plt III I st of the 5th

Battle in 506 Valley Dec. 17-19 Ij8.lfI2.lj9 95 Highway 506 O-Plt IV Battle of LZ Bird Dec. 27-31 1)12, C/6j16 266 Kim Son Valley P-Plt IV Arty, B/2/19 Any

206

BINH DlNH

Crazy Horse

® Cheo Reo

PHU BON

PHU YEN PLATE "

BONG SON

• L- ~ _.

----. c::.:..~

Crockett

Masher

White Wing

Nathan Hale

r

Operation Lincoln

KONTUM

® Kontum PLATE III

® Pleiku

PLEIKU

® Chuo Reo

PHU BON

Operation Paul Revere III

•

P L E I K U

•

1967 MAJOR OPERATIONS IN WHICH SKYTROOPERS TOOK PART OR COMPLETED

Name Date Units Enemy KIA Location Pershing Feb. 12 Division 5,401 Eastern Binh Dinh

Jan. 21 Province Lejeune Apr. 7-22 2nd Bde 181 Quang Ngai Province Song Re Aug. 1-20 3rd Bde 149 Song Re Valley.

Quang Ngai Province Wheeler/Wallowa Oct. 2 3rd Bde 3,188 Que Son Valley,

Jan. 25 Quang Ngai Province

MAJOR BATTLES

(BASED ON 50 OR MORE ENEMY KIA KEYED TO A SINGLE. IDENTIFIABLE ACTION)

Battle Date Units Enemy KIA Location Map Key Battle east of Jan. 27 2/12 72 Bong Son Plain Q-Plt IV Bong Son Battle of Bullseye V Jan. 30 2/12,1/5,1/9 104 Northeast Bong Son R-PIt IV

Plain I st Battle of Tuy Au Feb. 18-19 1st Bde 68 Western Bong Son S-PIt IV

Plain Battle of Hoa Mar. 6-7 2/5, 1/9 81 Hoa Tanh (i) Village, T-PIt IV Tanh (I) Binh Dinh Province I st Battle of Tam Mar. 19-21 1st & 2nd Bdes 121 Tam Quan, Bong U-PIt IV Quan Son Plain Battle in An Lao Apr. 4 3rd Bde 78 An Lao Valley V-Pit IV Valley Battle of An Qui May 30-June I 1/8, 1/9, 1/12 96 An Qui, Bong Son W-Plt IV

Plain Battle near May 31 2/8 90 West of Highway I, X-Pit IV Highway I Binh Dinh Province Battle of Dam Tra-O June 21 1/5, 2/5 84 Dam Tra-O Lake Z-PIt IV 2nd Battle of Tuy Au J ul. 2-3 1/8 86 Western Bong Son AA-PIt V Battle of LZ Pat Aug. 9 2/8, 1/9 73 Song Re Valley BB-Plt V 2nd Battle of Dec. 6-20 1st Bde. 650 Tam Quan, Bong CC-Plt V Tam Quan 20th A R VN Reg!. Son Plain

209

PLATE IV Pershing

Thayer II

Thayer I

Irving

Camp Radcliff ~

y

BONG SON 2lO

---- - ::..::..~

•

1968

Bailie MAJOR OPERATIONS IN WHICH SKYTROOPERS TOOK PART OR COMPLETED

Dale Jcb Stuart Jan 22

Mar. 31 Pershing II Jan 22

Feb. 18 Pegasus,' Lamson 207 Apr. 1-15

Delaware/Lam Apr. 19 Son 216 May 17 Concordia Square May 8-17 Jeb Stuart Iii May 17

Nov. 3 Comanche Falls Sept. II

Nov. 7 Toan Thang II Nov. 12

Feb. 16

Units Enemy KIA 1st & 3rd Bdes 3,288 Jrd Bde, 101 Abn

2nd Bdc 614

Division, 1st & 1,259 26th Marine Regts ARVN Abn TF

1st & 3rd Bdes 739

2nd Bde 347 Division 3,288

2nd Bde 107

Division 3,324

MAJOR BATTLES

Location

Quang Tri & Thua Thien Provinces

Eastern Binh Dinh Province

Khe Sanh

A Shau Valley

Quang Tri Province

Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces

Southern Quang Tri Province

Northern III Corps

(BASED ON 50 OR MORE ENEMY KIA KEYED TO A SINGLE. IDENTIFIABLE ACTION) Bailie Dale Cuils Enemy KIA Location Map Key Battle of Jan. 2-4 1/5,2/5,1/9, 1/50 97 East of Dam Tra-O EE-Plt V An Lac Hamlet Mech Inf Lake Battle for LZs Ross Jan. 3 3rd Bde 289 Que Son Valley FF-Plt VI and Leslie

Battle of Quang Tri Jan 31 1st Bde, 9th 553 Quang Tri City GG-Plt VI Feb. 6 ARVN Abn Bn. 1st ARVN Regt.

Battle of Hue Feb. 2-25 3rd Bde. 1/9 404 Hue and environs HH-Plt VI Battle of Dong Ha Feb. 7 C/I/9 53 Dong Ha ii-Pit VI Battle of Than Xuan Mar. 25 1/8, 1/9 276 Than Xuan Ouong JJ-Plt VI Duong Hamlet Hamlet Battle of April 5 Apr. 5 A/I/9 53 Khe Sanh Valley KK-Pit VI Battle of Gia May 27-30 1st Bde 108 Gia Dang III, LL-Pit VI Dang III Quang Tri Province Battle of Binh An Jun. 27-30 2nd Bde 233 North of Quang MM-Plt VI Tri City Battle near Quang Aug. 20-23 1/8, 1/9 144 Northeast of Quang NN-Plt VI Tri Tri City

211

QUANG NGAI

PLATE V

BINH DlNH

212 .

v

Song Re

o

•

B o N G

S o N

~ PLATE VI Pagesus

Jeb Stuart

THUE THIEN

Delaware

QUANG NAN

QUANG TIN

I CORPS

• e...- - _. --.- ::.:::.~ - .

K H E S A N H

213

1969 MAJOR OPERATIONS IN WHICH SKYTROOPERS TOOK PART OR COMPLETED

Baltle Toan Thang '" Comanche Warrior/Creek II

Date Feb. 17 May 14 June I

*£ditor's Hate: Operation Toan Tbang III was continuing as t.is book went to press. Casualty ligures cam the plfiod from Fib. 11 to Dec. 31, 1969.

Units Division 3rd Bde

Enem)' KIA I 1.205'

132

MAJOR BATTLES

Location Northern II I Corps Southern I II Corps

Map Key

(BASED ON 50 OR MORE ENEMY KIA KEYED TO A SINGLE, IDENTIFIABLE ACTION) Baltle Date Units Enemy KIA Location Map Key Battle at LZ Grant Mar. 8 2(12,1/30 Arty, 157 LZ Grant. PP-Plt VII

CfI/77 Arty 2"d Battle at LZ Mar. II 2/12, A/I/30 Arty, 62 LZ Grant, War Zone PP-Plt VII Grant CjI/77 Arty C Battle at LZ May 6 2/8, Aj2/19 Arty, 198 LZ Carolyn, Tay QQ-Pit VI/ Carolyn B/I/30 Arty N inh Province Battle on May 10 May 10 A/I/9 55 II I Corps RR-Plt VII Battle at LZ Jamie May 12 2/7, B/2/19 Arty 70 LZ Jamie, War SS-Pit VII

Zone C Battle of Dong Nai June 2 1/8 54 North of Dong Nai TT-Plt VI!

River, 1/ I Corps I st Battle at LZ Ike June 20 2/5 90 LZ Ike. Tay Ninh U U-Plt VII

Province Battle of Binh Long July 25 3rd Bde 460 Binh Long Province VV-Plt VII Province Aug. 12 Battle at FSB Becky Aug. 12 2/8, A/ I /30 Arty 101 FSB Becky, War Zone WW-Plt VI/

C Battle of Quan Loi Aug. 12 3rd Bde 54 Quan Loi area. Binh XX-Pit VII

Long Province Battle of Ph uoc Long Nov. 3-4 2nd Bde. B/ 1/9 153 Song Be area. Phuoc YY-Pit VII Long Province 2nd Battle at FSB Nov. 4 2/5, A/I/9 98 FSB Ike and vicinity. ZZ-Plt VII Ike Tay Ninh Province

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PLATE VII RR-­SS­WW-

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® Tay Ninh

TAY NINH

® Song Be

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PHUOC

BINH LONG -----~ LO NG t----------

G~~'::d~ LONG

BINH DUONG KHANH TT

HAU BIEN NGHIA HoA

CIA DlNH

LONG AN

III CORPS