Marion. Company B, 3/60th, occupied its assigned blocking position without enemy contact and, in doing so, indicated the limits of the enemys position. Anything and everything that couldn't fit in any of the other categories. Also, all commanders were concerned about the possible effects the .50 caliber fire of the armored personnel carriers would have when they assaulted. February 1966: 2nd Bde Activated Fort Riley, KS. Become a member of MRFA! [1]:108. We welcome content contributions! American public is not getting the facts on the situation in Viet-nam, 'https://powellbanners.creativecirclemedia.com/www/delivery/ajs.php':'http://powellbanners.creativecirclemedia.com/www/delivery/ajs.php'); At about this time, Company A succeeded in getting a squad across the stream under cover of supporting fire. We welcome content contributions! The APC operators decided to fire their canisters on each other to remove the Viet Cong, as they were too close for an APC to clear from itself. On 28 December 1962, US intelligence detected the presence of a radio transmitter along with a sizable force of Viet Cong (VC) soldiers, reported to number around 120, in the hamlet of Ap Tan Thoi in Dinh Tuong Province, ho if (document.context) document.write ("&context=" + escape(document.context)); They had become highly proficient in group and individual tactics. Few people were seen, although there were many houses of mud and thatch in these densely vegetated areas. State. 17 September 1967: 3rd-47th Op TF Funston 4th-47th Inf comes afloat. if (document.mmm_fo) document.write ("&mmm_fo=1"); The company commander reported that his unit was in a state of chaos and he was extremely pessimistic about its ability to attack. Of the 63 wounded, 26 were evacuated. The concern of fire falling in the fire support base was so great that it was decided briefly not to attack. The letter was translated into Vietnamese, and leaflets were dropped into the communist area. [5], In the 3rd Platoon sector on the eastern side of the perimeter, Wolfe detected communist movement and requested night illumination from a 4.2-inch mortar, which revealed Viet Cong troops crossing the highway from east to west. 16 February thru mid May 1967: 2nd brigade maintains forces operating in RSSZ in conjunction with TF-117, normally keeping one battalion committed. 0000004946 00000 n The South Vietnamese forces enjoyed a 4-1 numerical advantage in the var m3_u = (location.protocol=='https:'? Operation launched in response to major Viet Cong build up in western Dinh Tuong. Particles of phosphorus from the heavy artillery that had lashed the area flared fitfully, lighting up shattered palms and underbrush with a ghostly glow. Chief, Pacific, who sought to put the battle into perspective in Considered small-scale action, Ap Bac was fought on January 2, 1963, in the hamlet (ap in Vietnamese) of Bac. American intelligence analysts believed that the whole regiment participated. 7, The Washington Post printed a front-page The personnel carriers of Company C, 5/60th, having a longer distance to travel, and having two fairly deep streams to cross, did not close Company As position until approximately 1530. Company A was to move by trucks furnished by the brigade besides organic vehicles form the battalion, and upon arrival would go into battalion reserve near the line of departure. Explore gatherings, speakers and events. In view of this, the brigade commander, Col. William B. Fulton, changed his scheme of maneuver. As soon as the woods were reached the infantrymen jumped out and began destroying the enemy troops in their position, where they had been trapped and pinned down by the heavy volume of fire. Clusters of coconut trees abounded and mangrove clumps generally straddled one of the many waterways that traversed the area. They claimed 227 communist killed and captured three, while losing only 3 and suffering 63 wounded. Jump-off was scheduled for 0800. Our first operation was in the northern Rung Sat. 11-12 June 1967: Relocate to NHA Be. Funston. The First Battle of Ap Bau Bang occurred on November 1112, 1965. [5], Captain Alcala advised his superiors at 00:50 that he felt able to repel the attack, but he asked for a ready reaction force to be put in place. Against overwhelming odds, the Viet Cong achieved their first major victory. b. Explore artwork by members, and read historical articles and books. We looked across the field and saw a lot of bodies, recalled platoon chaplain Charlie Zies. In short, a nice, tidy plan had gone awry. Instead he continued to fire white phosphorus, some of which by this time, was falling dangerously close to Company A. Chiefs of Staff which suggested that the press was painting the battle 0000001392 00000 n [6] The attackers were followed by a line of unarmed troops carrying ropes and wires with hooks to recover the fallen communists. Farther to the north (about 30 meters) was another dike, parallel to the one behind which the dead lay. This was the start of the main phase of the battle. a team of officers to Vietnam to investigate conflicting reports on discipline in the execution of small-unit tactics. [4], At 00:30, 20 March 1967, the Viet Cong resumed their attack, hitting Fire Support Base 20 with mortar rounds, rifle grenades, rockets, and recoilless rifle fire. This was the plan finally coordinated on the evening of 1 May 1967. Whereas a company might be made up of 80-250 soldiers, an Army battalion can consist of between 300 to 1,200 soldiers. the US/GVN forces. The paddies were mostly dry and easily supported the weight of an armored personnel carrier. [CDATA[ Due to the nature of the battle and the abundant use of automatic weapons on armored vehicles, two and in some cases three basic loads of .50-caliber and 7.62mm. Three VC were killed and the others fled to the south. But experience had shown that at best this was an educated guess, one that all too often had proved false. Country Series, 1/63) Lieutenant Colonel John P. Vann, senior United Department of State, U.S. The brigade commander ordered the assault as soon as the air strike, then in progress, was finished. response to his concern. A reinforced company, and possibly more, had been lost for the time being to the Viet Cong 514th Battalion.