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Vietnam Operations Center

United States Marine Corps

This section will list all of the operations conducted in Vietnam from 1962 - 1975, as they are discovered.  This section in combination with the Command Chronology's can assist you in developing an excellent chain of events calendar for historical writing in connection with the KC-130's of VMGR-152 & VMGR-352.

To assist in locating a time period, use this button.  A complete list of all instances for the criteria you selected will be displayed.

Vietnam Operations

Adair I Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces 6/15/67 6/24/67
5th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st and 3d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC)
Search and Destroy
 

"Doc" Jim Clarke

FMF Corpsman James R. Clarke, Sr.

Enlisted in US Navy 8-31-65.
Discharged from active duty Nov. 68 as E-5 HM2.
Boot Camp San Diego, California 8-65-11-65.
Naval Hospital Corps School Nov. 65 - Mar. 66.
US Naval Hospital Portsmouth, Va. Mar. 66- Sept. 66




Transferred to USMC Fleet Marines Force Oct. 66 - Nov. 66 Camp Lejeune-Montford Point, for Combat Training prior to RVN. Arrived in RVN Nov. 8-66, assigned to 1st Marine Division (rein) 1st Hospital company Chu Lai, RVN. Served 363 days in Triage/ICU corpsman in hospital MASH type hospital for major portion of tour.

1. Unit of Assignment: U.S. Naval Hospital/ 1st Marine Division.
2. Location of incident: 1st Hospital Company, 1st Mar/Div. Republic of Vietnam.
3. Approximate Date: Served from 8 Nov. 1966- 8 Nov . 1967.

As Petty Officer 3rd class on arrival, was placed working in triage. This duty was to receive combat wounded from the medivac choppers and start immediate life saving support which included keeping the wounded from bleeding to death and keep them breathing until the surgeons could operate. We acted as a team of approximately 4 corpsman per 12-hour shift that run 7 days per week, 24 hours a day.

We triage corpsman were stand alone without the aid of nurses only doctors as primarily as surgeons or medical doctors not within triage or SICU. The main job description was to retrieve wounded from the choppers and to keep them alive till the surgeons could operate. It was what is called B & B work; Keep them Breathing & keep them from Bleeding!

My duties in this area ran from Jan. 1967 to approximately July of 1967. My other assignment was the surgical recovery/ICU which was as senior corpsman. Our routine duties were to recover the post-surgical wounded and care for them in any fashion that warranted intensive care; All job performance was that of any registered nurse in any US Naval stateside hospital.

We worked on an average of 50 to 100 wounded per day during the major operations (battles); to name a few:

Operation DESOTO Jan.67-Feb.67.
Operation ADAIR June 15th to 24 June 24th 67.
Operation UNION I & II April 67- June 67.
Operation SWIFT September 67-Oct. 67.

There were many other smaller operations, too many to count. There are documented statistics on the hundreds of US casualties and KIA during these months in 1967 with the 3rd Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, 1st Mar/Div.

Operating in the I Corps three most southern provinces-Quang Nam, Quang Tin, and Quang Ngai- the 1st Marine Division in the first three months sent out more than thirty-six thousand company-sized operations, patrols and ambushes; Ref. Book, Semper Fi Vietnam-From DaNang to the DMZ Marine Corps Campaigns, 1965-1975 by Edward F. Murphy. Library of Congress ISBN 0-89141-562-9 (hardcover).

By the end of 1966, Operation PRAIRIE which extended into 1967 cost the 3rd Marines approx. 200 KIA and 1000 wounded. Enemy dead totaled over 1000.

In May 67, Operation UNION closed down after the twenty-seven day campaign had cost the Marines 110 dead and 473 wounded with an enemy body count of 865.

In the morning of May 26, 67, Operation UNION II opened and a total of 118 NVA dead were found, with the Marines losing 38 KIA and 82 WIA in one day!

On May 30, 5th Marines encountered a large NVA battalion, and after intense fighting for a day found 476 NVA KIA. The Marines lost 71 KIA and 139 WIA. Operation UNION II was closed down in early June 67.

Operation COCHISE was from July through 28 August.

Operation SWIFT started 4 September 67. During this operation, Navy Chaplain Fr. Vincent Capodanno was killed in action and brought to our unit where I personally opened his body bag. He was our unit chaplain, and a friend to all. His tragic death was a shock to all the Marines and Naval personnel who grew to love him as a spiritual leader and a great leader. He received the Medal of Honor (posthumously). The next day, 5 September, the Marines counted 130 dead NVA soldiers, and the Marines lost 54 KIA and 104 WIA which came through our field hospital! Between 5 Sept. and 10 Sept. the Marines lost 78 KIA and 222 WIA which came through 1st Hospital Company.

Needless to say, not all those killed in action and wounded were on my watch, but the majority of those were during the day time, and that was 12-hour shift.

The sight and smells of death and dying on a daily basis, which one particular day during Operation UNION, we received 72 KIA on flat trucks, all of which had been baking in 100 degree heat for 24 hrs. The stench when opening those bags still live in my memory. I remember taking one of the wounded out of his bag, and when I lifted him behind his head, there was nothing left and my hand entered his brain cavity to my wrist!.

The exact count of WIA during those months of Jan.6-7-Oct. 67 was 2030 and 531 KIA that more than likely came through our field hospital. This number does not reflect civilian Vietnamese and ROK Marines (Korean) and the Army's 196th Lt. Infantry Brigade.

We were very, very busy day and night, for which I cannot remember details, of which I am thankful to the author of the book for statistics. I knew we worked on thousands of men, but I can't remember exact dates. I can only really remember my arrival time and leaving. Till this day in 2001, I have only a few reflections of all that trauma.

By the end of October 1967, I was coming apart mentally and physically. I couldn't stand to hear a chopper overhead nor the landing of such without causing extreme agitation. I still have flashbacks of receiving wounded like that in Vietnam!

My best friend from childhood was a Navy Corpsman with M 3/5, 1st Mar/Div. I was lucky and very happy to rotate back to USA in Nov. 67.

Semper fi, Jim Clarke

 

Adelaide II III Binh Duong Province 5/31/66 6/8/66
search-and-destroy and cordon and search operation
suspended June 7 to move troops to Adelaide III
 

May - 1966 - Establishing the Australian Task Force Area(1 ATF).
4 May - The Australian Task Force's 5 RAR main body arrive at Vung Tau with the first conscripts of the war. 5 RAR remain at Vung Tau for training and familiarization.
6 May - AS John Monash and AV Vernon Sturdee arrive at Vung Tau.
The Boonaroo is chartered to carry stores to Vietnam. The Seamen's Union refuse to man it.
13 May - 5 RAR with several subsidiary units is now complete on the ground at Vung Tau.Training continues.
17 May - MV Boonaroo departs Sydney on its first trip to Vietnam.
23 May - Ba Ria - YS 43-67 Provincial Capital of Phuoc Tuy Prov, 8 km SW of Nui Dat, 22 km NE of Vung Tau and along Rte-2. 161 Bty, RNZA (Kenning?s Bty 13Jun65-13Jun66) firebase was set N of Ba Ria at this grid, 23May- 5Jun66. Phuoc Tuy Prov, III Corps. In support of Operation Hardihood.
23 May - The second battalion for the Australian Task Force, 6 RAR advance parties arrive at Saigon and depart for Ben Hoa to take over stores and equipment from 1 RAR.

The Occupation of the Australian Task Force at Nui Dat
The occupation of Nui Dat was to take place in three Phases. Phase I - The province chief was requested to move all inhabitants(approx. 4,000) from within a 4,000 metre radius of Nui Dat and resettle them elsewhere. The clearance of civilians in this area was to create a protective zone in which close patrols could operate freely and permit the Task Force to employ its weapons in defence of the base without fear of hitting civilians. The buffer zone would also prevent enemy forces from firing mortars from an inhabited area.

The boundary of this buffer zone was known as Line Alpha. The relocation included the Village of Long Phuoc and Long Tan (both known VC strongholds), but not Hoa Long. Fierce enemy resistance was expected. Phase II - US 173 Brigade with 5 RAR to secure the the base area. Phase III - The movement of the 1 ATF main body from Vung Tau to Nui Dat. 1 ATF 1/66 'HARDIHOOD'. Dates: Phase I-24 May to 4 June 1966, Phase II -5 to 15 June 1966 Formations/units: 5RAR, with under command 3 Fd Tp, elements D Coy 1 RAR, in direct support 105 Fd Bty. Description:

Phase 1: A brigade clearing operation to destroy VC in the area to be occupied by the 1ATF base in Phuoc Tuy province, 5RAR being a manoeuvre element under operational control of 173d Bde. The battalion AO was approximately fourteen sq km.

The VC force operating in the area was believed to be D445 Provincial Mobile Bn deployed in platoon to company-sized elements. 274 and 275 Main Force Regts were believed to be located in the NE and NW of the province. Deployment by helicopter.

Phase 2: A battalion operation to secure and defend the base area for occupation by 1ATF, 5RAR now being under command HQ 1ATF, in an AO of approximately 43 sq km. VC forces in the province had been maintaining surveillance over Allied deployments and were expected to respond.

Deployment from Phase 1 on foot. For both phases generally undulating terrain except for Nui Dat (101m), and covered mainly in clear forest and rubber, with small areas of blushwood, and rice, isolated patches of jungle. Location: Phuoc Tuy province, nine km NE of the provincial capital Ba Ria (Xa Phuoc Le). Results: Phase 1: Casualties: own: DOW 1, WIA 1; VC: KIA 10, wounded/escaped 4, PW 4. A number of huts, camps and defensive positions (one extensive) were located and destroyed where practicable; a number of weapons were captured in these locations.

Over 24 tonnes of rice were located and destroyed. Phase 2: Casualties: own: KIA 4, WIA 14; VC: KIA 4, DOW 3, PW 4. A number of VC company-sized defensive positions with tunnels were located and destroyed, as well as one tonne of rice. Remarks: 5 RAR passed from under operational control HQ 173d Bde to under command HQ 1ATF at 1800 hrs 5 Jun 66.

The first NS conscript is killed in Vietnam, Pte Errol Wayne Noack .
25 May- The RAAF No 9 Sqn's - Iroquois("Hueys") helicopters(8) depart on HMAS Sydney for Vung Tau.
29 May - 6 RAR advance party plus 100 reinforcements from 1 RAR proceed to Vung Tau and await the fly in of 6 RAR main body between the 31 May - 9 June. The AV Vernon Sturdee(LCM) completes 18 round trips ferrying 1 RAR stores and equipment from Saigon to Vung Tau.(49 mile river system).
31 May - 6 RAR Company Groups commence fly-out to Vietnam.

 

Adelaide III III? Di An to Phuoc Vinh 6/7/66 6/9/66
"search-and-destroy, road clearing from Di An to Phuoc Vinh"
 

June - 1966
1 RAR conclude their first tour in Vietnam.
1 June - RAAF Caribou flight at Vung Tau is now designated as No 35 Squadron.
3 June - 5 RAR take up defensive position at Nui Dat, conduct patrols and await the arrival of the Task Force.10 Pl D Coy 5 RAR contact an enemy force near the Soui Da Bang, 1500 metres north-west of Long Tan. Three enemy are killed. No friendly casualties.

5 June - 1 ATF Headquarters assumes command at Nui Dat. Over the next several nights enemy parties probe the Task Area trying to establish the position and extent of the Task Force defensive area. Establishing defensive positons and communications in the base area are a high priority.

Nui Dat (means small hill) - YS 43-67 On Rte-2, 60 km ESE of Saigon, 35 km NNE of Vung Tau, 8 km NE of Baria and 14 km SSW of Ngai Giao. The site of an abandoned rubber plantation. FSB for 1ATF, RAR, RNZR and RNZA. 161 Bty, RNZA firebase and HQ set here with "Battery Ready" (Kenning?s Bty) 5Jun66, after permanent move from Bien Hoa that day. 161 Bty (Kenning?s) set here 5 Jun66. Luscombe Airfield also at this location.
6 June - 30,000 people welcome home 1 RAR in a ticker-tape march through Sydney.

6 June - The RAAF .9 Sqn with 8 Iroquois Helicopters arrive at Vung Tau to provide support the Australian Task Force(1 ATF) and is based at Vung Tau. The RAAF helicopter were to provide transport, "Dustoff" and "light fire teams" and are operational by the 25 June. Long established rivalries and frictions between the RAAF and the Army surfaced, causing unnecessary situations and disputes.

From 6 June 1964 to 1 November 1968, 458 of the 912 US naval air crewmen downed as a result of combat or noncombat operations in North Vietnam, Laos, or at sea were recovered. While the retrieval of aviators from crash sites on land, when at all possible, took somewhat longer, the rescue at sea usually occurred within 20 to 30 minutes of the aircraft loss. The effort was not without cost, however, for 26 men were killed, wounded, missing, or made prisoner, and 33 aircraft were destroyed during SAR operations. This measure, however, returned valuable air crews to the fleet and improved the morale of naval aviators, who knew the Navy would do its utmost to rescue them from hostile territory or waters.

7 June - Australian military assistance to the civil community commences in the form of a medical visit to Hoa Long village and scheduled every two days thereafter.9 June - 6 RAR in location at 1 ALSG , Vung Tau, first tour. ALSG 1970 Air strikes are conducted on the deserted village of Long Phouc after VC use the position as a base to mortar the task force area. 12 houses are destroyed and 22 damaged. Estimated 3 enemy killed.

10 June - Information is received that a Viet Cong(VC) force (274 Regiment) was moving towards 1 ATF from the NW and was within 10 klms of Nui Dat. Intelligence warn of an 4 battalion attack on the base. Artillery is employed in concentration on a significant enemy night movement on Route 2. Expecting the attack, 6 RAR is called forward to Nui Dat earlier than the planned 23 June.The attack never came because the enemy were tasked to conduct a major ambush on a crashed aircraft site at Nui Nghe. The diary of the deputy commander 274 Regiment Colonel Nguyen Nam Hung was captured later in the year and confirmed that the Regiment had intended to attack the base.

12 June - A sweep is conducted on the outskirts of Hoa Long following light mortar fire which caused casualties to a D Coy 5 RAR patrol. A company operation named 'Parkes' is conducted in the area.

The whole Battalion had arrived by 9th June. After the necessary reconnaissances were completed, orders to move to Nui Dat were given. On the 14th of June, 1966, a heli-borne redeployment was made to the south of the rubber plantation which was to be our home for the next twelve months. The Fifth Battalion which had been operating in the area for some three weeks secured the landing zone for the assault.

6 RAR join 5 RAR forming the main element of 1 ATF. Heavy monsoon rains start. 5 RAR and 6 RAR are allocated Tactical Areas of Operational Responsibility(TAOR). The TAORs cover approx. 50% each of the area in a radius from Nui Dat out to line Alpha.

Those first days caused the art of improvisation to come to the fore, resourcefulness in the use of any material that came to hand was soon copied by others. An ammunition box was a prize possession; it meant - floorboards, cabinets, tables, or a stilt to lift the tent out of the red clinging soil.

15 June - 3 Squadron, Special Air Service(SAS) main body departs Australia for Siagon on QANTAS charter flight and comes under command 1 ATF at Nui Dat.

1 ATF HQ issues plans for operations over the next month in order to gain dominance in the Task Force TAOR. This means aggressive and continuos patrolling by the two infantry battalions out to Line Alpha. A reaction force based on a infantry rifle coy is maintained.

15 - 20 June. 5 RAR and 6 RAR, in between digging defensive and Command Post positions. conducted sixteen to eighteen company and platoon patrols each 24 hours. This was in addition to extra patrols ordered by 1 ATF.
16 June - The new Task Force (3450 Army and 180 RAAF) is complete in Vietnam. The Commander 1 ATF Brigadier Jackson says, "..it was an exhausting and nerve racking experience for the infantry". It is an immediate priority that the Task Force establish a presence quickly in the Province and provide security against any sizeable enemy force". The enemy dominance of the area is now under direct threat and the Task Force is expecting a reaction.
17 June - MV Japer leaves Sydney on its first voyage.

17 - 18 June. 161 Recce Flt commence operations in support of 1 ATF.
General William C. Westmoreland Speaking of Australian Forces"...thoroughly professional ... small in numbers and well trained, particularly in anti-guerrilla warfare ... the Australian Army was much like the post-Versailles German Army in which even men in the ranks might have been might have been leaders in some less capable force".
21 June - Two Military Policemen returning from Baria are ambushed at the village of Hoa Long. One is killed.
21 - 28 June. 5 RAR provides 8 patrols by day and 4 ambush patrols by night. 6 RAR is scheduled for operation 'Angora'. The two Infantry battalions are to be rotated, one on operations and the other maintains company and platoon patrols and ambushes in its sector of the TAOR and man defensive positions at Nui Dat.

The Destruction of Long Phuoc - a VC controlled hamlet approx. 2-3 km SW of Nui Dat with a complex and extensive tunnel system, that was evacuated of all its population in Jun 66 during Operation Hardihood. Its residents were moved to the village of Hoa Long, still within the vicinity of Long Phuoc so that the people could maintain their fields and rice paddies. 6 RAR are tasked to destroy the village.
1 ATF 2/66 ENOGGERA" Dates: 21 June-5 July 1966.

Formations/units: 6 RAR,with under command 3 Tp 1 APC Sqn, 1 Fd Sqn, in direct support 161 Fd Bty (NZ), in support one OH-13 of 161 (Indep) Recce Flt, UH-1 of No 9 Sqn RAAF. Description: A battalion search-and-destroy operation on Xa Long Phuoc, a previously VC-dominated village, the population of which was resettled on 19 May 66. The AO (Zone Khaki) was three sq km. Terrain flat, the village area cleared, and surrounded by grassland/cultivation, rubber, rice and clear forest.

VC strength anticipated was platoon-plus, in tunnels, trenches, bunkers, hides and with supply caches. Deployment on foot. Location: Two km SE of 1 ATF base. Results: Casualties: own: WIA 1; VC: wounded/escaped 4, detained as suspects 32. Over 40 tonnes of rice, large quantities of salt and medical supplies, and some arms and ammunition recovered. More than twenty significant tunnel complexes located and destroyed. 537 buildings, excluding pagodas and churches, destroyed.

26 June - 3 Sqn, SAS commence operations from its base at Nui Dat.Their role will be intelligence gathering and recon. Specifically, they are to find the whereabouts, movements and habits of the two main force enemy units in Phuoc Tuy province.

29 June. US planes attack fuel storage facilities around Hanoi and Haiphong, marking the first time that facilities around Hanoi are hit.

30 June - 5 patrols from SAS set out from Nui Dat to recon the Nui Din and Nui Thi areas. These patrols were typically 4 - 5 men each patrol. Result: 3 VC KIA and numerous sightings of enemy activity. From the patrols reports, it is clear that the VC are moving freely in the area and it is suspected that a large enemy camp is nearby.

The SAS patrols were to provide early warning of any enemy build up and recon the areas for future operations. These early SAS patrols were deployed on foot because the RAAF No 9 Sqn Helicopters were still operating under essentially peacetime regulations and were loath to move SAS patrols into insecure areas. It would be mid July before the RAAF were tasked to deploy and extract SAS patrols.

Alabama III 3/29/66 3/30/66
USMC
search-and-destroy operations
 

Allegheny I Quang Nam Province 8/19/66 8/29/66
"2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search-and-destory operatoin
 

Allenbrook I "Quang Nam Province, Go Noi Island, west of Hoi An City" 5/3/68 8/24/68
"7th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, & 3d Battalions, 7th Marines (elements, USMC);
3d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC); 1st Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC);
1st, 2d, & 3d Battalions, 27th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 13th Marines (USMC)" "1,017"
clear and search operation
 

Anvil III 8/16/65 8/17/65
search-and-destroy operation
 

Apache I Quang Tri Province 6/6/66 6/12/66
"2d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC)"
search-and-destory operations
 

Apache Snow I "Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces, A Shau Valley" 5/10/69 6/7/69
"1st and 2d Battalions, 9th Regiment (USMC); 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile, USA)
(3d Battalion, 187th Infantry; 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry; 2d Battalion,
506th Infantry in ""Hamburger Hill""); ARVN 2d Battalion, 3d Regiment, 1st Infantry Division"
29th Regiment (7th and 8th Battalions)PAVN 56-70 (US); 5 (ARVN) 372 (US) 630-977 PAVN
"to keep pressure on PAVN units and base camps in the A Shua Valley; to disrupt and destroy
PAVN units to prevent attacks on the coastal provinces (included battle of Ap Bia Mountain or
""Hamburger Hill""); a sweep and clear operation" "During the operation, most units encountered
some resistance from the PAVN. However, the 3d/187th engaged in the most heavy fighting as they
approached Ap Bia Mountain (Hill 937). Here the PAVN uncharacteristically decided to stand against
U.S. frontal attacks. The 3d/187th assaulted the hill for three days before they were reinforced.
Then two other 101st Airborne Division battalions and a battalion from the 3d ARVN Regiment joined
the original battalion to fight against the 7th and 8th Battalions of the 29th PAVN Regiment in the
major battle of APACHE SNOW. It became one of the bloodiest battles in the war. A two battalion assault
nearly took the hill on 18 May when weather forced them back. Finally on the 20 May, the PAVN were
forced out of A Shau and into Laos. However, they soon returned after the Allied forces withdrew.
This caused more controversy in the U.S. concerning the lives spent to take the territory when it
was only abandoned for the Communists to reoccupy. Eventually this led to limitations on U.S. military
operations."

Arcadia I Quang Nam Province 11/8/66 11/14/66
"1st and 3d Battalions,1st Marines (USMC)"
search-and-destroy operation
 

Ardmore I Quang Tri Province 7/17/67 10/31/67
"26th Marines (HQ USMC); 1st Battalion, 13th Marines (USMC); 1st and 3d Battalions,
26th Marines (USMC)"
search-and-destroy operation renamed Operation SCOTLAND at the end of October and continued
 

Arizona I Quang Nam Province 6/13/67 6/22/67
"7th Marines (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC); 2d and 3d Battalions,
7th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 11th Marines (USMC)"
search-and-destroy
 

Arlington Canyon I Quang Tri Province 7/3/69 9/21/69
"4th Marines (HG, USMC); 2d and 3d Battalions, 4th Marines (USMC)"
Clear and search operation; security of Vandegrift Combat Base from rocket attacks
 

Athens I "Thua Thien Province, 25 km south of Hue" 5/23/66 6/25/66
"3d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC)"
"search and destroy operation, patrol and ambush operations"
 

Atlas Power III Saigon Area 4/10/69
 

Auburn I Quang Nam Province 7th Marines (USMC)
Security of Da Nang rocket belt in 1967
 

Aurburn (2) I Quang Nam Province 12/28/67 1/3/68
"5th Marines (HQ, USMC); 2d and 3d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC)"
search-and-destroy operation
 

Badger Catch I Quang Tri Province 1/23/68 1/26/68
"3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Badger Hunt I "Quang Nam Province, Dai Loc District" 11/13/67 11/29/67
"2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation coordinated with Operation FOSTER
 

Badger Tooth I Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces 12/26/67 1/2/68
"1st Marines (HQ, USMC); 3d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Ballard Valley I vicinity of Danang 9/10/70 9/19/70
1st Marine Division (USA)
see operation Dubois Square
 

Ballistic Arch I Quang Tri Province - 7 km south of the DMZ 11/24/67 11/27/67
"1st Battalion, 3d Marines(USMC)"
helicopter and amphibious assault
 

Ballistic Charge I Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces - 4 miles southwest of Dai Loc
9/16/67 9/22/67
"1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Barbara Glade I I Khe Sanh plain and Da Krong River valley 5/15/70 5/30/70
Project DELTA Force
intelligence gathering
 

Barbara Glade II I Khe Sanh plain and Da Krong River valley 6/23/70 6/30/70
Project DELTA Force
Intelligence gathering
 

Barren Green 7/24/70 7/26/70
III Marine Amphibious force (USMC)
 

Barrier Reef IV Mekong Delta; extending from GIANT SLINGSHOT on the Vam Co Tay along the
Lagrange Canal from Tuyen Nhon to Ap Bac and westward along the Ong Lan Canal to the upper
Mekong River at An Long 1/2/69
USN; SEALORDS VC to construct a fourth barrier by connecting TRAN HUNG DAO and GIANT SLINGSHOT
 

Bastion Hill I Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces - Hai Long National Forest
10/11/67 10/20/67
"1st Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions, 1st Marines (USMC); 1st Battalion,
3d Marines (USMC); 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC); 1st Battalion, 11th Marines (USMC)"
code name for Operation MEDINA during the 1/3 move into area
 

Batten Down / Dagger Thrust
7th Fleet Landing Force
to destroy VC Installations and capture or destroy VC personnel and material Originally called
DAGGER THRUST. This was a series of short (usually 1 or 2 day) amphibious operations aimed at
the destruction of Viet Cong installations and capturing or destroying VC personnel and material.
Code name changed to BATTEN DOWN in February 1966.
 

Baxter Garden/ Lam Son 214 I Thua Thien Province 4/19/68 4/26/68
"5th Marines (HQ); 1st and 2d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC)"
Combat sweep
 

Beacan Torch I Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces 7/17/657 7/25/67
"III Marine Amphibious Force (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation and amphibious assault This operation phased into Operation CALHOUN
on June 25. CALHOUN ended on July 1.
 

Beacon Gate I Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces 8/7/67 8/11/67
"1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
sweeping mission succeeded by Operation COCHISE
 

Beacon Guide I 18 miles southeast of Hue 7/21/67 7/30/67
"1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)" search and destroy operation

Beacon Hill I Quang Tri Province - northeast of Dong Ha 3/20/67 3/31/67
"III Marine Amphibious Force (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy
 

Beacon Point I "Thua Thien Province - ""Street Without Joy"" area" 9/1/67 9/3/67
"4th Marine Regiment (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
sweeping mission; amphibious assault
 

Beacon Star I "Phase I: Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces - along O Lau River in the
area known as the ""Street Without Joy"" Phase II: move to Khe Sanh" 4/24/67 5/12/67
"III Marine Amphibious Force (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation; amphibious assault "Phase II was the ""first battle of
Khe Sanh."" The action moved to Khe Sanh on April 26 and engaged the enemy from
april 27 - May 10."
 

Bear Bite I "40 km south of the DMZ in the ""Street Without Joy"" area" 6/2/67 6/12/67
"1st Battalion, 35d Marines (USMC)"
 

Bear Chain / Fremont I coastal region between Quang Tri City and Hue 7/20/67 7/26/67
"2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)" 806th VC Battalion
to attack the VC along their exposed section attack on seaward exposed section of the 806th
VC Battalion. This operation was phased into Operation FREMONT on July 21.
 

Bear Trap III 12/11/65 12/12/65
search and destroy
 

Beau Charger I Quang Tri Province 5/17/67 5/26/67
"1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
amphibious assault see Operation HICKORY
 

Beau Diddly I 4/22/67
"2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
amphibious operation
 

Beaver (2nd part) I 6/1/66 6/9/66
USMC
search and destroy operation
 

Beaver Cage I Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces - Que Son Valley 4/30/67 5/12/67
"1st Marine Division (HG, USMC); 1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation; amphibious assault
 

Beaver Track I Cam Lo area south of the DMZ 7/4/67 7/16/67
"2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Belt Drive I Quang Tri Province - Nhung River south of Quang Tri City 8/27/67 9/6/67
"2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
This operation was interrupted September 1-4 to take part in Operation LIBERTY.
 

Belt Tight I DMZ buffer area south of Ben Hai River 5/20/67 5/23/67
"2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy
 

Big Horn (2d operation) I Thua Thien Province 4/4/67 4/21/67
"3d Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions,
9th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Big Lodge I Quang Nam Province 1/15/66 1/17/66
"2d Battalion, 9th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Binh Dinh II 8/10/65 8/11/65
USMC
search and destroy operation
 

Black Ferret I Quang Ngai Province 11/3/65 11/5/65
"7th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st and 3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Blackjack 4/15/67 5/26/67
5th Special Forces Group; Mobile Guerrilla Forces 876
 

Blackjack 22 II Darlac Province 12/10/66 1/12/67
OMEGA Team (B-50 Detatchment); Mobile Guerrilla Force 768
surveillance mission
 

Blackjack 23 II 3/3/67 4/3/67
Mobile Guerrilla Force
 

Blackjack 24 II 3/15/67 4/30/67
Mobile Guerrilla Force
 

Blackjack 25 II 4/15/67 5/26/67
Mobile Guerrilla Force
 

Blast Out I 8/2/65 8/3/65
USMC
search and destroy operation
 

Blue Marlin I Quang Tin Province 11/10/65 11/12/1265
"2d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion VNMC"
search and destroy operation First joint Vietnamese-US amphibious landing
 

Blue Marlin II I Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces 11/16/65 11/18/65
"3d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 11th and 39th ARVN Raner Battalions"
search and destroy operation
 

Bold Mariner / Russell Beach I Batangan Peninsula in Quang Ngai 1/13/69
"two Marine Corps battalion landing teams (USMC); two battalions, 23d Division (Americal, USA)"
VC 56 USA/USMC 158 VC
to support the pacification of the peninsula by clearing out VC forces and converting the
Communist stronghold into an area of government control "In this operation, the U.S. forces
helped to round up VC forces. They relocated civilians to tents where they were screened for VC
cadres, and then returned home. CORDS and the government approved these actions because the
civilians would be returned to their homes in about a month. When the operation began, the USMC
battalions landed on the peninsula while Task Force Cooksey from the 23d Division blocked the
southern boundary. During the time of the operation, Army engineers destroyed more than 13,000
yards of underground passages and hiding places along with all the houses in the area of operation.
The 23d Division claimed it identified 256 memebers of the Viet Cong Infastructure, though some
reports place the number as low as 50. The civilians were not allowed to rebuild on their original
home sites, but were moved to new settlements south of the peninsula. It was not untl 1971 when
security improved enough to allow the refugees to return home. This operation mainly succeeded in
alienating the people. There were no lasting military gains. The area remained insecure and the VC
continued to assert a major influence on the people. This operation was later followed by
NANTUCKET BEACH.
 

Boone I Quang Ngai Province 3/31/67 4/7/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 3d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC); 1st Battalionn 7th Marines
(USMC); 2d ARVN Division; 2d ROK Marine Brigade"
search and destroy operation
 

Boudinot II Darlac Province 10/15/67 12/31/67
"5th Special Forces; 27th MSF Company; Camp Strike Force, Trang Phuc CIDG Camp"
 

Brown I Quang Nam Province 6/17/67 6/22/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions, 1st Marines (USMC); 4/51st ARVN Regiment"
search and destroy operation
 

Brush II/III CTZ Boundary 12/14/67 1/20/68
5th Special Forces (USA); Mobile Strike Force 25
 

Buckner II 4/15/67 5/15/67
OMEGA Team (B-50 Attachment)
 

Bucks I Quang Nam Province- 15 km South of Danang 8/2/66 8/8/66
"3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy
 

Buffalo (I Corp) "Quang Tri Province, south of the DMZ at Con Thien" 7/2/67 7/14/67
"3d Marines (HQ, USMC); 3d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC);
1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9)(USMC); 2d Battalion, 9th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion,
9th Marines (3/9)(USMC); Battalion landing team (BLT) 1/3 from Special Landing Force (SLF)
Alpha (USMC); BLT 2/3 from SLF Bravo (USMC); 9th Marines (HQ)" "304th, 320th, 324B, and 325C
Divisions (PAVN) (especially the 90th PAVN Regiment )"
159 (USMC) 345 (USMC) "1,281-1290 (PAVN)"
To defend the Con Thien combat base; search and destroy operation
"This operation followed Operation CIMARRON and was succeded by Operation HICKORY II.
Con Thien, because of its position, was widely considered to be the most important natural
observation post along the DMZ. Prior to BUFFALO, PAVN troops were positioning across the DMZ
to invade Quang Tri Province. On 2 July Companies A and B of the 1/9 came under fire from PAVN
battalions in positions designated for regrouping and employment of heavy artillery. Company C was
deployed to Company B's area and tanks from Company D were sent. Company D secured the LZ aand
evacuated casualties. Later, the 3/9 was sent in to assist the 1/9. There was constant heavy
artillery fire and mortar. On 3 July BLT 1/3 joined the battle, as did BLT 2/3 on the next day.
The plan was to drive north in an attempt to push th PAVN out of the Lang Son area. Both
battalions were under heavy artillery fire. Throughout the night of the 6th, PAVn continued to
pressure the Marines. On the 7th Company A pulled back to the battalion perimeter. That afternoon
the Marines began to counter the attack with supporting arms, attack aircraft, flare ships, naval
gunfire, and artillery. By the 8th the Marines had repelled the Communits and PAVN had withdrawn
across the Ben Hai River. The last major conflicts of the operation also occurred on the 8th when
Companies F and G fell under fire. The operation had held Con Thien and reaffirmed Marine
docterine of coordinating ground and air commands, but PAVN had also increased their use of
accurate long range artillery and SAMs.

Bull Run I III Phuoc Long Province 8/18/69 9/24/69
5th Special Forces Group (USA); 3d Mobile Strike Force Command reconnaissance in force operation Preliminary

Bull Run II III Phuoc Long Province 1/19/70 3/15/70
5th Special Forces Group (USA); 3d Mobile Strike Force Command
reconnaissance in force operation
 

Bullard II 5/16/67 6/28/67
Mobile Guerrilla Force
 

Burtrand II Hon Tre Island - southeast of Nha Trang 11/14/69 11/17/69
5th Special Forces Group (USA); 5th Mobile Strike Force Command
reconnaissance in force operation
 

Cactus II 9/13/65 9/14/65
search and destroy operation
 

Calhoun I Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces 6/25/67 7/1/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 1st Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion,
3d Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC); 1st Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation Operation BEACON TORCH phased into CALHOUN on June 25
 

Cameron Falls I Quang Tri Province - south and southeast of Ca Lu 5/29/69 6/23/69
"9th Marines (HQ, USMC); 2d and 3d Battalions, 9th Marines (USMC)"
 

Cannon I Quang Nam Province 9/7/66 9/12/66
"1st Marines (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Canyon I Quang Nam and Quang Tri Provinces 4/5/67 4/10/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC);
2d Battalion, 25th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Catawba Falls 9/18/70 9/19/70
1st Marine Division (USMC)
 

Cavalier Beach I Phu Bai; Camp Horn; Camp Hawskins 5/5/70 5/9/70
III Marine Amphibious Force (USMC); XXIV Corps (HQ)
to transfer command of I CTZ from III Marine Amphibious Force to XXIV Corps
XXIV Corps Headquaters moved from Phu Bai to Camp Horn. III Marine Amphibious Force
moved to Camp Hawskins. On March 9 III Marine Amphibious Force turned over command of
I CTZ to XXIV Corps '

Cherokee I Thua Thien Province 5/4/66 5/7/66
"1st Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC); 2d and 3d Battalions, 4th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Cheyenne I Quang Tri Province - on coast 20 km north of Chu Lai 5/24/66 5/24/66
"1st Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Cheyenne II I 5/31/66 5/31/66
USMC
search and destroy operation
 

Chinook I I Thua Thien Province 12/20/66 2/16/67
"3d Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 2d and 3d Battalions, 26th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Chinook II I Thua Thien Province 2/19/67 4/4/67
"3d Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions, 9th Marines (USMC);
3d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Chisago Peak I Thua Thien Province 7/24/70 8/11/70
"1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (HQ, USA); 1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC);
1st and 2d Battalions, 4th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 12th Marines (USMC)"
Combat cooperation part of Operation TEXAS STAR 
 

Choctaw I Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces 5/21/67 7/9/67
"4th Marines (HQ, USMC);1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions,
4th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 12th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Cimarron I Quang Tri Province 6/1/67 7/2/67
"3d Marine Division (HQ, USA); 2d and 3d Battalions, 3d Marines (USMC);
3d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d and 3d Battalions, 9the Marines (USMC);
2d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation replaced by Operation PRARIE IV
 

Citrus I Quang Nam Province 12/15/67 12/23/67
"7th Marine Regiment (HQ); 3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operations
 

Clay I Quang Tri Province 1/31/67 2/3/67
"1st Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy
 

Clearwater I 1/1/68 3/1/73
USN
to interdict enemy bases and lines of communications on inland waterways in I CTZ
 

Cleveland I Quang Nam Province 1/24/67 1/25/67
"2d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Cochise I Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces 8/11/68 8/28/68
"1st Marine Division Task Force X-Ray (USMC); 1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC);
1st and 3d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 11th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Coffee I Quang Nam Province 9/24/66 9/24/66
"2d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Cold Steel II 9/10/65 9/11/65
search and destroy operation
 

Colgate I Thua Thien Province 6/6/67 6/11/67
"4th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion 3d Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion 12th Marines (USMC);
2d and 3d Battalions, 26th Marines (one company each, USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Colorado / Lien Ket 52 I Quang Nan & Quang Tin Provinces 8/5/66 8/22/66
"5th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d and 3d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC): 1st, 3d and 4th VNMC
Battalions; 35th and 39th ARVN Ranger Battalions" 674
search and destroy operation "Vietnam: Order Of Battle, by Shelby L. Stanton;
 

Commando Hunt Laos Ho Chi Minh Trail 11/15/68 4/10/72
"USAF, USN, USMC, Royal Laotian Air force" PAVN
"to reduce the flow of PAVN troops and supplies from North Vietnam into South Vietnam
and Cambodia; to destroy trucks, supply caches, storage bases, the trail support structure,
and the topography around th trail; to test sesnor devices" "During this time Laos became
the third most bombed country in history. Each campaign in the operation lasted about six
months and alternated between wet and dry seasons. Mostly the Air Force conducted these
operations, though the U.S. Navy, Marines, and Royal Laotian Air Force also participated.
The bombings focused on truck parks and storage areas during the day. At night, the planes
attacked trucks. Also, passes from the DRV into Laos were bombed to casue landslides and at
times RANCH HAND defoliation missions were flown along the trail. Predetermined sites were
bombed near Tchepone, a key trans-shipment point, and in the four passes leading into Laos.
However, COMMANDO HUNT failed due to the ability of the PAVN to control the war in the south
and so control the amount of the supplies they needed. Also, the Ho Chi Minh Trail was all
either paved or dirt road. There were no railroad yards or steal and concrete bridges to repair.
The U.S. tried to measure their success by truck count, but these numbers were wildly estimated.
At one time more trucks were reported destroyed than the CIA had estimated existed in the DRV.
When the spring offensive began in 1972, COMMANDO HUNT was canceled, though bombing of the Ho Chi
Minh Trail continued.
 

Commando Vault 3/13/69
to create landing zones for helocopters "air delivery of 10,000 pound bombs (M121)
to create LZs for helicopters"
 

Con Thien, Siege of I
"Con Thien, 14 miles inland from the South China Sea, 2 miles south of the DMZ" 10/31/67
"2d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 9th Regiment (USMC); 11th, 12th, and
13th Marine artillery regiments (USMC); III Marine Amphibious Force artillery (USMC);
2d Battalion, 94th Artillery (USA); 8th Battalion, 4th Artillery (USA); naval warships offshore" 324B PAVN Division "1,117+ (PAVN) (over 1,800 killed and wounded)" "over 1,800 killed and wounded (PAVN)" to defend Con Thien against PAVN attackers and keep the hill open to monitor the enemy's principle supply routes into South Vietnam "During July, the PAVN had attacked the hill of Con Thien from the DMZ. However, these forces were driven back by the Marines. Then again in September, the hill was attacked by the 324B PAVN Division. Con Thien experienced one of the heaviest shellings of the war. In early September, Marines engaged PAVN forces south of the hill. The 3d Battalion, 26 Marines fought a battle with the PAVN on 10 September, which foiled a major PAVN attack. Later, the PAVN attacked the perimeter. However, they were not able to breach the defensive wire. The Marines sent two more battalions to reinforce the hill, and the PAVN increased their artillery fire. This bombardment peaked from 19-27 September. The U.S. responded to all of this with great amounts of firepower. The combat had taken heavy casualties, though. The 2d Battalion, 4th Marines were reduced from 952 to about 300 men by the end of October. However, the area remained unforgiving as the monsoon season made the environment very difficult to operate in.
 

Coronado I Cam Son Secret Zone 6/7/67 6/8/67
Task Force 117 (HQ); RAG 9
 

Cortez I Quang Tin Province 12/7/66 12/12/66
"3d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Country Fair 1 - 32 I Quang Nam Province 1/20/67 1/22/67
"2d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
security operation
 

County Fair 1 - 25 I Quang Nam Province 1/5/67 1/8/67
"2d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
security operation
 

County Fair 1 - 28 I Quang Nam Province 1/7/67 1/9/67
"3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
security operation
 

County Fair 1 - 29 I Quang Nam Province 1/9/67 1/12/67
"1st Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
security operation
 

County Fair 1 - 30 I Quang Nam Province 1/29/67 2/1/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
security operation
 

County Fair 1 - 34 I Quang Nam Province 4/19/67 4/21/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC); 4th Battalion,
5th ARVN Regiment"
search and destroy operation
 

County Fair 14 I? Quang Nam Province ? 12/7/66
 

Cove I Thua Thien Province 11/17/67 11/21/67
"4th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 12th Marines (USMC);
2d and 3d Battalions, 26th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Crockett I Quang Tri Province 5/13/67 7/16/67
"1st and 3d Battalions, 26th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Cumberland I Thua Thien Province 6/3/67 9/15/67
"4th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 12th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Dagger Thrust / Batten Down
7th Fleet Landing Force
to destroy VC Installations and capture or destroy VC personnel and material A series of short
(usually 1 or 2 day) amphibious operations aimed at the destruction of Viet Cong installations
and capturing or destroying VC personnel and material. Code name changed to BATTEN DOWN in
February 1966.
 

Battle of Dai Do I Bo Dieu and Cua Viet River area 4/30/68 5/3/68
"Navy River Assault Group (USN); Battalion Landing Team 2/4 (USMC); B Company, 1st Battalion,
3d Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry (USA); 1st Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment (USMC)"
320th PAVN Division (48th and 52d regiments) 81 (USMC); 29 (USA) 297 (USMC); 130
(USA) "1,568 (PAVN)" To eliminate the threat to the junction of the Bo Dieu and
Cua Viet Rivers "This battle was to set up Phase III of the General Offensive/General Uprising
which is also refered to as ""Tet II"" or ""Mini Tet."" On 30 April a U.S. Navy utility boat was
ambushed by the 320th PAVN Division. This boat was at a vital link for the Marine forces because
supplies were transported from the junction of the Bo Dieu and Cua Viet rivers to the Marine
outposts. The Battalion Landing Team 2/4 was sent to fight the PAVN near the waterway. This group
of Marines was reinforced by the B Company, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines and the Navy River Assault
Group. The U.S. was heavily outnumbered and had to fall back to defensive positions, but the enemy
attack had been stopped. The PAVNs reinforcements were turned back by the 3d Battalion, 21st
Infantry. By the time the 1st Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment joined the battle, the PAVN had fled.
The U.S. succeeded in thwarting the Communists attempt to form a corodor to attack into South
Vietnam. The General Offensive/General Uprising had been forestalled."
 

Daniel Boone
MACSOG
"to conduct reconnaissance of portions of Cambodia to verify suspected enemy locations,
infiltration routes and bases of supply"
 

Dawes II 3/3/67 4/3/67
OMEGA Team
 

Dawn 12/7/66
 

Dawson River II Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces - vicinity of Khe Sanh 11/28/68 1/26/69
"3d Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 9th Marines (USMC)"
clear and search operation "suspended January 22, 1969"
 

Dawson River Afton Da Krong Valley 10/24/68 12/25/68
"9th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 9th Marines (USMC)"
 

Deckhouse I II Phu Yen Province 6/18/66 6/30/66
"3d Battalion, 5th Marines (Special Landing Force)"
support for 1st Cavalry Division's Operation NATHAN HALE
 

Deckhouse II I Quang Tri Province 7/16/66 7/30/66
"3d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC)"
to support of Operation HASTINGS
 

Deckhouse III III "Binh Tuy Province - Vung Tau Peninsula, 60 miles northwest of Saigon"
8/16/66 8/20/66
"1st Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)"
In conjuction with 173d Airborne Brigade Operation TOLEDO
 

Deckhouse IV I area immediately south of the DMZ and north of Cua Viet River 9/15/66 9/18/66
"1st Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC); 3d Marine Reconnaissance Battalion"
reconnaissance in force
 

Deckhouse V / Song Than III Kien Hoa Province - Mekong River Delta 1/1/67 1/16/67
"1st Battalion, 9th Marines (USMC); 3d and 4th VNMC Battalions"
"First direct commitment of US troops to combat in Delta region. The target area was the VC's
Thunh Phu Secret Zone, which had been controlled bu guerillas for 20 years."
 

Deckhouse VI I Quang Ngai Province 2/16/67 3/3/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Defiant Stand I "Barrier Island, 34 miles south of Da Nang" 9/7/69 9/7/69
"Battalion of ROK Marine Corps; 1st Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)" VC
an amphibious assault to fight VC along the shore in I Corps. This was the first amphibious
assault in the history of the ROK Marine corps. The ROKMC and USMC landed on Barrier Island
and moved inland. A Naval patrol blocked the escape routes. For the most part the VC avoided
the Allies and only offered light resistance.
 

DeSoto I Gulf Of Tonkin; Coast of the DRV
Seventh Fleet (USN); USMC PAVN
intelligence program; commanders of the RVN landed shore parties to harass radar installations
electronic intelligence (ELINT) ships would record resulting electronic transmissions. "This
operation was originally supposed to last four months, but was extended for an additional year.
The first mission was canceled because of weather, and then the Maddox was sent to the Tonkin Gulf.
On 31 July 1964, two OPLAN 34A teams attacked the islands of Hon Me and Hon Ngu. Though the
Maddox monitored this activity from a five mile distance, the ship was still attacked on 2 August
by North Vietnamese patrol boats. The Vietnamese were driven back by aircraft from the carrier
Ticonderoga. The Constellation and C. Turner Joy were called in as reenforcements. On 4 August,
a second attack on the Maddox and the C. Turner Joy caused Johnson to suspend both DeSoto and
OPLAN 34A. Congress passed the Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution and American involvement in the war grew.
 

Desoto (2d part) I Quang Ngai Province 1/26/67 4/7/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Dewey Canyon I I Quang Tri Province and Thua Thien Provinces -
A Shau Valley toward Da Krong Valley 1/22/69 3/18/69
"9th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 9th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion,
3d Marines (USMC); 2d ARVN Regiment" PAVN 121 (USMC) 803 (USMC)
"1,335-1,617 (PAVN)" to deny the Communist forces access to the critical populated
areas of the coastal lowlands; conducted in response to a Communist buildup in Base Area
611 in the Da Krong Valley "At the opening of the operation the 9th Regiment was sent
into the Da Krong Valley, where they were completely dependent on helicopters for logistical
support. This was often difficult because it was monsoon season. They developed fire support
bases (FSBs) Shiloh, Razor, and Riley. As they pushed forward, the regiment opened more FSBs.
Phase I of DEWEY CANYON focused on getting the forces established in the area. During Phase II,
the troops cleared the area around the FSBs and prepared for Phase III. The 2/9th and 3/9th
were ordered to extend their perimeters north of the Da Krong River, however because of the
weather and limited supplies, they were later ordered to pull back in. This, along with the
continued bad weather, allowed the Communist forces to prepare for an attack. Phase III began
February 11 as the battalions moved away from the starting point at Phase Line Red and fought
PAVN units as they advanced. From the 16-23 February, the Marines continued to push south and
established new FSBs while collecting large quantities of arms and ordinance. Though the Marines
were successful, PAVN fire made it difficult to resupply and evacuate troops. After 1 March, the
weather created problems again. The only helicopters equipped to fly in the weather were Marine
helicopters. However, they still managed to carry out missions within three hours from the demand.
When the 1/9th pulled out on 18 March, the operation concluded as one of the most successful
high-mobility regimental-size action of the war.
 

Dixie I Quang Nam Province 4/7/67 4/10/67
"2d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC, two companies)"
search and destroy operation
 

Dodge I 7/17/66 7/23/66
USMC
search and destroy operation
 

Dodge Valley I Quang Nam Province 8/12/68 8/16/68
"1st, 7th, 27th Marines (elements) (USA)"
clear and search operation
 

Double Eagle I Quang Ngai Province; beginning at Duc Pho 1/28/66 2/28/66
"1st Cavalry Division (USA); 4th and 7th Regimetns (USMC); 2d and 22d Divisions (ARVN);
3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion,
4th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 9th Marines (USMC)" PAVN; VC
"2,000 PAVN / VC" search and destroy operation; to trap VC and PAVN units in Quang Ngai
Province "This was an unsuccessful operation meant to trap the Communists in the Quang Ngai
Province. The basic plan was to use a pincer movement to crush the Communists. The Mairnes
landed northeast of Duc Pho. The buildup was slow to decieve the enemy into thinking that they
would only strike against the coastal areas. However, as the operation developed the Marines
encountered problems. The weather inhibited the B-52 raids and rain and the jungle slowed Marine
progress on land. On the other side of the pincer movement, the 1st Cavalry made heavy contact
with the PAVN. When the forces prepared to squeeze the pincer closed, the PAVN and VC forces
escaped. The operation ended with most of the enemy casualties occuring during the first week.
The delays DOUBLE EAGLE had experienced allowed the PVAN and VC to have time to escape. They were
much quicker than the linear movements of the allied forces.
 

Double Eagle II I Quang Tin Province 2/19/70 3/1/70
"1st Cavalry Division (USA); 4th and 7th Regimetns (USMC); 2d and 22d Divisions (ARVN);
3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion,
4th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 9th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Dover I Quang Tin Province 10/18/66 10/30/66
"1st Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Dragon Fire I Quang Ngai Province 9/5/67 10/30/67
2d Marine Brigade (ROK) 541
 

Drum Head I Quang Ngai Province 10/27/65 10/27/65
"3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Dubois Square (Initially BALLARD VALLEY) I Vicinity of Danang 9/10/70 9/19/70
1st Marine Division
 

Battle for Duc Lap 8/23/68 8/31/68
23d ARVN Division
 

Duck Blind
sensor delivery operations 1968 operation renamed DUFFLE BAG
 

Duel Blade
sensor delivery operations took place in 1968
 

Dump Truck
MACSOG
anti-personnel subsystem withing MUSCLE SHOALS
 

Durham Peak I Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces 7/20/69 8/13/69
"5th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions, 1st Marines (USMC);
2d and 3d Battilions, 5th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 11th Marines (USMC);
1st ARVN Ranger Group (21st and 37th ARVN Ranger Battalions)"
search and clear operation
 

Duval I Quang Nam Province 5/19/67 5/25/67
"1st and 3d Battalions, 7th Marines (USMC)(Separate Companies)"
"search and destroy operation, reconnaissance in force"
 

Eagle Pull Cambodia Phnom Penh 4/11/75 4/13/75
"USAF, USMC, USN" PAVN 0 0
"US Navy operation to evacuate US Embassy staff from Phnom Penh, Cambodia."
"This plan first developed when Khmer Rouge units closed in on Phnom Penh and it
seemed imminent that Cambodia would fall in 1973. On August 15, 1973 the Cambodian
Army stopped the attack. The Khmer Rouge began to take the towns and EAGLE PULL was
only used to evacuate Americans and a few others. However, in April of 1975 the Khmer
Rouge focused on Phnom Penh again. An area was designated ""Landing Zone Hotel"" by the
Marine element sent in to prepare the city for evactuation. The operation began at 0850
on 12 April when a four-man Air Force team landed. It guided in a Ch-53 with the first
element of the Marine security force. The Marine and Air Force helicopters evacuated 276
people: 82 Americans, 159 Cambodians, and 35 foreign nationals. The people were taken to
U.S. Navy carriers in the Gulf of Thailand. By 1000 everyone had been evacuated with no
casualties. Cambodia fell April 17, 1975.
 

Early I Quang Nam Province 3/23/67 3/24/67
"1st Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Eastertide (Easter Offensive): Quang Tri I Quang Tri Province 3/30/72 9/16/72
"3d ARVN Division (reinforced by 2 marine brigades, four ranger groups, and one armored brigade);
1st ARVN Division; Marine Division (RVN Marines); Airborne Division (RVN Airborne)" "
308th, 304th, 325th, 320th, 312th, 324B Division (PAVN)" "5,000 (RVN)" "
100,000 PAVN in all of Eastertide" to defend the Quang Tri Province during the Eastertide
offensive "There were several reasons why Giap launched Eastertide when he did: almost all the
U.S. ground froces were withdrawn, after the rout in Laos it was assumed the South Vietnamese
would crumble under a PAVN attack, and a defeat at this time would humiliate Nixon and possibly
force him from office. On March 30 the PAVN, with a definate advantage, attacked the newly formed
3d ARVN Division. The PAVN front consisted of the 304th and 308th Divisions with the 325th, 320th,
312th, and 324B in reserve. The 3d ARVN Division was driven back and its 56th Regiment surrendered.
Eventually the Division was forced into the city of Quang Tri. On 1 May Quang Tri was abandoned
and the 3d ARVN Division ceased to exist. President Thieu fired the I Corps commander and sent
Gen. Truong, the best general in South Vietnam, to Hue. He used the Marine Division to defend the
north and northwest and sent the 1st ARVN Division to defend the west. Then on June 28, Truong,
along with reinforcements from the Airborne Division, set out to retake Quang Tri Province. The
ARVN were assisted by senior U.S. adviser in I Corps Maj. Gen. Koresen. The U.S. also provided
massive firepower, including bomber strikes and naval gunfire. The counterattack routed six PAVN
divisions and retook Quang Tri City on September 16. By the end of October I Corps had been
stabilized and one prong of the Easter offensive had been halted.
 

El Paso I Quang Tin Province 9/4/66 9/15/66
"1st and 3d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC); 2d, 3d, 4th Battalions, 6th ARVN Regiment"
search and destroy operation redesignated NAPA on September 5
 

Emporia VI III
deception plan for Operation SANTA FE deception plan for Operation SANTA FE
 

Essex I Quang Nam Province 11/6/67 11/17/67
"5th Marine Regiment (HQ, USMC); 2d and 3d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Farmgate Concept
Use of VNAF personnel and markings on USAF plans for use of defoliation/crop destruction
 

Flaming Dart II DRV North Vietnam
23 USA
to retaliate for the killing of Americans at Qui Nhon
This operation was ordered 48 hours after FLAMING DART to retaliate for the killing of 23
Americans at Qui Nhon. It is often explained as the onset of ROLLING THUNDER
 

Florida I Thua Thien Province 6/9/66 6/12/66
USMC
search and destroy operation
 

Footboy DRV North Vietnam and North Vietnamese waters
MACSOG
"to collect intelligence, conduct psychological warfare operations, and participate in other
activities to creat dissension among the populace and to divert North Vietnamese resources" "
Covert operations in North Vietnam and North Vietnamese waters for the purpose of collecting
intelligence, conducting psychological warfare operations, and other activities to create
dissension among the populace, and for diversion of North Vietnamese resources. Included
Operations PLOWMAN (maritime operations), HUMIDOR (psychological operations), TIMBERWORK (
inflitration of guerrilla teams), and MIDRIFF."
 

Ford I Thua Thien Province 3/10/68 3/20/68
"1st Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalions, 1st Marines (USMC); 2d Battalions, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Formation Leader I 10/17/67 10/24/67
"2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)" "
amphibious and heliborne assault,
search and destroy operation"
 

Forsythe Grove I Quang Nam Province 6/30/69 7/3/69
"5th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC); 1st Battalion, 7th Marines
(USMC)"
clear and search operation
 

Fortress Ridge I 12/21/67 12/24/67
"1st Marines (HQ, USMC); 3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Fortress Sentry I 9/17/67
"2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operations
 

Foster I Quang Nam Province 11/13/67 11/30/67
"7th Marines (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC);
3d Battalion, 11th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Frag Order 15 - 65 III Bien Hoa Province - War Zone D 10/4/65 10/5/65
search and destroy operation
 

Franklin / Lien Ket 50 I Quang Ngai Province 7/26/66 7/29/66
"1st and 2d Battalions, 7th Marines (USMC); 2d ARVN Division"
search and destroy operation
 

Fremont I Quang Tri And Thua Thien Provinces 7/10/67 10/31/67
"4th Marines, 3d Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions, 3d Marines (USMC);
1st and 2d Battalions, 4th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Fresno (Quang Ngai Province) I Quang Ngai Province 9/8/66 9/16/66
"7th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Garrad Bay I Quang Nam Province 10/25/68 11/16/68
"2d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)"
clear and search operation
 

Gem I Quang Nam Province 7/12/67 7/15/67
"3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
blocking operation
 

Georgia I Quang Nam and Quang Ngai Provinces - vicinity of An Hoa 4/21/66 5/10/66 "4th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 4th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 9th Marines (USMC)" clear and search operation
 

Georgia Tar I Quang Tri Province - northeast of Khe Sanh 7/16/69 9/25/69 "4th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 4th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalions, 9th Marines (USMC)" clear and search operation.
 

Glenn I Quang Nam Province 12/17/66 12/21/66 "3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)" search and destroy operation

Golden Fleece (or Golden Fleece 7 -1)/ Lien Ket 60 I Quang Ngai Province 9/16/66 9/27/66 "1st Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC); 4th ARVN Regiment" search and destroy and security operation; to protect rice crop in Moc Duc Region
 

Grand I Quang Nam Province 4/21/67 4/25/67 "3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)" search and destroy operation

Granite I Thua Thien Province 10/25/67 11/6/67 "4th Marines (HQ); 1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC): 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC); ARVN"

Gulf I Quang Nam Province 5/3/67 5/7/67 "1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)" search and destroy operation

Hard Rock 9/26/65 9/27/65 USMC search and destroy operation

Harvest Moon I "Quang Nam Province; Phuoc Ha Valley, south of Da Nang" 12/8/65 12/20/65 "3d Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 1st ARVN Regiment; 1st Battalion, 5th ARVN Regiment; 1st Battalion, 6th ARVN Regiment; 11th ARVN Ranger Battalion" VC 51 (USMC) 256 (USMC) 407 (VC) search and destroy; to find and attack VC units in the Phuoc Ha Valley "This operation resulted from Johnson's decision to commit ground troops and was a test of Westmoreland's strategy using search-and-destory missions. It also tested the Marine tactics and equiptment. The ARVN units attacked on their way to the operation, and had to be relieved by the Marines later. The Marines operated under a temporary command structure called Task Force DELTA. They were supposed to trap the VC from the flank and rear, but also had to rescure the ARVN. Finally on the 10 December they counterattacked overland. The Special Landing Force (SLF) had difficulty securing its landing zones until the VC withdrew into the Phuoc Ha Valley. B-52s were sent in to bomb the valley positions, but the VC had already pulled out. During this operation, the Marines learned much about coordinating attacks and air support and advanced planning.
 

Harvest Moon (1967) III 4/2/67 5th Special Forces Group parachute assault

Hastings / Deckhouse II I "Quang Tri Province, between Route 9 and the DMZ; Ngan Valley (""Helicopter Valley"")" 7/7/66 8/3/66 "Task Force DELTA, 4th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 2d and 3d Battalions, 4th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 9th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 12th Marines (USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions, 1st Marines (USMC) (joined 7/20 and 7/21); 1st ARVN Division; VMC" PAVN 126 (USMC) 498 (USMC) 800-882 (PAVN) "reconnaissance and search and destroy operation; combating PAVN thrust across the DMZ; redesignated Operation PRAIRIE on August 3, 1966" "Because Westmoreland disagreed with the Marine emphasis on counterinsurgency over large-unit operations against PAVN forces, he launched them on reconnaisance operations in the Quang Tri Province to measure PAVN buildup. The code name for these operations becam HASTINGS. Throughout the extent of HASTINGS, fighting occurred between Route 9 and the DMZ. The well-equiped PAVN division often ambushed the Marines. For the first time in the war, B-52s bombed the DMZ. Some of the heaviest fighting occurred the 12-25 July. The largest and most violent operation during the war at that time, HASTINGS ended the Marine emphasis on pacification and forced them to respond to the North Vietnamese and an expanded war.

Henderson Hill I north central Quang Nam Province 10/23/68 12/6/68
"5th Marine Regiment (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC)"
700 Search-and-clear operation "
 

Hercules / Drum Head I Quang Ngai Province 10/26/65 10/27/65
"3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Herkimer Mountain I Quang Tin Province 5/8/69 7/16/69
"4th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 4th Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions,
9th Marines (USMC)"
clear and search operation
 

Hickory / Beau Charger / Lam Son 54 I Quang Tri Province 5/16/67 5/28/67
"3d Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 9th Marines (HICKORY); 2d Battalion,
3d Marines (HICKORY); 1st and 3d Battalions, 4th Marines (HICKORY); 2d Battalion, 26th Marines
(HICKORY): 1st Battalion, 3d Marines (BEAU CHARGER); 5th ARVN regiment (LAM SON 54)"
search and detroy operation mulitbattalion attack into the DMZ; sweep and clearing operations
for project PRACTIVE NINE
 

Hickory II I Quang Tri Province near DMZ 7/14/67 7/16/67
9th Marines (USMC)
search and destroy operation Followed by KINGFISHER 
 

High Tide III 9/23/65 9/26/65
search and destroy operation
 

Highland (Originally Operation RAMROD) II Binh Dinh Province 8/25/65 10/1/65
"1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (USA); 2d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
route security; to open Highway 19 between Qui Nhon and An Khe for debarkation and deployment
of the 1st Cavalry Division Operation GIBRALTAR was a part of this
 

Hoa Xuan Island 12/27/65 12/27/65
USMC
search and destroy operation
 

Hoang Dieu 101 12/17/70 1/19/71
USMC; ARVN; ROKMC
 

Hoang Dieu 103 I vicinity of Danang 2/3/71 3/10/71
III Marine Amphibious Force; 2d ROK Marine Brigade; 51st ARVN Regiment
 

Holt / Lam Son 286 I Thua Thien Province 7/1/66 7/6/66
"3d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC); ARVN"
Search and destroy operation
 

 Homecoming North Vietnam to South Vietnam to the United States 2/12/73 3/29/73
U.S. POWs
to obtain the release of U.S. POWs and the simultaneous final reduction in active U.S. forces.
"There were four stages to the return of POWs. The first began on 12 February and the last ended
a day late on March 29. The POWs were initially received at Sai Gon, Ha Noi, and Hong Kong
depending on whether they were released by the VC, DRV, or China respectively. Then they were
flown to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. There they were debriefed and medically
examined. Those released could go to a U.S. medical hospital for recovery. 591 U.S. POWs returned.
Some had survived the longest captivity of prisoners in U.S. history and had become the focus of
respect and affection. They returned to the United States to a very rare hero's welcome. The
release of the POWs gave American a sucessful ending to the war.

Houston I Thua Thien and Quang Nam border region 2/26/68 9/12/68
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions,
5th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC); 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (USMC);
1st Battalion, 13th Marines (USMC); 1st and 3d Battalions, 26th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion,
27th Marines (USMC); 101st Airborne Division (elements, USA)"
702 search and destroy / combat operation; clear and search operation
 

Houston (2d Part) I Thua Thien Provincce 7/25/68 9/12/68
"26th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st and d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC); 1st Battalion, 13th Marines
(USMC)"
 

Houston I I Thua Thien Province 2/26/68 4/30/68
"5th Marines (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions,
5th Marines (USMC); 1st Battalion, 327th Airborne Infantry (USA); 2d Battalion, 502d Airborne
Infantry (USA)"
 

Houston II I Thua Thien Province 5/1/68 5/31/68
"5th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC)"
 

Houston III I Thua Thien Province 6/1/68 6/30/68
"5th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC)"
 

Houston IV I Thua Thien Province 7/1/68 7/25/68
"5th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC)"
 

Humboldt I Quang Nam Provinces 4/13/67 4/17/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Idaho Canyon I Quang Tri Province 7/23/69 9/25/69
3d Regiment (USMC)
565 "
 

Igloo White
sensor delivery operation
 

Imperial Lake I Quang Nam Province 9/1/70 5/12/71
"5th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 5th Marines (USMC)"
search and clear operation
 

Independence I Quang Nam Province 2/1/67 2/9/67
"companies of … 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC);
2d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions, 26th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Indiana I Quang Ngai Province 3/28/66 3/30/66
"1st Batalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
reaction operation; reinforcing ARVN Operation QUYET TANG 72
 

Iowa I Quang Tin Province 4/8/66 4/10/66
"1st Marines (HQ, USMC); 3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Jack Stay Rung Sat Special Zone 3/26/66 4/1/66
USMC; VNMC
search and clear operation along the Long Tau shipping channel by 7th Fleet Amphibious Task Force
 

Jackson / Lien Ket 54 I Quang Ngai Province 8/27/66 8/29/66
"7th Marines (HQ); 3d Battalion (USMC), 5th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC);
4th ARVN Regiment"
search and destroy
 

Jasper Square I Quang Nam Province 4/10/68 4/14/68
"3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
 

Jay / Lam Son 284 I Thua Thien Province - 10 km northwest of Hue 6/25/66 7/2/66
"2d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy
 

Jefferson II Phu Yen Province 1/1/66 1/16/66
2d ROK Marine Brigade; 47th ARVN Regiment
search and destroy operation to clear mountainous area along coast south of Tuy Hoa
 

Kamehameha II 3/15/66
 

Kansas 6/22/66
 

Keepout
seeding of Parrot's Beak area with anti-personnel mines in 1968
 

Kent I Quang Ngai Province 10/8/66 10/15/66
"2d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
 

Kentucky I Quang Tri Province; Con Thien area of the DMZ 11/1/67 2/28/69
"3d Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st and 2d Battalions, 1st Marines (USMC);
1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 3d Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 4th Marines (USMC);
1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 9th Marines (USMC); 1st & 2d Battalions, 26th Marines (USMC);
3d Marine Tank Battalion (USMC); 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (USA)"
"3,921" search and destroy operation; clear and search operation
 

Kern I Quang Ngai Province 10/1/66 10/25/66
"9th Marines (USMC, HQ); 2d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Keystone Pelican 9/1/72 11/30/72
redeployment (Increment XIV): miscellaneous units
 

Siege of Khe Sanh I Khe Sanh 1/21/68 4/8/68
"26th Marine Regiment (USMC); 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (USMC); 37th ARVN Ranger Battalion;
1st Battalion, 13th Marine Artillery (USMC)" "304th ""Delta"" Division (PAVN); 325th ""
Gold Star"" Division (PAVN); 324B Division (PAVN); 68th Artillery Regiment (PAVN);
16th Artillery Regiment (PAVN)" 199 (USMC); 43 (ARVN) 830 (USMC); 184 (ARVN) "
10,000-15,000" to defend Khe Sanh against the Communists "The siege of Khe Sanh was often
paralleled with the battle of Dien Bien Phu. However, at Khe Sanh, the Marines continued to hold
outposts at hills 861, 881, 558, and 950. This allowed them to keep the valley floor under
surveillance. The conflict began on 21 January when several hundred rockets hit Khe Sanh and
destroyed much of the Marine's fuel supply. The PAVN overran the CIDG camp at Lang Vei and settled
in for the siege by building trenches, zigzag approaches, and parallels. The 304th PAVN Division
attacked ARVN 34th Ranger positions in the only serious ground assault of the siege. They were
beaten back by the Allies. On April 1, Operation Pegasus worked to reopen Route 9. Finally on 8
April, the 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry reached the Marines and the siege ended. There is controversy
as to what the PAVN goal was at Khe Sanh. Gen. Giap claims it was a diversion to keep the U.S.
occupied while the VC and PAVN set up the Tet offensive. The United States believed at the time
that the PAVN were really attempting to take Khe Sanh and carry out a Dien Bien Phu. In the end,
the Marines held the outpost, but the Communists succeeded in distracting the U.S. long enough to
move a great amount of men and supplies into place for the Tet offensive in 1968.
 

Kingfisher I "Quang Tri Province, near DMZ" 7/16/67 10/31/67
"3d Marines (HQ, USMC); 3d Battalions, 3d Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d, Battalions, 9th Marines
(USMC); 9th Marines (HQ); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 3d Marines (USMC); 2d and 3d Battalions,
4th Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 9th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)"
PAVN (specifically 90th and 812th Regiments) 340 (USMC) "1,462 (USMC)" "1,117
(PAVN)" search and destroy; To stop entry of the PAVN into Quang Tri Province "Up until
28 July, there was very little contact with the PAVN. However, the 2/9 went into the DMZ and came
under PAVN fire along Route 606. Air Strikes were sent to provide support and Company M of the 3/4
also lent assistance. However, because of a great many casualties, the 2/9 could not move south
until defenses were strengthened and medevac could fly in. The RVN really wanted a win at Con Thien
to boost their elections. The most effective enemy attack occurred on election day. They destroyed
much at Dong Ha, while they also continued their attacks on Con Thien. At Con Thien, the 3/26
fought the 812th PAVN Regiment and suffered many casualties. The 3/26 drew back and the 2/4 began
a search-and-destory operation. They engaged the 90th PAVN Regiment, but at dusk had to pull back.
The PAVN mounted three more failed attacks on Con Thien, expending much firepower. The USMC
retaliated with one of the greatest concentrations of firepower in support of a single division in
the War. Still, the 2/4 lost about half of its men to death and injuries. Again on the 14 October
the 2/4 confronted a PAVN force, and though it pushed back the attackers from Con Thien, the Marines
suffered heavy casualties. During the last major conflict of the operation, the 2/9 dropped to
fewer than 300 men. The 2/4 moved back to Dong Ha as regimental reserve. After KINGFISHER, Gen.
Cushman congratulated the 2/4 on a job well done. KINGFISHER was followed by KENTUCKY and
LANCASTER.
 

Kings I Quang Nam Province - 25 km south-southwest of Danang 3/20/66 3/28/66
search and destroy
 

Knox II 3/3/67 4/3/67
DELTA Teams
 

Knox (2nd Part) I Thua Thien Province 10/24/67 11/4/67
"7th Marines (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalions, 3d Marines (USMC); 3d Battalions, 11th Marines (USMC)"
 

Lafayette I Quang Nam Province 2/25/67 2/7/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st-2d-3d Battalions, 1st Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Lam Son 719 Part II Laos Laos 2/8/71 4/8/71
disrupt the NVA logistics along the Ho chi Minh Trail
RVNAF attack into Laos with the objective of disrupting NVA logistics along the Ho Chi Minh Trail
in southern Laos
 

Lancaster I I Quang Tri Province 11/1/67 1/20/68
"3d Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC);
2d and 3d Battalions, 9th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation.
 

Lancaster II I Quang Tri Province 1/20/68 11/23/68
"3d Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions,
3d Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 4th Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 9th Marines
(USMC); 2d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)" "1,801"
Multibattalion search-and-clear operations; search and destroy operation 
 

Lanoke I Quang Nam Province 2/25/67 2/28/67
"1st Marine Division (HQ, USMC); 2d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Lien Ket 4 7/28/65 7/29/65
"2d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC); 3d VNMC Battalion; 51st ARVN Regiment"
search and destroy
 

Lien Ket Ten I Quang Tri Province 10/29/65 10/30/65 "2d Battalion, 4th Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 6th ARVN Regiment" search and destroy operation
 

Lightning II Khanh Hoa Province 11/8/65 11/14/65 2d ROK Marine Brigade search and destroy operation

Lincoln (I Corps)  Quang Nam Province 1/4/67 1/9/67 "2d Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC)" search and destroy operation

Linebacker I DRV North Vietnam 5/10/72 10/23/72 USN; USAF; USMC; ARVN PAVN turn back the Eastertide invasion; destroy military supplies inside North Vietnam; isolate the DRV from outside sources of supply; and interupt the flow of supplies and troops to the battlefields of South Vietna; US provided tactical support to ARVN "After the Eastertide Offensive, President Nixon allowed the bombing of North Vietnam to resume. He countered a convetional PAVN invasion into the south with a conventional bombing of the north. LINEBACKER I began with the mining of the Haiphong harbor, as well as other North Vietnamese ports. This kept merchant ships from entering or leaving the North Vietnamese harbors until December. On the 10 May, USAF F-4 Phantoms attacked Long Bien Bridge and the Yen Vien railroad yard in Ha Noi. The strikes then moved on to destroy bridges, tunnels, and railroads leading to China. Laser guided bombs (LGBs) and electro-optically guided bombs (EOGBs) guided the munitions to targets which had been earlier proscribed due to their proximity to civilian structures. LINEBACKER moved on to petroleum storage facilities, power generating plants, military barracks, training camps, and air defense facilities. DRV imports dropped by half and the PAVN offensive stalled, allowing the ARVN to regain much lost territory. By October, 23 an agreement had been reached at the peace talks which was acceptable to Washington and Ha Noi. Nixon halted airstrikes above the 20th parallel and LINEBACKER I came to an end, though Sai Gon refused to accept the peace terms. LINEBACKER I succeeded where ROLLING THUNDER had failed for a number of reasons. Nixon had used air power more decisively, instead of behaving like Johnson and worrying about China and the USSR. Also, Nixon was not worried about politics. He had the backing of the political right and did not care about the left. The nature of the war had changed when the PAVN attacked the south in a conventional style which required tons of supplies. Also, Nixon allowed the military more latitude in deciding what targets to attack and when. And finally, precision guided munitions and new bombing technigues allowed the pilots to strike targets not allowed earlier and helped limit damage to where it was wanted to occur. LINEBACK I was the moset effective use of air power in the war.
 

Linebacker II (Christmas Bombing) DRV North Vietnam (Hanoi and Haiphong Harbor) 12/18/72 12/29/72 USAF; USN PAVN 26 aircraft shot down "1,612 civilians" "To bring North Vietnam back to the negotiating table; ""Christmas Bombing"" of North Vietnam" "When the peace talks collapsed on December 13, Nixon gave the DRV representatives an ultimatum to return to the negotiating table in 72 hours. When they did not, he ordered more bombing in North Vietnam. The main goal of this bombing was to bring the North Vietnamese back to the negotiating table. The only planes suitable for winter bombing were the B-52s, F-111 fighter-bombers, and A-6 Intruders. However, due to the limited amount of F-111s and A-6s, targets had to be selected for the B-52s. Mines were resown in the Hai Phong Harbor. Meanwhile, people evacuated Ha Noi and Hai Phong in anticipation of the bombing. The original plan called for a three day maximum effort campaign. The B-52s heavily hit the area over the next three nights. However, on the third night, a six percent loss of B-52s forced the Strategic Air Command (SAC) to rethink their plan. They had been operating in much the same way as in the jungle. While LINEBACKER I had been modern air warfare, the first three nights of LINEBACKER II were reminiscent of WWII with lines of planes moving toward targets at the same altitude, speed, and heading. The SAC reduced the number of planes flying sorties over the next two nights and air defense support took top priority. The number of planes shot down dropped. By Christmas, most legitimate targets in North Vietnam had been destroyed. Contrasting LINEBACKER I which was inflicted mainly by fighter bombers, LINEBACKER II was mainly a B-52 operation. Also, it was much more focused and intensive, occuring over only a few days instead of spread out of months. The North Vietnamese had time to adjust to the bombing in LINEBACKER I. LINEBACKER II was much more psychologically devastating. Bombing resumed on December 26. At dawn F-105 and F-4 fighter bombers attacked SAM sites and their guidance radars. They also attacked the runways at major airfields so that the MiGs could not take off. That night, North Vietnam was defenseless against the most concerted B-52 attack in history. They struck 10 targets in 15 minutes. Because the surviving SAMs still had missiles, two planes went down. Ha Noi began to be interested in new negotiations. Bombing continued the next night and the DRV defense seemed very sporadic and uncoordinated. During the next two nights, no more planes were shot down. B-52 crews were very confident flying over North Vietnam. Finally the DRV agreed to reopen negotiations on American terms and on 29 December Nixon limited the bombing to below the 20th parallel. Bombing continued, but LINEBACKER II had ended. This operation had a great psychological effect on the DRV leadership and helped move along the ceasefire agreement.
 

Linn River I Quang Nam Province 1/27/69 2/7/69 "7th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC); 2d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)" clear and search operation.
 

Long Lance I Quang Nam Province 1/3/66 1/8/66 "1st Battalion, 1st Marines" search and destroy operaiton

Longstreet II Binh Dinh and Phu Yen Provinces 6/16/66 6/16/66 2d ROK Marine Brigade engineer security

Lyon Valley 7/27/70 8/24/70 1st Marine Division (USMC)
 

Macon I Quang Nam and Thua Thien Provinces; An Hoa industiral complex in Quang Nam Province 7/4/66 10/28/66 "9th Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d, Battalions, 3d Marines (USMC); 1st, 2d, 3d, Battalions, 9th Marines (USMC)" 507 search and destroy operation; Security operation for An Hoa industrial complex.

Madison I Quang Nam Province 10/21/66 10/23/66 "3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC)" search and destroy operation

Maeng Ho 10 II Binh Dinh Province 2/16/68 3/1/68 ROK Capital Division 664
 

Maeng Ho 9 II Binh Dinh Province 12/17/67 1/30/68 ROK Capital Division 749
 

Maine Crag I Quang Tri Province - Laotian border area west of Khe Sanh 3/10/69 5/2/69 "1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (USA); 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions, 3d Marines (USMC); 1st Battalion, 12th Marines (USMC)" reconnaissance in force

Mallard I Quang Name Province 1/11/66 1/17/66
"3d Marines (HQ, USMC); 1st Battalion, 3d Marines (USMC); 3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC)"
search and destroy operation
 

Mameluke Thrust I Quang Nam and Thua Thien Provinces 5/18/68 10/23/68
1st Marine Division (USMC) "26th Marines (HQ, USMC) from 5/19 - 7/6; 1st Battalion,
7th Marines (USMC) from 5/19 - 6/15; 1st Battalion, 13th Marines (USMC) from 5/19 - 7/6;
1st Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC) from 5/19 - 7/6; 3d Battalion, 26th Marines (USMC)
from 5/19 - 8/8; 3d Battalion, 7th Marines (USMC) from 6/16 - 8/8; 7th Marines (HQ, USMC)
from 7/6 - 8/8; 3d Battalion, 1st Marines (USMC) 7/6 - 8/8; 1st Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC)
from 7/8 - 10/23; 5th Marines (HQ, USMC) from 7/23 - 10/23; 2d and 3d Battalions, 5th Marines
(USMC) from 7/23 - 10/23" "2,728"
combat operation; clear and search operation
Phase I: May 19 - June 15;
Phase II: June 16 - October 23
 

Marble Mountain 8/4/65 8/5/65
USMC
search and destroy operation
 

March II 7/6/67 9/3/67
OMEGA Team (5th Special Forces Group B-50 Detachment)
 

Marigold
"U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr."
to obtain peace "This was the code name for a peace initiative in 1966. The Italian Ambassador
to the RVN Giovanni D'Orladni and International Control Commission Janusz Lewandowski acted as a
mediators. This was Moscows first attempts at the ""diplomacy of peacemaking"". However the roles
were unclear and Lewandowski's inept diplomacy brought the operation to an end without major
results.

Market Time I-IV the coast of South Vietnam 3/11/65
"U.S. Vietnam Patrol Force (TF 71)(USN); after July 31, 1965 until termination in March 1973 the
Vietnam Patrol Force became the Coastal Surveillance Force (TF 115)(USN); Coast Guard Squadron
Three (USCG); Royal Australian Navy; South Vietnamese Navy (VNN); South Vietnamese Junk Force"
DRV Navy; VC "to conduct surveillance of the 1,200 mile South
Vietnamese coastline and halt seaborne infiltration of supplies to Communist troops" "The
operation was organized around nine patrol sectors. Three zones of interdiction included the air
surveillance zone, the outer surface barrier, and the inner or shallow-water barrier. The air
surveillance zone, 100-150 miles out to sea, identified suspicious vessels, photographed them, and
reported them to Coastal Surveillance Centers. The outer surface barrier was originally patrolled
by destroyers, minesweepers and later radar picket escorts (DER). It operated within 40 miles of
the coast. In May 1965, the USCG began to patrol this area, with the Australian aid beginning in
1967. Their mission was to stop seaborne supplies carried by trawlers. The inner barrier was
patrolled by the South Vietnamese Junk Force (Coastal Force) and several USN ships. They were
authorized to stop and seize any vessel finishing or trading within a 12 mile limit. In July 1965,
the Junk force was integrated into the VNN. The operation was highly successful in closing down
DRV supply lines by sea. From 1966 to 1967 several DRV trawlers were sunk and many more were
inspected or boarded. Except for ships attempting to resupply forces after Tet 1968, no enemy
ships appeared from July 1967 and August 1969. When the DRV attempted to resume their trawler
traffic in August 1969, one ship was sunk and all but one were turned back. Beginning in September
1970, as a part of Vietnamization the VNN took charge of the inner screen. Combined operations