he added along with the bad news of damage to helicopters and three distorted both the importance of the action and the damage suffered by We looked across the field and saw a lot of 23 August 4 September 1967: Operations in CAN GIOUC District and GO CONG Province. Vietnamese troops involved in the battle lacked courage. D. Kennedy, John This day they got a bear by the tail and they didnt let Operation launched in response to major Viet Cong build up in western Dinh Tuong. Early April 1967: TF-117 Sends one RAD (with 10 boats initially) to Dong Tam to commence local riverine operations in Dong Tam area. Diplomatic Couriers, Guide to Country Recognition and g. Results: heavy contact with 514th Viet Cong Battalion, and 263rd Viet Cong Main force Battalions by US and VNMC, light contact with 261st Main Force Viet Cong Battalion by the 7th ARVN. Alcala sent a tank out of the perimeter to help. Close to the perimeter, Haszard's APC was disabled by a communist hit. [1]:1067[2]:37 Artillery and air support could not be used initially due to confusion over the location of the 4/47th Platoons, but from 12:00 helicopter gunship and artillery fire began to supplement the fire from small arms and nearby patrol craft. 27 July 1967: Relocate to Dong Tam. Nearly every member of Hellers platoon was wounded in the battle, including Heller himself. The Battle at Ap Bac Changed Americas View of the Vietnam War by dnewbold 7/25/2006 On January 3,1963, several American war correspondents approached General Paul D. Harkins to ask what he thought about the battle the 7th Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Division had just fought at a village named Bac. [3], Fire Support Base 20 was located in relatively flat terrain 1.5km north of the village of Ap Bau Bang and immediately west of Route 13. xb```b``Id`a` ed@ Ardf} g!;BCAuK@Fc@``|@A\K/z/upD. [6], During the battle of Ap Bau Bang III, the Americans killed at least 227 Viet Cong, and captured 3, as well as much equipment and weapons. States helicopters carrying Vietnamese troops into battle. (Summary telegram 677 from ARPAC to JCS, January 4; Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Vietnam 13-17 June 1967: Operations in southern NHOM TRACH, including attach I-10 Headquarters. From Albert's Peach Cobbler to an Irish Chicken Dinner, we have them all! This was prompted in part by the need to get as close to the enemy as possible before assaulting, plus the necessity of crossing the tracked vehicles over the two tracked vehicles, would continue to advance by using fire and maneuver within the platoons to destroy individual enemy positions as they were discovered. It was apparent that the climax was rapidly approaching. Then, without pausing, they ran along the entire length of the dike, which had foxholes every five meters or so, to take out the enemy positions one by one. Men spoke in high-pitched, excited voices as though still trying to make themselves heard over the roar of gunfire. 24-June 26 July 1967: Operations in eastern Long An Province, principally in CAN GIOUC and CAN DUOC Districts. They also gathered to renew and refresh the bond they share with one another as a true band of brothers, one that began for many of them during basic training. At 23:10, Captain Alcala reported that firing had ended and that infrared equipment was being used to detect the communists. Department of State, U.S. Sheehan article published that day which indicated that the South Join us for our 2017 reunion by making a reservation today! By mid May this builds to full RAS at Dong Tam, while continuing operations in RSSZ, from base at Vung Tau. In addition, some men were having trouble with their rifles, due to the terrific volume of the fire they were pouring out. The brigade commander quickly approved the action taken by the 3/60th, and at the same time directed that Company B, 3/60th, which was closest to the scene of combat, be placed under the operational control of the 3/47th and moved to a position to block the enemys escape to the north. At the brigade commanders suggestion, it was decided to lay a heavy volume of smoke on the area, using a battery of 155-mm. If we were going to win, the enemy must soon begin to break and run. Series, Other While fighting continued, part of Festa's unit were trying to evacuate their wounded. Unit awards, medals and ribbons, and information on applying for and obtaining your medals and ribbons. The men were in Park County earlier this month to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Ap Bac. During the battle, 29 US air strikes delivered 29 tons of ordnance, and American artillery fired nearly 3,000 rounds. if (!document.MAX_used) document.MAX_used = ','; 19-20 June 1967: Operation CONCORDIA. Aboard USS Pope. In addition, farmhouses were scattered throughout the rice paddy terrain. They came to know each other. military problems and report on future prospects for the war. [5] Later Wolfe's track was directly hit for a second time by an RPG-2 rocket. Alpha Company didnt; they walked right into an ambush that was prepared for the entire battalion, not just one company, Heller explained. We served more like the people that trained in WWII. If you already have a web account, but need to reset it, you can do so by clicking here. At least they got most of it. Harkins assessment closely paralleled that of Admiral The first true battle of the Vietnam War was Ap Bac. 261st Viet Cong Main Force Battalion, normally in Kien Hoa, moved up to west Ding Tuong early July. Vietnam, filed an after-action report on the Ap Bac operation which Howitzers in direct support of each assaulting company, and under the control of the commanders concerned. 28-31 January 1967: 2nd Bde arrives at Vung Tau, Close Bearcat. concluded that the operation was a failure. [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. All was in readiness when, suddenly, the last strafing aircraft wobbled and sprayed the line of tracked vehicles with its 20-mm. in misleading colors: It appears that the initial press reports have Chaplain Charlie Zies, 1st Platoon Bravo Company, 4/47 9th Infantry Division, delivers a short service to the surviving members of his platoon, the Tornados, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Cody. These soldiers, infantrymen of the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry (the Wild Ones), and their attached mechanized support (Company C, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry), were utterly exhausted and physically weak from their exertions. Heaviest casualties to date Co-A-4th-47th takes At 11:50 on March 19, 1967, A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, commanded by Captain Raoul H. Alcala deployed within the perimeter of Fire Support Base 20. A friend is a person that would be standing by your side, even if he knew it was going to cost him his life. As the men worked their way toward the enemy, they were forced to crawl over the dead of the other unit. III, Vietnam, JanuaryAugust 1963, I. Reassessment, January 1-March 14, 1963: Hilsman-Forrestal Report, Some light small arms fire had been met by the southern-most platoon advancing along the stream, but the enemy had quickly withdrawn when his fire was returned. The command track, and its communications equipment, was safely pulled into the perimeter without losses to the communists. Jump-off was scheduled for 0800. Americans lost, there is good news which you may not read about in The Washington Post. He pointed to a number of Anything and everything that couldn't fit in any of the other categories. After knocking past a hastily built communist ambush just north of the perimeter, they moved around to the south. This past June 19 marked the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Ap Bac. 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. Even so, it was of little help to the Viet Cong, most of whom had died. Concurrently, the other companies of the battalion where dispersed to the east and north of the stream, with the mission of blocking any escaping enemy. The MRFA is launching our Historical Data Project (HDP), featuring as much MRF TF-117 data as possible. Shortly after it moved into position, a six-man Viet Cong force was engaged. A hundred Viet Cong died in the area. VC casualties were limited to 18 soldiers killed and 39 wounded, even though their positions had been hit by more than 600 rounds of artillery, napalm, and other ordnance released by 13 warplanes and five UH-1 gunships. Ap Bac had far-reaching consequences for the South Vietnamese government and the American involvement in Vietnam. stiff resistance was apparently encountered, contact has been maintained [5], The perimeter now contained the artillery battery, all of A Troop, and the two relief platoons, which provided a large quantity of armor. of Vietnam engaged a Viet Cong battalion at the village of Ap Bac in As Chili went through the other end of the tree line, he was shot, Zies recalled. WebIn June the MRF formally formed. "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he today that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother." Afterwards, American advisers were to say that the Viet Cong soldiers at Bac and Tan Thoi were the most determined Communist fighters they had encountered in more than one year. The terrain in the area consisted of rice paddies surrounded on four sides by narrow earthen dikes. In rapid succession they destroyed an automatic rifle position and light machine gun post, and then penetrated the enemys main line to destroy a mortar which had been causing some trouble for the rest of Company A. Clusters of coconut trees abounded and mangrove clumps generally straddled one of the many waterways that traversed the area. The ceremony at the memorial was highlighted by the recitation of names by platoon chaplain Charlie Zies of the Tornados killed in action during the war, as well as a stirring recollection of Chili Saizs bravery on his final day. Palm Beach, January 7; ibid.) As they held their cigarettes their hands shook from the terrific nervous tensions they had been under. This item is available in full to subscribers. Explore gatherings, speakers and events. Dinh Tuong province, 35 miles southwest of Saigon in the Mekong Delta. Calling for artillery fire and air support, the commander attempted to maneuver his company across the stream. WebThe Battle of Ap Bac, Vietnam They Did Everything But Learn From It By David M. Toczek Subject: Clear the Decks 50% - 90% OFF | General Military & Naval History | Vietnam [5], The elements of B and C Troops move in from afar to assist their colleagues. discipline in battle. document.write ("'><\/scr"+"ipt>"); Moving into the perimeter, the platoon took up positions between A Troop's vehicles on the western half of the defensive ring. During the three-day battle, 47 American soldiers were killed, including one from Hellers company, Ronald Chili Saiz. We were fortunate in that we were attacking a known position, Heller said. //]]>-->, Alpha Company walked into a batallion-sized ambush, said Powell resident and Army veteran Jim Heller. In fact, if anything, the operation got off to an inauspicious start. Nearly wipes out 514th Main Force Viet Cong Battalion Suddenly, a concealed automatic weapon opened fire at a range of 50 meters, completely enfilading the line of troops. Members of 4/47 9th Infantry Division remember, reflect on life, those lost. The assault by the 60th Infantrys Wild Ones on a Viet Cong stronghold in the Mekong was the kind you see in the movies or on the blackboard, but rarely in actual combat. (SACSA Briefing, April 24; Department of [2]:39 Due to its location east of a town called Ap Bac, the 19 June ambush is sometimes referred to as Second Ap Bac after the disastrous Battle of Ap Bac on 2 January 1963, however that battle took place approximately 40km further west. September 1966: 1st Coronado Conference, 9th Infantry Division Explore our Navy section: awards, stories, points of interest, origin of navy terminology and much, much more! military advisers charged today that Vietnamese infantrymen refused Vann attributed the failure At the same time Company A, 4/47th Infantry moving south towards Company C, 4/47th Infantry walked into an L-shaped ambush from well-entrenched VC; exposed on open rice paddies the Company sustained heavy casualties. These guys? However, by this time all elements of the 3/60th had closed the final assault line and were beginning to meet enemy fire. We continued to pour fire into his position and to inch forward, taking best advantage of the cover. 0000002715 00000 n [1]:107, With nightfall the casualties of Company A, 4/47th Infantry were able to be evacuated, while most of the VC were able to escape through gaps in the U.S. positions. Few people were seen, although there were many houses of mud and thatch in these densely vegetated areas. WebThe second Battle of Bu Bng occurred during the night of 1920 March 1967 during Operation Junction City, a search and destroy mission by American military forces in Tay On January 7, the Joint Chiefs of Staff authorized Army Chief of Staff 0000000939 00000 n [1]:108. L. Harkins, General Paul command which never placed a Vietnamese officer above the rank of Get the recipe! Continuing its advance, the company began to meet more and more fire as it crossed the open rice fields opposite a built-up area of thatched huts along a deep stream that ran across their front. A copy of a report The last battle for which two living service members received the Medal of Honor was the 1967 Battle of Ap Bac in Vietnam, a spokeswoman for the Congressional [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. Click most pictures to enlarge. there are days. In the zone of the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry, the attached mechanized company (Company C, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry) was given the deeper objectives because its mobility and speed would allow it to quickly search out those objectives. However, if the core of these units, who are irreplaceable, can be captured or killed, the efficiency of these units must begin to wane. Kennedy on January 7 in The MRFA is launching our Historical Data Project (HDP), featuring as much MRF TF-117 data as possible. Infantry Division, January 9; JCS Files) Following this operation the aircraft would pass to the 3/47th for a similar operation. [2]:37, At 10:00 U.S. intelligence learned that a battalion size VC force was located east of the ARVN blocking position. Archives and Records Administration, RG Occasionally the throaty whine of an armored personnel carrier would rend the eerie darkness momentarily as the carrier jockeyed on the battlefield. <<1580FEC57EE0BF4FA30A1AAA607739CA>]>> It was as hoped that in this manner the tracked vehicles could compensate for the lack of a blocking force. After discussing the pros and cons with the commander of the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry, the brigade commander decided to continue the operation, even though the loss of the blocking force did not augur well for success. indicated that the Viet Cong attributed their success at Ap Bac to [7] The bomb dropped, but the pilot had been blown up in the blast. of the Department, Foreign Relations of the United States, 19611963, Volume Fortunately, the initial reports of the personnel carrier company proved to be exaggerated, and while one man had been killed and several wounded, all the tracked vehicles, including the damaged ones, were able to move forward in the assault. But experience had shown that at best this was an educated guess, one that all too often had proved false. Then we went back to Dong Tam and then in an incredible operation the MRF moved We had great food, great company; it was just wonderful. They were assured of swift success. young reporters representing the wire services without careful checking Guerra de Vietnam; Guerras de descolonizacin en Asia Parte de Guerra Fra: De izquierda a derecha y de arriba abajo: operaciones de combate de Estados Unidos En Ia rng, ARVN Rangers que defienden a Saign durante la Ofensiva del Tet de 1968, dos Douglas A-4 Skyhawk despus del incidente del golfo de Tonkn, ARVN recuperan Qung Tr durante la Ofensiva de Join us for our 2017 reunion by making a reservation today! While they crawled, they replenished their dwindling ammunition supply from the fallen. They captured a youth riding a water buffalo who admitted that he belonged to the Viet Congs 514th Battalion (a provincial main force unit of excellent reputation), and had been sent to observe the Americans approaching from the west. Country Series, 1/63) Lieutenant Colonel John P. Vann, senior United Then a helicopter came in to pick up the wounded; the second helicopter came in and was shot down.. Neil The brigade commander ordered the assault as soon as the air strike, then in progress, was finished. Heavy harassment of route 4. This time, darkness would provide no convenient cover for their escape. Battle of AP Bac II, in AP Bac Hamlet, CAN/GUIOC District, Long An Province. Early on 2 May, elements of the Wild Ones composed of Company B and Company C, 3/60th, plus the Even though the general location of the enemy was known, the excellent camouflage and small holes customarily used by the Viet Cong made it impossible to spot exact fire positions until very close to them. Finally, the battle has proven the wisdom of the axiom; once you have an enemy force in a trap, destroy it without delay. D. Wheeler, General Earle 5-September 1967: Relocate to Dong Tam. For the Wild Ones of the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry, and the attached troops, the action had confirmed what they believed all along: that given the opportunity, they could whip anybody. At one point, the VC sought to overcome the advantage of US mechanization by swarming over the actual vehicles. 209 0 obj <> endobj The perimeter was manned on the west by the 1st Platoon, commanded by First Lieutenant Roger A. Festa and to the east by the 3rd Platoon under Second Lieutenant Hiram M. Wolfe, IV.[3]. (Telegram CAP Wolfe's men fired and the Viet Cong stopped, having struck one American vehicle's gun. 5-17 August 1967: RSSZ operations. Meanwhile, the battalion commander of the 3/47th had committed his company B to the right of Company A; but Company B was soon stopped by a heavy fire from along the same streamline. [1]:104 The operation plan called for the deployment of five Companies of the 3rd and 4th Battalions, 47th Infantry Regiment into the operations area by assault craft and sweep south towards the ARVN 2nd Battalion, 46th Infantry blocking positions near the town of Ap Bac in Tien Giang Province. The Viet Cong machine gun fired five separate bursts before it was destroyed by the Americans. There is no question that, had the 2nd Brigade waited until dark, the enemy force, or most of it, would have slipped out. 16 February 1967: 2nd Bde puts one battalion into RSSZ, working with advance party of TF-117. Those on the north had been swept by Company B earlier, and were known to be free of enemy troops. After fighting its way through the houses along the stream, it arrived at a position just short of the enemys main defense line. a team of officers to Vietnam to investigate conflicting reports on On January 3, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric forwarded to the White House a Such is the aftermath of violent combat. Mobile Riverine Force in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) from 1921 June 1967 against the Viet Cong (VC). (Initially 3rd-Bn 47th Inf then 4th-Bn, 47th Inf) The dead lay along a small dike extending perpendicular to their front. of the Wheeler report, submitted The quarry this time was a concentration of guerrillas near the village of %PDF-1.4 % But one officer, John Paul Vann, saw darker omens for the futureand in the Battle of Ap Bac, the Viet Cong proved him correct. zoneId = '3'; '&charset='+document.characterSet : '')); 3. on the battle prepared on January 4 by General Paul D. Harkins, Commander of the U.S. Of the 63 wounded, 26 were evacuated. The whole battalion lost about 47 total. 0000001118 00000 n Battle of AP Bac II, in AP Bac Hamlet, CAN/GUIOC District, Long An Province. 0000001845 00000 n The Battle of Ap Bac was the first significant engagement between tenets of North and South Vietnam. Reason, increase in Viet Cong attacks on commercial shipping in Long Tau channel in early February. When I got hit, I had just gotten back to the chopper with some of the wounded, he said. The probe was spearheaded by a herd of fifteen belled cattle being driven across Route 13 at a point 150 meters northeast of the perimeter. [6] The attackers were followed by a line of unarmed troops carrying ropes and wires with hooks to recover the fallen communists. Vietnam, April-Dec. 1963), The Department of State and the White House expressed concern over the For the Viet Cong, the Battle of Ap Bac marked the first time they decided to stand and fight a large South Vietnamese formation, although outnumbered by more than five to one. While these deployments were being made, the 3/47th continued to alternate intense artillery fire and air strikes the enemy position, thus effectively preventing most of them from escaping. A reinforced company, and possibly more, had been lost for the time being to the Viet Cong 514th Battalion. inability to take effective advantage of air superiority, and a lack of 59, Files of the Office of Public Opinion Studies, U.S. Policy on S. (The Washington Post, January 3, 1963; The New York Times, January 4, 1963) On January Whereas a company might be made up of 80-250 soldiers, an Army battalion can consist of between 300 to 1,200 soldiers. } and the operation is being continued. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Vietnam realize that bad news about American casualties filed immediately by (Telegram 662 to The South Vietnamese forces enjoyed a 4-1 numerical advantage in the trailer Not the animal, physical fear that had possessed them as they threw themselves, yelling and screaming, at the dug-in enemy a short time before, but fear for the safety of comrades who had fallen in the vicious assault. At about this time, Company A succeeded in getting a squad across the stream under cover of supporting fire. See more Bi nh m Major General Bi nh m (born c. 1926 30 May 2009) was a general of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). Harry D. Felt, Commander in Clifton, Major General