0000007973 00000 n This answer is: In the background could be heard the steady beat of helicopter blades as the choppers brought in supplies and took out casualties. September 1966: 2nd Bde designated Army Component of (MDAF- Mekong Delta Mobile Afloat Base). From Albert's Peach Cobbler to an Irish Chicken Dinner, we have them all! During the three-day battle, 47 American soldiers were killed, including one from Hellers company, Ronald Chili Saiz. At the direction of Alcala, the platoon swept 1.5km south of the defenders along the rubber tree line. The South Vietnamese forces enjoyed a 4-1 numerical advantage in the fighting and five helicopters were shot down. But one officer, John Paul Vann, saw darker omens for the futureand in the Battle of Ap Bac, the Viet Cong proved him correct. [6] The attackers were followed by a line of unarmed troops carrying ropes and wires with hooks to recover the fallen communists. [2]:37, At 10:00 U.S. intelligence learned that a battalion size VC force was located east of the ARVN blocking position. They had become highly proficient in group and individual tactics. I yelled for a medic and one ran across the field.. Nearly every member of Hellers platoon was wounded in the battle, including Heller himself. In front of it stretched some 1,500 meters of open rice fields that were cut at 500-meter intervals by two irrigation ditches, the last of which was some 500 to 600 meters from the enemys position. 27 July 1967: Relocate to Dong Tam. 0000002679 00000 n Since no officers could be identified among the enemy dead, except for the battalion surgeon, there was reason to suspect that these key people may have moved out earlier in the day, and possibly were some of those that had been encountered by Company B. [5], Meanwhile, Haszard travelled in an APC followed by another M-113 bearing his command group as they tried to move into the perimeter. zoneId = 'Array'; 1 June 1967: MRB arrives at Dong Tam. "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he today that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother." The troops on the ground began digging in around the rice paddies to secure their LZ, awaiting the rest of Country Series, 1/63) On January 7, President Kennedy expressed concern about the go of it. Calling for artillery fire and air support, the commander attempted to maneuver his company across the stream. Of the 63 wounded, 26 were evacuated. 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. The operation concluded on 21 June, U.S. casualties were 46 killed and 15 sailors wounded, while claiming VC losses of 255 killed. (SACSA Briefing, April 24; Department of Vietnam, filed an after-action report on the Ap Bac operation which February 1966: 2nd Bde Activated Fort Riley, KS. Suddenly, a concealed automatic weapon opened fire at a range of 50 meters, completely enfilading the line of troops. adequately report GVN victories which stiff resistance was apparently encountered, contact has been maintained 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. Then we went back to Dong Tam and then in an incredible operation the MRF moved September 1966: 1st Coronado Conference, 9th Infantry Division It resulted in a US/ARVN victory. Get the recipe! Chester V. Felt, Admiral Harry 0000003035 00000 n young reporters representing the wire services without careful checking Even so, it was of little help to the Viet Cong, most of whom had died. It took a lot of guts, he wrote, on the part of those pilots and [Page 3] crews to go back into the area to [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. While they crawled, they replenished their dwindling ammunition supply from the fallen. Get the recipe! 16 February thru mid May 1967: 2nd brigade maintains forces operating in RSSZ in conjunction with TF-117, normally keeping one battalion committed. 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. c. Biggest US operation ever held in the Delta. Some rice had been found, more proof that Viet Cong had been in the area. Haszard noted the growing size of the communist offensive and decided to move with his command element to A Troop's position. Although unexpectedly Explore points of interest in the US Army section; awards, citations, index, roster and select information related to the mobile riverine force! / 10.43833N 106.19528E / 10.43833; 106.19528 The Battle of p Bc was a major battle fought on 2 January 1963 during the Vietnam War, in nh Tng Province (now part of Tin Giang Province ), South Vietnam. Memorials and museums dedicated to the Mobile Riverine Force. var width = jQuery(window).width(); [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. The Battle of Ap Bac was a major battle fought on January 3, 1963, during the Vietnam War. It was fought in Dinh Tuong Province (now part of Tin Giang Province ), South Vietnam. On December 28, 1962, U.S. intelligence detected the presence of a radio transmitter along with a sizable force of National Front for The company commander reported that his unit was in a state of chaos and he was extremely pessimistic about its ability to attack. Against overwhelming odds, the Viet Cong achieved their first major victory. 1. 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. Thus, the battle ended. Unit awards, medals and ribbons, and information on applying for and obtaining your medals and ribbons. if( width > 480 ){ of the Department, Foreign Relations of the United States, 19611963, Volume 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 captain on the battlefield, a reluctance to incur casualties, an During the battle of Ap Bau Bang II, the Americans claimed to have killed at least 227 VC and captured 3, as well as much equipment and weapons. They assumed more VC had died because of the existence of blood trails, indicating that the dead had been taken away by their colleagues. :135 Company A was to move by trucks furnished by the brigade besides organic vehicles form the battalion, and upon arrival would go into battalion reserve near the line of departure. With the help of artillery and air strikes, as well as flares and aerial searchlights to spot their enemies, the Americans repelled the communists with ease. [2] It was the first major U.S. battle of the Vietnam War using armored vehicles. This item is available in full to subscribers. There was a huge explosion, an artillery round probably, and I woke up back here in the states about three weeks later.. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The vehicles took up positions between A Troop's vehicles on the eastern part of the perimeter defense. Of the men who participated in this assault, most had been in the Army hardly a year. [6] to the poor state of training of the South Vietnamese units, a system of One thing that we found out over there, and what we didnt realize until years later, was what a friend was, he said. var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999); 15 May 1967: 1st CAM SON riverine operation, using TF-117 boats. American public is not getting the facts on the situation in Viet-nam, the US/GVN forces. command which never placed a Vietnamese officer above the rank of 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. 2 May 1967: Battle of Ap Bac, not riverine, but most significant battle fought to date by 2nd Brigade. Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber. These guys? The Viet Cong machine gun fired five separate bursts before it was destroyed by the Americans. 20-22 August 1967: MRF Conducts Recon in force into Parrots Beak area of LONG AN Province (along VAM CO DONG River above BEN LUC-also known ORIENTAL RIVER). Situated near Ap Bac Village in the Long An Province of Vietnam, the soldiers of Alpha Company, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry were slogging through a couple hundred yards of open rice paddies when they stumbled into chaos. To have met the enemy on his own terms after so many fruitless months of seeking him, suffering daily casualties from mines and booby traps until frustrations reached a crescendo that seared the mind and bloodied the heart; to have met the enemy and destroyed him completely, provided a joy and a sense of accomplishment that caused their hearts to glow and animated each man. We knew they were there. Join us for our 2017 reunion by making a reservation today! Nicknamed the Tornados in honor of platoon Sergeant Johnny Tornado Jones the men knew every minute counted. Whereas a company might be made up of 80-250 soldiers, an Army battalion can consist of between 300 to 1,200 soldiers. The bomb dropped, but the pilot had been blown up in the blast. States helicopters carrying Vietnamese troops into battle. They received their orders in December 66 and departed in January 1967. Thanks to Tornado Jones, these guys were ready, Heller said. <<1580FEC57EE0BF4FA30A1AAA607739CA>]>> Cong battalion inflicted heavy casualties on the government forces and As they took their positions, they were hit with recoilless rifle fire and grenades. If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. The United States Army Command in the Pacific reported the battle to the 209 0 obj <> endobj Index, A Short History Explore a glossary of terms, manuals, statistics, historical accounts and reports, maps and articles by MRFA members. But experience had shown that at best this was an educated guess, one that all too often had proved false. At the same time, he recalled the personnel carrier company (Company C, 5/60th) from its barren search farther to the west and began moving it toward the point of contact. 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]. A full archive of past and present "River Currents" newsletters from your friends at MRFA. Viet-Nam: Current American Concern and Misunderstanding; National While fighting continued, part of Festa's unit were trying to evacuate their wounded. document.write ("'><\/scr"+"ipt>"); To further complicate matters, the area was honeycombed with small fighting positions typical of the Delta region. a team of officers to Vietnam to investigate conflicting reports on Viet Cong prisoners confessed that they were from the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 273rd Regiment of the 9th Viet Cong Division. In view of this, the brigade commander, Col. William B. Fulton, changed his scheme of maneuver. battle, and, unlike the Viet Cong, were supported by artillery, armor, Become a member of MRFA! Saigon, January 7; Department of State, Central Files, 951K.6211/1-763) Company A, 3/60th, which had been behind but south of Company B, continued to advance along the stream and the road which formed the line of contact farther to the east. During this battle with elements of this Division and attached units your officers failed to accomplish their mission and left the battlefield covered with dead and wounded from their units. The rest of the company dug in on the south side of the stream and continued to blast the area with fire from artillery and small arms. The 12 members of the Tornados gathered the next morning at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for a short service and remembrance. A full archive of past and present "River Currents" newsletters from your friends at MRFA. of the Secretaries of State, Travels of 9, 2007 (Battle of Ap Bac was a small-scale action early in the Vietnam War took place on Jan. 2, 1963, Trong trn p Bc, qun Vit Nam Cng Ha tn tht 83 cht v t nht 100 ngi b thng. By 20:00 darkness and enemy fire stopped the assault with Companies B and C, 3/47th Infantry, still some 600 meters west of the ambush site. We looked across the field and saw a lot of As they held their cigarettes their hands shook from the terrific nervous tensions they had been under. Explore artwork by members, and read historical articles and books. The situation was such that no fire from air or artillery could be utilized due to the nearness of the opposing combatants. 226 0 obj<>stream [4], At 00:30, 20 March 1967, the Viet Cong resumed their attack, hitting Fire Support Base 20 with mortar rounds, rifle grenades, rockets, and recoilless rifle fire. The gradual tightening of the circle around the enemy force had brought the friendly troops in close to each other; so close that the fires of one unit endangered the others. It was apparent that the climax was rapidly approaching. Many of their large haystacks concealed bunkers. Information, United States Department of Links to friends, affiliates and other sites you should visit! The battalion commander of the 3/60th Infantry intended to move his unit forward by stages before making the final assault. 6th US Battalions committed. 261st Viet Cong Main Force Battalion, normally in Kien Hoa, moved up to west Ding Tuong early July. press reaction across the country to the battle of Ap Bac noted that mistakes at Ap Bac based upon faulty intelligence and inexperience, but The two platoons in the rice until they could gain fire superiority, then moving again. At 23:10, Captain Alcala reported that firing had ended and that infrared equipment was being used to detect the communists. A friend is a person that would be standing by your side, even if he knew it was going to cost him his life. Also 1 company operation each week in RSSZ. Also, all commanders were concerned about the possible effects the .50 caliber fire of the armored personnel carriers would have when they assaulted. Due to the nature of the battle and the abundant use of automatic weapons on armored vehicles, two and in some cases three basic loads of .50-caliber and 7.62mm. Shakespeare said it best: For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother. Thats what these guys represent to each other. morale-building victory. of the facts. He conceded that the South Vietnamese forces had made The break we were looking for finally came on the right (southern) flank, where the platoon was coming along the stream line. If you already have a web account, but need to reset it, you can do so by clicking here. document.write ('&cb=' + m3_r); discipline in battle. This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History. military problems and report on future prospects for the war. The 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry, would also advance to the north as soon as it arrived. Vietnamese forces at Ap Bac had made a number of errors, but he It took place in an area of the Mekong Delta that had been dominated by VC guerrillas. We have buried your dead and taken care of your wounded from this battle.[7]. characterized them largely as errors of courage rather than cowardice. Trong tng s 15 trc thng ym tr trong trn p Bc, c n 5 chic b bn ri. They concluded that even more Viet Cong had died because of the existence of blood trails, indicating that dead communists had been taken away by their colleagues. Because of a shortage of transportation, the 3/47th was delayed, and did not move until later. We were fortunate in that we were attacking a known position, Heller said. concluded that the operation was a failure. Few people were seen, although there were many houses of mud and thatch in these densely vegetated areas. If we were going to win, the enemy must soon begin to break and run. State. State, Vietnam Working Group Files: Lot 67 D 54, ORG-3 WG/VN Mtgs with Other Agencies), The battle of Ap Bac was reported in the press in the United States as a 0000002715 00000 n Encapsulating the great terrors, mistakes, ironies, and courageous acts of the Vietnam War, The Battle of Ap Bac recounts the clash in which the Viet Cong first won their spurs. 3-10 June 1967: MRF shakedown. There is no question that, had the 2nd Brigade waited until dark, the enemy force, or most of it, would have slipped out. Meanwhile, Company A, 3/60th, was formed up and waiting at the helicopter pickup site for the promised company of choppers. The APC operators decided to fire their canisters on each other to remove the Viet Cong, as they were too close for an APC to clear from itself. It was the day after Fathers Day, June 19, 1967. e. GVN Committed a 2nd Battalion Brigade of VN Marines in US Zone.