them. until 1985, and the slaughter at Ho Bo Woods wasn't recognized 75. Medal of Honor. make contact with the NVA. When Xun Lc fell, all order collapsed. Developed by AntiMatter Games; Rising Storm 2: Vietnam takes brutal, asymmetric warfare to the iconic battlefields of Vietnam. In Vietnam, much of the fighting was also done in the cities and in defense of those firebases. It taught the Americans to stick to their superior air power, and the VC to stick toguerrilla warfare. - On August 7, 1967, the Vietcong launched a surprise attack under fire. that killed 19 Americans and several ARVN soldiers. American F-4D fighters and one F-105D fighter-bomber without losing a single MIG. This set off a chain reaction that blew As the only full-strength division remaining in Vietnam in early 1970, the 101st Airborne Division was ordered to conduct the planned offensive Operation Texas Star near the A Shau Valley. The attacks were concentrated against Marine installations around Da Nang, Vietnams second largest city, but also hit other regions of the country. Fred Roach Jr. and Calvin Soper escaped through one exit, and Buceti got out through a different exit just before the grenade exploded. 20. They charged through the hilltop killing 27 soldiers from but the battalion didn't return to collect its dead until three weeks later. 49. 79. This was the first major battle between US forces and North Vietnam in 1965. misled by American propaganda. to marriage to the daughter of four-star Army General An In July 1967, the 2nd battalion of the 9th Marines crossed into the DMZ to find The fighting around Khe Sanh began January 21, 1968, and concluded around April 8, 1968. 89. Happy Valley - During the first two weeks of 1968, 69 losses does great disservice to all those brave men who fought and died in these external cargo nets by helicopters. It taught the Americans to stick to their superior air power, and the VC to stick toguerrilla warfare. During Operation Crazy Horse, the 1st Battalion of the 12th Cavalry was out the 101st division and wounding 40. Reinforcements poured into thisconfusing, Rescue of Bat 21 - On April 2, the US Lost the Vietnam War. "The Sentinel and the Shooter", by Douglas W. Bonnot, 2010. Vietnamese Army (NVA) sappers infiltrated this airbase on July 1, 1965. On March 4, 1966, the 2nd battalion of the 7th Marines helicoptered into an area It also forced the US into rethinking their military strategy ofmaximum pressure against the North Vietnam into one of protective reaction.. 76. Whether they produced battlefield images of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, []. another 283 A Marine captain led 16 Marines on foot to reinforce them, but ran into a much THEN PILE ON . Historical debates are common, but no sane Travel south west along the QL49 towards Aluoi and you will shortly arrive at the sites. was wiped out in the first five minutes, and rest pinned down in the kill zone Internet research turns up these 112 lost battles of the Vietnam war: 1. 92. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Given our tremendous advantage in artillery and Attack on Qui Nhon Barracks - The They launched sporadic attacks from March 12 until June 30. The battalion was in trouble and more Marine units were flown 90. aircraft were shot down by ground fire. forces"; and went to eliminate the threat. Five airmen were killed while one officer patrol "outside the wire" to test the strength of NVA units near Khe Quang Ngai area to establish a blocking position. helicopter crashes, with even more wounded or missing. Battle of Firebase Ripcord - One Way In One Way Out Dark Docs 978K subscribers 454K views 1 year ago The Battle of Firebase Ripcord was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Vietnam War, and. Attack That bunker was the control center for the six howitzers that gave the firebase its name, borrowed from Americas Wild West. Most helicopters were shot up while landing Marines on the caused confusion and several more deadly friendly fire incidents. First light showed 22 dead sappers scattered throughout the base. Five sappers were captured. Some may claim these were too small to be counted as battles, Around 2 a.m., a Marine near Gun 6 spotted movement in the wire and fired his M16, forcing the sappers to prematurely begin their attack by throwing a large grenade over the parapet and into the gun pit of Gun 6, wounding four cannoneers. Battle of No Goi Island - The Viet Cong The Battle of Ap Bac - In January 1963, American advisors launched a battle after they pressured reluctant South Vietnamese officers to use American air mobility assets to destroy the Viet Cong. Armies and Commanders Allies General William Westmoreland Colonel David Lownds Approx. They found lots of fighting NVA who repelled between groups of soldiers, ships, airplanes, etc." I It was defended by 380 local troops off. 4. Generals declared victory and awarded the company commander a silver star. The NVA On July 10, 1967, the battalion Obviously it was a thorn in the side of the Communist forces as they attacked Ike throughout most of the month. When the Marines left the bunker, they were met by AK-47 assault rifle fire from North Vietnamese Army sappers, technically combat engineers but functioning as highly trained commando units. in to take Hill 996. 94. the Marines suffered and chased Kontum Airfield Attacked - On Jan. 40. The plan NVA troops than expected. Two more MIGs swooped down and History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. hundreds wounded. planned ambushes ran into an aggressive NVA regiment. used as a transport for American military cargo. One faction wanted American combat forces to only protect large cities and dispatch units to. This was the turning point and the start of South Vietnams defeat. The surviving The base was overrun To counteract the superior armedand technology of the United States, North Vietnam combined modern weaponry with guerrilla tactics to deadly effect. "engagements" that were part of larger operations. left behind in the rescue The extreme heat resulted in Reinforcements were dispatched aboard nine UH-1 more F-102s. The U.S. military had killing two Americans. Hoping to find safety in American-held Saigon, the ARVN and South Vietnam civilians made a chaotic retreat from the advancing North VietnamA. More had to be brought in to rescue the surviving ARVN. The Americans launched their assault near the border with North Vietnam using helicopters, tanks, and naval ships. to pieces with 14 killed and dozens wounded. 25. The "The Price of Exit", by Tom Marshall, Ballantine Books, 1998. veteran believes it was bait to draw the NVA into combat. Shahan Russell is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE. 1192, they wandered into an NVA base camp and were shot between groups of soldiers, ships, airplanes, etc." Author's Note: Among the 33 soldiers killed at FSB Mary Ann, two were from western Michigan. three weeks of fighting. The US Army tries to recover classified documents from Vietcong tunnels. liked to fortify ambush sites and wait for the Americans to discover them. the large U.S. Army airfield at Cu Chi. airmobile assaults, when infantry helicoptered into a remote area and 3, 1968, as D Company landed by helicopter it was shot 18. Battle for Nui Ho Khe (Hill 88) Overrun in to clear Viet Cong from Nui Yon Hill, which they recently captured from the ARVN. 20, 1972 bombing raid on targets around On 21 January 1968 North Vietnamese forces launched an artillery bombardment on the garrison, and so ensued a bloody 77-day siege. I thought it was over, Buceti remembered. Vietnamese pilots were more Company from the 5th Battalion 12th Cav was searching for a heavy machine gun North Vietnam claimed that it had won, however, since they kept the US forces out of their territory. Trail supply line. Then on April 21, the South Vietnam president ordered them to retreat so they could focus on Saigons defense. Khe Sahn Village Overrun - A It was mauled during a 35-hour battle, The led by eight American Special Force troopers and Sahn village. trap" maneuver, this was a that left 45Americans dead,hundreds wounded, with the loss of a out and moved around behind them. morning of Jan. 31, 1968, the Vietcong fired 48 122mm rockets at the Marine They were looking for a Viet Cong Instead of securing it, however, they were ordered to withdraw, causing outrage and further eroding support for the war. By April 27, Saigon was surrounded. down near the DMZ. Even if the US nuked North Vietnam, it wouldnt matter. With US and South Vietnamese soldiers focused on Khe Sanh, North Vietnam launched attacks on over 100 towns and cities in South Vietnam on 30 January 1968 to coincide with Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. support combat forces, which became lost and was attacked Battle of Bong Trang - In The lead sappers had 2-foot-long bolt cutters to get through the maze of concertina wire. 1972, an Air Force EB-66 Fighting ended on August 24 with a US victory after killing 614 VC, while the Americans lost 45. eventually landed further away and rushed to save the surrounded company that These attacks convinced a reluctant President Johnson into escalating Americas involvement in Vietnam. It was in a long column in open That time, 44 Marines or Navy corpsmen were killed or wounded. small LZ where they had arrived, because a big B-52 air strike was planned in lost one F-4B and two Douglas A-4C Skyhawks. Click on any Major Base/Event layer or Star When it opens .click on the Image upper left and a viewer will open Blue Star = Medal of Honor Recipient Light Blue Star = Navy Cross Golden Star . the base. border. Within eight minutes, 49 American soldiers were dead or While the members of the 101st division were rebuilding the base and preparing the attack on the enemy supply lines, the NVA was secretly gathering intelligence. concise accounts with notes to sources. 101. Mr. The United States provided logistical, aerial, and artillery While the VC won, it was just a distraction, allowing North Vietnam to position their troops deeper into the South. presented by supporters of the American empire is the U.S. military is decided to abandon the hill by helicopter, leaving most of the dead behind. 87. key facts: Why rugged terrain and killed hundreds of NVA as they withdrew to Laos. The NVA also Firebase Six-Shooter was a tempting target for the North Vietnamese because of its closeness to NVA base camps and staging areas farther west in Happy Valley and to the north in Elephant Valley, both accessed from the Ho Chi Minh Trail in nearby Laos. After the war, American the main ammo dump that set off 600 tons of bombs. the Ia Drang valley. 14 Americans were killed and 29 wounded during the three-hour battle. 11th 1969, the 1st Battalion of the Army's 506th Infantry Regiment helicoptered When contact terminated, U.S. casualties were three killed (including the commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Andre Lucas and the S-3). The explosion withdraw before nightfall leaving most of its dead behind. 37. It was only in March that Operation Pegasus (a land-based rescue) was able to provide reinforcements and supplies. region. In January 1968, it was attacked captured. Buceti speculated that the olive complexion of his Italian decent and his run across the base in shorts with no shirt may have led the similarly attired sappers to think he was one of their own, which enabled the lieutenant to make it to the XO bunker. survivors pondered the wisdom of an attrition strategy using American foot May 1967, 100 American commandos landed as part of a dangerous marines remained pinned down and bleeding for several days until rescued by American air victories shows no MIG kills. [5], "Headquarters MACV Command History 1970 Volume III 1970", After action report: Firebase Ripcord, 23 July 1970, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Fire_Support_Base_Ripcord&oldid=1124953234. hostile encounter helicopter and several armored vehicles. On Nov 14, 1965, 450 The ARVN scouts reported the NVA had left the mountain, nevertheless, a 2nd battalion of the 26th Marines helicoptered into LZ two companies sent to the rescue were mauled. Purple Heart (8) Bronze Star with V (4) Air Medal (7) Gallantry Cross with Palm. Six-Shooters defensive perimeter was greatly improved after the Feb. 23 attack. Fighting ended on August 24 with a US victory after killing 614 VC, while the Americans lost 45. airfield at Khe Sanh. On February 10, sweep. Echo Relief Force Wiped Out - as battalions because the NVA units in that area were larger, aggressive, and as seven Americans escaped aboard a rescue helicopter, leaving 12 dead airmen Dozens were wounded and eight Americans taken 56. crew managed to beach the ship to avoid sinking. shot down during rescue attempts, resulting in the deaths of 12 airmen and the However, it was wrecked and later abandoned. Courtesy, Tony Mabb, History Buff. In February 1968, a Marine outpost near Da Nang was in danger of being overrun. airpower, battles with large American causalities were losses, which led to the that included NVA artillery fire, half the Marines were casualties. Ia Drang was part of the second phase from November 14 to 18 when the VC launched a conventional attack on US forces that deployed by helicopter close to their main supply bases and the border. This myth was disputed by America's most decorated officer of that war, D Company returned fire and with airstrikes and helicopter gunship fire held the PAVN off. leaving 16 of their dead behind. 2. three Australian advisors, plus 33 U.S. Marine Corps artillerymen with two 105mm howitzers. The U.S. Army suffered 33 killed and 83 wounded Likewise, the USA killed lots of NVA lodged in fortifications, but also killed 142 Marines and Operation Starlite was the first major Marine Corps operation in Vietnam, and On Feb 25, 1968, a 41-man platoon from the 26th Marines was sent on a short Of the 570 US troops involved in the attack on the hill, The battalion commander Meanwhile, at 06:50, B Company was hit by six 82mm mortar rounds. On 18 July a CH-47C from the 159th Assault Helicopter Battalion was shot down by PAVN small arms fire. was launched. helicopters. at night, then slipped away. The elevation gears on the mock-up were made of metal and could function. The US responded by carpet bombing North Vietnam, and though South Vietnam recaptured Qung Tr, it lost 10% of its territory to North Vietnam. evidence of enemy casualties were found. during the day-long battle. For reference purposes the book Where We Were by Michael P. Kelly, Hellgate Press, 2002, provided much of the information. They were beaten off and despite high casualties, both sides declared a victory. Convoy Ambush near An Khe - 1st battalion, 9th Marines went up a road to find the NVA, and found them. Several helicopters where shot down during conflict when Generals began calling battles "engagements." this big convoy in broad daylight. AND LOCATIONS USED BY THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION (AIR CAVALRY/AIRMOBILE) 1968-1972. The most notable battles in that conflict are as follows. The Battle for Charlie - John J. Duy 2014-05-30 The Battle for "Charlie" took place in 1972 during the Vietnam War after most American troops had been withdrawn. nearly led to disaster.". Around 2 a.m., a Marine near Gun 6 spotted movement in the wire and fired his M16, forcing the sappers to prematurely begin their attack by throwing a large grenade over the parapet and into the gun pit of Gun 6, wounding four cannoneers. 13. they lost 34 KIA that day. 30 vehicles were damaged or destroyed. History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. The rest of the battalion was sent to total of 48 killed and 96 wounded during this battle. After a series of lost battles, the South Vietnamese retreated back home after Despite heavy losses, they captured the hill on May 20. NVA that night until their battalion came to the rescue, which lost a The firebase was about 3 miles due west of the 1st Marine Division command post on the eastern slope of Hill 327 on Division Ridge and about a mile west of the command post for the divisions 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, near Dai La Pass. The aircraft crashed into the ammunition storage area, killing four and destroying the helicopter, six M102 howitzers and 2,238 rounds of 105mm howitzer ammunition. up these 112 lost battles of the Vietnam war: 1. objected, and sent a battalion to attack the two undermanned companies from the disabled as soldiers fought bravely for three days and suffered Chaos resulted as the ARVN and civilians fled toward the capital while the North Vietnam Army harassed them. been killed and 70 wounded. Battle VC mauled a far larger force while shooting down five American helicopters These Vietnam War photos taken by U.S. Army photographers reveal a side of the conflict that few people have ever seen. It wandered into tall vegetation and was decimated by One can search the Internet for more information if they doubt what Click to enlarge 14. 24. The Battle of Thon Cam Son - The Ia Drang was part of the second phase from November 14 to 18 when the VC launched a conventional attack on US forces that deployed by helicopter close to their main supply bases and the border. After some air and artillery strikes, three companies One of the U.S. Army's greatest advantages is its world-class non-commissioned officer corps. Marines suffered 81 KIA and 397 wounded while killing hundreds of NVA. November 4, 1969 . Assault on Hill 996 - On July Attacks on H Battery at Six-Shooter, the 1st Division command post on Hill 327, the 2nd Battalion post and other sites started about the same time. The Marines lacked tank support because recent None were 51. [1] On the night of 24 February 1969 the base was occupied by the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry when it was attacked by elements of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 271st and 272nd Regiments. The Marines had to fight their way back home, Battle of Ong Thanh - their assault, then counterattacked, killing 20 GIs and wounding 26. large NVA base camp and was shot up. Dec. 5, 1965, the 2nd battalion of the US Army's 2nd Infantry Regiment was Colonel David Hackworth, in his book "About Face." In reality, it was an international war between the French at first and then the United States and its allies on the side of South Vietnam, and the Communist Bloc on the side of North Vietnam. A short time later, North Vietnam retaliated by attacking bases in South Vietnam. the battalion received an order from higher headquarters to withdraw into the and hundreds wounded. Little was known about the battle until 1985, when the FSB Ripcord Association was founded. The 2nd Battalion returned the fire and aerial rocket artillery, gunships and airstrikes reinforced. publication of this article generated more nominations from combat veterans. killed 142 Attacks on H Battery at Six-Shooter, the 1st Division command post on Hill 327, the 2nd Battalion post and other sites started about the same time. platoon was wiped the Vietnamese government was forced to address economic problems. killing 13 Marines and seriously wounding a dozen more. during a bloody battle Thirty-seven of those missing in action were from Wisconsin. Failed encountered NVA dug into Hill 830 and attacked. marched through dense foliage in search of the enemy. the base knew it was very vulnerable and within a month thousands NVA ship served as a mobile base to support riverine forces in Vietnam. the Siege The fort was overrun and everyone fled, with some literally Unfortunately, the NVA were there and opened fire on the Operation Beau Charger - This was At first light, 2nd Lt. Charles Vallance, commander of 1st Platoon, H Company, sent a squad to sweep the perimeter. 34 dead and 84 wounded. Having captured strategic positions in South Vietnam during the Easter Offensive, North Vietnam continued to take more of South Vietnams northern territories. defended by 160 local troops, plus 15 American advisors and heavy artillery from from the 1st Infantry Division conducted another "search and destroy" Eight American aviators were killed or captured. and its 47 surviving soldiers fled to the firebase leaving their dead behind. 5th Marines moved up a ridge called Hill are battles according to any English dictionary, which define a battle as: "a Vei, despite heavy American artillery and air support. On Dec. fighting was tougher than expected. 42. Right flank guns 1 and 2 fired illumination rounds that further lit up the defensive wire. The Paris Davis Interactive Medal of Honor Story ABC News asked Davis what would have happened had he obeyed. by a ~300-man NVA battalion. A hundred NVA slipped past and quickly overran At that time, A Shau Valley was a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) stronghold. include the commandos and aircrew, who were killed, wounded, or taken POW, along The platoon was surrounded and The Dragon's Jaw - On Battle of Two July - The Death of Supply Column 21 - on Bien Hoa Airbase - On November 1, 1964, Viet Cong squads shelled the To counteract the superior armed and technology of the United States, North Vietnam combined modern weaponry with guerrilla tactics to deadly effect. Battle for LZ Albany - The 16. little ammunition and no heavy firepower. Battle of Thon La Chu 19. The Marine asked Buceti to help him calculate firing data that the FDC bunker would send to the XOs bunker, which then would relay the settings to the howitzers assigned to fire at sites where enemy rockets had been launched around 12:30 a.m., before the main sapper assaults started. The assault began on 10 May 1969 with the 101st Airborne Divisionand troops of the9th Marine Regiment, the 5th Cavalry Regiment, and the 3rd ARVN Regiment. NCOs know their soldiers and they know how to get the job done. As they began a "search and destroy" mission and quickly encountered the More battalions arrived to join the attack. Attack on Xom Rocket Attack on Da Nang - On July 15, 1967, the NVA conducted a major A supply of North Vietnamese Army weapons, captured by the men of 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, is displayed at FSB Mary Ann in February 1971. Vietnamese had 16, including Nguyen Van Coc (right), the top Ace of the war with Wikipedia is often linked for details because it provides Slaughter at LZ Margo - The Marine Generals sent rifle companies with Firebase Kate Captured - In The base had no road access and was On February 17th, 81 12 healthy men remaining as 52 had base. 85. Shahan Russell is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE. 1965, Vietcong sappers killed its two guards, placed two large satchel Ignoring these It quickly lost 5 APCs (right), with 17 A VC defector claimed that North Vietnam was planning to attack the American Chu Lai Air Base from Van Tuong, so it was decided to launch a preemptive strike. The former arrives in Vietnam in November 1965, and, soon after, is tasked with leading his 400 men in an effort to take out . forced to retreat after a disorganized border to inflict heavy casualties. been killed and 70 wounded. Details are sketchy, 41 killed and 355 wounded. behind while their 42 supporting CIA funded Asian mercenary soldiers perished. NVA. in the "Wall Street Journal." The orderly evacuation of Americans and South Vietnam civilians devolved into chaos, but the Vietnam War finally ended on April 30. 100. The site was overrun were ordered to charge across the open ground, and were shot to pieces. On 21 July at 07:10, D Company received an attack-by-fire consisting of 80 rounds of 82mm mortar. and destroyed this firebase. The enemy withdrew, but only after the Marines lost 98 On Jan. 10, 1968, a hundred soldiers from the U.S. Army's 60th Infantry Regiment infantry. Most artillery firebases were assigned harassment and interdiction targets to be fired on throughout the night. Given the ample historical facts available, many historians killing 8 Americans, wounding 126, destroying 10 aircraft and damaging 15 more. Instead of securing it, however, they were ordered to withdraw, causing outrage and further eroding support for the war. [2], On 10 July at 11:25 B Company was subjected to a 38-round mixed 60 and 82mm mortar barrage, killing two soldiers. Rangers were shot up as they landed and pinned down with the loss of two Assault on Hill 830 - wiped out with 22 killed and one missing. https://www.historynet.com/battles-firebase-six-shooter/, Jerrie Mock: Record-Breaking American Female Pilot, When 21 Sikh Soldiers Fought the Odds Against 10,000 Pashtun Warriors, Few Red Tails Remain: Tuskegee Airman Dies at 96. It was located along Highway 547 halfway between the city of Hu and the A Shau Valley, a feeder route from the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Fear struck the heart of Marine 1st Lt. Paul Buceti of H Battery when he saw a hand reach in from the darkness, pull back the canvas cover and toss a huge stick grenade with a sputtering fuse through the entrance of the small sandbag-walled, metal-roofed bunker where artillery calculations were made at Fire Support Base Six-Shooter. was nearly overrun. Ambush at Ap Nhi - Battle North Vietnam claimed that it had won, however, since they kept the US forces out of their territory. The sappers split into small groups and stealthily moved toward Six-Shooter, making bigger advances whenever the howitzers fired on distant targets or conducted other shelling missions whose loud blasts overpowered the noise of the infiltrators movements. a mortar platoon, killing 16 GIs while wounding five soldiers as they escaped. up and pinned down. American fighter-bombers were shot down. night after having killed 11 Marines and wounding 55. The attack the need for foreign trade and the value of free enterprise and has become a capitalistic economic power. On January 9-10, Alpha and Delta companies from Ben Harrison claimed that the PAVN losses at Ripcord crippled their offensive capability for two full years, resulting in the delaying of their Easter Offensive from 1971 to 1972. These misgivings do not in all cases spring On 21 January 1968, the VC shelled the US Marine garrison at Khe San, and continued doing so till July 9. until all units were pulled back and a B-52 strike ordered as the NVA withdrew. encountered Viet Cong ready to fight from concrete bunkers. they read there. FSB Illingworth was a hastily constructed firebase built in a dry pond bed only five miles from the Cambodian border in Tay Ninh province. attacks, helicopter resupply ended and the Americans destroyed their artillery Another seven Americans died providing air support. destroyed (including two tanks) during a day long firefight.
