[5], The communists troops on the southwest portion of the base perimeter were mobbing some of the APCs. c. MRB most distance to date. The MRFA is launching our Historical Data Project (HDP), featuring as much MRF TF-117 data as possible. On January 2, 1963, regular army and civil guard forces of the Republic Even so, it was of little help to the Viet Cong, most of whom had died. In addition, farmhouses were scattered throughout the rice paddy terrain. 63037 from General C.V. Clifton In front of the platoon was the small pasture where the lead squad of Company A, 3/47th, had been destroyed earlier. US forces had M113 APCs, such as these, and even a half-dozen full M48 battle tanks at their disposal. The Viet Cong started their attack ten minutes later, and they were met with artillery fire, cluster bomb units, napalm and 500 pound bombs. At this point, the situation was confused, and the brigade commander was unhappy. Diplomatic Couriers, Guide to Country Recognition and On 20 June 4/47th Infantry searched south of the ambush area locating a VC force north of the Rach Gion Ong stream at Ap Nam and assisted by a Company from the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry, wiped out a VC Platoon. 0000001845 00000 n ammunition were expended. Ap Bac 01 Bill Reynolds, What a pleasant surprise to sit down for breakfast on this Veterans Day, 2007, and see the front page story in The Signal about your trip document.write ("&loc=" + escape(window.location)); 0 even at this time when American casualties are mounting. (Alert on Despite the disparity of numbers and weapons, the Viet At one point, the VC sought to overcome the advantage of US mechanization by swarming over the actual vehicles. 16 February 1967: 2nd Bde puts one battalion into RSSZ, working with advance party of TF-117. The concern of fire falling in the fire support base was so great that it was decided briefly not to attack. However, by this time all elements of the 3/60th had closed the final assault line and were beginning to meet enemy fire. The battle of Ap Bac, Vietnam, 2007. found: Wikipedia, viewed Apr. One enemy soldier was beaten to death by a soldier who used his steel helmet, and another was stabbed to death, thus indicating the ferocity of the assault. In short, a nice, tidy plan had gone awry. [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. L. Harkins, General Paul We served more like the people that trained in WWII. 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. A full archive of past and present "River Currents" newsletters from your friends at MRFA. What followed was a classic, coordinated assault such as can be seen only on a movie screen or at a demonstration at Fort Benning, but seldom in live combat. Most were shot down as the troops of Company A, seizing the break they had been waiting for, quickly overran the position. State. On the south, Company A was exchanging fire with most of the enemy defenders. Considered small-scale action, Ap Bac was fought on January 2, 1963, in the hamlet (ap in Vietnamese) of Bac. %PDF-1.4 % if (!document.MAX_used) document.MAX_used = ','; (Telegram 662 to They had become highly proficient in group and individual tactics. Sheehan in which he wrote that angry United States stiff resistance was apparently encountered, contact has been maintained Operation Concordia was an operation conducted by the U.S. 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. The Battle of Ap Bac was the first significant engagement between tenets of North and South Vietnam. Wolfe's men fired and the Viet Cong stopped, having struck one American vehicle's gun. In the twilight, groups of soldiers moved about the battlefield seeking enemy survivors and collecting arms. 15 May 1967: 1st CAM SON riverine operation, using TF-117 boats. 1-307-754-2221. Learn about the association, Board Members, Officers, and download a membership application form! 226 0 obj<>stream "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he today that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother." mistakes at Ap Bac based upon faulty intelligence and inexperience, but WebThis was the plan finally coordinated on the evening of 1 May 1967. other military operations being undertaken successfully by South [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. Explore points of interest in the US Army section; awards, citations, index, roster and select information related to the mobile riverine force! the President, Visits by Foreign Heads Availability of route 4 at Ben Luc for ammo resupply. 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. Country Series, 1/63) On January 7, President Kennedy expressed concern about the mini-guns. 0000008029 00000 n inability to take effective advantage of air superiority, and a lack of Anything and everything that couldn't fit in any of the other categories. Join us for our 2017 reunion by making a reservation today! During the three-day battle, 47 American soldiers were killed, including one from Hellers company, Ronald Chili Saiz. A reinforced company, and possibly more, had been lost for the time being to the Viet Cong 514th Battalion. 24-June 26 July 1967: Operations in eastern Long An Province, principally in CAN GIOUC and CAN DUOC Districts. Military Assistance Command in Vietnam, was forwarded to President Meanwhile, Company A, 3/60th, was formed up and waiting at the helicopter pickup site for the promised company of choppers. When recoilless fire began hitting the tracked vehicles, the die was cast. In view of this, the brigade commander, Col. William B. Fulton, changed his scheme of maneuver. 2 June 1967: 2nd Brigade embarks aboard MRB, thus formally constituting MRF. We welcome content contributions! The operation concluded on 21 June, U.S. casualties were 46 killed and 15 sailors wounded, while claiming VC losses of 255 killed. Losses in the 3/47th were more severe. Colonel Haszard then alerted the 1st Platoon of B Troop and the 3rd Platoon of C Troop to the north and south of Ap Bau Bang respectively to move to Fire Support Base 20. [2]:37, At 10:00 U.S. intelligence learned that a battalion size VC force was located east of the ARVN blocking position. Shortly after it moved into position, a six-man Viet Cong force was engaged. These guys? That was a rarity in the Vietnam era much rarer than people ever realize, Persson said. September 1966: 1st Coronado Conference, 9th Infantry Division 0000002380 00000 n Operation launched in response to major Viet Cong build up in western Dinh Tuong. Thank you for stopping by. The first true battle of the Vietnam War was Ap Bac. Infantry Division, January 9; JCS Files) 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. True, our division G2 had indicated that a sizeable enemy force was in the Ap Bac area. 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 Most of the attendees arrived the weekend of Fathers Day, and they gathered at the Irma Hotel Sunday night in Cody for a reunion dinner. 18 June 1967: Relocate to SOIRAP/VAMCO, Commence Operation CONCORDIA. D. Kennedy, John Dinh Tuong province, 35 miles southwest of Saigon in the Mekong Delta. 'https://powellbanners.creativecirclemedia.com/www/delivery/ajs.php':'http://powellbanners.creativecirclemedia.com/www/delivery/ajs.php'); [3], American intelligence sources had indicated that the area was densely populated with Viet Cong guerrillas, noting the existence of a well-used trail to the north of Fire Support Base 20 which ran east and west. Heaviest casualties to date Co-A-4th-47th takes 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. Explore points of interest in the US Army section; awards, citations, index, roster and select information related to the mobile riverine force! The ambush was to be in position by 18:00. September 1966: 2nd Bde designated Army Component of (MDAF- Mekong Delta Mobile Afloat Base). American intelligence analysts believed that the whole regiment participated. 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. Department, Buildings of the They received their orders in December 66 and departed in January 1967. Thanks to Tornado Jones, these guys were ready, Heller said. Thus the units in contact would have to finish the job. Suddenly enemy troops began jumping out of their holes and attempted to escape. The Americans reported their battle losses at 3 killed and 63 wounded. 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. 209 18 To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a subscription. However, overall enemy losses had been more than 200 men. 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 Without further delay, the commanding officer of the 3/60th ordered the attack to go in without the artillery. Explore gatherings, speakers and events. Those on the south were believed to harbor Viet Cong, and the southern platoon of Company A would attack through that area. This past June 19 marked the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Ap Bac. However, when they reached the WebThe Battle of Ap Bac was to have been a routine heliborne operation into the rice rich Mekong Delta. 21 May 1967: 4th Bn 47th Infantry relieved RSSZ mission, proceeds to Dong Tam and OnCon 2nd Brigade. 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