As a result, Dam could only send one company at a time onto the battlefield. On the north and south was a line of dense coconut trees and undergrowth. It was surprised to encounter an entire NVA regiment, which counterattacked causing a bloody fight in which 3/26 suffered 300 casualties (40% including 37 KIA) and lost several tanks. 
WebAs night fell, PLAF soldiers fled the battlefield to the east under the cover of darkness, securing their first pitched battle victory of the war with America and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). Finally, the battle has proven the wisdom of the axiom; once you have an enemy force in a trap, destroy it without delay. During that time, artillery support was ineffective, as Civil Guard forward observers would not stand up to observe the fall of artillery rounds. The battle represented the first major confrontation between ARVN forces and the NLF during the Vietnam War; it was also a significant victory for the NLF. What a pleasant surprise to sit down for breakfast on this Veterans Day, 2007, and see
Operation Concordia was an operation conducted by the U.S. Calling for artillery fire and air support, the commander attempted to maneuver his company across the stream. WebOn Sept 10, 1967, the 3rd battalion of the 26th Marines ventured forward to secure Hill 88. This was the plan finally coordinated on the evening of 1 May 1967. At that point, South Vietnamese M-113 crews backed off while firing their .50 caliber machine guns aimlessly into the sky. By noontime, troops of the the Wild Ones had reached and searched as far north as objective Queen without contact or major incident. [46] Late in the afternoon, a flight of C-123 Providers, with about 300 South Vietnamese paratroopers aboard, closed in on their objective and quickly drew machine gun fire from the hamlet. Perhaps more significantly, no mines or booby traps had been encountered, usually a good sign that you are in an area highly frequented by the Viet Cong. Explore gatherings, speakers and events. Finally, Vann radioed Ziegler at the command post at Tan Hiep and told him to ask the commander of the ARVN 7th Infantry Division to order Ba to move toward Ap Bac immediately. 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. Mobile Riverine Force in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) from 1921 June 1967 against the Viet Cong (VC). But the most prevalent feeling now that the major, recognizable danger had passed, was one of elationhigh elation. Ziegler's plan, codenamed Operation Duc Thang I,[16] called for the South Vietnamese to assault Ap Tan Thoi from three different directions; three rifle companies from the 11th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, to move from the north; the Dinh Tuong Civil Guards Regiment[note 1] to march northward from the south in separate columns; and a company of 13 M-113 armored personnel carriers with an infantry company on board from the southwest. At around 7:00 am, the first wave of CH-21 helicopters offloaded the first group of South Vietnamese soldiers. [11] Cao was promoted to general and assumed command of the new IV Corps Tactical Zone, which included the area of operations of his 7th Infantry Division. The radio intercept and other information obtained by Jim Drummond, Vann's intelligence officer, indicated that the Viet Cong were using Ap Tan Thoi as a headquarters location. Jump-off was scheduled for 0800. "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he today that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother." Internet research turns up these 112 lost battles of the Vietnam war: 1. ft),[42] but when the operator fired the device, the flame died after only 30 meters (Bad rounding hereScript error: No such module "Math". When recoilless fire began hitting the tracked vehicles, the die was cast. 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. WebBattle Of Ap Bac January 2, 1963 Overview Historical Debates Resources Elements of the South Vietnamese 7th Infantry Division engage a smaller Viet Cong force outside the village of Ap Bac, 40 miles southwest of Saigon, in the Mekong Delta. Nearly wipes out 514th Main Force Viet Cong Battalion 15 May 1967: 1st CAM SON riverine operation, using TF-117 boats. ft) of the southern end of Ap Bac, the Viet Cong opened fire from their foxholes and immediately killed the leading company's commander and wounded the task force commander. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new 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 personnel carriers of Company C, 5/60th, having a longer distance to travel, and having two fairly deep streams to cross, did not close Company As position until approximately 1530. Sorry for any of the incorrect pronunciations; I'm not Vietnamese. This behavior initially mystified Vann, who was attempting to build Cao into an aggressive commander. It was surprised to encounter an entire NVA regiment, which counterattacked causing a bloody fight in which 3/26 suffered 300 casualties (40% including 37 KIA) and lost several tanks. WebThe Battle of Ap Bac was on 2nd January, 1963. By 1500, Company A had reached the restraining line designated by the brigade commander, and was deployed along it in assault formation with three platoons abreast. In fact, if anything, the operation got off to an inauspicious start. Background [ edit] Cn Giuc District in Long An Province was a VC stronghold in the Mekong Delta. In half an hour they had advanced to within 100 meters of the main enemy line, but were held up by intense fire from small arms and mortars. Vann hoped to trap the Viet Cong inside the hamlets by blocking their retreat routes on all sides, and annihilate them using an elite battalion of South Vietnamese paratroopers. Particles of phosphorus from the heavy artillery that had lashed the area flared fitfully, lighting up shattered palms and underbrush with a ghostly glow. This was the plan finally coordinated on the evening of 1 May 1967. Originally, our 2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, had been promised two helicopter companies for the operation; however, late on the day before the operation began, one of these was withdrawn. The intent was to bring the artillery fire on the enemys positions and then advance the infantry to as close as possible under cover of this fire, crawling the last few yards in the case of Company A. Cn Giuc District in Long An Province was a VC stronghold in the Mekong Delta.
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. Even so, it was of little help to the Viet Cong, most of whom had died. Sorry for any of the incorrect pronunciations; I'm not Vietnamese. [27] However, in the early phases of the Vietnam conflict, command relationships between U.S. military units were not well-established, and American aircrews had developed a tendency to disregard the instructions of advisors, especially Vann, who was perceived to be domineering. [27] Immediately, the South Vietnamese infantrymen were forced to hug the ground. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new While these operations were being carried out, the gunship, which has been constantly circling the area, reported a Viet Cong force of company size moving across the fields to the northeast. mini-guns. Sp4 West was instrumental in my not being with A company that day and probably saved my life. The ARVN 4th Mechanized Rifle Squadron was then deployed to save the South Vietnamese soldiers and American aircrews who were trapped in the south-western end of Ap Bac, but its commander was highly reluctant about moving heavy M-113 carriers across the local terrain. Web2 May 1967: Battle of Ap Bac, not riverine, but most significant battle fought to date by 2nd Brigade. It WebThe Battle of Ap Bac was a major battle fought on January 3, 1963, during the Vietnam War. WebAt Ap Bac, for the first time, the Viet Cong fought at battalion strength and won a decisive victory against Vietnamese troops supported by American helicopters, armored vehicles, and artillery. I was with Echo Company on the day in question and was across the river at the French Fort with the four deuce mortor platoon firing support for you guys. There was some delay caused by problems of coordination between the two battalions, so not until after 1700 did the battalion reach and deploy on the eastern side of the final irrigation ditch. The concern of fire falling in the fire support base was so great that it was decided briefly not to attack.
Here it is 40 years later, and I find others who only live 10 miles
[52] Shortly afterward, more than eighteen hours too late, the South Vietnamese hit Ap Bac with an artillery barrage. 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. [26] Task Force A's momentum was stopped when the soldiers of the leading Civil Guard battalion sought shelter in a dike, where they tried unsuccessfully to outflank the Viet Cong. [39], Scanlon, with the help of Bowers, ran forward to aid the wounded men and carry them back to the M-113 formation. Vann, who was flying above the armored formation, demanded that Ba advance immediately. As they held their cigarettes their hands shook from the terrific nervous tensions they had been under. Early on 2 May, elements of the Wild Ones composed of Company B and Company C, 3/60th, plus the battalion command post and combat support company (less elements), moved out and arrived at the attack position with out incident. Certain that the Viet Cong unit was no larger than the reported number, the ARVN 7th Infantry Division was instructed to attack Ap Tan Thoi. It [48] As night fell, Hoang knew that South Vietnamese forces were closing in from three directions. 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 Medal of Honor Society said. Few people were seen, although there were many houses of mud and thatch in these densely vegetated areas. Ultimately, their presence made little difference as the FNL stood their ground and killed more than a dozen South Vietnamese M-113 crews in the process. The break we were looking for finally came on the right (southern) flank, where the platoon was coming along the stream line. As a result, the paratroopers landed right in front of the entrenched Viet Cong positions, instead of behind the 4th Mechanized Rifle Squadron and the Civil Guards. Suddenly, a concealed automatic weapon opened fire at a range of 50 meters, completely enfilading the line of troops. 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. They had scored the biggest successes of the pacification campaigns of 1962, killing thousands of Viet Cong fighters and leaving thousands of others cut off from supplies. [14] Furthermore, South Vietnamese and American intelligence personnel believed the Viet Cong had deployed a reinforced company of about 120 men to protect the transmitter. [43] In his final effort to defeat the Viet Cong, Vann flew into Tan Hiep and asked Cao to deploy an airborne battalion on the eastern side of Ap Bac, the most logical retreat route for the Viet Cong. 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. http://home.pacbell.net/jwgerb/
WebFor the VC, the Battle of Ap Bac marked the first time they stood and fought a large South Vietnamese formationdespite being outnumbered by more than five to one. However, by this time all elements of the 3/60th had closed the final assault line and were beginning to meet enemy fire. Because of his attitude, neither the South Vietnamese or the Americans learned important lessons from the battle.[57]. Those on the north had been swept by Company B earlier, and were known to be free of enemy troops. ft) west of Ap Bac, where they were hit multiple times by Viet Cong machine gun and small arms fire. 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. [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. What was the outcome of the Ap Bac Battle? Learn about the association, Board Members, Officers, and download a membership application form! The U.S. military had every advantage, yet mistakes were made and battles lost. True, our division G2 had indicated that a sizeable enemy force was in the Ap Bac area. But experience had shown that at best this was an educated guess, one that all too often had proved false. [3] The arrival of helicopters changed the nature of the battle considerably; it enabled South Vietnamese soldiers to quickly fly to almost any point in the country, leaving little time for a retreat. [1], 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. The Viet Cong lost 18 soldiers killed and 39 wounded, although hit by more than 600 rounds of artillery, napalm and other ordnance released by 13 warplanes and five UH-1 gunships. WebOperation Concordia was an operation conducted by the U.S. Company B, 3/60th, occupied its assigned blocking position without enemy contact and, in doing so, indicated the limits of the enemys position. The 173rd and 175th companies blocked the far western position side as Task Force C, but it was not committed into battle. It resulted in a US/ARVN victory. Almost simultaneously, a third CH-21 sustained heavy damage and was forced to land on the rice fields a short distance from the first two helicopters. It resulted in a US/ARVN victory. The two platoons in the rice until they could gain fire superiority, then moving again. WebLearn about the Battle of Ap Bac, a major battle fought in Vietnam on January 2, 1963. [17], As planned, the first Civil Guard battalion of Task Force A started north towards Ap Bac. An argument broke out between Vann and Ba. [17] The M-113 carriers and the infantry company could act as both a mobile reserve and a reaction force, so it was positioned where it could be shifted to the contact area if the Viet Cong began to retreat.
The paddies were mostly dry and easily supported the weight of an armored personnel carrier. Two Viet Cong soldiers received North Vietnams highest military-exploit medal for winning this battle. It was also worried about inciting the United States into directly supporting South Vietnam, and had recommended a policy of avoiding battle at no, costs. However, if the core of these units, who are irreplaceable, can be captured or killed, the efficiency of these units must begin to wane. [50] The 1st Company, 261st Battalion, led the column, followed by litter carriers carrying the dead and wounded. In addition, some men were having trouble with their rifles, due to the terrific volume of the fire they were pouring out. 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 Medal of Honor Society said. Joanne Stone - November 12, 2007, Bill, outstanding story and publication. 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. Several personnel carriers were hit and several troops killed and wounded. This was the plan finally coordinated on the evening of 1 May 1967. On the south, Company A was exchanging fire with most of the enemy defenders. - William Shakespeare, Henry V, Navy Cross recipients, Distinguished Service Cross recipients, and Medal of Honor recipients from the Navy Mobile Riverine Force and Army 9th Infantry Division. [48] By the end of the day, the airborne battalion had lost 19 soldiers killed in action and another 33 wounded. By now, fire from all sides was intense, but despite this, several men of the platoon crawled forward to aid the wounded, only to die themselves. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new However, in contrast to previous engagements, Viet Cong commander Hoang had ordered the soldiers of the 261st and 514th Battalions to throw everything they had at the South Vietnamese, as retreat through the muddy rice fields would result in certain death.[35]. Ap Bac Revisited - June 19, 2007 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 back to Vietnam and your memories of the battle on June 19, 1967. [17] Hoang knew the Civil Guard battalions were approaching, so he instructed his company commander in Ap Bac to be ready, as they would fire the first shots of the battle. From Albert's Peach Cobbler to an Irish Chicken Dinner, we have them all! Leading up to this battle, the North Vietnamese Army was reported to have moved back into the area northeast of Con Thien, so A and B Companies of the 1st Battalion 9th Marines "The WebThe Battle of July Two was a short engagement of the Vietnam War that took place along Route 561 between Gia Binh and An Kha, during Operation Buffalo. I too have a connection to that date. Command of the 7th was given to Cao's chief of staff, Colonel Bui Dinh Dam. On several occasions, Cao's forces were in excellent position to trap and wipe out whole battalions of Viet Cong, but he would fail to close the trap on one pretext or another and allow the enemy to escape. [6], However, South Vietnamese officers were often reluctant to absorb heavy casualties. Most were shot down as the troops of Company A, seizing the break they had been waiting for, quickly overran the position. At this point, the situation was confused, and the brigade commander was unhappy. Explore a glossary of terms, manuals, statistics, historical accounts and reports, maps and articles by MRFA members. 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. Here it is 40 years later, and I find others who only live 10 miles
Such is the aftermath of violent combat. Toczek, p. 72. They marched south in three separate axes towards their objective. The South Vietnamese M-113s had no problem crossing the streams and rivers typical of the Mekong Delta,[36] but the heavy 10-ton M-113s bogged down in the Cong Ba Ky Canal, forcing the crews and the infantry company on board to cut down brush and trees and fill the canal until it was shallow enough for the M-113s to cross. When Vann threatened to have Ba shot, he reluctantly continued to advance, although very slowly, toward the entrenched Viet Cong. 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. I was a squad leader with Alpha through AIT. In many other cases, operations were executed on paper only, in order to report an increasing tempo of operations that did not actually exist. On the north, the mechanized company moved forward at about ten miles an hour in a general line, while hosing down the countryside with .50 caliber-fire. They successfully stopped the well-equipped South Vietnamese army, supported by a combination of artillery and armored units as well as American airpower. Sorry for any of the incorrect pronunciations; I'm not Vietnamese. Nearly wipes out 514th Main Force Viet Cong Battalion 15 May 1967: 1st CAM SON riverine operation, using TF-117 boats. [21] In addition, with information provided by Pham Xuan An, a well-connected journalist and undercover Viet Cong agent in Saigon, Hoang's soldiers conducted last-minute anti-helicopter and anti-M-113 training by studying U.S.-made weaponry and South Vietnamese plans and manuals. Meanwhile, the battalion commander of the 3/60th was experiencing great difficulty in getting the artillery fire support needed for his assaulting companies. 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. Without further delay, the commanding officer of the 3/60th ordered the attack to go in without the artillery. 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. However, when they reached the hamlet of Ap Bac, which situation southeast of Ap Tan Thoi, they were immediately pinned down by elements of the Viet Cong 261st Battalion. WebIt is the first battle since the Vietnam War in which two living service members earned the Medal of Honor. As the second group, under the platoon sergeant, began moving down the dike, the lead man, a squad leader, was killed by fire form a foxhole along the dike. [9] Cao used the excellent military intelligence network they had developed to find areas devoid of the Viet Cong, and planned operations only in those areas. Some rice had been found, more proof that Viet Cong had been in the area. Howitzers in direct support of each assaulting company, and under the control of the commanders concerned. For the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry, it looked like another dry hole. For the artillery, it was especially difficult; the tubes were so hot from continuous use that now the rounds they fired were beginning to become erratic. ft) from the western and southern tree lines that covered Ap Bac in order to minimize the effectiveness of the Viet Cong's .30 caliber machine guns. In order to establish a blocking force that would prevent any enemy from withdrawing ahead of our advance, it was decided that Company A, 3/60th, would utilize the helicopters beginning at 0700 to make an airmobile assault and secure a blocking position astride the most likely route of enemy withdrawal. The MRFA is launching our Historical Data Project (HDP), featuring as much MRF TF-117 data as possible. Instead of following Vann's instructions, the command pilot decided to lead his helicopters over southern Ap Tan Thoi and along the creek to Ap Bac. 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. Background [ edit] Cn Giuc District in Long An Province was a VC stronghold in the Mekong Delta. [10], In 1962, Diem decided to split the command of the area in the south around Saigon into two, the former III Corps area being reduced in size to cover the area northeast of Saigon, and the newly created IV Corps taking over the west and southwest. Advancing without halting under cover of the terrific fire they were putting down, they rapidly closed up to the wooded area. [41], In a last-ditch effort to overrun the Viet Cong's stronghold, an M-113 equipped with a flamethrower was sent forward to within 100 meters (Bad rounding hereScript error: No such module "Math". Scanlon was told to get his South Vietnamese counterpart, Captain Ly Tong Bacommander of the 4th Mechanized Rifle Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regimentto rescue the trapped South Vietnamese company and the helicopters. [1], Despite the initial success of the Strategic Hamlet Program and the intensified military operations of 1962, the events at Ap Bac placed additional pressure on Diem's government because it showed it could not cope with the resurgence of the Viet Cong, particularly in the regions surrounding the Mekong River.[59]. The wounded Viet Cong soldiers were transferred onto sampans at the canal on the eastern side of Ap Tan Thoi, while the rest of the formation marched on. But the most prevalent feeling now that the major, recognizable danger had,... With most of the 3/60th had closed the final assault line and were known to be free of troops!, during the Vietnam War by a combination of artillery and armored units as well American! Not committed into battle. [ 57 ] the Wild Ones had reached and searched as north... Was decided briefly not to attack military-exploit medal for winning this battle. [ 57 ] violent.. 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