20,000 Rounds Artillery a Day
Lieutenant Colonel Doan Trong Cao
After Operation Lamson 719, the 369th Marine Brigade continued to reinforce the 1st Infantry Division, which operated west of Hue. Then it helped the 3rd Infantry Division in the west of Quang Tri Province.
In April 1st 1972, the Marine Artillery Company B Commander, Captain Nguyen Van Tam and his artillery men were captured at Camp Carroll. Only 30 Artillery men escaped.
The 369th Marine Brigade had been in R & R in Saigon when it received orders to be airlifted with the Marine Division Headquarters to Hue. The NVA had crossed the 17th Parallel and the DMZ to attack the 3rd Infantry Division and two Marine Brigades.
The 369th Marine Brigade moved to Quang Tri and defended the area west of the National Route 1 from the My Chanh River to the Truong Phuoc River in the north. It was composed of the 2nd, the 5th, the 9th, Marine Battalions and the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion. The latter was reinforced by an I Corps Artillery 155mm Company and an I Corps Artillery 175mm Company.
The 1st Marine Artillery stationed at Nancy had two 105mmm Artillery Companies and a 155mm Company. The Artillery Company C positioned west of Base Nancy was to provide firesupport to the 2nd Marine Battalion. During this period, the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion positions were continuously shelled by the NVA artillery. We had to move frequently - up to four times a day. Later , the 9th Marine Battalion caught a group of NVA forward observers, and our positions were no longer fired at.
The 369th marine Brigade fulfilled its task of protecting the left flank of the 3rd Infantry Division and its subordinate groups, enabling them to retreat south out of Quang Tri.
The battle was savage but thanks to the tallented and intelligent manoeuvres overseen by Colonel Pham Van Chung, the 369th Brigade succeeded in stopping the advance of the NVA forces. .
Then on the 30th of April 1972, the 369th Marine Brigade moved to the south bank of the My Chanh to form a new defensive line.
Later on, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen The Luong replaced Colonel Pham Van Chung who was appointed Forward Chief of Staff.
Colonel Ngo Van Dinh's 258th Marine Brigade later replaced the 369th Marine Brigade at the My Chanh defensive line. The 1st Marine Artillery Battalion reinforced the 258th Marine Brigade, The 2nd Marine Artillery gave fire support to the 147th Marine Brigade. The 3rd Marine Battalion positioned with the 369th Brigade.
The operation to recapture Quang Tri was organized by I Corps in conjunction with the AirborneDivision and the Marine Division.
The TAOR of the Airborne Division was from the left side of National Route 1 to the foot of Truong Son Range in the far west. The TAOR of the Marine Division was from the right side of the National Route 1 to the sea.
On the 28th of June 1972, the 258th Marine Brigade on the left, and the 147th Marine Brigade on the right simultaneously crossed the My Chanh to advance northwards. The 369th Marine Brigade served as a reserve. The Marine Division Headquarters positioned in Hue Citadel.
From May 1st 1972 to June 28th, I Corps applied “Operation Thunderstorm” - which applied: - All Marine Artillery Battalions - One 155mm Artillery Battalion. - Two 105mm Artillery Battalion from I Corps - One 175mm Artillery Battalion of the 1st Infantry Division. - US Naval guns - US B 52 bombers - US tactical aircrafts.
All these were used to hammer the enemy from My Chanh to the north. Everyday, we were allowed to fire 20,000 artillery rounds, and the US naval guns were permitted 7000 rounds of 5”, 6”, 8” with all kinds of fuses.
The 258th Marine Brigade attacked Quang Tri City, from National Route 1 to Vinh Dinh River in the east. It had the 3rd, the 6th, and the 8th Marine Battalion and the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion. It is worth noting that during the recapture of Quang Tri Citadel, only the Vietnamese Artillery was involved. The US aircrafts bombarded north of The Thach Han River. An American F4 did however, use a small bomb to breach the southeastern wall, allowing troops to enter. On one particular day, the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion fired up to 21,000 rounds at Quang Tri City, the Citadel, and the enemy at Thach Han River.
Both sides tried to support their ground troops with artillery.
After Quang Tri City was recaptured, not a single house was left standing. Only Lavang Cathedral, the Lavang Statue of Mary, and three buddhist pagodas on the west of National Route 1 were left standing.
In November 1973, Major Nguyen Huu Lac replaced Lieutenant Colonel Doan Trong Cao, who went away to study. Lac remained the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion Commander until 30/4/1975.
Lieutenant Colonel Doan Trong Cao
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