The Battle of Viet An 1966
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Minh Chau
The 3rd Marine Battalion was stopping for a rest just south of the Tam Ky district, Quang Tin province, after having performed military activities in the area. It received orders to move to Quang Tin town to participate in an operation of a larger scale with Battalions 1, 3 and 4.
The other Battalions would be helilifted to Cham Mountain, a secret VC sanctuary where a Regiment of Division Gold Star had been.
Lieutenant Colonel Ton that Soan commanded this fierce battle. He asked I Corps to helilift a Marine Battalion at a time in the following order: Battalion 1, Battalion 3, Task Force B headquarters and then Battalion 4. Unexpectedly, Battalion 1 jumped right on the enemy heads. Violence commenced. A number of the NVA were killed. Others were captured. Task Force B continued to carefully move into formation, to "search and destroy" the enemy in the thick and dangerous forests and mountainous areas. After three hard days of operation in the difficult terrain, there were no big encounters.
On day N+3, Task Force B received orders to move to Quang Tin. Battalion 4 spearheaded the movement in wide row formations. Battalion 3 was on the right flank. Then Task Force B headquarters followed with Battalion 1 on its left flank and the rear. The area in front of us was flat with villages. There were no hills or mountains. In the far left was Thu Bon River. M113 APC's were in this far left area.
On the right was a long hill with slanting slopes with many rocks. The hill was close to a big range of mountains.
(Here, in 1965, the 3rd Marine Battalion had been a reinforcement of Infantry Division 2. It spearheaded alone and was ambushed in a village at the mountain foot. Although being ambushed, half of the Battalion was outside the ambush area. The Battalion 3 human and weapon losses were not very high. However, my RTO, 1st Corporal Ho who had always been beside me, was killed by a clip of NVA AK47.
On his shoulders, there was a completely broken radio. He was covered with blood and died instantly. He was very brave and calm in all situations. He was always able to contact all levels with his radio. He sacrificed, leaving behind an elderly mother, a wife and very young child).
With experience gained in previous battles in Viet An, I asked Major Nguyen The Luong, the commander of the Battalion, to let me command Companies 1 and 2 to occupy a hill on the right side and in turn possessing an advantageous position. I urged Group B to occupy it quickly. However, halfway through, there were encounters. It was so unexpected, but we reacted rapidly, using all weapons to simultaneously fire at the NVA. At the same time, I informed Group A and urged it to come urgently. With its help, the whole Battalion 3 succeeded in pushing the NVA to flee in escape. Major Luong called in Artillery to pursue them.
In front of the Battalion, the NVA already hiding in very solid bunkers and trenches along bamboo hedgers, fired 82mm mortars and 57mm Recoilless rifles to a maximum quantity. The Tank Force commander requested USAF for air strikes and called in Marine Artillery to pound their positions.
He then directed M113 APC's to continue with the Battalion in a charge to occupy that village. These units occupied the village edge and then were repulsed. They re-stormed it again and again many times into the evening. Finally they succeeded in occupying the target. A NVA Major surrendered. A number of the NVA were captured. Many weapons and NVA bodies were on the battlefield. Our victory was the defeat of a regiment of the NVA Division "Gold Star"
Lt . Colonel Nguyen Minh Chau
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