The First Marine Artillery Battalion
Lieutenant Colonel Doan Trong Cao
In 1955, all French troops withdrew out of Vietnam, The ARVN increased in number to 150,000. A number of Vietnamese soldiers who had belonged to French units, stayed in Vietnam and entered the ARVN.
Several independent units of French commandos in North and South Vietnam merged to form two naval amphibious battalions and a few supporting administrative and training units. On October 1st 1955, the Marine Group was officially formed. It was composed of the heavy 106mm (4.2'') gun company (commanded successively by First Lieutenants Nguyen Hai Dang and Nguyen Thanh Yen) which had three platoons. Each platoon had three gun squads.
In 1961, the heavy gun company transformed into the 75mm Artillery Company. It was composed of two artillery platoons. Each platoon had four gun squads. The Artillery Company also had a command and services platoon.
The 1st Company Commander was:
- Captain Cao Van Thinh.
The ARVN Artillery Corps sent five officers along:
- First Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao.
- Second Lieutenant Nguyen Trong Dat.
- Second Lieutenant Nguyen Tan Loc
- Warrant Officer Luong Xuan Loc.
- Warrant Officer Tram Huu Phuoc.
(Warrant Officer Tram Huu Phuoc died in 1988 after numerous years of being tortured in a Communist concentration camps).
The 75mm artillery range was 8,500m. It could fire six rounds per minute. This kind of artillery gun was supplied by the US to the Airbornes and to units performing activities in mountainous areas. It could be transported by horses or donkeys, and it was easily unloaded and dismantled in difficult terrains such as mountains or muddy fields. It could also be delivered by parachutes. We actually transported ours in sampans and and rafts made of logs strapped together.
The make up of the Company was as follows:
* Company Commander:
Captain Cao Van Thinh.
* Executive Officer:
First Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao.
* First Platoon Leader:
Second Lieutenant Nguyen Trong Dat.
* Second Platoon Leader:
Second Lieutenant Nguyen Tan Loc.
* Forward Observers:
Warrant Officer Luong Xuan Loc
Warrant OFficer Tram Huu Phuoc.
* Company Master:
Sergeant Tran Kim Ty.
* Company Supply Master:
Sergeant Nguyen Ngoc Lit.
The Company was transported to Binh Duong to be trained at the Artillery School in firing technique, shelling technique, topography, gun squad, weaponry, tactics and communication.
In October 1961 the Artillery Company's initiation occurred at Rung Sat, where it gave fire support to the 3rd Marine Battalion. It was transported there by VNN (Vietnamese Navy) LCVP and LCM6 fighting boats.
On January 1st 1962, the Marine Group was upgraded to the Marine Brigade, with its four battalions, an artillery battalion and other supporting units.
The commanding officers were:
* Commandant:
Major Le Nguyen Khang.
* Assistant Commandant and
- Chief of Staff: Captain Nguyen Ba Lien.
- Chief G1: Captain Nguyen Van Nho
- Chief G2: Captain Do Ky
- Chief G3: Captain Le Dinh Que.
- Chief G4: Captain Thai Vinh Thu.
- Secretary: Captain Le Huu Dinh.
* Battalion Commanders:
- 1st Battalion: Captain Tran Van Nhut.
- 2nd Battalion: Captain Nguyen Thanh Yen.
- 3rd Battalion: Captain Ma Viet Bang.
- 4th Batttalion: Captain Bui The Lan
* Artillery Battalion:
Captain Nguyen Van Truoc.
The 75mm Artillery Company was also up graded to the Artillery Battalion, which was composed of:
* A 105mm Howitzer Company with eight guns.
* Two 75mm companies each with eight guns.
* The Battalion moved from Thi Nghe to Thu Duc, Gia Dinh.
This battalion's commanding officers were:
* Battalion Commander:
- Captain Nguyen Van Truoc.
* Executive Officer:
- Captain Cao Van Thinh.
* 75mm Company A Commander:
- First Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao.
* 5mm Company B Commander:
- First Lieutenant Nguyen Huu Hanh.
* 105mm Company C Commander:
- First Lieutenant Nguyen Ho Quy.
* Artillery Command and Services Com- pany:
- First Lieutenant Nguyen An Khuong.
* Chief of S3:
- First Lieutenant Nguyen Dich Hai.
* Chief of S2:
- Master Sergeant Nguyen Ngoc Lit.
* S4 and S5 :
- Warrant Officer Nguyen Vinh Duyet.
* Chief of S1:
- Warrant Officer Vuong Van Tin.
* Battalion Master
- Sergeant Tran Kim Ty.
Except for the 75mm Company A which had been trained before, the other two companies (B & C) were transported to the Artillery School which had recently been moved to Duc My, in Khanh Hoa province to train. In June 1962, the 75mm Company A reinforced the 4th Marine Battalion, commanded by Captain Bui The Lan, in an operation in Phan Thiet. The 4th Marine Battalion performed its military activities in Phan Thiet, destroyed the Communist sanctuary of Le Hong Phong, north west of Mui Ne District. Their camp was razed and the fields destroyed. All weapons and supplies from the North were confiscated. Other sancturies such as Dang Kia and Ara Salour, southwest of Phan Thiet were also eradicated.
Meanwhile, the Artillery Battalion, with the 75mm Company B and the 105mm C, were following the Marine Brigade to search and destroy the enemy at That Son.
In 1963, the 75mm Company A commanded by First Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao participated in the Do Xa Campaign.
While on R & R in Song Cau after the campaign, the Marine Brigade was transported to Saigon by C 130 aircrafts from the US base in the Philippines. The political scene in the capital was troubled.
In October 1963, the Marine Brigade was sent to III Corps to reinforce the operations in the Iron Triangle, which was situated between Binh Duong and Tay Ninh Province. Lieutenant Colonel Le Nguyen Khang commanded the first phase of the operation.
Participating units were:
* The 1st Marine Battalion, commanded by Captain Tran Van Nhut.
* The 4th Marine Battalion, commanded by Captain Le Hang Minh.
- The Artillery 75mm Company A, of First Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao.
- The Artillery 105mm Company C, of First Lieutenant Nguyen Ho Quy.
In the second phase, Lieutenant Colonel Le Nguyen Khang had to return to the Brigade Headquarters in Saigon because of the political unrest.
Major Nguyen Ba Lien, the Assistant Commandant took over the responsibility.
In that operation, Artillery Company A succeeded for the first time in destroying two enemy 81mm mortars, by countershelling during the attack on the Brigade Staff.
On November 1st 1963, the Brigade received orders to perform another operation. But when it reached Bien Hoa, it was ordered to change directions and to go straight to Saigon to participate in the Coup of November 1st, 1963.
The 1st battalion of Captain Le Hang Minh occupied Saigon radio station.
The 4th Battalion of Captain Le Hang Mimh invaded the Police General Headquarters.
The Marine Artillery Battalion stationed at Thanh Thai Street, Cho Lon.
On the night of November the 1st, the 4th Marine Battalion occupied Gia Long Palace.
After the Coup:
Lieutenant Colonel Le Nguyen Khang was promoted to Colonel to appease the Marine units. He was then appointed to the position of Military Secretary to the Vietnamese Ambassador in the Philippines.
Major Nguyen Ba Lien was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and then replaced Colonel Khang in the position of Commandant of the Marine Brigade.
Captain Tran Van Nhut was promoted to Major and became the Brigade Assistant Commandant/Chief of Staff.
Captain Nguyen Thanh Yen was promoted to Major and became Task Force Commander.
In 1964, a task force commanded by Major Tran Van Nhut, composed of two battalions and Artillery Company A, was sent as reinforcement to IV Corps. The target was the commmunist enclave of Thanh Phu situated between the two provinces of Kien Hoa and Tra Vinh (Vinh Binh). It was a dumping ground for all weapons and supplies coming from the north. In the operation, a Communist Chinese ship carrying medical equipment, medicine, dry food, weapons and ammunition was destroyed by aircraft bombardment.
In February 1964, a task force commanded by Major Tran Van Nhut performed an operation in Go Cong, south west of Saigon.
Two Marine Battalions and the Artillery Battalion - minus one company - and the Task force Staff deployed in Go Cong. Another Marine Battalion and Artillery Company B evolved in Can Giuoc District, in Long An province.
After the Coup of 1963, the new government abandonned the National Program of “Strategical Hamlets”. This resulted in:
- countless areas losing security.
- roads being destroyed
- villages and hamlets falling one by one to the enemy.
Only cities were under government control. The general population could not develop their businesses. Some cities were isolated, and the economy was depressed. Go Cong Province fell into this category. The two main routes: Saigon to Gocong and My Tho to Go Cong were blocked. Only Go Cong City and Hoa Dong District were under government control. Nearly all villages and hamlets in surrounding areas were lost to the enemy. Markets could not operate, and rice field were left uncultivated due to lack of security. Even the fishing industry was hindered. That was why the Marines were assigned the task of normalizing the area. The new provincial chief was Major Nguyen Viet Thanh.
In February 1964, at exactly 8.00am of the Lunar New Year, (Year of the Dragon), the Marine Brigade moved to My Tho City. It was then sent to reinforce the 7th Infantry Division. They were to dislodge the enemy from the segment of Route 4 from My Tho to the ferry port, My Thuan.
On the 4th day of the New Year, the whole Task Force moved to Go Cong. On the 5th day, all units entered their areas of responsibility, They extended the government control area around the city of Go Cong to about 5km. The district of Tan Nien Tay returned to its normal pattern of life. After only a month, Go Cong province was completely back to normal, and quickly developed at an even better rate than before 1963.
In April of 1964, there was another change made to the Marine Brigade due to political tension. Colonel Le Nguyen Khang returned from the Philippines to his former position as Commandant of the Marine Brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ba Lien replaced him as military secreteary to the Vietnamese Ambassader to the Philippines. Captain Bui The Lan, while studying in the USA was summoned back to become a Task Force Commander, replacing Major Tran Van Nhut. At that time, the Marine Brigade had two Task Forces - one commanded by Major Nguyen Thanh Yen, the other by Major Tran Van Nhut.
The newly promoted Major Bui The Lan replaced Major Tran Van Nhut as Chief of Staff. The Marine Artillery Battalion still had Major Nguyen Van Truoc and Captain Nguyen Ho Quy as its Commander and executive officer. Captain Doan Trong Cao commanded Artillery Company A. Captain Nguyen Huu Hanh commanded Artillery Company B. Captain Tran Thien Hieu commanded the 105mm Company C.
The second half of 1964 was a string of political events. Military activities increased in the whole of South Vietnam. The main National routes: 1, 4, 13, 19, 21, were cut here and there by the NVA. Supplies to the Central Highland Cities and to the centre of Vietnam had to sent by air or sea.
The Marine Brigade was ordered to move to Vung Tau to protect General Khanh's Vung Tau Charters.
* The 1st Marine Battalion was commanded by Major Ton That Soan.
* The 2nd Battalion was commanded by Major Hoang Tich Thong.
* The Marine Artillery Battalion commanded by Major Nguyen Van Truoc.
In December 1964, the 4th Marine Battalion and its Commander, Major Nguyen Van Nho and the executive officer Tran Van Hoan battled at Binh Gia, confronted by two enemy regiments. They encircled the 4th Battalion which suffered heavy losses. However, they still broke the enemy's attempt to invade Binh Gia. About 112 Marines were killed in action, among them the Battalion Commander, the executive officer, and the battalion surgeon. The remaining units withdew to Vung Tau wounded. Captain Nguyen Thanh Tri became the new Battalion Commander. Captain Nhon became the Executive Commander.
III Corps then organized a second operation with the Marine Corps as the main force. The Marine Brigade Headquarters stationed at Vung Tau. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Yen's Task Force was stationed at Dat Do district. The Artillery Battalion was reinforced by another 155mm Artillery Company, and two 105mm Howitzer Artillery Platoons. The operation was dubbed “Nguyen Van Nho”.
In April 1965, a Marine task Force was sent to II Corps as reinforcement. The Task Force commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Yen was composed of:
* The 2nd Marine Battalion of Major Hoang Tich Thong.
* The 1st Marine Battalion of Major Ton That Soan.
* Artillery 75mm Company A, led by Captain Doan Trong Cao.
The Task Force was to clear the National Route 1 from Qui Nhon Province northwards to the Binh De Pass at the border of Quang Ngai Province. They were to break the enemy pressure in the districts of Duong Lieu, Hoai An, Hoai Nhon, An Lao, and Tam Quan. Meanwhile, Artillery Company B commanded by Captain Nguyen Huu Hanh reinforced an Airborne Brigade ordered to clear National Route 19 and break the enemy between Qui Nhon to Pleiku.
Artillery Company C commanded by Captain Tran Thien Hieu and another Marine Battalion also reinforced II Corps.
The battle in II Corps happened at Tam Quan, north of Binh Dinh province. That was the most famous victory of the 2nd Marine Battalion, commandered by Major Hoang Tich Thong.
His Company commanders were:
- Captain Nguyen Van Hay, the Executive Officer/Company Commander.
Captain Pham Nha.
- Captian Ngo Van Dinh.
- Captain Nguyen Nang Bao.
In 1965, a very important event took place. The then Premier, was Dr Phan Huy Quat. The Chief of State was Mr Phan Khac Suu. They were not able to unite all political parties. Thus the government became weak, and the country was at stake.
Premier Phan Huy Quat transferred the power to the ARVN. On June 19th 1965, the Council of Armed Forces took over the responsibility. Lieutenant Nguyen Van Thieu became the Chairman of the Directorate of Generals and also Chief of State. Major General Nguyen Cao Ky held the position of premier and Chairman of the Executive Council.
In 1966, the Artillery B Company's 75mm guns were replaced by 105mm Howitzers. Captain Nguyen An Khuong was the Company Commander. During that year, the Marine Artillery Battalion reinforced support operations in :
a) all tactical zones - from I to IV.
b) all battlefields from the Central Highland to the seashore
c) the Mekong Delta and especially the waterway of Long Tao river from Saigon to Vung Tau
d) the Capital Military District.
There were also other changes:
- Captain Nguyen Tien Hanh replaced Captain Doan Trong Cao as Artillery A Commander.
- Captain Vo Dang Phuong replaced Captain Nguyen An Khuong as Commander of the 105mm Artillery Company B.
- Captain Nguyen Tan Loc replaced Captain Tran Thien Hieu as Commander of the 105 Artillery Company C.
- Captain Doan Trong Cao became Artillery Command and Services Company Commander.
- Captain Tran Thien Hieu had another position in Marine Brigade Headquarters.
At the end of 1966, Captain Doan Trong Cao replaced Captain Nguyen Tien Hanh who was going to attend a military course.
In 1967, the Artillery Battalion followed the Marine Task Forces to perform operations in all tactical zones, especially in the Mekong Delta and the vicinity of Saigon.
In 1968, the enemy launched a general attack all over South Vietnam.
The Vietnamese Marine Corps and the ARVN confronted the NVA, which was equipped with much more sophisticated weapons, such as AK 47 (personal automatic rifles); B40 and B41 rocket launchers, 82mm recoiless rifles from Red China. The ARVN at that time only had personal weapons such as the Garant M1 and Carbine M1, M2.
At that time, the Marine Brigade had six fighting battalions, one Artillery Battalion, and Task Forces A and B. Task Force A was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Tich Thong; Task Force B by Lieutenant Colonel Ton That Soan.
The Artillery Battalion was commanded by Major Nguyen Van Truoc.
The Marines, Airborne and Ranger units repelled the enemy from the Capital Saigon.
Task Force A, was sent to Hue to recapture the Imperial Citadel. Artillery Company B of Captain Vo Dang Phuong accompanied Task Force A.
In 1968, the Marine Brigade was upgraded to the Marine Division.
In mid 1968, Artillery Company A's 75mm guns were replaced by 105mm Howitzers. A fourth Artillery Company was formed - the 105mm Artillery Company D. So the Marine Artillery Battalion had four companies.
At the beginning of 1969, the 2nd Artillery Battalion was formed:
- Major Nguyen Ho Quy was Commander.
- Captain Tran Thieu Hieu was executive officer.
The 1st Artillery Battalion was now under the command of Major Doan Trong Cao. At that stage the battalion had no executive officer.
The First Artillery Battalion had three 105mm Companies: A, B, C.
- Captain Tram Huu Phuoc was Commander of Company A.
- Captain Phan Minh Hung was Commander of Company B.
- Captain Tran Van Nhan was Commander of Company C.
From 1969, the 1st Artillery Battalion started to go into operations as a whole. By mid 1969, Captain Nguyen Huu Lac had replaced Captain Tram Huu Phuoc, who became Artillery Command & Services Company Commander, as well as Base Camp Commander.
In September 1969, the VNN (Vietnamese Navy) organized an Amphibious Force named Amphibious 211. It was composed of three Navy Riverine groups and one Marine Brigade. It was formed to replace the American 9th Infantry Division Mobile Riverine Force, which had returned to the USA. Its TAOR was all the rivers and canals in Cuu Long Delta and U Minh. The Commander was naval Colonel Dinh Manh Hung. The executive officer was Colonel Ton That Soan. The 1st Artillery Battalion reinforced for the Amphibious 211.
That same September, the Amphibious Force performed activities in Kien Hoa, My Tho, and Chuong Thien. In October 1969 Amphibious Force 211 cleared the Rach Gia Triangle. Chung Thien and Ca Mau, including U Minh Ha. It was a complete success achieving many aims:
The waterway from Chuong Thien to Rach Gia i.e Cai Lon River was cleared.
Tan Bang Canal, the main waterway from Rach Gia to Camau was cleared.
Under our control were: Ong Doc River, Can Gao Canal, Kien Long District, Dam Doi, Bay hap River, Chac Bang and Canh Den.
Thanks to this Amphibious Force, the provinces were able to harvest rice and seafood, fish in the rivers and forage in the forests. The inhabitants cultivated rice fields right up to the seashore. Previously, they V.C had allowed Thai fishermen and farmers to exploit sea food and rice fields, as the Thais paid them taxes and permitted them to transport weapons from Cambodia and Thailand to Vietnam.
It was one of the biggest pacification campaigns organized by IV Corps - in which the 21st Infantry Division of Brigadier General Nguyen Vinh Nghi and the Amphibious Force played a major role. It was a huge success. The entire triangular area of U Minh Thuong and U Minh Ha was safe and secure. The 9th Viet Cong Corps, a.k.a the Delta Corps had to move to Cambodia as a whole.
In 1970, the 1st Artillery Battalion underwent some changes.
- Major Doan Trong Cao was Battalion Commander.- Captain Dang Ba Dat was Executive Officer.- Captain Thanh was Company A Commander.- Captain Lac had gone to the USA to study
Captain Nguyen Van Tam replaced Captain Phan Minh Hung as Company B Commander. The latter went to join the newly formed 3rd Artillery Battalion, which was led by Captain Tran Thien Hieu.
Company C commander was Captain Tran Van Nhan.
In April 1970, Major Nguyen Ho Quy died of an illness. Captain Dang Ba Dat replaced him as the 2nd Artillery Battalion Commander.
The Marine Division Artillery Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Truoc.
- 1st Artillery Battalion Commander: Major Doan Trong Cao.
- 2nd Artillery Battalion Commander: Captain Dang Ba Dat.
- 3rd Artillery Battalion Commander: Captain Tran Thien Hieu.
In April 1970, the ARVN performed an incursion into Cambodia to break the NVA supply route. The 258th Marine Brigade, led by Colonel Ton That Soan, was airlifted fron Chuong Thien to Cambodia. Only the one company led by Captain Nguyen Van Tam of the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion followed them. The rest of the 1st Artillery Battalion remained to reinforce IV Corps in Ca Mau and Chuong Thien.
In June 1970, we returned for R & R in Thu Duc.
In October of that year, the 1st Artillery Battalion replaced the 3rd Marine Artillery Battalion which had been in Cambodia with the 369th Marine Brigade.
The achievements of the Marines in this period were:
1. Repulsing the NVA out of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
2. Clearing Route 4 from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville of NVA blockades.
3. Assuring security of Picknil Pass
4. Protecting the main waterway from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh.
At the beginning of 1971, Colonel Pham Van Chung replaced Lieutenant Ngo Van Dinh as the Commander of the 369th Marine Brigade. The most notable victory was the Marines' counter-attack to the ambush organized by the NVA. They had intended to destroy the entire fleet of boats sailing between Chau Doc to Phnom Penh, at a point 10km north of Port Neak Luong. The 8th Marine Battalion commanded by Major Nguyen Van Phan received supporting firepower from the 1st Artillery Marine Battalion and one 155mm Artillery Company, which was stationed at Ba Nam. The 8th Marine Battalion landed directly at the enemy position. The Marines immediately charged and killed the whole NVA battalion which had organized this ambush. Interestingly, an NVA diary was discovered. It had belonged to the commander of the NVA battalion, and one entry read: “We attacked a Marine company north of the Saigon Bridge in 1968...” Ironically, the Marine Company Commander then, was now Major Phan, who had orchestrated their demise that very day.
Lt Colonel Doan Trong Cao
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