Battle of Xa Cam My

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Battle of Xa Cam My
Part of the
Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam
Result Viet Cong claim victory
Belligerents  United States Viet CongUnits involved Company C, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment
Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron D800 BattalionCasualties and losses 36 killed US body count: 41 killed
80 estimated killed

The Battle of Xa Cam My was fought over two days from April 11–12, 1966, 10 miles (16 km) south of the village of Cam My in

Saigon
. During this battle 134 men of Charlie Company, 2/16th Infantry were ambushed by the VC and 80 percent became casualties.

Background

Commencing on March 29, 1966, Operation Abilene was a U.S. search and destroy mission through Phuoc Tuy Province, targeting the VC

161st Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery were also attached.[3] However, the VC largely avoided battle and contact with the sweeping US brigades was light.[4]

Major General

Vung Tau
in search of the elusive VC D800 Battalion. Unlike previous operations, Charlie Company numbered only 134 men because of casualties, leave and other reasons. In addition to the lack of numbers, the company was also cut off from Alpha and Bravo Companies.

Battle

ARVN with a captured VC, 10 April 1966

On the following day as Charlie Company moved through the Courtenay Rubber Plantation, they encountered sporadic fire with VC snipers attempting to knock the Americans off one by one. The sporadic fire allowed the VC to maneuver around the outnumbered Americans. By 14:00, VC officers were spotted around the positions of Charlie Company, directing the encirclement of U.S. positions.

By that time it had become clear that the VC had taken the bait. However DePuy's gamble on other rifle companies arriving in time was thwarted by the thick jungle.

To minimize casualties and break the ambush, Charlie Company formed a circular perimeter with interlocking fire. The situation deteriorated as Charlie Company found itself increasingly isolated with only a distant hope of reinforcement. This was made worse when misdirected artillery fired upon Charlie Company instead of the aggressive VC forces.

The fighting continued well into the night with the desperate Charlie Company throwing all it had at the aggressive VC using tear gas grenades. However, their efforts were not enough to stop the VC from breaking through their lines. Through the night, small units from the VC D800 Battalion breached the American perimeter, retrieving their own casualties and slitting the throats of wounded U.S. soldiers along the way.[citation needed]

After five hours of brutal fighting, what was left of Charlie Company formed a tight perimeter, protected by a barrage of artillery fire which came down at a rate of five or six rounds per minute. By 07:00 on April 12, the VC, having failed to overrun and destroy company C,[5] disengaged from the battle before other U.S. units could arrive.

Aftermath

American losses numbered 36 killed and 71 wounded, while claiming the VC left 41 dead left on field, more than 80 dead and wounded removed.[1]: 11  Two posthumous Medals of Honor were awarded in connection with this action. Sgt James W. Robinson Jr. and A1C William H. Pitsenbarger. The latter was awarded in December 2000.

In media

Film

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

External links