Battle of Xa Cam My
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Battle of Xa Cam My | |
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Part of the Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam | |
Result | Viet Cong claim victory |
Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron
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
Background
Commencing on March 29, 1966, Operation Abilene was a U.S. search and destroy mission through Phuoc Tuy Province, targeting the VC
Major General
Battle
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
- The Last Full Measure depicts the story of how A1C William H. Pitsenbarger was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and features several flashbacks depicting the battle.[6]
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- ^ ISBN 9781851099603.
- ISBN 1931641242.
- ISBN 1863732829.
- ISBN 978-1741753745.
- ^ "Battle of Courtenay Plantation 11-12 April 1966 | 16th Infantry Regiment Association".
- IMDb
External links
- The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-17A (1966) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
- Men of the 1st Division, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, Rangers, Charlie Company Vietnam
- George Wilson's book, Mud Soldiers, opens with the chapter "Legacy" which recounts this battle. Wilson used primary sources.