Operation Cocoa Beach
Operation Cocoa Beach | |
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Part of Bình Dương Province, South Vietnam 11°11′42″N 106°37′01″E / 11.195°N 106.617°E | |
Result | US claims victory |
Operation Cocoa Beach was a US Army operation that took place along Highway 13 near Lai Khê, lasting from 3 to 8 March 1966.
Prelude
After unsuccessful attempts to lure large enemy units into combat in Operation Crimp (8–14 January 1966) and Operation Mastiff (21–27 February 1966), Colonel William Brodbeck, commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division decided to reduce the size of units sent into the field in order to invite enemy attack. The plan called for a series of battalion sized operations around Bau Bang west of Highway 13, north of Lai Khê, where the Viet Cong 272nd Regiment of the 9th Division was believed to be operating.[1][2]
Operation
On 3 March the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment marched into the Lo Ke Rubber Plantation west of Bau Bang and established a patrol base.[1]: 175–6
On 4 March patrols discovered trenches that could be used as jumping off positions for an attack on the patrol base.[1]: 176
In the early morning of 5 March a patrol led by
At 10:50 the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment was deployed by helicopter to a landing zone 2 kilometres northeast of the patrol base in an attempt to block the retreating attackers. The Battalion moved southwest towards the patrol base engaging a small Viet Cong unit and reached the patrol base at 14:30.[1]: 177
On 6 March the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment was also deployed into the area and the 3 Battalions swept the area finding only Viet Cong dead and equipment. The operation concluded on 8 March 1966.[1]: 178
Aftermath
Operation Cocoa Beach was a US tactical success. Total US casualties were 15 killed, while US claimed the Viet Cong losses were 199 killed (body count).[1]: 178
2Lt Hibbs was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on 24 February 1967.[1]: 177
References
- ^ ISBN 9781782663430.
- ^ "Combat after action report – Operation Cocoa Beach". Defense Technical Information Center. 3 April 1966. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.