Operation Georgia

Operation Georgia
Part of Vietnam War
3/9 Marines destroy Viet Cong positions
Date 21 April - 10 May 1966 Location Quảng Nam province, South Vietnam 15°47′06″N 108°04′23″E / 15.785°N 108.073°E / 15.785; 108.073 Result U.S. claims operational success
Belligerents
United States	Viet Cong
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. William W. Taylor Lt. Col. Paul C. Trammell
Units involved
3rd Battalion, 9th Marines	R-20 Battalion V-25 Battalion
Casualties and losses
9 killed	U.S. body count: 103 killed

Operation Georgia was a U.S. Marine Corps security operation around the An Hoa Industrial Complex in western Quảng Nam province, lasting from 21 April to 10 May 1966.

Prelude

In mid-April, the

The operation commenced on 21 April with the continued build up for forces at An Hoa airstrip with 2 companies arriving on LVTHs of Company B, 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion and Company I, 3/9 Marines and Battery B, 12th Marines arriving by air.^[1]: 93

The Marines divided up the area of operations into 20 company-sized areas and began systematic sweeps with the local South Vietnamese Popular Force, meeting minimal opposition apart from occasional mines and mortar fire. A platoon from the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion operating in the southwestern part of the operational area called in air and artillery strikes on Viet Cong (VC) forces killing at least 30.^{[1]: 93–5}

On 3 May as Company M was crossing the Thu Bồn River on LVTHs to search the hamlet of Phu Long (1) they were fired on by VC, later identified as coming from the R-20 Battalion. A 4-hour firefight followed before Company M, reinforced by 2 other companies and with air and artillery support secured the hamlet, finding 15 VC dead for the loss of 5 Marines.^{[1]: 95–6}

Aftermath

Operation Georgia concluded on 10 May, the Marines had lost 9 killed and the U.S. claimed the Vietcong were alleged to have had 103 killed. While the operation officially concluded, the Marines established a permanent presence in the area, developing the airstrip into An Hoa Combat Base.^[1]: 96

Notes

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

References