Operation Union
Que Son Valley, South Vietnam | |
| Result | US victory |
|---|
United States
North VietnamLt. Col. Peter Hilgartner
2nd Battalion, 1st Marines
3rd Battalion, 1st Marines
1st Battalion, 5th Marines
2 missing
Operation Union was a
Background
The Quế Sơn Valley is located along the border of
The
Since mid-January 1967 Company F, a reinforced company of the
Radics developed a plan for a multi-battalion assault and sweep aimed at clearing PAVN units from the vicinity of the mountain. The plan was approved as Operation Union by Major General
Battle
Acting as bait, Company F was ordered to leave its outpost to sweep toward Binh Son, the nearest enemy-held village complex. Contact with PAVN elements began around 07:00, shortly developing into a full battle. PFC Gary W. Martini would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle. The Marine company was soon pinned down in a tree line near Binh Son, thereby fixing the PAVN forces who were soon subjected to a withering air and artillery bombardment. This allowed Company F to attack into Binh Son as the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, arrived to support them via a helicopter assault.[1]: 65
The main body of the 3/1 Marines fought into the village to join Company F in engaging the enemy while other elements of the battalion landed from helicopters east of the battlefield to block the PAVN’s most likely escape route. During the afternoon,
On the morning of 22 April the PAVN had been driven out of Binh Son and withdrew to the north. On 25 April the 5th Marine Regiment relieved the 1st Marine Regiment in the valley.[1]: 65–6
On 27 April a Marine triggered a land mine in a landing zone which set off a series of secondary explosions resulting in 1 Marine killed and 43 wounded.[1]: 66
On 10 May, Company C 1/5 Marines became pinned down by PAVN fire on Hill 110, two more Companies from 1/3 Marines were sent to support them which also came under fire and were unable to advance. Company A 1/5 Marines was sent in support, but as it began its assault a forward air controller misplaced an airstrike on their position resulting in 5 Marines killed and 24 wounded stopping their assault. Company D 1/5 Marines then moved to outflank the PAVN position while Company M 3/5 Marines also joined the battle. By evening the Marines had overrun the PAVN positions killing 116 PAVN for the loss of 33 Marines killed and 135 wounded.[1]: 67
On 13 May the 1/5 Marines engaged a PAVN Battalion killing 122 PAVN. On 15 May Companies A and M found a PAVN bunker complex and called in air and artillery struck, 22 PAVN bodies were found in the wreckage.[1]: 67
Aftermath
Operation Union concluded with US forces claiming that the PAVN suffered 865 casualties for the loss of 110 Marine dead, 2 missing and 473 wounded.[1]: 68
The 5th Marine Regiment was awarded the
On 26 May, 5th Marines, which had assumed control of the latter stages of Operation Union, kicked off Operation Union II.[1]: 68
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- ^ .
External links
- Debbe Reynolds' Memorial Page - Many contemporary photos and military documents