battle of ap bac 1967

Even so, it was of little help to the Viet Cong, most of whom had died. At the same time, he recalled the personnel carrier company (Company C, 5/60th) from its barren search farther to the west and began moving it toward the point of contact. His Company B still occupied the blocking position to the north, and was relatively fresh. WebIt is the first battle since the Vietnam War in which two living service members earned the Medal of Honor. When reporter Neil Sheehan asked Brigadier-General Robert York what had happened, the general replied, "What the hell's it look like happened, boy. For the Wild Ones of the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry, and the attached troops, the action had confirmed what they believed all along: that given the opportunity, they could whip anybody. It could prevent disaster, if necessary, but its chances of successfully attacking south along the stream were slim, since semi-darkness was already covering the area. I didn't know his name at the time but I recognized him on your web site. [46] Late in the afternoon, a flight of C-123 Providers, with about 300 South Vietnamese paratroopers aboard, closed in on their objective and quickly drew machine gun fire from the hamlet. Mobile Riverine Force in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) from 1921 June 1967 against the Viet Cong (VC). [24] Most of the women, children and old men in both hamlets fled and hid in the nearby swamps as soon as the order was issued. WebThe Battle of Ap Bac was on 2nd January, 1963. Viet Cong radio operators, using captured U.S.-made communication equipment, followed the movements of the Civil Guards by monitoring the frequencies the government troops were using. 19th Battle): Here's my ole pal, Roy and me showing our support. WebThe Battle of Ap Bac was a major battle fought on January 3, 1963, during the Vietnam War. However, overall enemy losses had been more than 200 men. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new [15], An operational plan suited for an attack on a small enemy formation was drafted by Ziegler, who was an adviser to Dam and the command staff of the 7th Infantry Division. Situated near Ap Bac Village in the Long An Province of Vietnam, the soldiers of Alpha Company, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry were slogging through a couple hundred yards of open rice paddies when they stumbled into chaos. Instead he continued to fire white phosphorus, some of which by this time, was falling dangerously close to Company A. Keeping low, the squad moved across a short space of open grassland to a small dike, where it prepared to cover the crossing of the rest of the platoon. Here's my ole pal, Roy and me showing our support Without further delay, the commanding officer of the 3/60th ordered the attack to go in without the artillery. The concern of fire falling in the fire support base was so great that it was decided briefly not to attack. Sorry for any of the incorrect pronunciations; I'm not Vietnamese. I had to get out my Fort Riley Kansas 'yearbook' that we all received after graduation after looking through your site. During the next five hours, they managed to launch three major assaults, but failed to break the Viet Cong's line of defense. away! As the shadows lengthened over the dry rice fields and dense foliage, the roar of machine-gun fire and exploding grenades slowly died away. [40] Cohesion and morale among the crews of the armored formation quickly deteriorated as South Vietnamese sergeants, who served as both commanders and machine gunners of the carriers, were killed and were replaced by less-experienced, poorly trained men. Internet research turns up these 112 lost battles of the Vietnam war: 1. Although Vann was suspicious, he decided it was a better landing zone because the area was tranquil despite the heavy fighting elsewhere. WebAs night fell, PLAF soldiers fled the battlefield to the east under the cover of darkness, securing their first pitched battle victory of the war with America and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). [22] The Viet Cong also took full advantage of the local terrain by taking up positions in Ap Tan Thoi in the north, along a tree-lined creek in the southeast, and Ap Bac in the south. But the most prevalent feeling now that the major, recognizable danger had passed, was one of elationhigh elation. Mobile Riverine Force in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) from 1921 June 1967 against the Viet Cong (VC). Explore a glossary of terms, manuals, statistics, historical accounts and reports, maps and articles by MRFA members. [28] Vann relayed a message to the command pilot of the ten CH-21 helicopters, which were being escorted by a group of five recently deployed UH-1 Huey gunships, armed with 7.62mm machine guns and 2.75 inch rockets, and instructed him to land the reserve companies about 300 meters (Bad rounding hereScript error: No such module "Math". The South Vietnamese soldiers, who were pinned down on the ground, believed their ordeal was over, so they stood up to see if the Viet Cong were retreating from their positions. In view of this, the brigade commander, Col. William B. Fulton, changed his scheme of maneuver. [17] Hoang knew the Civil Guard battalions were approaching, so he instructed his company commander in Ap Bac to be ready, as they would fire the first shots of the battle. Ap Bac Revisited - June 19, 2007 Bill Reynolds, What a pleasant surprise to sit down for breakfast on this Veterans Day, 2007, and see the front page story in The Signal about your trip back to Vietnam and your memories of the battle on June 19, 1967. Ammunition was rapidly dwindling, for the effort to maintain fire superiority caused huge expenditures. With the ground attacks in the north and south bogged down, Dam decided to stretch out the defending Viet Cong units by attacking the east and the west. Thus, the battle ended. The U.S. military had every advantage, yet mistakes were made and battles lost. [41] It was later discovered that the crew had mixed the incorrect amount of jelling agent with the gasoline. In addition, Dam would also deploy two rifle companies at Tan Hiep airfield, which could be brought onto the battlefield by helicopters from the U.S. Army 93rd Transportation Company. Companies B and C continued attacking east, while Company A moved into a blocking position to the north. [1] However, in 1963, the National Liberation Front had changed their policy, from avoiding the South Vietnamese army to standing and fighting. In short, the Viet Cong enjoyed a great advantage over any attacking force. Mobile Riverine Force in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) from 1921 June 1967 against the Viet Cong (VC). In fact, if anything, the operation got off to an inauspicious start. Politically, the Viet Cong 261st and 514th Battalions were able to exercise greater influence in their areas of operations because of the prestige of defeating the soldiers of Diem's unpopular regime.

This time, darkness would provide no convenient cover for their escape. Company A was to move by trucks furnished by the brigade besides organic vehicles form the battalion, and upon arrival would go into battalion reserve near the line of departure. Some light small arms fire had been met by the southern-most platoon advancing along the stream, but the enemy had quickly withdrawn when his fire was returned. Late in the afternoon, the ARVN 8th Airborne Battalion was dropped onto the battlefield and in a scene that characterized much of the day's fighting; the paratroopers were pinned down and could not break the FNL's line of defense.

Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". By 9:30 am, the last of Dam's reserve companies had been airlifted into Tan Hiep, about two hours late because American aircrews were prevented from landing their CH-21 helicopters, known as "Flying Bananas" for their shape, in the heavy fog that covered Tan Hiep airfield most of the morning. This behavior initially mystified Vann, who was attempting to build Cao into an aggressive commander. Finally, the battle has proven the wisdom of the axiom; once you have an enemy force in a trap, destroy it without delay. Even though all the enemy in the immediate vicinitymore than 100 of themwere dead, there was no assurance that others might not be around, and prudence demanded being prepared for any eventuality. Continuing its advance, the company began to meet more and more fire as it crossed the open rice fields opposite a built-up area of thatched huts along a deep stream that ran across their front. [34] The American advisers were quietly confident that Ba's M-113s could turn the tide of battle; on previous occasions, Viet Cong fighters often fled from the battlefield as soon as M-113 armored personnel carriers turned up. Perhaps more significantly, no mines or booby traps had been encountered, usually a good sign that you are in an area highly frequented by the Viet Cong. the front page story in The Signal about your trip back to Vietnam and your memories of the battle on June 19, 1967. [48] By the end of the day, the airborne battalion had lost 19 soldiers killed in action and another 33 wounded. Not bad for a small neighborhood. The assault by the 60th Infantrys Wild Ones on a Viet Cong stronghold in the Mekong was the kind you see in the movies or on the blackboard, but rarely in actual combat. The air was alive with bullets, making it impossible to advance across the open space. A few of the boys from our ole Reseda neighborhood had the opportunity to serve their country. Due to a misunderstanding, the artillery battalion commander refused to relinquish control of his batteries to the forward observers on the ground. Early on 2 May, elements of the Wild Ones composed of Company B and Company C, 3/60th, plus the battalion command post and combat support company (less elements), moved out and arrived at the attack position with out incident. In many other cases, operations were executed on paper only, in order to report an increasing tempo of operations that did not actually exist. [20] Most of the soldiers under Hoang's command were equipped with captured U.S.-made weaponry, such as the M1 carbine, BAR light machine guns, .30 caliber machine guns, and a single 60mm mortar. What was the outcome of the Ap Bac Battle? The 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry, would also advance to the north as soon as it arrived. There was no way to avoid some of this fire falling into positions held by elements of the 3/47th and even as far back as the fire support base. Howitzers in direct support of each assaulting company, and under the control of the commanders concerned. It Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1963, National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [38], Meanwhile, a fourth CH-21 returned to Ap Bac to attempt to rescue the downed helicopter crews, and it too was heavily damaged by ground fire and forced to land on the muddy rice field. [8] His solution was to fill the ARVN with Catholic political cronies and friends like Cao, Le Quang Tung, and Ton That Dinh, who had little military ability, but were very likely to help stop a coup attempt. Naval Forces Vietnam Monthly Historical Supplement June 1967", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Concordia_(Vietnam)&oldid=1101635797, Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1967, Battles and operations of the Vietnam War, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the United States Army Center of Military History, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 August 2022, at 01:43. I just finished looking through your web site and enjoyed it a lot. [41] At around 2:30 pm, defeated and with their morale broken, the 4th Mechanized Rifle Squadron disengaged from the fight and withdrew. 21 May 1967: 4th Bn 47th Infantry relieved RSSZ mission, proceeds to Dong Tam and OnCon 2nd Brigade. http://home.pacbell.net/jwgerb/ However, by this time all elements of the 3/60th had closed the final assault line and were beginning to meet enemy fire. [43] In his final effort to defeat the Viet Cong, Vann flew into Tan Hiep and asked Cao to deploy an airborne battalion on the eastern side of Ap Bac, the most logical retreat route for the Viet Cong. Undeterred, the ARVN 8th Airborne Battalion launched small-unit attacks, but on each occasion they were repelled, and sporadic fighting continued until sundown. WebBattle Of Ap Bac January 2, 1963 Overview Historical Debates Resources Elements of the South Vietnamese 7th Infantry Division engage a smaller Viet Cong force outside the village of Ap Bac, 40 miles southwest of Saigon, in the Mekong Delta.

Again, well-concealed Viet Cong soldiers of the 514th Battalion allowed their opponents to come within 20 meters (Bad rounding hereScript error: No such module "Math". As the men worked their way toward the enemy, they were forced to crawl over the dead of the other unit. South Vietnamese casualties included 83 killed in action and at least 100 wounded. [46], Believing it was useless to continue arguing with Cao, Vann climbed back into his L-19 reconnaissance aircraft and left Tan Hiep. Please sign the MRFA guestbook! by the way.A few years ago, I built my own web site just to try and keep in contact with others that served in Vietnam. mi). The gradual tightening of the circle around the enemy force had brought the friendly troops in close to each other; so close that the fires of one unit endangered the others. "It was a miserable damn performance, just like it always is. Web2 May 1967: Battle of Ap Bac, not riverine, but most significant battle fought to date by 2nd Brigade. He did not object to Cao's plan because it was consistent with President Diem's objective to save Vietnamese lives through the Rural Revolutionary Development and Chieu Hoi Programs, which encouraged Viet Cong fighters to join the South Vietnamese military. [58] Militarily, the morale and confidence of Viet Cong commanders and soldiers, who had experienced serious setbacks during the previous year, were significantly boosted. The paddies were mostly dry and easily supported the weight of an armored personnel carrier. Learn about the association, Board Members, Officers, and download a membership application form! When it arrived the 11 carriers quickly deployed in line to the north of Company a so that the battalion was deployed on an assault line 1,000 meters long and facing the east.

ft) of the southern end of Ap Bac, the Viet Cong opened fire from their foxholes and immediately killed the leading company's commander and wounded the task force commander. These soldiers, infantrymen of the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry (the Wild Ones), and their attached mechanized support (Company C, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry), were utterly exhausted and physically weak from their exertions. The personnel carriers of Company C, 5/60th, having a longer distance to travel, and having two fairly deep streams to cross, did not close Company As position until approximately 1530. Fields and dense foliage, the Viet Cong enjoyed a great advantage any. /Img > not bad for a small neighborhood Script error: No such module `` battle of ap bac 1967... On January 3, 1963 's my ole pal, Roy and me showing support!, not riverine, but most significant Battle fought on January battle of ap bac 1967,,! 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The two leading M-113s were able to pull up beside the downed helicopters, but one driver was killed while driving with his head outside of the hatch, and Ba was knocked unconscious inside his carrier. The American pilots landed their helicopters within 200 meters (Bad rounding hereScript error: No such module "Math". The enemy has demonstrated time and again that merely killing his troops does us little or no good, for he is able to quickly recruit more. Darkness finally came to the rice paddies of Dien Thoung Province in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, but it came slowly. WebA brief lecture on the 1963 Battle of Ap Bac. The brigade commander ordered the assault as soon as the air strike, then in progress, was finished. [37] The rescue operation was further delayed when Ba tried to obtain proper authorization to advance, because he was under orders not to take commands directly from the American advisers. [41], By that stage, Vann was frustrated by the Civil Guard soldiers of Task Force B, because they appeared to be in no hurry to reach Ap Bac, as they searched one house at a time while marching up from the south-western flank of the battlefield. After South Vietnamese soldiers had disembarked from the helicopters, one CH-21 was too severely damaged to get off the ground. - William Shakespeare, Henry V, Navy Cross recipients, Distinguished Service Cross recipients, and Medal of Honor recipients from the Navy Mobile Riverine Force and Army 9th Infantry Division. It was also planned to place a battery of 105-mm. I too have a connection to that date. At that point, South Vietnamese M-113 crews backed off while firing their .50 caliber machine guns aimlessly into the sky. 21 May 1967: 4th Bn 47th Infantry relieved RSSZ mission, proceeds to Dong Tam and OnCon 2nd Brigade. The aircraft flipped over to the right and crashed. Fear, too, played on their frayed nerves. WebThe Battle of Ap Bac was a major battle fought on January 3, 1963, during the Vietnam War. To Vann's disappointment, Cao strongly opposed the idea and decided to drop one of his airborne battalions behind the M-113 formation on the western side instead. This was the plan finally coordinated on the evening of 1 May 1967. The Viet Cong had set a new record: the battle was the first time they had either destroyed or downed five helicopters within a few hours. Instead of following Vann's instructions, the command pilot decided to lead his helicopters over southern Ap Tan Thoi and along the creek to Ap Bac. The gunship immediately attacked this group, killing an estimated 40. He also argued that sending the 13 M-113 armored personnel carriers through the Cong Ba Ky Canal would enable the Viet Cong to retreat because it might take too much time. [11] Cao was promoted to general and assumed command of the new IV Corps Tactical Zone, which included the area of operations of his 7th Infantry Division. Losses in the 3/47th were more severe. [10], In 1962, Diem decided to split the command of the area in the south around Saigon into two, the former III Corps area being reduced in size to cover the area northeast of Saigon, and the newly created IV Corps taking over the west and southwest. Fire was immediately returned and the enemy automatic rifle gunner was killed; however, he was quickly replaced by another, who continued to fire on the exposed squad and within minutes all who had crossed the stream were casualties. Later, two AD-6 Skyraiders arrived over Ap Bac and attacked the thatched houses with conventional bombs and napalm. Those on the north had been swept by Company B earlier, and were known to be free of enemy troops. There was some delay caused by problems of coordination between the two battalions, so not until after 1700 did the battalion reach and deploy on the eastern side of the final irrigation ditch.

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