The Battle of Ba Gia Period 1-29th May 1965

Transcription

1 The Battle of Ba Gia Period 1-29th May 1965 Lieutenant Colonel Le Ba Binh On the US Navy Destroyer Maddox was attacked by North Vietnamese Communists whilst sailing in International waters off the coast of North Vietnam. Although there was no heavy damage, it was definitely a calculated attack and challenge from the Hanoi Communist Party. There was an immediate retaliation from the US for such an audacious and brazen attack. Two days later, US bombers from the 7th fleet struck several targets in North Vietnam. The US Senate and Congress then issued the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which gave full power to the Administration. On President Johnson approved a plan of continuous bombing on North Vietnam, named appropriately Rolling Thunder. At the same time the US government agreed to General Westmoreland's proposal to send combat units to Vietnam. On the the 9th US Marine Regiment landed on a beach in DaNang. On Airborne Brigade 173 arrived in Bien Hoa. In July Airborne Brigade 101 arrived in Cam Ranh. Two months later 1st Airborne Cavalry was positioned at An Khe. On US 1st Infantry reinforced III CORPS, followed by troops from the US 25th Infantry. By the end of 1965, US troops had numbered 184,000. In the North on , Red Chinese troops began to pour into North Vietnam at the request of Ho Chi Minh to China's Mao Tze Dong. Seven Divisions of Chinese Engineers were responsible for the repairing and rebuilding of structures damaged by US Aircraft. These Chinese engineers would also be responsible for the maintenance and protection of the logistics railroad from Kunming to Hanoi. 16 anti-aircraft divisions formed a thick net in the North. Other technical units from the USSR, Eastern Block, North Korea and Cuba helped defend the North Vietnamese, leaving their armies free to attack the south. An attack was launched by the NVA on Binh Gia. NVA 3rd Division Gold Star encountered the 2nd Marine Battalion at Phung Du. NVA Division 325 was positioned on the highground, with Division 304 infiltrating the surrounding areas. Fighting escalated at Viet An, Ba Gia, Duc Co and Plei Me in May Only in MR-IV were the North Vietnamese still using guerrilla tactics. Due to the sudden escalation in fighting intensity, the two general reserve forces, namely the Marine and Airborne, were called in to repulse the NVA attacks. During this time, the 3rd Marine Battalion was reinforcing MR1. From the quadrangle formed by Dai Loc, Ben Giang, Que Trung and Duy Xuyen, the 3rd Battalion received order to leave and have a rest at Dien Ban district. The Battalion reached Vinh Dien at 12 noon. The peaceful atmosphere of Vinh Dien helped alleviate the tension and weariness caused by the many operations. At 4.00 pm, corporal Ngu informed me that the Executive Officer of the 3rd Battalion had summoned Company Commanders for an operation briefing. I gave 2nd Lieutenant Nguyen Trong Quan, the Company Executive Officer of the Company, some instructions and left via National Route 1. The Battalion Headquarters was temporarily positioned inside a primary school of Dien Ban district.

2 From a distance I saw another Company Commander, Captain Chau, who also served as the Executive Officer of the Battalion. He was speaking to 1st Lieutenant Pham Van Sat (Company 3), Captain Nguyen Van Da (Company 4) and Captain Doan Thuc (Commanding Company). Major Nguyen The Luong Battalion Commander, S3 Chief 2nd Lieutenant Le Van Do, and S2 Chief 2nd Lieutenant Le Van Tuc had just returned from I Corps. After a few words with Sergeant Major Nguyen Van Thanh, I remember Major Luong saying: Due to a serious situation, I Corps will be quickly moving the 3rd Battalion to Quang Ngai by aircraft tonight at 11.00pm. We will be transported to Danang Airport by GMC. From there we will be airlifted by 4 C123's to Quang Ngai airfield. On arrival you will be receiving more detailed orders. Your companies have to equip with enough ammunition and dried rations. The executive officer will decide orders for the troop movements. Everybody then received operation maps from S2. Being 2nd Company Commander, I gave instructions to platoon leaders. Platoon 1 (of 2nd Lieutenant Nguyen Van Kieu), Platoon 2 (3rd Lieutenant Do Trung Giao), Company 2 Headquarters, Heavy weapons Platoon (Thuong Si Le Van Ky) and then Platoon 3 (2nd Lieutenant Hoang Don Tuan). From the aircraft, one could see that Quang Ngai was falling in a deep sleep, as the hazy lamps lit the streets apathetically. We landed at midnight. Immediately Companies were deployed along the southern end of the run-way. The Battalion Headquarters was temporarily positioned in a Primary School next to the airport. A briefing at 2.00 am was organised and all Executive Officers of Companies and even platoon leaders were permitted to attend. This time Section 2 and section 3 let us know more details. It was revealed to us that Ba Gia was a small outpost which had been kept by a regional forces' Company. The outpost was situated on a hill named Go Cao, which lay next to a town-road 5 and along the Tra Khuc river. Ba Gia belonged to Son Tinh district and about 12km west of Quang Ngai. Ba Gia, along with two other districts named Tra Bong and Ha Thanh, formed a system of defence on the west of Quang Ngai province. In 1960, Ba Gia outpost had been overrun by NVA, but ARVN had counterattacked and recovered it. Ba Gia was in the area of responsibility of Infantry Regiment 51. Battalion 1 defended Ba Gia. Battalion 2 was positioned in Quang Ngai Town and Battalion 3 stationed at Chau O, Binh Son district. NVA Military Region 5 had launched a summer campaign North of Quang Ngai, the Southern Highlands, and north of Kontum. Their fighting forces were composed of 3 Battalion 40, 60 and 90 of Regiment 1 reinforced by independent battalion 45 and local Battalion 83. On the night of , Viet Cong attacked Duyen Phuoc to bait and draw reinforcements from Ba Gia. But the Company which had been positioned in Ba Gia had withdrawn to Nui Tron and did not respond. The enemy did not have up to date information and hence misjudged the response, which they thought would have come from Ba Gia. They then changed their plan by harassing a local force's outpost at Phuoc Loc village, aiming at drawing reinforcements from Nui Tron. The 1/51 Battalion Commander, a Captain led 2 Cmpanies from Ba Gia to relieve the forces there, but on the way, his units fell into an ambush set by NVA Battalion 90 at Loc Tho. The fighting was violent and the 1/51 Battalion Commander was killed in the fighting. 65 soldiers and 3

3 US advisors managed to retreat back to Quang Ngai, while the Ba Gia outpost was occupied by the enemy. According to information sources, VC would try to occupy Quang Ngai town. Major General Nguyen Chanh Thi quickly ordered an operation to reoccupy Ba Gia and smash the enemy plans. Participating forces included the 51st Infantry Regiment, Ranger Battalion 39 and the 3rd Marine Battalion. Artillery support was composed of a 105mm Howitzer and a 155mm Howitzer Battalion. On the overlay of the map of operations, the 2 rivers, the Tra Bong and the Tra Khuc would serve as the line of advance. The 3rd Battalion was in the middle, in the south was a battalion of Regiment 51, and in the north was Ranger Battalion 39. All units would sweep west and remove enemy elements. At 5.00am on , three prongs of the counter-attacking forces swept west. The curtain of night still covered the streets, the hazy lamps glowing lazily. The troops advanced silently through the town. Company 1 of Group B Marines was on the southern flank of the Marine Centre just north of the ARVN Infantry. Company 2 was on the Northern flank of the Marine Centre. At 6.00 the sun began to rise, peeking over the horizon. The weak light barely revealed the edge of a village, approximately 4km to the West. Comparing it to map, I recognised it as Target 1, which was the hamlet of Son Chau of Duyen Phuoc village. I discussed with 2nd Lieutenant Quang about the method of advance across the barren fields towards the hamlet. The fields had been reaped before the enemy attack, leaving the field bare and exposed. It was so exposed that I could see from a distance, the 39th Ranger Battalion advancing west just North of us. They were following An Thuyet, Vinh Loc, Vinh Khanh streets to advance to a high point, Chop Non. With the rice field so bare, I ordered the Platoons to expand their formations in rows. Looking south west, I recognised the foremost unit not far away. Moments later I heard 2nd Lieutenant Quang reporting that the foremost reconnaissance group had reached the village edge. At Group B composing of Companies 1 and 2 entered the village and was moving carefully, searching all the houses in the village. Company 2 reached the centre of the village and it was revealed that all the houses were deserted, not a single soul was left in the village. I felt a strange sensation. I felt that the enemy had purposely chosen this village as an ambush site, like at Viet An hamlet (in Thang Binh village in Quang Nam province) several months before. Group A composing of Company 3 of 1st Lieutenant Pham Van Sat, Company 4 of Captain Nguyen Van Da and commanding Company of Captain Doan Thuc had already occupied Target 1. The whole Battalion expanded its safety perimeter. At 12.15, gunfire and other weaponry were heard to the North. Ranger Battalion 39 finally encountered VC forces. Fighting intensified and the fighting lasted several hours. Ranger Battalion 39 smashed VC Battalion 90, capturing more than 100 weapons of all kinds and occupying high point Chop Non. Company 1 of the 3rd Marine Battalion also seized an important document, which was an order of operations from NVA Division 3 Gold Star, during searches in Duyen Phuoc village. The orders consisted of four main objectives: 1. Attack the Ba Gia outpost. 2. Annihilate reinforcements from Regiment 51 and 2nd Infantry Division. 3. Defeat 1 Corps Reserve Force (Rangers) and National Reserve Force (Marines).

4 4. Enticing US reinforcements, which would come to the rescue and then defeating them. This document revealed the plan of the Summer Campaign of VC Region 5. It was certain that presently, the VC had gathered a great number of troops. Group B continued to advance to Target 2, Nui Tron. A number of VC telephone lines in a north- south direction were detected and destroyed. On the southern flank, Regiment 51 encountered VC Battalion 40. The enemy main attacking prong was swinging North towards Company 4. Another VC prong appeared in front of Company 1. The opposing forces moved closer and closer. VC 82mm mortars fell here and there but caused no significant damage. After a series of volleys from their artillery, they charged in the classic communist offensive tactic, consisting of human waves. Wave upon wave of communists charges, but were annihilated. Their lines were broken and VC cadavers lay scattered in front of our defensive lines. The enemy returning fire steadily grew fewer and more sporadic, until the fighting all but stopped. Companies 3 and 4 cautiously searched the area in front of them. Companies 1 and 2 stayed ready in position. Killed and wounded Marines were transferred to the Battalion's medical platoon for treatment and evacuation. Suddenly from west of Nui Tron, VC fired 57mm and 75mm Recoilless rifles continuously on Battalion positions. From the South and South East, whistles and horns were heard, together with shouts of Charge. They opened new attacks on Companies 3 and 4, the latter being attacked the heaviest. At some places, defensive lines were broken. Company 2 was then thrown into the gaps as reinforcements. Company 2 then counter attacked and pushed directly into the right flank of the enemy. The pressure was lifted from Company 4, as the enemy turned all their strength on a defence against the storming Marines of Company 2. Platoons of this company searched every house, and shot all VC who were running chaotically before the advancing troops. Our 57mm recoilless rifle rounds struck houses occupied by enemy, blowing up all inside. Corporal Tu Ba Xuan and 2 soldiers dashed forward and entered one such house destroyed in this manner, throwing grenades into the cavities. They then jumped in and searched the house. The 2 soldiers than climbed out and observed the situation outside, as Corporal Xuan rushed out with a newly captured machine gun. I then saw Corporal Xuan fall down twisting. I shouted, pointing at the house from where VC were firing out from 100m away. Corporal Sang! Load the 57mm recoilless rifle and fire at that house!' Once fired, the house fell silent, as 2nd Lieutenant Nguyen Van Kieu let his Platoon occupy the house. 3 VC were found dead, their bodies torn apart by the full blast of the recoilless rifle. My Company moved forward. I knelt next to Corporal Xuan to hold the hand of such a great fighter. He was hit by 2 bullets, one in the chest, the other in the abdomen. I prayed for him to evade death. I then ordered Sergeant Nhan and other Marines to transfer the dead and wounded Marines and captured weapons to Battalion Headquarters located in an old strategic hamlet further east. Due to the lightning quick attack on the flank by Company 2, the enemy was forced to defend and release pressure on Company 4. When Company 2 made contact with Company 4, the latter was retired to the rear position. The 3rd Marine Battalion now contacted via radio with the 39th Ranger Battalion and Regiment 51. The Rangers had occupied high point Son Trung, seized a number of weapons and reported that VC

5 cadavers were strewn across the whole area. The last afternoon rays of light melted into the dusk. In the darkness, the enemy did not loose their blood thirsty behaviour. Gunfire was heard near the forefront outposts. Some Marines came running back to report that VC were deployed several rows deep and advancing on my Company. We set claymore mines and grenades in the front as a response to the attack. All weapons were unlocked. Our weapons, consisting of Garant M1, carbine, middle machine gun BAR and 30mm machine guns were ready to oppose enemy AK47 assault rifles, K60, B40 and B41 rockets and 75mm recoilless rifles. Suddenly shouts of Charge! were heard from all four directions around our Battalion. They were again using the human wave attacks in an attempt to overrun us, but it wasn't going to be that easy. Illuminating wires suddenly burned in rows, as waves of VC dashed forward and triggering the mines. In seconds explosions were heard, reducing the charging VC into blasted corpses. Their first charging wave was cut down. Groans and whimpers were heard, as wounded VC attempted to flee. ARVN artillery was then called in to cause maximal damage to the VC on their withdrawal route. At 2.00 am they returned with Artillery preparation, then human wave charges. This time the fighting was more violent. Suddenly ARVN Artillery stopped for reasons I did not know. I had to rely on our own 82mm and 60mm mortars and 57mm recoilless rifles. This time it was hard to repulse them. Their last wave of attack occurred at 3.00am. Our ammunition was being slowly depleted. VC succeeded in piercing a breach through 2nd Lieutenant Thai Bong's platoon of Company 3. This Platoon was positioned next to 2nd Lieutenant Nguyen Van Kieu's Platoon of Company 2. I heard Kieu's voice in the radio. Bac Giang! This is Kata! The defensive line of Company 3 is broken. VC are poking in my flank. I have ordered my boys to form a circle of combat. I had no time to answer Kieu. I saw VC running in front of me. They were immediately killed by my heavy weapon platoon. 2nd Lieutenant Quan also informed me that two Platoons 1 and 2 of 3rd Lieutenants Do Trung Giao and Hoang Don Tuan had also been overrun by VC. I heard Captain Nguyen Minh Chau ordering all units to retreat to a predetermined last line of defence. Now the whole 3rd Marine Battalion had to defend along a trench of an old strategic hamlet. Illuminating flares were everywhere. The 2 sides were about 100m of each other. In the retreat Commanding Company had left behind a sheet of coloured cloth used to mark positions so that reconnaissance air planes could recognise our position. If this fell into VC hands, there would be a disaster, as they would use it as a landmark to adjust artillery shelling or for attacks. A soldier of Commanding Company jumped out of the trench and ran towards the panel, but was shot down in its proximity. Sergeant Major Hao, the Company on-duty under officer said: Let me do it And with all his experience behind him, his wit and swiftness, he succeeded in grabbing the panel and at the same time dragging the wounded soldier, Manh, back inside the defensive line. Everyone was astounded by his act of bravery. Every body was further pleased, when Battalion Headquarters informed that the 1st Marine Battalion would come to reinforce the next morning. Now the 3rd Marine Battalion was to hold this position, until the reinforcements could come and help relieve the situation.

6 At 3:45 am, the enemy gave the last thrust. They were hoping that the continuous fighting had depleted the Marine ammunition to such a point that this final charge would put the Marines to route. However the final push was halted easily. As casualties mounted, the enemy line finally broke and ran chaotically. Suffering heavy losses, they withdrew without being able to pull back with them their dead and wounded. For the Marines the night would remain quiet, but to the north of us, the guns of the 39th Ranger Battalion continued to fire upon a relentless enemy. At 6.00 am the sun was already high. It was clear, without a single cloud to mar the azure sky. Helicopters flew over the area of Company 3, and finally dropped the 1st Battalion in the landing zone north of the Ba Gia outpost. The 3rd Battalion seemed to breath again, but it was hard not to notice this battle field which was rank with the odour of death. The 3rd expanded and searched the area. Through the radio we heard the deep warm voice of Major Ton That Soan, the Task Force B Commander and also 1st Battalion Commander, speaking to Major Nguyen The Luong, the 3rd Battalion Commander. Long My! This is Saigon! Answer! Saigon. This is Long My Commander. Listening I'm flying above the area of responsibility under the Marines. The 1st Battalion is now landing to your north and north-west. Radio when you need us. I will come to you immediately. Hear you loud and clear! The sun shone behind the two US helicopters, as they began to land to evacuate the killed and wounded Marines. As Marines were being put on the choppers, supplies of ammunition and food were also passed onto the 3rd Battalion. Captured enemy weapons and prisoners were also taken away. That day, the 3rd Battalion continued to advance west to occupy Targets 2 and 4, with the 1st Battalion forming a sweeping movement with us to the north. The 1st would advance towards Targets 1, 3 and 5 on that same day. After accomplishing and capturing its Targets, the 3rd Battalion was temporarily retired on from Quang Ngai Province for a well earned rest at the base in Thu Duc. Lieutenant Colonel Le Ba Binh