Battles

HEADQUARTERS 3D BRIGADE

4^TH INFANTRY DIVISION

APO SAN FRANCISCO 96268

 AVDDC-CO                                                                                                    1 April 1967

 SUBJECT:            Recommendation for the Presidential Unit Citation

 THRU:             Commanding General

                        25^th Infantry Division

                        APO SF  96225

  THRU:             Commanding General

                        II Field Force

                        APO SF  96266

 TO:                  Commanding General

                        United States Army, Viet Nam

                        APO SF  96307

             1.  The Presidential Unit Citation is recommended for the 3d Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division, and all assigned and attached units (see Enclosure 2), for their actions on 21 March 1967.

             2.  On 19 March 1967 elements of the 3d Brigade made an opposed airmobile assault into a small clearing near the abandoned village of Suoi Tre in central War Zone C, Republic of Viet Nam, at coordinates XT385708.  Their mission was to establish a Fire Support Base at the location of the air landing to support further offensive operations.  The Fire Support Base was code named “Gold” after the code name of the landing zone.  By late afternoon on 19 March the 2d Bn 77^th Artillery (105mm) had been airlifted into position.  On 20 March the 2d Bn 12^th Inf, under the command of LTC Joe F. Elliot, had moved west on a search and destroy mission against Viet Cong forces suspected to be in the area.  Less than two battalions of U. S. Troops now remained at Fire Support Base Gold, the 3d Bn 22d Inf (minus Company C), commanded by LTC John A. Bender, and the 2d Bn, 77^th Artillery, commanded by LTC Jack Vessey.  Total complement of U. S. troops at Fire Support Base Gold was less than 450.  To the south, the 2d Bn 22d Inf (M) under the command of LTC Ralph Julian, and the 2d Bn 34^th Armor (minus company B) under the command of LTC Raymond L. Stailey were attempting to cross the Suoi Samat River and join the 2d Bn 12^th Inf in an offensive sweep to the west.  During the afternoon of 20 March the Brigade Commander observed 30 – 35 Viet Cong 2,000 meters southwest at Fire Support Base Gold.  The enemy was engaged with artillery and all units were alerted to the possibility of enemy activity.

             3.  At first light on 21 March 1967, in accordance with standing operating procedures, a stand-to was conducted in FSB Gold and a security patrol from 3d Bn, 22d Inf began a sweep of the perimeter.  This action prematurely triggered an attack on FSB Gold which subsequently proved to be the largest single attack and the most catastrophic enemy defeat of the war to date.

             4.  As the security patrol moved to sweep the perimeter, the enemy force began a heavy mortar attack at 0640 hours followed minutes later by a ground assault from the north, east, and south.  This enemy force was later determined to be approximately 2,500 men strong, composed of three battalions of the 272d VC Main Force Regiment reinforced by two attritional battalions, and supported by the U-80 Artillery Regiment.  The mortar attack consisted of some 500-700 rounds of both 60mm and 82mm.  At Brigade Headquarters, thirteen thousand meters southwest, an alert that FSB Gold was under attack was relayed to all elements of the Brigade.  B Btry, 3/13 Arty (115 SP), C Btry 1/8 Arty (105mm), B Btry, 2/32 Arty (8-inch and 175mm), B Btry, 2/35 Arty (155 SP), all located within supporting distance of FSB Gold, commenced firing preplanned defensive fires into every clearing large enough for the enemy to use as a mortar position around Fire Support Base Gold.  The Brigade Commander, Colonel Marshall B. Garth, and the Brigade Sergeant Major, AMG Bill V. Woods, boarded the only available aircraft, an OH 23-G helicopter, and flew from Soui Da to the scene of the battle.  Simultaneously, the Forward Air Controller from Dau Tieng and fighter pilots from Bien Hoa Airbase scrambled their aircraft.  Less then 20 minutes from the impact of the first mortar round, the small force at FSB Gold was engaged in a bitter, hand-to-hand struggle with the enemy.

             5.  The situation inside FSB Gold had by this time become so critical that howitzers within the perimeter were lowered to fire directly into the waves of advancing enemy soldiers.  The tenaciously held perimeter of the Fire Support Base had been penetrated in the north and southeast by 0751 hours.  During this penetration the enemy succeeded in overrunning and destroying one M-55 Quad .50 caliber machine gun and actually penetrating one of the howitzer positions.  The other Quad .50 MG had been destroyed by an anti-tank round during the initial attack.  In all, two howitzers were totally destroyed by mortar and anti-tank rounds, and nine others were damaged.  In addition, many of the more than 500 RPG-II anti-tank rounds which were fired into the support base landed in the ammunition stores.  In spite of the withering small arms fire and the exploding stores of 105mm ammunition, the gun crews remained at their guns, cannibalizing the destroyed howitzers to keep the damaged ones firing.  Crew members from destroyed guns carried ammunition and steeped in to fill vacancies as casualties occurred in the operation crews.  All cooks, clerks, and other available personnel of the artillery battalion which had been formed into a preplanned reaction force, now moved to block the penetration of the infantry’s perimeter.  By this time the infantry soldiers on the perimeter of the FSB who were subjected to the brunt of the assault were fighting from isolated positions as the determined enemy force penetrated and encircled the U.S. defensive positions.  Small elements of the U. S. soldiers fighting fiercely in hand-to-hand combat continued to resist the assaulting enemy.  As the fighting intensified and ammunition stocks depleted friendly troops reacted quickly to the situation, seizing weapons and ammunition from the dead and wounded enemy.  During the course of the action, the penetrating Viet Cong threatened the Command Post of the 3d Battalion, 22d Infantry and the Fire Direction Center of the 2d Battalion, 77^th Artillery.  These positions were successfully defended, however, and the enemy assault was repulsed after suffering numerous casualties.  Twenty-six dead Viet Cong soldiers were found within 50 meters of the artillery Fire Direction Center.  By the time the relief force reached the scene of the battle it was estimated that over half of the troops on the eastern portion of the perimeter had exhausted their own ammunition and were using captured AK-47’s and Chicom carbines.

             6.  Meanwhile, two defensive ambush patrols from 3d Bn, 22d Inf, composed of 15 men from Company A, 3d Bn, 22d Infantry at XT384709 and 12 men from Company B, 3d Bn, 22d Infantry at XT388702 reported “hundreds” of Viet Cong all around their positions.  The patrols were told to remain in their ambush sites and move back to the perimeter at the first opportunity.  Prior to their withdrawal they reported enemy carrying parties pulling “hundreds” of dead and wounded VC to the rear.  Both patrols eventually made it back to the perimeter, however nearly half their original number were either dead or wounded.

             7.  Air strikes were called in on the outskirts of the perimeter and all supporting artillery units were firing final protective fires around the support base.  Nearly 4,100 rounds of varying caliber were used in the accomplishment of their mission.  When the Forward Air Controller directing U.S. fighter planes was shot down by enemy antiaircraft weapons, another plane was made available at Dau Tieng and a replacement FAC was on station within minutes.

             8.  Alerted at 0655 hours and ordered to move to the aid of the beleaguered defenders of FSB Gold, the 2/12 Inf, 2/22d Inf (M), and 2/34 Armor pressed on from positions as far away as 3,000 meters.  As they started to move, the 2d Bn 12^th Inf was subjected to heavy concentrations of enemy mortar fire in an attempt to delay their progress.  Treating their wounded on the move, the 2d Bn 12^th Inf continued to push on through 2,500 meters of heavy bamboo and underbrush toward their objective at FSB Gold.  Harassed by sniper fire and blocked by security elements of the enemy’s main attack force, the 2d Bn 12^th Inf continued to advance, moving the 2,500 meters overland through dense jungle against a determined enemy in less than two hours.  The first elements of the 2d Bn, 12^th Inf entered the southwestern part of the perimeter minutes before the mechanized elements arrived at 0900 hours.

             9.  For the 2/22d Inf (M) and the 2/34^th Armor, the order to reinforce meant crossing the Suoi Samat River which had already halted their advance for 24 hours while they searched for a suitable crossing site the previous day.  The success of the enemy effort was dependent upon this natural obstacle to prevent the reinforcement of FSB Gold.  Realizing the urgency of the situation, a personnel carrier was quickly brought forward with the idea of sinking it in the river to serve as an expedient bridge for the remaining elements.  Meanwhile, A Co, 2/22d Inf (M), attached to the 2/34^th Armor, located a possible crossing site and had pushed one APC across.  The first armored vehicle reached the far side of the river at approximately 0745 hours.  The lighter Personnel Carriers were pushed through first and the heavier tanks of the 2d Bn, 34^th Armor brought up the rear.

             10.  Having been repulsed on their first attempt to overrun the FSB, the enemy mortared the objective once again and launched a second determined ground assault.  This second assault was interrupted as mechanized columns of the 2/22d Inf (M) and foot elements of the 2/12^th Inf almost simultaneously broke into the clearing at 0900 hours, trapping the enemy in a murderous crossfire.  The 2/34^th Armor was trailing, and swept in immediately behind the mechanized battalion.  Both the mechanized and armored elements passed through the 2d Bn, 12^th Inf and swept around the southern and eastern half of the FSB while enemy troops swarmed over the APC’s.  The heavy guns of the tanks were firing direct fire at point blank range into the teeming mass of troops as the enemy panicked and attempted to flee.  After the mechanized units assisted in breaking the force of the attack in the eastern and southern flanks, the 2d Bn, 12^th Inf moved in on the west and northwest, sweeping the entire perimeter and neutralizing the small remaining pockets of resistance.  The full force of available air and artillery support was brought to bear against the Viet Cong force which was now desperately trying to break contact.

             11.  At 0931 hours, during the first lull in the fighting, with dazed VC still wandering inside the perimeter, the Brigade Commander directed his UH1-D Command ship to land in the center of the battle area.  Without hesitation, Colonel Garth directed that his helicopter be used to evacuate the wounded while he remained at FSB Gold to personally direct the conduct of the action.

             12.  Behind the scene of the fighting in Suoi Tre there was another kind of battle going on, one that drew on the resources and ingenuity of all support personnel in the Brigade.  All available ammunition stores for both howitzers and small arms were rapidly being depleted.  Thousands of meters away, at Dau Tieng Base Camp, at Suoi Da, and at Tay Ninh, the support and service elements of the Brigade were moving and loading tons of ammunition on UH1-d and CH-47 helicopters which flew, in spite of a heavy could cover, to begin the tedious and dangerous task of resupplying ammunition to the engaged units.  At FSB Bronze, the primary support base for FSB Gold, the first resupply of howitzer ammunition was airlifted in minutes before the last on-hand round was slammed into the breech of a howitzer of C Btry, 1^st Bn, 8^th Arty.

             13.  By 1145 hours the intensity of the fight had tapered off and there remained only the slow task of clearing the battlefield.  The scope of the battle was so vast that five days later security and ambush patrols from FSB Gold found weapons and bodies, and captured wounded prisoners up to 1500 meters away.

             14.  In just over five hours of intense fighting the 3d Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division used the following amounts of ordnance:

                         2/77 Arty                                          2,200 rounds of 105mm He

                                                                                40 rounds of 105mm Beehive

                         C, 1/8 Arty                                          1,008 rounds of 105mm HE

                         B, 3/13 Arty                                          357 rounds of 105mm HE

                         B, 2/35 Arty                                          357 rounds of 105mm HE

                         B, 2/32 Arty                                          22 rounds 175mm; 20 rounds 8 inch

                         7^th Air Force (14 immediate                   34 tons of ordnance, not including

                        missions consisting of 31                     20mm used in strafing runs

                        sorties along the perimeter

                        of FSB Gold; additional

                        missions were flown in        

                        pursuit of the withdrawing

                        Viet Cong)

            15.  The infantry units in contact used approximately 90% of the two basic loads, carried by all the units, of small arms ammunit8ion, grenades, claymores, 81mm and 4.2 inch mortar ammunition.

             16.  Total U. S. casualties for the battle of Suoi Tre were 31 KIA and 187 wounded in action, 92 of which were evacuated.  The remaining wounded were treated on the scene and returned to duty.  By mid-afternoon of 21 March all U. S. personnel were accounted for with none missing or captured.

             17.  Enemy killed numbered 647 by body count.  Ten prisoners, to include one wounded prisoner found two days later, were captured.  Two of the prisoners later died of wounds.  From the patrol reports of the 2d Bn 22d Infantry and interrogation of prisoners and defectors, it was conservatively estimated that at least 200 more of the enemy were killed and evacuated.

             18.  Analysis of the enemy actions of 21 March 1967 indicate an intent to conduct a ground attack against the 2d Battalion, 12^th Infantry immediately following the mortar attack on that unit.  Only the early commitment of the 2d Battalion, 12^th Infantry prevented the ground attack.  The entire movement of the battalion was subjected to continuous sniper fire from the north flank.  The presence of the great numbers of anti-tank weapons further indicated that the Viet Cong expected a quick “roll-up” of Fire Support Base Gold followed by an engagement with the mechanized forces.  In spite of a heavy preponderance of automatic and anti-tank weapons, the Viet Cong force was so thoroughly defeated that the mechanized forces suffered only two slightly wounded personnel.  Not one M-113 armored personnel carrier or M48A3 tank was struck by anti-tank fire during the course of the engagement.

                                                             MARSHALL B. GARTH

                                                            Colonel, Infantry

                                                            Commanding

 HEADQUARTERS 3D BRIGADE

4^TH INFANTRY DIVISION

APO San Francisco 96268

AVDDC-A                                                                                            29 March 1967

            1.  Significant enemy weapons and ammunition captured during the battle of Suoi Tre:

                        a. WEAPON                                                        NUMBERED CAPTURED

 

                            RPG-2                                                                         50

                            LMG                                                                             30

                            AK-47                                                                          49

                            US Browning Auto Rifle                                                         13

                            US M-14                                                                                    5

                            SKS Carbine                                                               12

                            Chicom 7.92 Rifle                                                                 13

                            US M-79 Grenade Launcher                                               2

                            US 12-guage shotgun                                                             3

                            Pistol P-38                                                                                3

                            US Rifle, M-1                                                               10

                         b. AMMUNITION

                             31,000 rounds of small arms ammunition

                              1,900 stick grenades

                                 580 rounds of RPG-2 ammunition

                                   40 rounds of 75mm Recoilless Rifle ammunition

                                   28 rounds of 57mm Recoilless Rifle ammunition

                                   21 DH-10 claymore mines

                                     8 DH-2 claymore mines

             2.  Intelligence summary of enemy situation at time of the battle:

                         a. Approximately 2,300 pounds of assorted Viet Cong equipment and web     gear were collected and destroyed during an after battle police of the battle area.

                         b. Based on information from captured documents and statements from prisoners of war, it has been determined that 3d Brigade forces were attacked by the 27d main force Viet Cong Regiment and two additional Viet Cong battalions.  This attack was supported by elements of the U-80 Artillery Regiment.  Prisoner of war interrogation reports revealed the average strength of each battalion to have been approximately 400 men.  The attacking VC force was well armed and possessed large quantities of ammunition.  Captured weapons were in excellent operation condition, and in many instances, were new.

HEADQUARTERS 3D BRIGADE

4^TH INFANTRY DIVISION

APO San Francisco 96268

 AVDDC-A                                                                                            29 March 1967

             1.  Enemy and friendly casualties sustained in the battle of Soui Tre:

                         a. FRIENDLY:

                             United States troops killed in action:             33

                            United States troops wounded in action:           187

                            United States troops missing in action:                        0

                         b. ENEMY:

                             Viet Cong killed in action (body count):             647

                            Viet Cong killed in action (possible):                 200

                            Viet Cong captured:                                             10

                            Viet Cong suspects detained:                                   0

 HEADQUARTERS, 3D BRIGADE

4^TH INFANTRY DIVISION

APO San Francisco 96268

            AVDDG-A                                                                              30 March 1967

                        Supporting Units during the battle of Soui Tre:

                                    ARTILLERY:

                                                                                    ROUNDS            COMMAND

                                    UNIT                POSITION       FIRED             RELATIONSHIP

 

                                    B Btry, 2d            XT281684      357                  General Support

                                    Bn, 35^th

                                    Arty

                                    (155mm SP)

                                    B Btry, 2d            XT344577      8” – 20

                                    Bn, 32d                              175mm – 22            General Support,

                                    Arty (8” &                                                          Reinforcing

                                    175mm)

                                    US AIR FORCE:

                                    7^TH Air Force – 14 immediate missions consisting of 31 sorties.

                                    OTHER AIRCRAFT SUPPORT:

                                    Light Fire Team – 335^th Combat Assault Helicopter Company

                                    Light Fire Team – D Trp, 3d Sq, 4^th Cav (4 AC)

                                    116^th Combat Assault Helicopter Company (9 AC plus 1 Light Fire

                                    Team)

                                    3 – CH47 – 178^th Combat Assault Support Helicopter Company

                                    1 – CH47 – 213^th Combat Assault Support Helicopter Company

                                    Co A, 25^th Avn Bn (2 Aircraft)

                                    Dustoff (Exact designation unknown)

HEADQUARTERS, 3D BRIGADE

4^TH INFANTRY DIVISION

APO San Francisco 96268

 

AVDDC-A                                                                                            30 March 1967

 

Task Organization, 3d Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division – 21 March 1967

 Bde Control

            HHC, 3d Bde

            Co C, 4^th Engr Bn (-)

            2d Plat, Trp C, 1^st Sq, 10^th Cav

            4^th Section, 1^st Platoon, Btry D, 5^th Bn, 2d Arty (Duster)

 TASK FORCE TANKER

            2d Bn, 34^th Armor (-)

                        Co C, 2d Bn, 34^th Armor

                        Co A, 2d Bn, 22d Inf (M)

 2d Bn, 77^th Artillery (Reinforced)

            Btry C, 1^st Bn, 8^th Artillery (105mm)

            Btry B, 3d Bn, 13^th Artillery (155 SP)

            1^st & 4^th Squads, 4^th Section, Btry D, 71^st Arty (Quad 50)

            3d Section, 1^st Platoon, Btry D, 5^th Bn, 2d Arty (Duster)

 Bde Rear

Troop C, 1^st Sq, 10^th Cav (-)

44^th Infantry Platoon, Scout Dog (-)

3d Platoon, 4^th MP Co                                     TASK FORCE FULLBACK

20^th Public Information Det                                          2d Bn, 22d Infantry (M)  (-)

10^th AA Plat, 24 CA Company                                Co B, 2d Bn, 22d Inf (M)

Tm, 246^th Psyops Co                                                      Co C, 2d Bn, 22d Inf (M)

3d Support Bn (Prov)                                                  Co A, 2d Bn, 22d Inf (M) 34^th Armor

            3d S&T Co (Prov)                                                Squad, 44^th IPSD

            Co B, 704^th Maint Bn                                     3 Teams, Co C, 4^th Engr Bn

            Co D, 4^th Medical Bn

                                                                                    3d Bn, 22d Infantry

                                                                                          Squad, 44^th IPSD

                                                                                     2d Bn, 12^th Infantry

                                                                                         Squad, 44^th IPSD