1967
The Battle of Suoi Tre (FSB Gold)
18th MAR 67
The initial operation plans were for the assault to take place on 18 Mar 1967, several miles further north of the actual landing zone
at LZ Silver. However, obstacles prevented the 2nd Bn, 22 Inf.(Mech) and the 2nd Bn, 34th Armor from securing the landing zone as
planned. On the evening of March 18th, the assault was rescheduled for the next day, with LZ Gold as a new location. The armored
and mechanized elements were still unable to meet this new schedule but, it was decided by the overall mission commander that
the assault would be conducted into an unsecured LZ with the armored and mechanized elements to reinforce the inserted infantry
at a later time.
19 MAR 67
As a part of the movement of TASK FORCE FULLBACK, the 2/12th Infantry is airlifted into Landing Zone (LZ)
Gold - latter Fire Support Base (FSB) Gold - along with the 3rd BN, 22nd Inf (minus Co. C), and the 2nd
BN, 77th Arty (105mm). The 68th and 118th AHC supply the lifts from PZ Trai Den, just east of Nui Ba Den. The "airstrip" is a section
of LTL 13 road that has been widened and painted with a center strip. The F
TASK FORCE FULLBACK:
2/22nd INF (Mech) (minus Co. A)
3/22nd INF [at FSB Gold]
2/12th INF
2/77th Artillery
Co. A, 2/34th Armor
44th Independant Scout Dog
Co. C, 4th Engineer Battalion
25th Division, Major General C. F. Tillison III commanding
3rd Brigade, 4th Div. (Opcon to 25th Div.) Colonel Marshal B. Garth, Commanding.
2nd Bn, 12th Inf, Lt. Col. Joe F. Elliott, Commanding.
19 Mar (Sunday)
"JUNCTION CITY. ..... In other action, Tay Ninh Prov 30 km NE Tay Ninh City at 1038H, 3d Bde 4th Inf Div unit conducting air aslt into
LZ recd SA AW fire. Also, en cmd det 5 arty rds in LZ. 3 UH-1s dest 13 UH-1s hit by arty frags or ground fire. Frd cas: 14 KIA 24 WIA.
Day's results: 61 EK."
20 MAR 67
The 2nd of the 12th moved west of FSB Gold on a
'Seach & Destroy' operation.
Co. C veteran (Sgt.) Les Cooper recalls, "Prior to us going in to the LZ [on the 19th] we had lost a couple of choppers. There were
command detonated mines (or least that was what we were told). We finally arrived at the LZ; dug in; spent the night and then
moved out. On our way out we found a base camp that looked like it was being set up as a hospital. Drying fish and a cow were
found. The cow went with us and was destroyed the next morning prior to our rush to the rescue."
21 MAR 67
A Co KIA:
SP4 Larry D. Barton (21) of Millersburg, OH
perished in Tay Ninh Province.
[NOTE: Some casualty reports state Larry was "(A3) Hostile [action], died while missing. Reason:
Gun, small arms fire (ground casualty)." Larry was killed during the initial contact at Firebase Gold
(Soui Tre) when pre-plotted 'counter mortar fire' was shot by the artillery at Gold - who were under attack
and landed amongst the soldiers of Alpha.]
"On 21 March, 34 km northeast of Tay Ninh City at LZ "Gold", a battalion of the 3d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division engaged an
estimated five enemy battalions. Two U.S. infantry battalions and an armored cavalry squadron reinforced. The enemy attempted to
withdraw. The battle resulted in 631 enemy killed. U.S. casualties were 31 killed, 109 wounded."
21 Mar (Tuesday)
"JUNCTION CITY. 27 km NE Tay Ninh City, 0640H-1200H, enemy attacked 3d Bde 4th Inf Div arty element w/82mm mort fire. At
same time, a 3d Bde bn engaged 5 en bns (3,000 men). US reinf the 3d Bde bn. Mid-morning and began withdrawl to NE and SE.
Arty and air attacked retreating enemy. From 1015H-1200H contact sporadic. 631 EK 196 wpns. Frd cas: 31 KIA 109 WIA. USAF 0-1
directing air strikes was downed by en ground fire and exploded on impact. Two crew KIA. USAF sptd opn w/117 direct spt sorties.
Late afternoon in another area, a direct spt air strike by 2 USSAF F-100s w/FAC control resulted in 2 US KIA 10 US WIA."
BATTLE OF SUOI TRE
When a massive NVA / VC attack was launched against FSB Gold (XT385708) the 2/12th fought
their way into the partially over-run firebase and counter attacked to restore its perimeter. For its
actions, the 2/12th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
Lawrence Greenberg wrote this about the battle in the, June 1991, Vietnam magazine; ".... the 272nd
Regiment and U-80 Artillery attacked the base from all sides following a 650 round mortar attack. Waves
of attackers advanced under recoilless rifle and rocket fire and penetrated the southeast perimeter."
0640 hours FSB Gold attacked.
0655 hours 2/12th ordered to move to the relief of Gold.
"From the northwest, a company of the 2d Battalion, 12th Infantry braved enemy mortar fire and the risk of ambushes and hacked
its way through 1,500 meters of thick bamboo to reach the beleaguered camp at 0845. It charged into the base under covering fire
from Gold's defenders and assumed responsibility for the southwestern perimeter."
Extracts of the Recommendation and Award for the Presidential Unit Citation provided by Howard
S. Paris (Flame 3), 2/12th's S-3 at the time of the Battle of Suoi Tre. Howard said that Capt. Chris Stone,
Charlie company's C.O., did most of the preparation for the Recommendation:
HEADQUARTERS 3D BRIGADE
4TH INFANTRY DIVISION
APO San Francisco 96268
AVDDC-CO 1 April 1967
SUBJECT: Recommendation for the Presidential Unit Citation
THRU: Commanding General
25th 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 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and all assigned and attached units (see
enclosure 2), for their actions on 21 March 1967.
Parts 2 through 7 deal with the early morning attack of 2,500 NVA / VC upon FB Gold - defended by a compliment of 450 U.S.
Soldiers - well documented elsewhere in history about Operation Junction City.]
8. Alerted at 0655 hours and ordered to move to the aid of the beleaguered defenders of FSB Gold, the 2/12th Inf, 2/22d Inf
(Mechanized), and the 2/34th Armor pressed on from positions as far away as 3,000 meters.
The Mech and Armor were working together some distance south of the 2/12th - who were working alone - some 1,500 meters
due west of FSB Gold.
As they started to move, the 2d Bn 12th 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 12th 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 12th 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, 12th Inf entered the south-western part of the
perimeter minutes before the mechanized elements arrived at 0900 hours.
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 2/12th Inf almost simultaneously broke into the clearing at 0900 hours, trapping the enemy in a murderous cross
fire. The 2/34th Armor was trailing, and swept immediately behind the mechanized battalion. Both the mechanized and armored
elements passed through the 2d Bn, 12th Inf and swept around the southern and eastern half of the FSB while the enemy troops
swarmed over the lead 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, 12th 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.
18. Analysis of the enemy actions of 21 March 1967 indicate an intent to conduct a ground attack against the 2d Battalion, 12th
Infantry immediately following the mortar attack on that unit. Only early commitment of the 2d Battalion, 12th 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 indicate 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.
May 1967
1 MAY 67
Colonel Kenneth E. Buell assumed command of 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Col. Marshall B. Garth departed.
4 MAY 67
B Co KIA:
Clarence Blanks (25) of Tupelo, MS died of wounds (DOW) received in Binh Duong Province.
13 MAY 67
A Co KIA:
PFC Dennis L. Hubbard (20) of Gary, IN perished in Tay Ninh Province.
19 MAY 67
HHC KIA's:
SSG James M. Mosgrove of Baltimore, MD
PFC Ronald T. Waldrop of Santee, CA perished in Binh Duong Province.
October 1967
13 OCT 67
C Battery, 2/32 Arty sets up at Dau Tieng with 8 inch and 175mm cannons.
17 OCT 67
B Co KIA's:
SP4 Christopher E. Herderick (20) of Buena Park, CA;
SP4 Willie Vann Goree (20), 2nd platoon, of Crossett, AR;
SP4 Anthony J. Vaickus (20) of Chicago, IL both perished in Binh Long Province.
HHC KIA:
Medic PFC Raymond B. Minus (23) of Detroit, MI perished in Binh Long Province.
23 OCT 67
B Co KIA:
PFC Charles A. Rieger (18) of Philadelphia, PA perished in Binh Duong Province.
HORSESHOE AMBUSH: Alpha Battle
25 OCT 67
A Co KIA's:
SP4 Bobby J. Bonin (20) of Pasadena, TX;
PFC Gordon J. Graham (24) of Yale, MI;
PFC Alex R. Houston (21) of Pink Hill, NC;
SP4 Arthur C. Roesler (20) of Robinson, IL and
PFC Carl S. Thorne-Thomsen (20) of Lake Forest, Ill perished in Binh Duong Province.
"The 25th of October was a bad day for A/2/12," wrote Bill Comeau ".... the company walked into a horseshoe
shaped ambush."
31 OCT 67
C Co KIA:
Curtis F. Williams, Jr. (20) of Stuart, FL perished in Tay Ninh Province.
15 NOV 67
A Co KIAs:
SP4 Jimmy E. Flynn (24) of Somerset, KY and
SP4 Donald E. Kreuscher (21) of Merrick, NY
perished in Phuoc Long Province.
16 NOV 67
HHC KIA:
Medic SP4 John Steven "Steve" "Doc" McConnell (20), Alpha Co, of Orrville, Ohio.
20 NOV 67
C Co KIA:
PFC Gregory S. Fennimore (19) of Elwood, IN perished in Tay Ninh Province.
D Co KIA:
PFC Kenneth A. Peterson (20) of Roanoke, TX
perished in Tay Ninh Province.
28 NOV 67
B Co KIA:
SSG William T. Poston (23) of Dallas, TX perished
in Binh Duong Province.
Operation Units with Brigade
Operation Ahina May 13-18, 1967
3rd Bde, 4th Inf Div
2-22 Mech
3-22
2-77 Arty
Btry B 1-11th Arty
2-12th Detached to 1st Bde 9th Div
3rd Bde: 2-12th, 2-22 (M), 3-22 - 4th Div OPCON'd to the 25th Division until August 1st, then reflagged to the 25th Div. Delta Co is formed by taking one platoon from each company and filling in with volunteers from other units.
JULY 67
COMMANDERS:
COL Marvin D. "Red" departs 25th Division HQ
Sometime in July C Co changes C.O.'s, and CPT John Napper leaves to become S-1 and CPT Donald Oura arrives.
14 JUL 67
LTC Raphael D. Tice assigned as Deputy Brigade Commander 3rd Bde, 4th Div
20 JUL 67
C Co KIA's:
PFC Johnny T. Branham (18) of Winnsboro, SC
PFC Thomas Gurley (23) of Somerville, AL, perished
From Jack Mitchell, who served with Tom:
I met Tom Gurley the day he died. I was a replacement new in country and just assigned to Charlie Company. The mission
was supposed to be a snap. Just a one day sweep outside our base camp located on the Michelin Rubber Plantation.
It was getting late in the afternoon and we were almost back to camp. The word came back to take a five-minute break. I sat
down and leaned against a rubber tree completely worn out. As I lit a cigarette Tom and a kid named Branhan, from Chicago I
believe walked up and asked if they could borrow a smoke. As I handed them my pack Tom asked me how "short" I was. I
mumbled something about having more than 300 days left. Both of them were "short-timers" and tried to cheer me up with
some encouraging words. We got the word to get up and head out for base camp. Within seconds a huge directional mine
went off. I was blown up and back into the branches of a rubber tree. The blast had killed two, Tom and Brannon and
severely wounded six others. Other than a mild headache I didn't have a scratch. A sergeant did all he could to keep Tom
alive, but he just couldn't make it. I helped carry his body to a cleared area and a dust-off Huey took the wounded and dead
out of the area.
Although I've felt guilty for 30 years I came out of that moment unharmed it also made me realize when it's your time that's
just the way the cards are dealt. It gave me a great inner strength and I know helped me to survive the next twelve months
in the hell known as Vietnam. If any relative or friend of Tom Gurley reads this I can only tell you he died quickly and never
knew what hit him. And he didn't die alone. His buddies did all they could to help and like me, won't ever forget him even if
all I shared with him was a cigarette and a few last moments of his life. God bless him and all the others.
23 JUL 67
B Co KIA:
PFC James J. McCarthy (19) of New York, NY died of wounds (DOW) received in Binh Duong Province.
COMMANDERS:
COL Marvin D. "Red" departs 25th Division HQ
Sometime in July C Co changes C.O.'s, and CPT John Napper leaves to become S-1 and CPT Donald Oura arrives.
14 JUL 67
LTC Raphael D. Tice assigned as Deputy Brigade Commander 3rd Bde, 4th Div
20 JUL 67
C Co KIA's:
PFC Johnny T. Branham (18) of Winnsboro, SC
PFC Thomas Gurley (23) of Somerville, AL, perished
From Jack Mitchell, who served with Tom:
I met Tom Gurley the day he died. I was a replacement new in country and just assigned to Charlie Company. The mission
was supposed to be a snap. Just a one day sweep outside our base camp located on the Michelin Rubber Plantation.
It was getting late in the afternoon and we were almost back to camp. The word came back to take a five-minute break. I sat
down and leaned against a rubber tree completely worn out. As I lit a cigarette Tom and a kid named Branhan, from Chicago I
believe walked up and asked if they could borrow a smoke. As I handed them my pack Tom asked me how "short" I was. I
mumbled something about having more than 300 days left. Both of them were "short-timers" and tried to cheer me up with
some encouraging words. We got the word to get up and head out for base camp. Within seconds a huge directional mine
went off. I was blown up and back into the branches of a rubber tree. The blast had killed two, Tom and Brannon and
severely wounded six others. Other than a mild headache I didn't have a scratch. A sergeant did all he could to keep Tom
alive, but he just couldn't make it. I helped carry his body to a cleared area and a dust-off Huey took the wounded and dead
out of the area.
Although I've felt guilty for 30 years I came out of that moment unharmed it also made me realize when it's your time that's
just the way the cards are dealt. It gave me a great inner strength and I know helped me to survive the next twelve months
in the hell known as Vietnam. If any relative or friend of Tom Gurley reads this I can only tell you he died quickly and never
knew what hit him. And he didn't die alone. His buddies did all they could to help and like me, won't ever forget him even if
all I shared with him was a cigarette and a few last moments of his life. God bless him and all the others.
23 JUL 67
B Co KIA:
PFC James J. McCarthy (19) of New York, NY died of wounds (DOW) received in Binh Duong Province.
June 1967
DAU TIENG MORTAR ATTACK
24 JUN 67
DAU TIENG MORTARED
"At 2328 24 July [sic] the DAU TIENG base camp received ar [sic] attack by 82mm mortars which lasted for about 11 minutes resulting in approximately 70 rounds of 82mm HE ammunition impacting inside the base camp and 30 rounds outside the perimeter. The primary target appeared to be the airstrip. This attack resulted in 50 WHA (17 of which required dust-off) and 1 civilian WHA. One aircraft was destroyed and 24 received substantial damage. Other damage included a fire truck, a wheeled wrecker, 8-3/4 ton trucks, an RTT Van, and a 15 kilowatt generator. In addition numerous tents had to be salvaged as a result of damage received during the attack."
25 JUN 67
DAU TIENG:
"A sweep of the suspected mortar position on 25 June located four mortar positions in the vicinity of a village approximately 2 kilometers northwest of the base camp."
CU CHI MORTAR ATTACK:
"A test of the battalion aircraft support capability came on 25 June 1967." The 20th Transportation Company, 520th Transportation Battalion ("Pipe smoke") at Cu Chi. "The 188th Assault Helicopter Company, Cu Chi, suffered a devastating enemy mortar attack that damaged 28 of its 30 aircraft and rendered it ineffective. The 20th Transportation Company (ADS), which had previously created an 'Instant Reaction Evaluation Team (IRET)' in anticipation of such emergencies, was at the damage scene within minutes. They designated aircraft on-site repair, evaluation and salvage. Rapid, effective support enabled the 188th to return to operational status four days after the disaster."
27 JUN 67
B Co KIA:
PFC Jimmy E. Carter (19) - Co. B 1st platoon - of Smithfield, NC perished in Tay Ninh Province.
DAU TIENG MORTAR ATTACK
24 JUN 67
DAU TIENG MORTARED
"At 2328 24 July [sic] the DAU TIENG base camp received ar [sic] attack by 82mm mortars which lasted for about 11 minutes resulting in approximately 70 rounds of 82mm HE ammunition impacting inside the base camp and 30 rounds outside the perimeter. The primary target appeared to be the airstrip. This attack resulted in 50 WHA (17 of which required dust-off) and 1 civilian WHA. One aircraft was destroyed and 24 received substantial damage. Other damage included a fire truck, a wheeled wrecker, 8-3/4 ton trucks, an RTT Van, and a 15 kilowatt generator. In addition numerous tents had to be salvaged as a result of damage received during the attack."
25 JUN 67
DAU TIENG:
"A sweep of the suspected mortar position on 25 June located four mortar positions in the vicinity of a village approximately 2 kilometers northwest of the base camp."
CU CHI MORTAR ATTACK:
"A test of the battalion aircraft support capability came on 25 June 1967." The 20th Transportation Company, 520th Transportation Battalion ("Pipe smoke") at Cu Chi. "The 188th Assault Helicopter Company, Cu Chi, suffered a devastating enemy mortar attack that damaged 28 of its 30 aircraft and rendered it ineffective. The 20th Transportation Company (ADS), which had previously created an 'Instant Reaction Evaluation Team (IRET)' in anticipation of such emergencies, was at the damage scene within minutes. They designated aircraft on-site repair, evaluation and salvage. Rapid, effective support enabled the 188th to return to operational status four days after the disaster."
27 JUN 67
B Co KIA:
PFC Jimmy E. Carter (19) - Co. B 1st platoon - of Smithfield, NC perished in Tay Ninh Province.
August 1967
Brigades are exchanged between the 4th and 25th Divisions
-- From the Fourth "Ivy" Division to the Twenty fifth "Tropic Lightning" Division
1 AUG 67
A Co KIA:
PFC Steven M. Stofko (19) of Highland, IN perished in Tay Ninh Province.
Co. A was on patrol when they were ambushed and Private Stofko was killed.
2-12th INFANTRY JOINS 25th DIVISION
On the first of August, 1967 the 2-12th - as a unit in the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division - was permanently transferred [assigned] - along with the rest of the 3rd brigade - to the 25th Infantry Division. In effect, the 3rd Brigades of the two divisions swapped divisions.
The following story appeared in the TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS, Vol. 2, No.32:
3d BDE, 4th INF NOW 3/25th
DAU TIENG - After being under the operational control of the 25th Inf Div for more than nine months, the 3rd Bde, 4th Div is now carrying the Tropic Lightning name, as the 3rd Bde, 25th Div.
Prior to coming to Vietnam, most of the men of the 3rd Bde were raw recruits, just drafted into the Army. They were sent to Fort Lewis, Wash. where they received basic and advanced individual training. Twenty-two hundred draftees in December 1965 became the core of the fledgling brigade.
In Vietnam, the training continued as the brigade first sent out small unit patrols around the Bear Cat base camp. This progressed into company-sized operations, and then to the first multi-battalion operation-"Bremerton."
Designed to clear Viet Cong out of the Rung Sat Special Zone and also to promote the revolutionary development program in that area, the 3rd Bn, 22nd Inf and Btry C, 2nd Bn, 77th Arty continued their search and destroy mission in the Rung Sat while the rest of the brigade moved the base camp to its present location at Dau Tieng.
Since the brigade's arrival at Camp Rainer, November 1966, it has been under the control of the 25th Inf Div in such combat operations as "Attleboro, Cedar Falls, Gladsden, Junction City, Ahina," and "Diamondhead." These operations covered large sections of the dense jungle and swampy marshland of War Zone C.
In a single engagement during Operation Junction City, the 3rd Bde decimated the Viet Cong's 272nd Regiment in hand-to-hand fighting at a small fire support base 35 kms northeast of Tay Ninh. When the four-hour battle was over, 647 Viet Cong regulars had lost their lives.
The brigade is now responsible for the majority of War Zone C including the Tay Ninh and Dau Tieng base camps and the large expanse of dense jungle north and west of Dau Tieg to the Cambodian border.
The 3rd Bde is commanded by COL Kenneth E. Buell and consists of three infantry battalions and one artillery battalion. The 3rd Spt Bn provides logistical support for the large brigade.
The 2nd Bn (Mech), 22nd Inf. commanded by LTC Ralph W. Julian provides the mechanized punch for the brigade operations while the two other infantry battalions, the 2nd Bn, 12th Inf, and the 3rd Bn, 22nd Inf, scour the jungles with the thoroughness only the man who is walking, and at times, crawling through the jungle can achieve. The 2-12 "White Warriors" are commanded by LTC James F. Greer, while LTC James E. Hilmar leads the 3-22 "Regulars."
27 AUG 67
"On 27 August 1967 one man of the 2d Battalion, 12th Infantry (25th Infantry Division), was killed when he was hit by machine gun fire from a CH-47 helicopter. The door gunner of the CH-47 had been hit and killed by enemy ground fire. His death grip on the trigger of the M-60 machine gun caused it to strafe the defensive position of a company of the 2-12th Infantry resulting in the casualty." [Source: Shrader, Charles R. "Amicicide: the problem of friendly fire in modern war." U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Combat Studies Institute, Washington DC 1982]
29 AUG 67
D Co KIAs:
PFC Donald L. Gasser (25) of Berkeley, CA
PFC. Roman Sisneros (22) of Anton Chico, NM perished in Tay Ninh Province.
Brigades are exchanged between the 4th and 25th Divisions
-- From the Fourth "Ivy" Division to the Twenty fifth "Tropic Lightning" Division
1 AUG 67
A Co KIA:
PFC Steven M. Stofko (19) of Highland, IN perished in Tay Ninh Province.
Co. A was on patrol when they were ambushed and Private Stofko was killed.
2-12th INFANTRY JOINS 25th DIVISION
On the first of August, 1967 the 2-12th - as a unit in the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division - was permanently transferred [assigned] - along with the rest of the 3rd brigade - to the 25th Infantry Division. In effect, the 3rd Brigades of the two divisions swapped divisions.
The following story appeared in the TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS, Vol. 2, No.32:
3d BDE, 4th INF NOW 3/25th
DAU TIENG - After being under the operational control of the 25th Inf Div for more than nine months, the 3rd Bde, 4th Div is now carrying the Tropic Lightning name, as the 3rd Bde, 25th Div.
Prior to coming to Vietnam, most of the men of the 3rd Bde were raw recruits, just drafted into the Army. They were sent to Fort Lewis, Wash. where they received basic and advanced individual training. Twenty-two hundred draftees in December 1965 became the core of the fledgling brigade.
In Vietnam, the training continued as the brigade first sent out small unit patrols around the Bear Cat base camp. This progressed into company-sized operations, and then to the first multi-battalion operation-"Bremerton."
Designed to clear Viet Cong out of the Rung Sat Special Zone and also to promote the revolutionary development program in that area, the 3rd Bn, 22nd Inf and Btry C, 2nd Bn, 77th Arty continued their search and destroy mission in the Rung Sat while the rest of the brigade moved the base camp to its present location at Dau Tieng.
Since the brigade's arrival at Camp Rainer, November 1966, it has been under the control of the 25th Inf Div in such combat operations as "Attleboro, Cedar Falls, Gladsden, Junction City, Ahina," and "Diamondhead." These operations covered large sections of the dense jungle and swampy marshland of War Zone C.
In a single engagement during Operation Junction City, the 3rd Bde decimated the Viet Cong's 272nd Regiment in hand-to-hand fighting at a small fire support base 35 kms northeast of Tay Ninh. When the four-hour battle was over, 647 Viet Cong regulars had lost their lives.
The brigade is now responsible for the majority of War Zone C including the Tay Ninh and Dau Tieng base camps and the large expanse of dense jungle north and west of Dau Tieg to the Cambodian border.
The 3rd Bde is commanded by COL Kenneth E. Buell and consists of three infantry battalions and one artillery battalion. The 3rd Spt Bn provides logistical support for the large brigade.
The 2nd Bn (Mech), 22nd Inf. commanded by LTC Ralph W. Julian provides the mechanized punch for the brigade operations while the two other infantry battalions, the 2nd Bn, 12th Inf, and the 3rd Bn, 22nd Inf, scour the jungles with the thoroughness only the man who is walking, and at times, crawling through the jungle can achieve. The 2-12 "White Warriors" are commanded by LTC James F. Greer, while LTC James E. Hilmar leads the 3-22 "Regulars."
27 AUG 67
"On 27 August 1967 one man of the 2d Battalion, 12th Infantry (25th Infantry Division), was killed when he was hit by machine gun fire from a CH-47 helicopter. The door gunner of the CH-47 had been hit and killed by enemy ground fire. His death grip on the trigger of the M-60 machine gun caused it to strafe the defensive position of a company of the 2-12th Infantry resulting in the casualty." [Source: Shrader, Charles R. "Amicicide: the problem of friendly fire in modern war." U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Combat Studies Institute, Washington DC 1982]
29 AUG 67
D Co KIAs:
PFC Donald L. Gasser (25) of Berkeley, CA
PFC. Roman Sisneros (22) of Anton Chico, NM perished in Tay Ninh Province.
September 1967
New company is formed:
The 1st platoon of Co. A, and two platoons from B & C companies were joined to form Co. D 2-12th." When the battalion first arrived in Viet Nam, there was no Delta Company. In September 1967 they took one platoon each from Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Companies to form a new company - Delta.
11 SEP 67
B Co KIA:
PFC Stephen R. Ford (21) of Lisle, IL perished in Binh Duong Province.
New company is formed:
The 1st platoon of Co. A, and two platoons from B & C companies were joined to form Co. D 2-12th." When the battalion first arrived in Viet Nam, there was no Delta Company. In September 1967 they took one platoon each from Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Companies to form a new company - Delta.
11 SEP 67
B Co KIA:
PFC Stephen R. Ford (21) of Lisle, IL perished in Binh Duong Province.
November 1967
November 2 to November 7, 1967
2-12th air assaults 7 miles northeast of Loc Ninh, Binh Long Province and established battalion base camp.
The 2-12th INF (LTC Raphael D. Tice), 3rd Brigade, 25th Division, moves North and become Operational Control (OPCON) to the 1st Brigade (Col. George E. Newman), 1st Division.
The battalions landing was unopposed, that evening eight enemy walked into the night laager position and were taken under fire by the Warriors. Four members of the 272nd Viet Cong Regiment were killed and four captured. In response, the VC attacked the Warriors' position that evening (030220 hrs) resulting in tweny-eight more enemy killed.
2 NOV 67
2-12 Inf of 25 In Div: The Bn conducted an CA into LZ vic XU785135 and secure NDP and became OPCON 1st Bde.
3 NOV 67
B Co KIA's:
PFC Ronald J. Ensley (19) of Murfreesboro, TN perished in Binh Long Province.
These men defended positions repelling an enemy ground attack at 0230H.
D Co KIA's:
PFC John H. Davis (24) of New York, NY and
PFC James "Doc" T. Morris, Jr. (19) of Wilmington, DE
Two men perished at Loc Ninh in Binh Long Province. Doc Morris is hit several times and is mortally wounded while carrying out his duties during the firefight. Chester Bullard "recounts about moving through the jungle one day and they were halted. He says they were going to call in a air strike on something up ahead, so he sat down and leaned back against a tree....after a minute or two he decided to move to a position behind an ant hill just a little ahead, not far, and got down on his belly. Right when he moved, another guy came up and sat down right where he had been a moment before...the jet came in and dropped a bomb, he said he heard something come like "swooshing?" through the air, like a fragment or something and low and behold it hit that guy right in the forehead part of his helmet and caved it in and went through his forehead".
D Co WIA:
SP4 Johnson
SP4Warren Burton
and others
ARMY OFFICIAL REPORT:
"2-12 Inf 25th Inf Div: The Bn -conducted search and destroy operations plus NDP security. At 0022H vic Bn NDP the Bn received 40 to 50 mortar rounds. Spooky, LFT, FAC, were placed in the air for the support of the Bn's contact. At 0105H The VC attacked the NDP. LFT, Arty and A/S were placed near the area of contact. At 0230H the Bn received a ground attack from the Northeast, East, and Northwest. At 0245H the attack lightened. At 0459H contact was broken. US losses were 3 KIAs and 34 WIAs. VC losses were 94 KIAs and 5 POWs. "They really wanted to overrun us last night," said Tice, "but the men fought very well. I'm proud of them."
4 NOV 67
HHC KIA:
PFC Louis J. Sebastian of New York, NY perished in Binh Long Province.
Louis dies from a gunshot wound inflicted by another GI while he was cleaning his weapon.
C Co WIA:
2nd platoon's Raoul Furry severely wounded at
Loc Ninh, Binh Long Province, and evacuated.
"2-12 Inf: The Bn conducted search and destroy operations plus NDP security. At 1005H vic XU800141, Co. D patrol located and destroyed a booby trapped military structure. At 1400H, vic XU781135, the Bn (-) located five VC bodies in fresh graves, 18-60mm mortar rounds, medical supplies, 60mm mortar sight, crossbow and 2 plastic gas masks. At 1415H vic XU780137, the Bn (-) located 1 VC body. At 1430H, vic XU781116 the Bn (-) found VC body, 6--60mm mortar rounds, and 4 CHICOM grenades. At 1455H, vic XU785135, Bn (-) located one VC body. At 1501H, vic XU755078 the Bn (-) located one body inside a hole 20 meters from the NDP."
5 NOV 67
"2-12 Inf: The Bn continued to conduct search and destroy operations and NDP security. At 0945H vic XU779137 the Bn located seven VC bodies, [? - b.h.] 60mm mortar rounds, and 1 CHICOM grenade. At 1055H vic XU775137, the Bn (-) located and destroyed seven bunkers and 200 rounds of AK-47 ammo. At [? - b.h.] vic XU767154 the Bn (-) located and destroyed 30 foxholes with overhead cover. At 1500H vic XU773142 the Bn (-) located and destroyed 60 (one) foxholes, 50 rounds of AK-47 ammo and 4 CHICOM grenades."
6 NOV 67
HHC KIA:
Medic SP4 Thomas G. Hawkins of Phoenix, AZ perished in Binh Long Province.
"2-12 Inf: The Bn conducted search and destroy operations plus NDP security. At 0920H, vic XU792137 the Bn (-) located and destroyed 10 MG positions, one right foot (human), and bits of human remains, est. 1 body. At 1050H vic XU812143 the Bn located 3 booby trapped bamboo piles. At 1825H vic NDP the unit received 20-60mm mortar round. Fire was returned with countermortar fire. Arty, Spooky, A/S and LFT were placed in the area that mortar rounds came from. US losses were 18 WIA."
[SOURCE: 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Operation SHENANDOAH II 8 December 1967 ]
7 NOV 67
D Co WIA:
SGT Myron Williams, 4th platoon.
2-12 Inf: The Bn conducted a combat extraction from field location to SONG BE without incident.
Song Be, East of Loc Ninh, had a airstrip for fixed aircraft.
November 2 to November 7, 1967
2-12th air assaults 7 miles northeast of Loc Ninh, Binh Long Province and established battalion base camp.
The 2-12th INF (LTC Raphael D. Tice), 3rd Brigade, 25th Division, moves North and become Operational Control (OPCON) to the 1st Brigade (Col. George E. Newman), 1st Division.
The battalions landing was unopposed, that evening eight enemy walked into the night laager position and were taken under fire by the Warriors. Four members of the 272nd Viet Cong Regiment were killed and four captured. In response, the VC attacked the Warriors' position that evening (030220 hrs) resulting in tweny-eight more enemy killed.
2 NOV 67
2-12 Inf of 25 In Div: The Bn conducted an CA into LZ vic XU785135 and secure NDP and became OPCON 1st Bde.
3 NOV 67
B Co KIA's:
PFC Ronald J. Ensley (19) of Murfreesboro, TN perished in Binh Long Province.
These men defended positions repelling an enemy ground attack at 0230H.
D Co KIA's:
PFC John H. Davis (24) of New York, NY and
PFC James "Doc" T. Morris, Jr. (19) of Wilmington, DE
Two men perished at Loc Ninh in Binh Long Province. Doc Morris is hit several times and is mortally wounded while carrying out his duties during the firefight. Chester Bullard "recounts about moving through the jungle one day and they were halted. He says they were going to call in a air strike on something up ahead, so he sat down and leaned back against a tree....after a minute or two he decided to move to a position behind an ant hill just a little ahead, not far, and got down on his belly. Right when he moved, another guy came up and sat down right where he had been a moment before...the jet came in and dropped a bomb, he said he heard something come like "swooshing?" through the air, like a fragment or something and low and behold it hit that guy right in the forehead part of his helmet and caved it in and went through his forehead".
D Co WIA:
SP4 Johnson
SP4Warren Burton
and others
ARMY OFFICIAL REPORT:
"2-12 Inf 25th Inf Div: The Bn -conducted search and destroy operations plus NDP security. At 0022H vic Bn NDP the Bn received 40 to 50 mortar rounds. Spooky, LFT, FAC, were placed in the air for the support of the Bn's contact. At 0105H The VC attacked the NDP. LFT, Arty and A/S were placed near the area of contact. At 0230H the Bn received a ground attack from the Northeast, East, and Northwest. At 0245H the attack lightened. At 0459H contact was broken. US losses were 3 KIAs and 34 WIAs. VC losses were 94 KIAs and 5 POWs. "They really wanted to overrun us last night," said Tice, "but the men fought very well. I'm proud of them."
4 NOV 67
HHC KIA:
PFC Louis J. Sebastian of New York, NY perished in Binh Long Province.
Louis dies from a gunshot wound inflicted by another GI while he was cleaning his weapon.
C Co WIA:
2nd platoon's Raoul Furry severely wounded at
Loc Ninh, Binh Long Province, and evacuated.
"2-12 Inf: The Bn conducted search and destroy operations plus NDP security. At 1005H vic XU800141, Co. D patrol located and destroyed a booby trapped military structure. At 1400H, vic XU781135, the Bn (-) located five VC bodies in fresh graves, 18-60mm mortar rounds, medical supplies, 60mm mortar sight, crossbow and 2 plastic gas masks. At 1415H vic XU780137, the Bn (-) located 1 VC body. At 1430H, vic XU781116 the Bn (-) found VC body, 6--60mm mortar rounds, and 4 CHICOM grenades. At 1455H, vic XU785135, Bn (-) located one VC body. At 1501H, vic XU755078 the Bn (-) located one body inside a hole 20 meters from the NDP."
5 NOV 67
"2-12 Inf: The Bn continued to conduct search and destroy operations and NDP security. At 0945H vic XU779137 the Bn located seven VC bodies, [? - b.h.] 60mm mortar rounds, and 1 CHICOM grenade. At 1055H vic XU775137, the Bn (-) located and destroyed seven bunkers and 200 rounds of AK-47 ammo. At [? - b.h.] vic XU767154 the Bn (-) located and destroyed 30 foxholes with overhead cover. At 1500H vic XU773142 the Bn (-) located and destroyed 60 (one) foxholes, 50 rounds of AK-47 ammo and 4 CHICOM grenades."
6 NOV 67
HHC KIA:
Medic SP4 Thomas G. Hawkins of Phoenix, AZ perished in Binh Long Province.
"2-12 Inf: The Bn conducted search and destroy operations plus NDP security. At 0920H, vic XU792137 the Bn (-) located and destroyed 10 MG positions, one right foot (human), and bits of human remains, est. 1 body. At 1050H vic XU812143 the Bn located 3 booby trapped bamboo piles. At 1825H vic NDP the unit received 20-60mm mortar round. Fire was returned with countermortar fire. Arty, Spooky, A/S and LFT were placed in the area that mortar rounds came from. US losses were 18 WIA."
[SOURCE: 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Operation SHENANDOAH II 8 December 1967 ]
7 NOV 67
D Co WIA:
SGT Myron Williams, 4th platoon.
2-12 Inf: The Bn conducted a combat extraction from field location to SONG BE without incident.
Song Be, East of Loc Ninh, had a airstrip for fixed aircraft.
December 1967
Sometime in December, C Co CPT Donald Oura is replaced by CPT Vernon Smith
2 DEC 67
D Co KIA:
PFC Donald Wayne Thompson (22) of Montezuma, IA
D Co WIA:
CPT Jack E. Merle
Thompson perished in Binh Duong Province. Posthumously promoted to Corporal. Private First Class Thompson was originally assigned to Co. A and when Co. D was formed he was assigned to Delta. He was acting as a squad leader in Delta at the time of his death.
Co. D's Lieutenant Ron Hendricks has to say about the events on the 2nd;
"It was the same day the mech fired on A Co.. Between the time Thompson was KIA and the A Co. incident we lost a combat engineer to a command detonated bomb. I don't remember the exact location, we were working with the mech heading toward Dau Tieng. We assaulted a small village at the site but found nothing. We were then told to load onto the APCs to get back to Dau Tieng ASAP. We had specific orders not to fire into the bush as A Co. was strung out along the road to provide security. The mech never should have fired. The A Co. CO was hit in the buttocks by a .50 cal round."
C 2-12th LT Chuck Mohr who had just arrived in the unit recalls: "The mech unit (2-22?) was ambushed earlier that day and was understandably nervous about moving to Dau Tieng at night, particularly through the Ben Cui plantation. So, 2-12 would provide security for the passage through it. We strung out along the road and when the mech was going past us, some C.O. (A or Bn?) thought it would be a good idea to recon by fire. I'm sure the mech folks were a bit nervous from there very recent ambush - some of them misinterpreted the muzzle flashes as another ambush and returned fire, with rounds into A's command group. Given the situation, the recon-by-fire order seems to me to have been a terrible decision." Chuck would soon report to A Co. He was standing in for 1LT Jimmy Ford who was on R&R.
OPERATION YELLOWSTONE
7 December - 16 December 1967 (Phase I)
28 December 1967 - 31 January 1968 (Phase II)
Mission: During Operation Yellowstone 2-12th was called on to perform missions in several different areas.
a. On first mission, 9 December 1967, commencing H-Hour, D+1 2-12th Inf (-) conducts combat assault into LZ 1, secures southern portion of FSB HOOD (Bde Base). On D+2 effects link-up with TF 2-22 and conducts offensive operations in assigned AO to locate and destroy VC/NVA Forces and instalations until D+7. On D+8 2-12th (-) conducts airmobile move to FSB RENO and continues to contact and destroy VC/NVA Forces until D+15. From D+15 to D+60 2-12th conducts detailed Reconnaissance in Force Operations in assigned AO.
b. On 2nd mission, 28 December 1967, commencing 0700H, 2-12th Inf (-) conducts airlift by fixed wing aircraft to Katum, becomes OPCON to 1st Bde, 25th Inf Div.
RESULTS:
US Losses 5 KIA's 47 WIA's
Enemy Losses 35 VC killed (BC), 1 VC killed (poss)
8 DEC 67
OPERATION YELLOWSTONE begins in War Zone C.
2-12th(-) preparing for operation.
Co. C tasked as 3rd Brigade Ready Reaction Force (RRF).
[SOURCE: HQ2-12th INF AAR 15Mar68]
9 DEC 67
From 0935 to 1100 hrs the battalion (minus Co. C) is air lifted into an LZ at (XT387704) - FSB Hood, 25 klicks NNW of Dau Tieng on the old Soui Tre/FSB Gold battlefield. Fire Support Base Hood was built a few hundred meters southeast of Gold.
Co. C at Dau Tieng as 3d Brigade Rapid Reaction Force.
Co. C sends one platoon by air to FSB Grant (XT380620) 18 klicks northwest of Dau Tieng near Ap Tan Thiet/Xa. Loc Ninh - off LTL13 and near its intersection with LTL-19.
Co. D found 2 bouncing betty mines on LZ and destroyed.
10 Dec 67
Element of Co. C at Dau Tieng airlifted to FSB Grant (XT382625) at 8:35 am for security and returned Chinook to Dau Tieng at 9:30 pm. Co. C sweeped just south of Dau Tieng to verify report of 10 VC in the area (XT502465). One platoon was left OPCON to Task Force Romeo and remained as RRF/.
Battalion (minus) conducted CA at 1:00 pm vic XT442686.
11 DEC 67
BN (-) operations vic XT4696.
Co. C at 9:50 pm ambush patrol (XT509465 sprung with movement in area. Negative results.
12 DEC 67
BN (-) operations XT462698, to XT467679, XT470684 and XT476693 then returned. Negative contact.
RECON platoon located and destroyed seven bunkers at (XT472691) south of the Soui Bu Chiem (Bu Chiem stream) at 0950 hours.
The battalion laagered at (XT464498) that evening.
Co. C(-) remain Dau Tieng as Bde RRF.
Sometime in December, C Co CPT Donald Oura is replaced by CPT Vernon Smith
2 DEC 67
D Co KIA:
PFC Donald Wayne Thompson (22) of Montezuma, IA
D Co WIA:
CPT Jack E. Merle
Thompson perished in Binh Duong Province. Posthumously promoted to Corporal. Private First Class Thompson was originally assigned to Co. A and when Co. D was formed he was assigned to Delta. He was acting as a squad leader in Delta at the time of his death.
Co. D's Lieutenant Ron Hendricks has to say about the events on the 2nd;
"It was the same day the mech fired on A Co.. Between the time Thompson was KIA and the A Co. incident we lost a combat engineer to a command detonated bomb. I don't remember the exact location, we were working with the mech heading toward Dau Tieng. We assaulted a small village at the site but found nothing. We were then told to load onto the APCs to get back to Dau Tieng ASAP. We had specific orders not to fire into the bush as A Co. was strung out along the road to provide security. The mech never should have fired. The A Co. CO was hit in the buttocks by a .50 cal round."
C 2-12th LT Chuck Mohr who had just arrived in the unit recalls: "The mech unit (2-22?) was ambushed earlier that day and was understandably nervous about moving to Dau Tieng at night, particularly through the Ben Cui plantation. So, 2-12 would provide security for the passage through it. We strung out along the road and when the mech was going past us, some C.O. (A or Bn?) thought it would be a good idea to recon by fire. I'm sure the mech folks were a bit nervous from there very recent ambush - some of them misinterpreted the muzzle flashes as another ambush and returned fire, with rounds into A's command group. Given the situation, the recon-by-fire order seems to me to have been a terrible decision." Chuck would soon report to A Co. He was standing in for 1LT Jimmy Ford who was on R&R.
OPERATION YELLOWSTONE
7 December - 16 December 1967 (Phase I)
28 December 1967 - 31 January 1968 (Phase II)
Mission: During Operation Yellowstone 2-12th was called on to perform missions in several different areas.
a. On first mission, 9 December 1967, commencing H-Hour, D+1 2-12th Inf (-) conducts combat assault into LZ 1, secures southern portion of FSB HOOD (Bde Base). On D+2 effects link-up with TF 2-22 and conducts offensive operations in assigned AO to locate and destroy VC/NVA Forces and instalations until D+7. On D+8 2-12th (-) conducts airmobile move to FSB RENO and continues to contact and destroy VC/NVA Forces until D+15. From D+15 to D+60 2-12th conducts detailed Reconnaissance in Force Operations in assigned AO.
b. On 2nd mission, 28 December 1967, commencing 0700H, 2-12th Inf (-) conducts airlift by fixed wing aircraft to Katum, becomes OPCON to 1st Bde, 25th Inf Div.
RESULTS:
US Losses 5 KIA's 47 WIA's
Enemy Losses 35 VC killed (BC), 1 VC killed (poss)
8 DEC 67
OPERATION YELLOWSTONE begins in War Zone C.
2-12th(-) preparing for operation.
Co. C tasked as 3rd Brigade Ready Reaction Force (RRF).
[SOURCE: HQ2-12th INF AAR 15Mar68]
9 DEC 67
From 0935 to 1100 hrs the battalion (minus Co. C) is air lifted into an LZ at (XT387704) - FSB Hood, 25 klicks NNW of Dau Tieng on the old Soui Tre/FSB Gold battlefield. Fire Support Base Hood was built a few hundred meters southeast of Gold.
Co. C at Dau Tieng as 3d Brigade Rapid Reaction Force.
Co. C sends one platoon by air to FSB Grant (XT380620) 18 klicks northwest of Dau Tieng near Ap Tan Thiet/Xa. Loc Ninh - off LTL13 and near its intersection with LTL-19.
Co. D found 2 bouncing betty mines on LZ and destroyed.
10 Dec 67
Element of Co. C at Dau Tieng airlifted to FSB Grant (XT382625) at 8:35 am for security and returned Chinook to Dau Tieng at 9:30 pm. Co. C sweeped just south of Dau Tieng to verify report of 10 VC in the area (XT502465). One platoon was left OPCON to Task Force Romeo and remained as RRF/.
Battalion (minus) conducted CA at 1:00 pm vic XT442686.
11 DEC 67
BN (-) operations vic XT4696.
Co. C at 9:50 pm ambush patrol (XT509465 sprung with movement in area. Negative results.
12 DEC 67
BN (-) operations XT462698, to XT467679, XT470684 and XT476693 then returned. Negative contact.
RECON platoon located and destroyed seven bunkers at (XT472691) south of the Soui Bu Chiem (Bu Chiem stream) at 0950 hours.
The battalion laagered at (XT464498) that evening.
Co. C(-) remain Dau Tieng as Bde RRF.
13 DEC 67
2-12th (-) conducted Eagle Flights into 4 areas of AO Otter, (XT3877), (XT38777), (XT3978) and (XT3478). At 1625H [until?] fire from (XT3478). Laager for night (XT34?785). XT463696 BN (-) operations.
BN (-) Eagle Flights into four areas of AO Otter. tp XT3?3775, XT376757, XT375769, and XT73775.
RECON platoon drew sniper fire, at 4:40 PM, from (XT3478). Gunships and artillery results no negative results. No US casualties.
7:44 PM Co. D XT467702 ambush patrol observe 3 VC north digging in their ambush site. Artillery called in and 3 VC KIA (poss). Sweeping the next morning, two bicycles found and destroyed.
Battalion laager for the night of the 13th at (XT340785).
Co. C(-) at Dau Tieng as RRF as 3rd Brigade.
2-12th airlifted back to Dau Tieng due to possible enemy offensive action. Base camp received 45 rounds enemy mortar fire, scattered small arms fire, but no major offensive action.
14 DEC 67
2-12th on Eagle Flight lifted to (XT3279). They then returned to Dau Tieng because of Intelligence Report. Last element arrived 1525H. Bn went on Red Alert 1800H for possible attack. under mortar attack at 2130H. Approximately 45 mortar rounds fell in Bn across. 2-12th suffered 3 WHA's."
Co. A air assaults into (vic XT359798). without contact returns to DAU TIENG by 1525 hours [3:25 PM] because of Intel report of poss. attack on base. The first helicopter lift received small arms from XT479465 with no damage.
The battalion is put on Red Alert at Dau Tieng. The base received approximately 45 rounds of mortar fire between 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. resulting in three WIAs.
15 DEC 67
Recon went on mounted patrol in Ben Cui Rubber departing 0905H. They closed base camp at 1430H. Co's C & D departed base camp 0700H to establish two ambushes in Michelin. Co D established their ambush at (XT512483) and C at (XT519496). As C Co prepared to leave the ambush camp at 1535H. One platoon from C Co remains at FSB GRANT.
RECON crossed the Saigon River and moved west into the Ben Cui rubber plantation.
Co.'s C(-) & D left Dau Tieng Base for a patrol and to set up ambushes in the Michelin, north-northeast of the camp.
Co. C's ambush site was one klick north of Ap 6 (at XT510496). Co. C hit two mines just north of AP 6 (at XT510488) wounding two. They closed the wire at Dau Tieng near 3:30 PM. One platoon of Co C was still detached at FSB Grant (XT380620).
Co. D's ambush site was just outside and south of AP 6 (at XT512483).
16 DEC 67
Co. A combat assaulted to (XT455530) then started moving to night ambush site. At 1540H at (XT455522) they found 10 bunkers. At 16??H at (XT463522) located 3 bunkers 10' x 24' x 8'. All bunkers were destroyed. At 1720H at (XT464524) they located 2 bicycles along the river, also one [unkn] boat and one sampan. Co A's ambush site the night established at (XT465523). Bn (-) remained at Camp Rainier with mission of Bde Reaction Force. The platoon from Co C returned to Dau Tieng from FSB GRANT 0930H. Recon ambush patrol at 1845H was in contact at (XT509461) on all sides. Artillery, gunships and firing from checkpoint was used to get patrol back to base camp at 2000H. Checkpoint at Post #1 at 2330H received incoming grenade with negative casualties."
Co. A flew 7 klicks north-northwest of Dau Tieng to a cold landing zone (vic XT455534) near the Saigon River (at XT455530). They moved over a klick southeast and discovered and destroyed three bunkers (at XT463522). Moving northeast towards the river, they found two bicycles, a submerged boat, and a sampan. Alpha then moved due south and established an ambush site along a trail (at XT465523). End of day XT465525
Co. C(-) at FSB Grant returned to Dau Tieng in the morning. The remainder of the battalion was acting as the 3rd Brigade's Ready Reaction Force.
RECON's ambush patrol received fire from all sides at 6:45 pm (at XT509461) - a klick SEE of the base. Artillery and gunships helped the patrol to disengage and return to base by 8 pm. At 11:30 PM, Post #1 received a grenade with no friendly casualties.
OPERATION CAMDEN
December 17 to December 27, 1967
2-12th participated in Operation Camden.
17 DEC 67
2-12th continues as RRF at Dau Tieng.
Co. A operations from XT465525 to XT465500 [NW of Dau Tieng. - b.h.] where the company extracted at 3 pm back to Dau Tieng.
1:50 pm Co. B and C eagle flight to XT519517 and conducted operations until 4:37 pm. In the Michelin 2 miles of Dau Tieng Base Camp. No contact and returned to Dau Tieng.
OPERATION YELLOWSTONE (Phase I) ENDS,
18 DEC to 27 DEC 1967
The 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division attempt to destroy the 101st NVA Regiment in the "Trapezoid" AO (south of Dau Tieng).FSB Lafayette East XT586423 in the bulb of "the Onion."FSB Allen XT541492 in the Michelin plantation at a crossroad 3/4 klick east of AP 3. Five klicks northeast of Dau Tieng Base Camp.
18 DEC 67
Co. A(-) at Dau Tieng acting as the camp Ready
Reaction Force.
Co. A assault to cold LZ vic XT585419 at 7:21 am.
One platoon of Co. A is OPCON to
2/77th Field Artillery as security at FSB Allen (XT541492) in the Michelin.
Base camp established XT57415
In addition, Co. A is tasked with providing road security and convoy escort south out of Dau Tieng along Highway LTL-14. Company A maintained these duties throughout Operation Camden.
At 0721 hours, 2-12th Inf(-) makes a combat air assault into a "cold" landing zone in an area known as "the Onion" (vic XT585419). The 12th's landing in the rice paddies was followed an hour latter by elements of the 3-22nd Inf. The 2-12th moved (generally) south-west-west 1½ klicks - patrolling as they went - and established a Night Defensive Position (NDP) at XT570415. A "Night Kit" of sandbags, barbed wire, claymores etc. was flown in at night and was "extracted" in the morning by the Muleskinners of the 242nd Aviation Co. - a practice that continued throughout Operation Camden.
19 DEC 67
The 2-12th Inf(-) patrolled (generally) northwest and established a NDP at XT565425 near a tributary of the Rach (stream) Can Nom (approx. 2 klicks due west of The Onion). There was negative contact during the day. Unfortunately, one platoon of Alpha was not so lucky. Shortly after 10 a.m. mines were detonated on the convoy along LTL-14 at XT523413 causing 9 KIA and 7 WIA amoungst the convoys' personnel.
20 DEC 67
HHC WIA:
Ron Mosley wounded.
2-12th Inf(-) continued to work out of the NDP at vicinity XT565425 - an area some 3 klicks (1¾ miles) south of the southern-most edge of the Michelin rubber plantation.
At 0920 hours Company C spotted 4 VC at XT562426 and engaged them with artillery fire with unknown results.
At1205 hours Co. A, while working road security south of Dau Tieng of LTL-14, suffered 5 WIA from booby traps (vic XT501441) norh of the bridge over the Suoi Duo at Xom Dua village - some two clicks SE of the base..
21 DEC 67
2-12th Inf(-) continued operations out of a night defensive position (NDP) in the vic of XT564424, a base they had been at for three days now, with negative contact.
22 DEC 67
2-12th Inf(-) continued operations in the same area west of "the Onion." They patrolled southeast three klicks and established a NDP in the vic of XT576393.
Co. A, while on road security along LTL-14, at 1050 hours exploded a mine wounding one Alpha trooper south of the bridge at Xom Dua. [Going south on LTL-14 out of Dau Tieng, there were two bridges pretty close together and then this bridge - the same bridge as the December 20th incident.]
[SOURCE: ibid]
23 DEC 67
HHC KIA:
PFC John R. Phillips (20) died of wounds (DOW) received in Binh Duong Province.
2-12th Inf(-), working out of a NDP (vic XT576393), patrolled SSE to vic XT583377.
At 0835 hours Co. A, while on road security southwest of Dau Tieng along LTL-14, detonated a booby trap resulting in 1 US WIA (vic XT476393).
Shortly after 2 PM Co. D found a VC body (1VCBC) in a bunker, in the middle of the Xom Ben Tranh(2) rubber plantation (XT535391).
24 DEC 67
D Co KIA:
PFC Larry W. Pierce (21) of Baden, PA perished in Binh Duong Province.
2-12th Inf(-) continued patrolling and established a NDP at XT588364. Co. A continued to guard Dau Tieng as the Ready Reaction Force(RRF).
25 DEC 67
2-12th Inf(-) continued to work out of the NDP (vicXT5834) and prepared for the end of Operation Camden.
At 1955 hours a 2-12th Dau Tieng ambush patrol was engaged by an estimated force of 4 VC, with small arms, in the vicinity of XT512408. Fire was returned with organic weapons with unknown results.
27 DEC 67
A Co WIA:
PFC Guillermo Estrada is wounded in a friendly fire error.
31 DEC 67
A Co DOW:
PFC Guillermo Estrada (24) from Gary, IA, dies from wounds occuring on 27 Dec.
2-12th (-) conducted Eagle Flights into 4 areas of AO Otter, (XT3877), (XT38777), (XT3978) and (XT3478). At 1625H [until?] fire from (XT3478). Laager for night (XT34?785). XT463696 BN (-) operations.
BN (-) Eagle Flights into four areas of AO Otter. tp XT3?3775, XT376757, XT375769, and XT73775.
RECON platoon drew sniper fire, at 4:40 PM, from (XT3478). Gunships and artillery results no negative results. No US casualties.
7:44 PM Co. D XT467702 ambush patrol observe 3 VC north digging in their ambush site. Artillery called in and 3 VC KIA (poss). Sweeping the next morning, two bicycles found and destroyed.
Battalion laager for the night of the 13th at (XT340785).
Co. C(-) at Dau Tieng as RRF as 3rd Brigade.
2-12th airlifted back to Dau Tieng due to possible enemy offensive action. Base camp received 45 rounds enemy mortar fire, scattered small arms fire, but no major offensive action.
14 DEC 67
2-12th on Eagle Flight lifted to (XT3279). They then returned to Dau Tieng because of Intelligence Report. Last element arrived 1525H. Bn went on Red Alert 1800H for possible attack. under mortar attack at 2130H. Approximately 45 mortar rounds fell in Bn across. 2-12th suffered 3 WHA's."
Co. A air assaults into (vic XT359798). without contact returns to DAU TIENG by 1525 hours [3:25 PM] because of Intel report of poss. attack on base. The first helicopter lift received small arms from XT479465 with no damage.
The battalion is put on Red Alert at Dau Tieng. The base received approximately 45 rounds of mortar fire between 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. resulting in three WIAs.
15 DEC 67
Recon went on mounted patrol in Ben Cui Rubber departing 0905H. They closed base camp at 1430H. Co's C & D departed base camp 0700H to establish two ambushes in Michelin. Co D established their ambush at (XT512483) and C at (XT519496). As C Co prepared to leave the ambush camp at 1535H. One platoon from C Co remains at FSB GRANT.
RECON crossed the Saigon River and moved west into the Ben Cui rubber plantation.
Co.'s C(-) & D left Dau Tieng Base for a patrol and to set up ambushes in the Michelin, north-northeast of the camp.
Co. C's ambush site was one klick north of Ap 6 (at XT510496). Co. C hit two mines just north of AP 6 (at XT510488) wounding two. They closed the wire at Dau Tieng near 3:30 PM. One platoon of Co C was still detached at FSB Grant (XT380620).
Co. D's ambush site was just outside and south of AP 6 (at XT512483).
16 DEC 67
Co. A combat assaulted to (XT455530) then started moving to night ambush site. At 1540H at (XT455522) they found 10 bunkers. At 16??H at (XT463522) located 3 bunkers 10' x 24' x 8'. All bunkers were destroyed. At 1720H at (XT464524) they located 2 bicycles along the river, also one [unkn] boat and one sampan. Co A's ambush site the night established at (XT465523). Bn (-) remained at Camp Rainier with mission of Bde Reaction Force. The platoon from Co C returned to Dau Tieng from FSB GRANT 0930H. Recon ambush patrol at 1845H was in contact at (XT509461) on all sides. Artillery, gunships and firing from checkpoint was used to get patrol back to base camp at 2000H. Checkpoint at Post #1 at 2330H received incoming grenade with negative casualties."
Co. A flew 7 klicks north-northwest of Dau Tieng to a cold landing zone (vic XT455534) near the Saigon River (at XT455530). They moved over a klick southeast and discovered and destroyed three bunkers (at XT463522). Moving northeast towards the river, they found two bicycles, a submerged boat, and a sampan. Alpha then moved due south and established an ambush site along a trail (at XT465523). End of day XT465525
Co. C(-) at FSB Grant returned to Dau Tieng in the morning. The remainder of the battalion was acting as the 3rd Brigade's Ready Reaction Force.
RECON's ambush patrol received fire from all sides at 6:45 pm (at XT509461) - a klick SEE of the base. Artillery and gunships helped the patrol to disengage and return to base by 8 pm. At 11:30 PM, Post #1 received a grenade with no friendly casualties.
OPERATION CAMDEN
December 17 to December 27, 1967
2-12th participated in Operation Camden.
17 DEC 67
2-12th continues as RRF at Dau Tieng.
Co. A operations from XT465525 to XT465500 [NW of Dau Tieng. - b.h.] where the company extracted at 3 pm back to Dau Tieng.
1:50 pm Co. B and C eagle flight to XT519517 and conducted operations until 4:37 pm. In the Michelin 2 miles of Dau Tieng Base Camp. No contact and returned to Dau Tieng.
OPERATION YELLOWSTONE (Phase I) ENDS,
18 DEC to 27 DEC 1967
The 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division attempt to destroy the 101st NVA Regiment in the "Trapezoid" AO (south of Dau Tieng).FSB Lafayette East XT586423 in the bulb of "the Onion."FSB Allen XT541492 in the Michelin plantation at a crossroad 3/4 klick east of AP 3. Five klicks northeast of Dau Tieng Base Camp.
18 DEC 67
Co. A(-) at Dau Tieng acting as the camp Ready
Reaction Force.
Co. A assault to cold LZ vic XT585419 at 7:21 am.
One platoon of Co. A is OPCON to
2/77th Field Artillery as security at FSB Allen (XT541492) in the Michelin.
Base camp established XT57415
In addition, Co. A is tasked with providing road security and convoy escort south out of Dau Tieng along Highway LTL-14. Company A maintained these duties throughout Operation Camden.
At 0721 hours, 2-12th Inf(-) makes a combat air assault into a "cold" landing zone in an area known as "the Onion" (vic XT585419). The 12th's landing in the rice paddies was followed an hour latter by elements of the 3-22nd Inf. The 2-12th moved (generally) south-west-west 1½ klicks - patrolling as they went - and established a Night Defensive Position (NDP) at XT570415. A "Night Kit" of sandbags, barbed wire, claymores etc. was flown in at night and was "extracted" in the morning by the Muleskinners of the 242nd Aviation Co. - a practice that continued throughout Operation Camden.
19 DEC 67
The 2-12th Inf(-) patrolled (generally) northwest and established a NDP at XT565425 near a tributary of the Rach (stream) Can Nom (approx. 2 klicks due west of The Onion). There was negative contact during the day. Unfortunately, one platoon of Alpha was not so lucky. Shortly after 10 a.m. mines were detonated on the convoy along LTL-14 at XT523413 causing 9 KIA and 7 WIA amoungst the convoys' personnel.
20 DEC 67
HHC WIA:
Ron Mosley wounded.
2-12th Inf(-) continued to work out of the NDP at vicinity XT565425 - an area some 3 klicks (1¾ miles) south of the southern-most edge of the Michelin rubber plantation.
At 0920 hours Company C spotted 4 VC at XT562426 and engaged them with artillery fire with unknown results.
At1205 hours Co. A, while working road security south of Dau Tieng of LTL-14, suffered 5 WIA from booby traps (vic XT501441) norh of the bridge over the Suoi Duo at Xom Dua village - some two clicks SE of the base..
21 DEC 67
2-12th Inf(-) continued operations out of a night defensive position (NDP) in the vic of XT564424, a base they had been at for three days now, with negative contact.
22 DEC 67
2-12th Inf(-) continued operations in the same area west of "the Onion." They patrolled southeast three klicks and established a NDP in the vic of XT576393.
Co. A, while on road security along LTL-14, at 1050 hours exploded a mine wounding one Alpha trooper south of the bridge at Xom Dua. [Going south on LTL-14 out of Dau Tieng, there were two bridges pretty close together and then this bridge - the same bridge as the December 20th incident.]
[SOURCE: ibid]
23 DEC 67
HHC KIA:
PFC John R. Phillips (20) died of wounds (DOW) received in Binh Duong Province.
2-12th Inf(-), working out of a NDP (vic XT576393), patrolled SSE to vic XT583377.
At 0835 hours Co. A, while on road security southwest of Dau Tieng along LTL-14, detonated a booby trap resulting in 1 US WIA (vic XT476393).
Shortly after 2 PM Co. D found a VC body (1VCBC) in a bunker, in the middle of the Xom Ben Tranh(2) rubber plantation (XT535391).
24 DEC 67
D Co KIA:
PFC Larry W. Pierce (21) of Baden, PA perished in Binh Duong Province.
2-12th Inf(-) continued patrolling and established a NDP at XT588364. Co. A continued to guard Dau Tieng as the Ready Reaction Force(RRF).
25 DEC 67
2-12th Inf(-) continued to work out of the NDP (vicXT5834) and prepared for the end of Operation Camden.
At 1955 hours a 2-12th Dau Tieng ambush patrol was engaged by an estimated force of 4 VC, with small arms, in the vicinity of XT512408. Fire was returned with organic weapons with unknown results.
27 DEC 67
A Co WIA:
PFC Guillermo Estrada is wounded in a friendly fire error.
31 DEC 67
A Co DOW:
PFC Guillermo Estrada (24) from Gary, IA, dies from wounds occuring on 27 Dec.
