1st Infantry Division
35-468: 9th Division American intervention 1965 1966 1967 Tet Offensive and aftermath Vietnamization 1969–1971 1972 Post- Paris Peace Accords (1973–1974) Spring 1975 Air operations Naval operations Lists of allied operations Operation El Paso and Operation El Paso II were operations conducted during the Vietnam War by the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade of
70-480: A bridge at Cam Le and carry out reconnaissance along Highway 13 north of the bridge. At 09:40 as Troop B proceeded north of the intersection of Highway 13 and Highway 17, they drove into an L-shaped ambush by the 271st Regiment. Within 30 minutes all of Troop B's M48s had been disabled. Air strikes and gunships were directed to support the beleaguered unit and Troop C rushed to the scene allowing Troop B to withdraw south and then west to set up blocking positions. By midday
105-675: Is a division of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), first formed from Viet Cong units in 1965 in the Mekong Delta region. In the Battle of Bình Giã from 28 December 1964 to 1 January 1965, future forces of the division lost 32 killed for Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) losses of 201 killed. In the Battle of Đồng Xoài from June 9 to 13, 1965, they overran the CIDG camp at Đồng Xoài and then ambushed
140-574: The Battle of Ong Thanh on 17 October 1967 the Division's 271st Regiment ambushed the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment killing 68 U.S. for the loss of 22 killed. In the First Battle of Loc Ninh 29 October - 7 November 1967 the division attacked Lộc Ninh losing 852 killed while killing 50 U.S./ARVN. The PAVN claimed to have eliminated 4,700 enemy including 3,000 Americans. In Operation Yellowstone from 8 December 1967 to 24 February 1968,
175-470: The Khmer National Army (ANK) who attacked their base areas in eastern Cambodia. The division claimed to have killed or dispersed 10,000 ANK troops and captured 4,700 weapons, 100 radios, 50 trucks and 150 tons of ammunition. The entire division was involved in the Battle of An Lộc from 13 April to 20 July 1972. As a result of his failure to seize the town quickly, the commander of the 9th Division
210-475: The Second battle of Bàu Bàng from 19 to 20 March 1967, two battalions of the division lost 277 killed and three captured for three U.S. killed. The PAVN claim that they eliminated 400 enemy troops and destroyed 63 armored vehicles. In the Battle of Suoi Tre on 21 March 1967, the 272nd Regiment lost 647 killed and seven captured for U.S. losses of 36 killed. The PAVN claimed that they inflicted 1,200 casualties on
245-572: The 1st Infantry Division in Bình Long Province , lasting from 19 May to 13 July 1966. In April 1966, prisoner interrogations revealed that the Viet Cong (VC) 271st and 273rd Regiments of the 9th Division were moving into War zone C . In early May a captured VC notebook revealed plans for a major offensive near Lộc Ninh. A CIDG patrol also killed a VC officer 5 kilometres southeast of Lộc Ninh and retrieved documents showing that 3 regiments from
280-485: The 9th Division and the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 101st Regiment planned attacks near Lộc Ninh by 10 May. The attack did not materialize, but on 17 May Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces tangled with VC from the 271st and 273rd Regiments west of An Lộc . BG William E. DePuy instructed Col Brodbeck's 3rd Brigade to counter the coming offensive. From 19–20 May, the 3rd Brigade's three infantry battalions moved to Lộc Ninh and began area searches. By 24 May
315-451: The PAVN formed 4th Corps comprising the division, the 7th Division, the 24th Artillery Regiment, the 71st Anti-aircraft Regiment, the 429th Sapper Regiment and three signal battalions. From 24 to 31 March 1975, the division made repeated attacks on Chơn Thành Camp , losing at least 18 tanks and 340 killed before the defending Vietnamese Rangers of the 31st Ranger Group successfully evacuated
350-484: The U.S. 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment losing 154 killed and 15 captured for the loss of 11 U.S. troops killed. In Operation Cocoa Beach from 3 to 8 March 1966, the division's 272nd Regiment was engaged by the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division on Highway 13 near Lai Khê , losing 199 killed for U.S. losses of 15 killed. In Operation Birmingham from 24 April to 17 May 1966, U.S./ARVN forces engaged elements of
385-626: The U.S. 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and ARVN forces engaged the 272nd Regiment between Đức Hòa and Củ Chi, killing 273. During the May Offensive of 1968, the division together with the 5th Division attacked west Saigon from 5–12 May losing over 2,600 killed. During the Phase III Offensive on 18 August 1968, a battalion from the 273rd Regiment, 9th Division, unsuccessfully attacked Firebase Buell II losing 104 dead and 8 captured. The same night, division sappers attacked
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#1732852667530420-533: The U.S. base on Nui Ba Den , killing 8 U.S. troops for the loss of 15 sappers killed. By 1971, the division was operating in Cambodia and PAVN command formed the Corps-sized Group 301 comprising the division and the 5th and 7th Division , the 28th Artillery Regiment and the 12th Anti-aircraft Machine Gun Battalion. During Operation Chenla II from 20 August to 3 December 1971, the division defeated units of
455-438: The U.S. forces, destroyed 72 armored vehicles and 19 artillery pieces and shot down 10 aircraft. In the Battle of Ap Gu from 31 March to 1 April the 271st Regiment lost 609 killed and five captured for U.S. losses of 17 killed. The PAVN claimed that throughout the course of the operation they eliminated 14,000 U.S. troops, destroyed 775 tanks and armored personnel carriers and 112 artillery pieces and shot down 160 aircraft for
490-527: The VC began to withdraw to the west, fighting their way past reinforcements arriving at the battlefield. The 1st Brigade was ordered to pursue the VC and deployed west towards the Cambodian border. In order to cover the 271st Regiment's withdrawal, the VC commander Senior Col. Hoàng Cầm ordered the 273rd Regiment to attack Company A 2/18th Infantry which was in a night defensive position near the border. At sunset on 1 July
525-486: The camp on the night of 31 March/1 April. In early April, the division was assigned to the 232nd Group which also included the 3rd Division and 5th Division. The division began attacks on ARVN positions on the western approaches to Saigon. On 30 April, the division entered Saigon and captured the headquarters of the ARVN Capital Military District. From 18 to 26 November 1984, some 2,000 troops of
560-613: The division attacked Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces forces in the Nong Chan Refugee Camp , capturing the base after a week of fighting. Today the division is part of the 4th Corps (Vietnam People's Army) . [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History . Ho%C3%A0ng C%E1%BA%A7m (general) Hoàng Cầm (born Đỗ Văn Cầm ) (1920–2013)
595-497: The division in Tây Ninh Province killing over 100. In Operation El Paso from 19 May to 13 July 1966, U.S. and ARVN forces engaged the division in Bình Long Province killing 825 with a further 1,249 estimated killed for the loss of 125 U.S. troops killed. The division and the 101st Regiment were the target of Operation Attleboro from 14 September to 25 November 1966, losing 1,016 killed and 200+ missing or captured for
630-473: The division killed over 2,000 U.S. and destroyed 30 tanks and armored personnel carriers during the operation. In Operation Mastiff from 21 to 25 February 1966, the U.S. 1st Infantry Division engaged elements of the division in the Dầu Tiếng District killing 61 for the loss of 17 U.S. troops. In the Battle of Suoi Bong Trang from 23 to 24 February 1966, elements of the division fought units of
665-617: The division was engaged by the U.S. 25th Infantry Division . In the attack on Firebase Burt on the night of 31 December 1967, the 271st and 272nd Regiments lost 379 killed and eight captured for U.S. losses of 23 dead. Elements of the division's 273rd Regiment were engaged by Australian/U.S. forces during Operation Coburg from 24 January to 1 March 1968. During the Tet Offensive the division's 271st and 272nd Regiments unsuccessfully attempted to interdict roads around Củ Chi Base Camp to prevent movement by U.S. forces. The 273rd Regiment
700-531: The hill and withdrew northwest harassed by air and artillery strikes. On Hill 150 Company A made 2 assaults both of which were repulsed, Company B then joined the fight and by 16:30 had forced the VC from the hill where they were ambushed by a waiting CIDG Company. US losses were 33 killed, while VC losses were 98 by body count and subsequent intelligence indicated that half of the 1st Battalion had been killed. On 30 June, Troops B and C 1/4th Cavalry and Company C 2/18th Infantry left An Lộc to escort engineers to repair
735-428: The loss of 155 U.S. killed and five missing. The PAVN claimed that they "killed thousands of enemy troops" and forced the U.S. to withdraw. The division was the target of Operation Junction City from 22 February to 14 May 1967, with the division losing 2,728 killed, 34 captured and 139 defectors . During the operation in the Battle of Prek Klok II the Division's 272nd Regiment lost 197 killed and 5 captured. In
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#1732852667530770-422: The loss of 280 of their own soldiers. In Operation Billings from 12 to 26 June 1967, the Division's 271st Regiment was engaged by the U.S. 1st Infantry Division north of Phước Vĩnh losing 347 killed for U.S. losses of 57 killed. In Operation Shenandoah II from 29 September to 10 December 1967, the U.S. 1st Infantry Division and ARVN forces engaged the division along Highway 13. Within this operation in
805-429: The operation was expanded by the addition of Col Sidney Berry's 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division which was tasked with searching for the VC from Highway 13 west to Minh Thanh. On 11 June, Company A 2/28th Infantry patrolling northwest of Lộc Ninh with a CIDG platoon was engaged by the VC 1st Battalion, 273rd Regiment located on two adjacent hills, Hill 150 and Hill 175. As the battle developed Company C 2/28th Infantry
840-400: The operational area would be reinforced by the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment (1/4th Cavalry), the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment (2/18th Infantry) and the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment . On 8 June, Troop A 1/4th Cavalry comprising 9 M48 tanks and 32 other armored vehicles left Phu Loi Base Camp to move to An Lộc. That afternoon near the village of Tau O the lead M48
875-502: The position was assaulted by a VC platoon, Company C 2/18th Infantry moved to reinforce Company A and the VC withdrew by 20:00. At 05:45 on 2 July the VC attacked the position again with mortar fire and several ground assaults, bad weather delayed US airstrikes but they eventually forced the VC to withdraw by 09:00. US losses were 13 killed, while VC losses were 98 killed and an estimated further 110-152 bodies removed. Operation El Paso II officially concluded on 13 July. Operation El Paso III
910-558: The relief forces killing 416 ARVN and at least 20 U.S. troops while losing 126 killed. According to the official history of the PAVN, the division was only formed on 2 September 1965 from the 1st (Bình Giã) Regiment, the 2nd (Đồng Xoài) Regiment and the newly formed 3rd Regiment drawn from local forces in the Mekong Delta. The division was engaged in the Battle of Ap Bau Bang on 12 November 1965, losing 146 killed and 50 probably killed for U.S. losses of 20 killed. The PAVN claimed that
945-424: The searches had failed to locate the VC and BG DePuy ordered the 3rd Brigade to withdraw from the area. In late May, US intelligence learned that the VC had postponed their Bình Long offensive and now planned to cut Highway 13 and attack An Lộc, Chơn Thành and Lộc Ninh. MG Jonathan O. Seaman ordered BG DePuy to counter this new offensive and Operation El Paso II was launched on 2 June. The 3rd Brigade already in
980-563: The town of Hồng Ngự. ARVN losses were 94 killed and 36 missing. A battalion of the Division's 271st Regiment took part in the initial phases of the Battle of Tong Le Chon , starting on 25 March 1973, until replaced by a battalion of the 201st Independent Regiment. In the Battle of the Iron Triangle from 16 May to 20 November 1974, the Division's 95C Regiment suffering heavy losses in the fighting at An Dien in May/June. On 20 July 1974,
1015-627: Was a colonel general in the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN). He led the PAVN 4th Corps in the Battle of Phước Long and Battle of Xuân Lộc . There is another by the name of Hoàng Cầm (1916–1996), who was a soldier inventor of the Viet Minh Hoàng Cầm stove . Hoàng Cầm was born Đỗ Văn Cầm in Cao Sơn, Ứng Hòa district, Hà Tây province of the Tonkin Protectorate . Cầm had a poor childhood,
1050-413: Was deployed as reinforcements and following air and artillery strikes assaults were launched on the hills. At 14:30 Company C and the battalion's reconnaissance platoon assaulted Hill 177 from the south and west but were pushed back by a VC counterattack. The reconnaissance platoon took position in a trench which was covered by a VC machine gun and lost 19 killed. Despite this by 16:15 the VC were forced from
1085-476: Was disabled by a mine as part of an ambush by 2 battalions of the 272nd Regiment. The remaining vehicles formed a perimeter and fought off the VC attack for several hours before reinforcements from the ARVN 5th Division arrived and the VC withdrew. Searches of the area found 105 VC bodies and it was estimated that a further 200-250 dead had been removed, US losses were 14 killed and ARVN losses were 19 killed. On 9 June,
Operation El Paso - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-426: Was officially reprimanded and local command was handed over the senior officer of the PAVN 5th Division. The PAVN history acknowledges that "our units suffered heavy casualties and over half the tanks we used in the battle were destroyed." In the Battle of Hồng Ngự from March to 4 May 1973, the Division's 272nd Regiment and 2 Regiments from the 6th Division lost 422 killed in their unsuccessful attempt to capture
1155-657: Was orphaned at age of 12. He joined Tirailleurs indochinois stationed at Lai Châu for a living at age of 21. Two years later he was transferred to Hà Nội , but deserted thus escaping from Japanese coup d'état in French Indochina in March 1945. Cầm joined the Youth Union of Hà Nội in July 1945, then joined National Salvation Army (Viet Minh) [ vi ] of Hà Nội after August Uprising and changed his name to Hoàng Cầm. In
1190-465: Was supposed to attack the town of Thủ Đức but was detected and engaged in the village of An My, losing 343 killed. One battalion of the 273rd Regiment escaped An My and suffered almost 400 killed in the fighting at Thủ Đức. The division also unsuccessfully attacked Tan Son Nhut Air Base on 31 January-1 February 1968, losing more than 669 killed and 26 captured, while killing 22 U.S. and 29 ARVN. During Operation Quyet Thang from 15 to 17 March 1968,
1225-530: Was then launched by the 1st Brigade in the same area and continued until 3 September with negligible results. Total US casualties were 125 killed, while the US/MACV claimed VC losses were 825 killed through body count , with a further 1,249 estimated killed. [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History . 9th Division (Vietnam) The 9th Infantry Division
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