operation starlite casualties

At the end of the six day battle, over 600 Viet Cong were killed […] The total Viet Cong strength was around 1,500 men, and backed by several elite mortar units. They came carefully stepping from the north, landing from the skies from on the west and splashing onto the beach near An Cuong(2). On 18 August the Marines launched Operation Starlite to secure the area around Chu Lai, the operation lasted until 24 August and resulted in 45 Marines and 614 Viet Cong killed. [4], The operation was launched on D-Day August 18, 1965, involving 5,500 Marines. LCpl Barton was critically wounded by an errant U.S. The marine on the left is carrying an M–79 grenade launcher. They called in artillery and air support to suppress the mortar and automatic fire, F-4 fighter jets dropping cluster bombs, resulting in an avalanche on the hillside which wiped out many of the attacking rifle and mortar squads. By the end of January 1968 the operation had resulted in 454 VC dead and 103 weapons captured at a cost of 25 US killed. [3] The various Marine units reported killing 614 Vietcong, capturing prisoners and 42 suspected guerillas. On Operation Starlite, in Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province while engaged in action with enemy forces. Nevertheless, all their forces- ground, air, ship, and artillery- managed to cause almost 700 dead Vietcong, the better part of several battalions. To them, Supply Column 21 did not exist. Naval gunfire round. Echo Company, 2/4 spotted Viet Cong in the open and called in artillery fire from 3rd Battalion 12th Marines. Lessons learned from the battle include the knowledge that the daily allotment of 2 gallons of water per man was inadequate in the heat of Vietnam and that the M14 Rifle was too bulky for troops cramped into small personnel carriers. The Marines, partly supported by fire from U.S. Navy vessels near the coast, inflict heavy casualties on a large enemy force in heavy fighting around Van Tuong, approximately 12 miles south of Chu Lai. The operation was originally called Satellite, but a power blackout led to a clerical error and a clerk working by candlelight typed "Starlite" instead. Scout units of 3/7's Marines came ashore during the night and the battalion got ready for a morning assault on the Vietnamese positions. The various Marine units reported killing 600+ enemy fighters. The operation was launched based on intelligence provided by Major general Nguyen Chanh Thi, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) I Corps commander. DATE NAME RANK WALL PANEL AUG 20 1965 PETRICK, RONALD PAUL CPL 02E LINE 064 On Operation Starlite, in Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province Cpl Petrick was killed in action as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds inflicted by errant U.S. When it landed on the beach, it marched 4 miles (6.5 km) to establish their blocking positions. Operation Starlite (also known in Vietnam as Battle of Van Tuong) was the first major offensive action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War from 18 to 24 August 1965. 45 KIA, 120 WIA. Regimental 2nd Battalion 4th Marines (2/4), 1st Battalion, 7th Marines (1/7) and 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines (3/3), and 3rd Battalion 7th Marines (3/7) the SLF - permission was granted by Admiral Sharp to use Special Landing Force and originally a reserve component) in an assault on the Viet Cong base near Van Tuong. The operation was conducted as a combined arms assault involving ground, air and naval units. The developing engagement necessitated the deployment of Lima Company, 3/7 from the USS Iwo Jima to join India Company to assist the ambushed supply column. Lieutenant General Lewis W. Walt devised a plan to launch a pre-emptive strike against the Viet Cong regiment to nullify the threat on the vital Chu Lai base and ensure its powerful communication tower remained intact. There were shaky days and nights after RLT-7 started Operation Starlite. Operation Starlite (also known in Vietnam as Battle of Van Tuong) was the first major offensive action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War from 18 to 24 August 1965. : 242 The expected reinforcements, were diverted to assist the supply column that was ambushed west of their position. The Marines met light resistance moving into the attack, using their submachine guns to repulse occasional Viet Cong raiders. One prisoner was taken and 40 weapons were captured. The operation was launched based on intelligence provided by Major General Nguyen Chanh Thi, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) commander in northern I Corps area. Fightings ceased at nightfall. "The First Big … By Cpl. Scout units of 3/7's Marines came ashore during the night and the battalion got ready for a morning assault on the Vietnamese positions. The United States Navy's USS Galveston (CLG-3) and USS Cabildo (LSD-16) were available for naval gunfire support and 3rd Battalion 12th Marines was the artillery unit in direct support. The US general Lew Walt planned a preemptive strike on the Viet Cong to protect the Chu Lai Air Base and its vital communication tower, and it involved ground, air, and naval units. The Marine on the left carries a M-79 grenade launcher. Summers, Harry G. Historical Atlas of the Vietnam War. India Company was ordered to join Kilo and Hotel companies and clean up any opposition but was caught in a crossfire from Nam Yen Dan Hill 30. Come nightfall, the Marines hunkered down into defensive positions. And they suffered and absorbed each loss and injury like the brothers they had become. Significance/Notes: USMC. August 17, 1965: After a deserter from the 1st Vietcong regiment reveals that an attack is imminent against the U.S. Marine base at Chu Lai, the American army launches Operation Starlite. We have 45 casualty profiles listed in our archive. The artillery barrage was reported to have killed 90 Viet Cong, including crippling several of their mortar units. The Marines admitted to have a total of 45 dead and 203 wounded. Thefinal count of our dead and wounded was 46 KIA s and 204 WIAs. Nine prisoners were taken along with 42 suspected guerillas; 109 assorted weapons were seized. From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core, "Van Tuong victory raises confidence in defeating US troops", https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Operation_Starlite&oldid=2025841, Articles lacking in-text citations from August 2011, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015, Vietnam articles missing geocoordinate data, Battles and operations of the Vietnam War, Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1965, United States Marine Corps in the Vietnam War, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, About Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core, 15 miles south of Chu Lai on the border of Quang Tin and Quang Ngai Provinces. India Company, 3/3 attacked An Cuong after receiving heavy fire from the hamlet and losing their company commander in the engagement. A MAG-16 helicopter (below) evacuates casualties while a Marine M–48 tank stands guard during Operation Starlite. Click to View Online Archive. Aftermath of victory On August 19, Starlite’s second day, sporadic and isolated fire came from enemy soldiers covering their main force’s retreat, but organized resistance had ended. When they finally attacked they found the VC unit had already retreated from the encirclement during the night, though pockets of resistance continued from other Viet Cong fighters holed up in bunkers and caves. To the Americans, the battle was considered being a great success for U.S. forces as they engaged a Main Force Viet Cong unit and came out victorious. A Marine helicopter from HMM-361 brings ammunition to a howtar position during Operation Starlite. They called in artillery and air support to suppress the mortar and automatic fire, F-4 fighter jets dropping cluster bombs, resulting in an avalanche on the hillside which wiped out many of the attacking rifle and mortar squads. It would be a very different battle for the Vietcong, accustomed to fighting with their backs to the sea, knowing that against South Vietnamese forces the water could always be used as an avenue of escape. The next day the Marines denied the story. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Fightings ceased at nightfall. 3/3 made an amphibious landing and were tasked with driving the Viet Cong towards the 2nd battalion 4th Marines who were to be lifted by helicopter into three landing zones west of Van Tuong. The operation was launched based on intelligence provided by Major General Nguyen Chanh Thi, the commander of the South Vietnamese forces in northern I Corps area. Hotel Company established a defensive perimeter and were told to await reinforcements. Lieutenant general Lewis W. Walt devised a plan to … The developing engagement necessitated the deployment of Lima Company, 3/7 from the USS Iwo Jima to join India Company to assist the ambushed supply column. The Marines sustained 45 killed and 203 wounded. Naval gunfire while engaged in action against hostile forces. The battalion was alerted for possible deployment during the 1956 Suez War and the 1958 intervention in Lebanon. He believed that some of the VC had remained behind in underground hiding places. Operation Starlite 1965 A MAG-16 helicopter evacuates STARLITE casualties, while a Marine M-48 tank stands guard. Chu Lai Base Area - … The Battle of Van Tuong, also known as Operation Starlite, was the first major offensive action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War. [2] In fact, the VC 1st Regiment was not yet totally wiped out, and the VC still had control over some hamlets in the peninsula. Over the course of six days, between Aug. 18-24, 1965, units from the 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Amphibious Force, clashed with the 1st Viet Cong Regiment south of the newly established Marine base at Chu Lai in the I Corps area of responsibility. U.S. Marines in Viet Nam 1965, History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington D.C. USS Vernon County (LST-1161)embarked elements of the 3d Battalion, 3d Marines (Battalion Landing Team) (BLT) 3, under Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Muir, USMC, at Chu Lai, and sailed south along the coast to An Thuong, where she put the troops ashore in one phase of "Starlite.". Evacuated to the LPH-2 Iwo Jima he died from multiple fragmentation wounds. A MAG-16 helicopter evacuates casualties, while a Marine M48 Patton tank stands guard. US Marine Corps teams were inserted by air and sea, and their initial attack was successful. Operation Starlite was the first major offensive regimental size action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War. Mike Co., 3/3 was designated the blocking force and deployed on August 18, 1965 using LVT-5s to the operational area. Objective (s): To rid the Van Tuong peninsula of the Viet Cong 1st Regiment, as they were a significant threat to the Chu Lai base, with a hammer and anvil attack using amphibious and heliborne forces. When they finally attacked they found the VC unit had already retreated from the encirclement during the night, though pockets of resistance continued from other Viet Cong fighters holed up in bunkers and caves. Although the cordon phase of Starlite had been completed, Walt decided to continue the operation for five more days so that the entire area could be searched systematically. Part of Lima Company was caught in a horseshoe ambush in their attempt to rescue a downed LVT (amtrac) personnel, 4 marines were killed and 10 wounded. [4][7] Corporal Robert E. O'Malley (3/3) and Lance Corporal Joe C. Paul (2/4) received the Medal of Honor for their actions during the operation. Mike Co., 3/3 was designated the blocking force and deployed on August 18, 1965 using LVTP-5s to the operational area. The operation was launched based on intelligence provided by Major general Nguyen Chanh Thi, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) I Corps commander. Starlite was the first step in Vietnam becoming America’s Tar Baby; the more she struggled to find a solution, the more difficult it became. India Company, 3/3 attacked An Cuong after receiving heavy fire from the hamlet and losing their company commander in the engagement. The Marines killed 54 more VC in the Van Tuong complex … With that out of the way, the Americans now have bigger fish to fry as they attempt to hunt down and destroy an entire VC regiment. The Marines were hit by intense mortar and rifle fire and suffered 5 dead and 17 wounded. Summers, Harry G. Historical Atlas of the Vietnam War. Part of Lima Company was caught in a horseshoe ambush in their attempt to rescue a downed LVT (amtrac) personnel, 4 marines were killed and 10 wounded. It was August of 1965. At a loss of 1 soldier killed and 6 wounded, the Americans claimed 100 VC dead, 7 prisoners and 38 captured weapons. Despite this, the National Liberation Front also claimed victory, announcing that they had inflicted 900 American casualties, destroyed 22 tanks and APCs, and downed 13 choppers. 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