Criteria The Purple Heart may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, kill... The Purple Heart may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may die of wounds received in armed combat or as a result of an act of international terrorism. MoreHide
Criteria The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or aft... The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after December 7, 1941. MoreHide
Description
Presidential Unit Citation 23 Oct-26 Nov 65, DAGO 40, 67; 25 Aug 66-4 Apr 67, DAGO 2, 73
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical l... This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the Armed Forces of the United States who meet the criteria established for the AFEM (Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces; or 3. Did not complete the length of service required in item (1) or (2) above, but who, during wartime, were: a. Wounded by the enemy (in a military action); b. Captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released; or c. Killed in action or in the line of duty; or 4. Were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73. MoreHide
Description This campaign was from 25 December 1965 to 30 June 1966. United States operations after 1 July 1966 were a continuation of the earlier counteroffensive campaign. Recognizing the interdependence of polThis campaign was from 25 December 1965 to 30 June 1966. United States operations after 1 July 1966 were a continuation of the earlier counteroffensive campaign. Recognizing the interdependence of political, economic, sociological, and military factors, the Joint Chiefs of Staff declared that American military objectives should be to cause North Vietnam to cease its control and support of the insurgency in South Vietnam and Laos, to assist South Vietnam in defeating Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces in South Vietnam, and to assist South Vietnam in pacification extending governmental control over its territory.
North Vietnam continued to build its own forces inside South Vietnam. At first this was done by continued infiltration by sea and along the Ho Chi Minh trail and then, in early 1966, through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). U.S. air elements received permission to conduct reconnaissance bombing raids, and tactical air strikes into North Vietnam just north of the DMZ, but ground forces were denied authority to conduct reconnaissance patrols in the northern portion of the DMZ and inside North Vietnam. Confined to South Vietnamese territory U.S. ground forces fought a war of attrition against the enemy, relying for a time on body counts as one standard indicator for measuring successful progress for winning the war.
During 1966 there were eighteen major operations, the most successful of these being Operation WHITE WING (MASHER). During this operation, the 1st Cavalry Division, Korean units, and ARVN forces cleared the northern half of Binh Dinh Province on the central coast. In the process they decimated a division, later designated the North Vietnamese 3d Division. The U.S. 3d Marine Division was moved into the area of the two northern provinces and in concert with South Vietnamese Army and other Marine Corps units, conducted Operation HASTINGS against enemy infiltrators across the DMZ.
The largest sweep of 1966 took place northwest of Saigon in Operation ATTLEBORO, involving 22,000 American and South Vietnamese troops pitted against the VC 9th Division and a NVA regiment. The Allies defeated the enemy and, in what became a frequent occurrence, forced him back to his havens in Cambodia or Laos.
By 31 December 1966, U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam numbered 385,300. Enemy forces also increased substantially, so that for the same period, total enemy strength was in excess of 282,000 in addition to an estimated 80,000 political cadres. By 30 June 1967, total U.S. forces in SVN had risen to 448,800, but enemy strength had increased as well.
On 8 January U.S. and South Vietnamese troops launched separate drives against two major VC strongholds in South Vietnam-in the so-called "Iron Triangle" about 25 miles northwest of Saigon. For years this area had been under development as a VC logistics base and headquarters to control enemy activity in and around Saigon. The Allies captured huge caches of rice and other foodstuffs, destroyed a mammoth system of tunnels, and seized documents of considerable intelligence value.
In February, the same U.S. forces that had cleared the "Iron Triangle", were committed with other units in the largest allied operation of the war to date, JUNCTION CITY. Over 22 U.S. and four ARVN battalions engaged the enemy, killing 2,728. After clearing this area, the Allies constructed three airfields; erected a bridge and fortified two camps in which CIDG garrisons remained as the other allied forces withdrew.... More
Description Operation Nathan Hale; carried out from June 2 to 26, 1966 by the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division; vicinity of Dong Tre and Tuy Hoa, Phy Yen Province; mission to attack enemy forces and installationOperation Nathan Hale; carried out from June 2 to 26, 1966 by the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division; vicinity of Dong Tre and Tuy Hoa, Phy Yen Province; mission to attack enemy forces and installations in central Phu Yen Province, provide one battalion task force as "IF force V" reserve and reaction force, conduct tactical route security on Highway 19, and perform offensive operations in the area)
On 19 June Companies A and C 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment were landed by helicopter in the Trung Luong Valley and proceeded to sweep the area with artillery support provided by the 2nd Battalion, 320th Artillery. The Companies engaged in small skirmishes with PAVN/VC forces before establishing two night defensive positions.
On 20 June the two Companies resumed their sweep. As Company A approached the hamlet of Trung Luong 2 in the center of the valley they were hit by automatic weapon and mortar fire that wounded all of the officers except the commander. The PAVN then charged Company A and after intense close combat the Company withdrew to its previous night defensive position. Meanwhile Company C was engaged by a PAVN force on Hill 258 and withdrew to a defensive position. Later that afternoon Company B 2/327th was landed in a hot landing zone northwest of Hill 258 losing 2 men killed, Company B tried to relieve Company C but was soon pinned down by PAVN fire. The Battalion had lost 14 killed that day and only artillery support prevented the 3 separate Companies from being overrun.
MGen Stanley R. Larsen ordered Col Hal Moore, commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division to take control of the operation which was now named Nathan Hale. The Field Force Reserve unit, the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment was flown from Kon Tum to Dong Tre Camp and then into the valley, arriving in position 600m north of Hill 258 by 22:00. An additional artillery battery from 5th Battalion, 27th Artillery Regiment set up a new firebase 2km south of the 2/320th Artillery firebase.
On the morning of 21 June, Company B 2/327th supported by Companies B and C 1/8 Cavalry assaulted Hill 258 but found that the PAVN had abandoned the position overnight. Companies A and C 2/327th attacked Truong Luong 2 from the west and east, but made slow progress and withdrew having lost 6 killed while killing 35 PAVN. That evening Companies B and C 1/8 Cavalry moved to Truong Luong 2, Company B 1/8th joined with Company C 2/327th at a position called Eagle west of Truong Luong 2, while Company C 1/8th joined Company A 2/237th on the east. That night 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment was moved to Tuy Hòa Base Camp to serve as a reserve force.
At 05:40 on 22 June the PAVN hit position Eagle with mortars and machine gun fire and then launched a Company-sized assault on the west perimeter defended by heavy weapons platoon of Company C 2/327th. The PAVN force penetrated the perimeter and was mingled with the U.S. defenders meaning that artillery fire and air support could not be used, the fight continued for over 3 hours before the PAVN withdrew around 09:00. 96 PAVN bodies were found on the west perimeter and a prisoner revealed that his unit, the 2nd Company, 7th Battalion had been annihilated. Another 19 dead PAVN were found around the perimeter. U.S. losses were 12 dead.
On 26 June the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division joined the operation and MGen John Norton assumed overall command. The four Battalions continued to sweep the valley making sporadic contact with the PAVN.
Aftermath
Operation Nathan Hale officially concluded on 30 June, PAVN losses were 450 killed and a further 300 estimated killed. The operation was regarded as a success in that any PAVN attack on Dong Tre was prevented and the 2nd Company, 7th Battalion, 18B Regiment had been destroyed while the rest of the Battalion was believed to have suffered 50 percent casualties rendering it combat ineffective.... More
Description This campaign was 8 March to 24 December 1965. During this campaign the U.S. objective was to hold off the enemy while gaining time needed to build base camps and logistical facilities. The U.S. also This campaign was 8 March to 24 December 1965. During this campaign the U.S. objective was to hold off the enemy while gaining time needed to build base camps and logistical facilities. The U.S. also attempted to consolidate its ground operations more efficiently. For this purpose, it organized the U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV). U.S. support in the I Corps tactical zone, composed of five northernmost provinces, was to be primarily a Marine Corps responsibility; the U.S. Army was to operate mainly in the II and III Corps tactical zones which comprised the Central highlands, adjacent coastal regions, and the area around Saigon; and ARVN troops were to retain primary responsibility for the Delta region of the IV Corps.
On 19 October 1965. three VC regiments totaling 6,000 men attacked a Civil Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) - U.S. Special Forces at Plei Me, near the entrance to the Ia Drang Valley, in what purported to be the start of a thrust to cut the country in half.
With the assistance of massive air strikes, elements of the newly arrived 1st Cavalry Division thwarted the enemy in a battle that lasted nearly a month and included several engagements. The Ia Drang Valley action was the costliest in terms of casualties to date. The successful defense of the region improved security in and around the Central Highlands and raised the morale of the soldiers involved.... More