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Contact Info
Date of Passing Nov 18, 1997
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
"Lam Nut Bau troi, Rung chuyen Trai Dat" (Crack the Sky, Shake the Earth)
~ Signal to communist forces telling them to commence the greatest battle in the history of Vietnam. The Tet '68 offensive was countrywide and well coordinated, with more than 80,000 communist troops striking more than 100 towns and cities. The Saigon region was among those areas hit.
MG Mearns was heavily involved in defending that region. He was in constant overflight contact with the 3rd Squadron 4th Cavalry Regiment forces counter attacking and defending Saigon from hostile NVA forces. The 25th Infantry Division was a major factor in relieving Saigon from enemy forces.
Other Comments:
Most of the profile information was taken from a bio published in the Tropic Lightning News dated 2 Oct 1967.
Filmore Kennady Mearns is the son of BG Robert Walker Mearns and Ethel Brown Mearns. BG Mearns is also went to West Point & was interim commander of the 17th Division in WWI. Filmore Mearns was born 20 Sep 1915. The 1920 US census shows he was born in Utah. Brother's are Dr. Robert B Mearns and James B. Mearns. Filmore Mearns was married to Elizabeth Mary Boles. Daughter is Nancy Elizabeth Mearns. This information was provided by Major John Moore
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase IV Campaign (1968)
From Month/Year
April / 1968
To Month/Year
June / 1968
Description This campaign was from 2 April to 30 June 1968. During this period friendly forces conducted a number of battalion-size attritional operations against the enemy.
Operations PEGASUS-Lam Son 207 relieved the Khe Sanh Combat Base on 5 April and thereby opened Route 9 for the first time since August 1967. This operation not only severely restricted the North Vietnamese Army's use of western Quang Tri Province but also inflicted casualties on the remnants of two North Vietnamese divisions withdrawing from the area. This success was followed by a singular allied spoiling operation in the A Shau Valley, Operation DELAWARE-Lam Son. These two operations prevented the enemy from further attacking I Corps Tactical Zone population centers and forced him to shift his pressure to the III Corps Tactical Zone.
During the period 5-12 May 1968 the Viet Cong launched an offensive with Saigon as the primary objective. Friendly forces defended the city with great determination. Consequently Saigon was never in danger of being overrun. Small Viet Cong units that did manage to get into the outskirts were fragmented and driven out with great loss of enemy life. By the end of June 1968 friendly forces had decisively blunted the enemy's attacks, inflicted very heavy casualties, and hindered his ability to attack urban areas throughout the Republic of Vietnam. The enemy was forced to withdraw to his sanctuaries.
The strength of the U.S. Army in Vietnam reach a peak of nearly 360,000 men during this period.
