Vietnam

Although the 82d Airborne Division was the nation’s primary ready strategic reserve, the uproar caused by the Tet Offensive, which swept across the Republic of Vietnam in January 1968, forced the depletion of even the 82d in attempt to avert a perceived disaster in Vietnam. The 3rd Brigade was alerted and within 24 hours, the brigade was in route to Chu Lai. The 3rd Brigade performed combat duties in the Hue-Phu Bai area of the I Corps sector; later the brigade moved south to defend Saigon, fighting battle in the Delta, the Iron Triangle, and along the Cambodian border. After serving nearly 22 months in Vietnam, 3rd Brigade troopers returned to Fort Bragg in December 1969.

Tet Counteroffensive; 15 February 1968- 1 April 1968

OPERATION CARENTAN I

8 -31 March

The 3d Brigade was quickly sent into the fight after it is arrival. The entire Brigade arrived in 10 days and the battalions completed training, within five days of arrival.

At Hue, eight enemy battalions infiltrated the city and fought the three U.S. Marine Corps and eleven South Vietnamese battalions defending it. The fight to expel the enemy lasted a month. The 2-505th Infantry was quickly deployed there to bolster the friendly forces. The rest of the Brigade joined them and they defended the city to the South. The Brigade was placed in the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division for OPERATION CARENTAN I where the it was given the mission to secure the approaches to Hue. The 1-505 Infantry deployed southeast of Hue, 1-508 Infantry south of Hue and 2-505 Infantry further south of the two sister battalions. Each Infantry Battalion established forward operating presence and conducted patrols and operations. The 2-321 Artillery conducted harassing fire in support of the infantry battalions.

The biggest battle was The Candy Stripe from 18-22d March 1968. The Candy Stripe was Highway 552; here the Brigade fought North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops. The NVA built a trench and bunker complex along a canal zone south of the highway. After several days of contact, the NVA units abandoned the line of defense and retreated from the area.

Counteroffensive, Phase IV; 2 April 1968 - 30 June 1968

OPERATION CARENTAN II

During this period, friendly forces conducted a number of battalion-size attritional operations against the enemy. CARENTAN II to block NVA supply routes from the rice fields on the coast to the mountain bases. 3d Brigade moved from east of Hue to northwest to conduct economy of force operations . The 1-505 Infantry was east of Hue and air assaulted to an area of northwest of Hue. The 1-508 Infantry secured an area north of Hue and 2-505 Infantry moved southwest of Hue on Highway 547. The 2-505 and 1-508 Infantry began a pacification operation, while the 1-505 Infantry conducted a recon in force which began a battle known as the Lazy W along the Song Bo River, 5-16 April 1968.

The battle occurred between the river and the Highway 1, as the units forced the NVA back to the river fighting became intense. During this phase, Sergeant Ronnie Harrell earned the Distinguished Service Cross while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 505th Infantry. His squad, point element for his platoon, maneuvered against well-fortified enemy positions, which had pinned down the rest of the company. Sergeant Harrell advanced through a hail of fire, entered the enemy trench system and killed two North Vietnamese soldiers. Hurling grenades, he continued to expose himself to enemy fire as he moved down the trench to eliminate a North Vietnamese Army position inside a nearby house. He destroyed the emplacement and began to return to his platoon's position. As he did so, he found four wounded comrades in the trench. He deployed three of them into a hasty defensive position and dragged the severely wounded fourth man to cover. He then returned to the other wounded, led them to a protected friendly position, and integrated them into the company's defenses. Upon returning to his platoon, Sergeant Harrell relayed timely information concerning the location of enemy positions to his officers, allowing them to better deploy their troops.

Following these operations, the 1-505 and 1-508 Infantry moved to fire support bases along Highway 547 in support of the 2-505 Infantry efforts to secure the route into Hue and block NVA movements through the area. The brigade conducted operations that trapped an NVA K10 Battalion of the 22d Regiment and eliminated the force. Panel note: need map. Counteroffensive, Phase V; 1 July 1968- 1 November 1968

OPERATION NEVADA EAGLE

During this period, a countrywide effort started to restore government control of territory lost to the enemy since the Tet offensive. The enemy attempted another such offensive on 17-18 August but his efforts were comparatively feeble and were quickly overwhelmed by Allied forces. The 3d Brigade operated near Hue conducting cordon and search operations in the area. 2-505 and 1-508 Infantry operated near Chau Chu.

During this time, it was Brigade S-2 determination that the 22d NVA Regiment and its commander Colonel Mot was in the area. The 1-508 Infantry was given the assault mission, and on 23 August the assault began. The 1-505 Infantry supported by conducting a combat assault and established Fire Support Base (FSB) Brick to fix the enemy. The 2-505 Infantry secured FSB Panther II to allow the 1-321 to send harassing fire into the operation area. The operations successfully captured the NVA regimental headquarters and provided a treasure trove of documents.

Following OPERATION MOT, the Brigade was moved to an area near Saigon. The Brigade moved to Phuc Vin in the III Corps area, northwest of the Capital. It was reassigned to the Capital Military Assistance Command. The Brigade’s mission was to bolster the defense of Saigon and Tan Son Nhut Airbase. The Brigade now fought a different enemy in this area; they no longer were fighting the NVA but the Viet Cong (VC). General Bolling changed the focus as in North near Phu Bai, “Take the night away from Charlie.” This required different techniques. During the day they conducted, cordon and search mission. At night, they conducted roving patrols and ambushing.

The Brigade headquartered at Camp Red Ball just north of the airbase. The Battalion established fire support bases in their area of operations. The 1-505 Infantry established FSB All-American Northwest of the airbase. The 2-505 Infantry was further way in the same direction at FSB Harrison. The 1-508 Infantry was at FSB Hardcore established in Vinh Loc Village area. The 2-321th Field Artillery was established at FSB Copperhead, which supported the entire Brigade Area with supporting and harassing fires.

The operations in this area were small unit actions, which NCOs and Lieutenants led. They successfully slowed the flow of VC intelligence and weapons around the approaches to Saigon.

Counteroffensive, Phase VI; 2 November 1968 - 22d February 1969

OPERATION TOAN THANG II consisted of ground operations throughout III Corps’ Tactical Zone. This was a multi-division operation involving allied forces. OPERATION SEA LORDS was a coast and riverine operation.

On 12 November 1968, the 1-508 Infantry moved to area that the 9th Infantry Division had operated; this area required riverine operation in Navy Landing Craft. The mission was a denial mission with combat assaults, reconnaissance in force and cordon and search operations. The battalion also conducted Eagle flights, small infantry air assaults into areas of enemy sightings.

The rest of the Brigade continued pacification operations and gained control of the area. Most successful was the operation to pacify the Vinh Loc village hamlet. Medical assistance proved to be the most successful tactic in providing support to the villages. As this was done, II Field Force used the battalions to reinforce and support operations throughout the III Corps area.

On 6 December, OPERATION GIANT SLINGSHOT started to disrupt enemy infiltration of materials from the "Parrot's Beak" area of Cambodia. Air operations continued to be important with over 60,000 sorties flown. 2-505 Infantry was attached to the 3d Brigade Cavalry Division for OPERATION SHERIDAN-SABER. They moved to an area 25 km north of Phuc Vinh to block an infiltration route that the 5th NVA Division used. Once the battalion patrolled and found no enemy units, it was moved another 20 Kilometers north and on 17 January 1969 it discovered regular NVA units operating in the area. During a four day running battle, the battalion found and tapped a telephone line. They soon learned they infiltrated an area of several NVA base camps. The Battalion continued operations in this area for weeks conducting a cat and mouse game until the NVA left the area and on 5 February, the Battalion returned to the Brigade.

Tet 69/Counteroffensive: 23 February 1969 - 8 June 1969

From Tet 1969 through the month of June, the enemy again tried to sustain an offensive. His inability to do so can be largely attributed to aggressive allied ground operations. Between 23 February and 8 June 1969, 70 significant named ground operations were executed resulting in heavy enemy loss of life and materiel.

The Brigade continued OPERATION TOAN THUNG PHASE III ,conducting its operations to keep the enemy off balance in its area. It was so successful that during the 23 February attack of Saigon no rocket or mortar fire came from the Brigade’s area of operation.

The 2-505th Infantry conducted its operations in the Hoc Mon, Phu Hoa, and Cu Chi Districts. They entered an area that was a historic staging arena for the NVA. They conducted Bushmaster operations, combined aerial and riverine operations to deny the NVA the ability to use the area.

The 2-321st Field Artillery conducted pacification operations during this period. The most effective was its agricultural program. This operation was done in the Gia Dinh Province. The Battalion analyzed the farmer’s field soil and helped determine proper crops and fertilizer and lime needed to increase yields.

In March, the Brigade once again lost a maneuver battalion, this time the 1-505 Infantry was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division for operations along the Song Vam Co Doung River. Its areas were between the Angels Wing and Parrot Beak and areas used by the VC as a route to Saigon. The area had a huge number of mines and booby traps and movements were slow and deliberate through the area. The battalion’s command and control changed again when 2d Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division took control of the area from the 1st Cavalry. Summer-Fall 1969: 9 June 1969 - 31 October 1969.

To open this campaign the Brigade’s operational area was extended west into terrain once controlled by the 199th Infantry. The lands west of Saigon to the Vam Go Dong River was a place known for pineapple plantations, nicknaming it the “Pineapple” The area was full off channels and low flooded fields. It was also full of booby traps, because it was a commonly used VC route. The area was so large that the Brigade used PPS -5 radar units to assist monitoring and Navy Patrol Rubber Boats to extend the Brigade’s capability to deny the area to the enemy.

During the summer and fall of 1969, the conduct of operations was increasingly turned over to Vietnamese; US troops withdrew in greater numbers amid reaffirmations of support for the Republic of South Vietnam government. President Nixon announced the reduction of the U.S. military presence in South Vietnam, which would be demonstrated initially by the withdrawal of 25,000 troops by 31 August 1969.

The Brigade’s part of this transition was to train the 5th Army of the Republic of Viet Nam (ARVN) Ranger Group and 1st and 3d Airborne in combat operations. They trained the ARVN units in airmobile assaults, cache finding sweeps and night ambushes. They conducted these operations and trained the ARVN in the Brigade’s area of operation from May until they turned the area west of Saigon over to the ARVN on 5 September 1969. The ARVN 1st Airborne received operations in The Pineapple on 15 October.

September 1969 began what was going to be the last combat operation for the Brigade, “Yorktown Victor”. This operation was to help the South Vietnamese win their freedom. . It was launched to get the enemy dislodged from his logistical train, the 83d Rear Service Force. The Brigade deployed to a new area in the southern Phu Ko District and the Iron Triangle starting 10 September 1969. The 1-505th Infantry was sent into the Iron Training and found huge numbers of underground supply depots. The 1-508 Infantry was sent to Phu Hoa in the southern tip of the Iron Triangle, and they conducted daily joint ARVN and US operations. The operations built the capability of the ARVN to function independently. They fought both VC and NVA units up to Company size.