Operation Hickory

Part of the Vietnam War

Date	May 18, 1967 – May 28, 1967
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Belligerents

United States

North Vietnam

Commanders and leaders

Robert E. Cushman, Jr.

Vo Nguyen Giap

Strength

1/3, 2/3, 3/4, 2/9, 3/9, 1/12, 2/26 Marines

324B NVA Division

Casualties and losses

142 killed, 896 wounded (USMC account)

304 killed, 30 POW, unknown number wounded (USMC account)

Operation Hickory I, was a search and destroy combat operation conducted by the United States Marine Corps, 3rd Marine Division in the area around Con Thien, South Vietnam known as Leatherneck Square from May 18 to May 28, 1967. Operation Hickory I was the first authorized incursion into the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

The 3rd Marine Division launched Operation Hickory (I) on the morning of 18 May 1967. The 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, supported by tanks and ontos, advanced northward from positions at Con Thien. The 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, moved by helicopters into a landing zone (LZ) within the DMZ near the Ben Hai River northwest of Con Thien. After 11 am, the lead unit of the 2/26 Marines made contact with an estimated two battalions of a NVA force located in bunkers and trenches. Heavy fighting ensued and the two Marine battalions fought until nightfall.

Operation Beau Charger: Alpha Battery, 1st Bn 12th Marines (105MM Howitzers): Special Landing Force (SLF) Alpha operating off the USS Point Defiance, landed A/1/12 Marines on 18 May 1967 by AMTRAC on a pure white stretch of beach of South Vietnam unopposed. A/1/12 Marines set up and dug in, and immediately began firing in support of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines who had been inserted by helicopter. Located in the middle of the southern half of the DMZ.

The North Vietnamese Army-NVA opened fire with a rocket attack that lasted most of the day. The first round took out three men from one gun of the A/1/12 Marines. A/1/12 Marines returned fire and the next day moved south for the rest of the operation. An amphibious withdrawal of A/1/12 Marines on AMTRACS was on 25 May.

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Wikipedia