Operation Kentucky

Part of Vietnam War

Date	November 1, 1967 – February 28, 1969
Location	Con Thien, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam
Result	U.S. tactical victory

Belligerents

United States

North Vietnam

Commanders and leaders

Robert E. Cushman, Jr. Col Richard B. Smith, 9th Marines Commander

Vo Nguyen Giap

Strength

5 Marine Battalions

elements of 320 NVA Div, 324B NVA Div

Casualties and losses

520 killed, 2,698 wounded (USMC account)

3,839 killed, 117 POW, unknown number wounded (USMC account)

Operation Kentucky was a multi-Battalion operation conducted by the United States Marine Corps in the area south of the DMZ in Quang Tri Province. This was another operation to secure the Con Thien area from the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). The operation ran from November 1, 1967 until February 28, 1969.

Following the conclusion of Operation Kingfisher, 3rd Marine Division split the Kingfisher tactical area of responsibility (TAOR) in two. The new Kentucky TAOR which included Gio Linh, Con Thien, Cam Lo and Đông Hà (the area known to Marines as Leatherneck Square) was under the control of the 9th Marines, while to the west the Lancaster TAOR covered Camp Carroll, the Rockpile and Ca Lu was under the control of 3rd Marines.

During November 9 Marines continued construction of the strongpoint obstacle system and engaged platoon and company-sized NVA units often in bunkers trying to ambush the Marines and hinder construction, the Marines killed 65 NVA during these encounters. On 29 November 3 Marine Battalions and 2 Battalions from the ARVN 1st Division conducted a clearing operation between Con Thien and Gio Linh. On 30 November 2/9 Marines found and overran an NVA bunker system killing 41 NVA for the loss of 15 Marines killed and 53 wounded.

This period saw relatively little NVA activity other than harassment fire on the Con Thien base and the Marines used this relative quiet to continue to improve the strongpoints along the Trace line. On 31 December, Company I of 3/4 Marines on a patrol north from Strongpoint A-3 spotted NVA soldiers in the southern DMZ, engaging the NVA they soon realised that the NVA occupied a line of bunkers in front of them. Marine mortars and artillery and two UH-1E Huey gunships from VMO-6 provided supporting fire and Company I was able to withdraw sustaining only 4 wounded, while the NVA had lost at least 35 dead.

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Wikipedia