Operation Meade River

Operation Meade River
Part of Vietnam War
Marines of the 5th Marine Regiment deploy by helicopter to begin the operation
Date 20 November - 9 December 1968 Location Dodge City, Quảng Nam Province, South Vietnam 15°54′N 108°12′E / 15.9°N 108.2°E / 15.9; 108.2 Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
United States	Viet Cong  North Vietnam
Strength
1st Battalion 1st Marines 2nd Battalion 5th Marines 3rd Battalion 5th Marines 1st Battalion 7th Marines 2nd Battalion 7th Marines 2nd Battalion 26th Marines 3rd Battalion 26th Marines	:R-20 Battalion  North Vietnam: 1st Battalion, 36th Regiment
Casualties and losses
108 killed	1,023 killed 123 captured

Operation Meade River was a US Marine Corps cordon and search operation that took place south of Danang, lasting from 20 November to 9 December 1968.

Dodge City was a 36 square km area located approximately 20 km south of Danang to the west of Highway 1 and given this nickname by the Marines due to frequent ambushes and firefights there; together with Go Noi Island directly to the south it was a Vietcong and People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) stronghold and base area. The Dodge City area was completely flat and criss-crossed with numerous small waterways. Dodge City was the base for the Vietcong R-20 Battalion and the PAVN 1st Battalion, 36th Regiment.

The operation was planned as part of the South Vietnamese Government's Le Loi Accelerated Pacification Campaign and called for the 1st Marine Regiment to cordon and search the entire Dodge City area.

On the morning of 20 November 7 Marine Battalions moving overland and by helicopter established the cordon meeting light resistance losing 1 Marine killed and 25 wounded and 2 helicopters shot down. Two towers were flown into the northern area of the cordon and these would be used by snipers and for directing artillery and air support. At midday 2nd Battalion 7th Marines began sweeping from the western side of the cordon towards the railway lines and at 16:30 Company G 2/7 Marines encountered a PAVN bunker complex in an area nicknamed the "Horseshoe" (15°53′35″N 108°10′48″E / 15.893°N 108.18°E / 15.893; 108.18), the Marines withdrew leaving behind 6 dead.

...
Wikipedia