Operation Union
Encyclopedia
Operation Union was a military
operation conducted by the United States Marine Corps
during the Vietnam War
. It was a search and destroy
mission in the Que Son Valley
carried out by the 1st Marine Regiment. The object of the operation was the 2nd Division of the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN, often in US sources "North Vietnamese Army" or NVA). Launched on April 21, 1967 the operation ended May 16.
provinces. During the Vietnam War it lay in the southern part of South Vietnam's I Corps Military Region.
Populous and rice-rich, the valley was viewed as one of the keys to controlling South Vietnam's five northern provinces by the communists and by early 1967 at least two regiments of the 2nd Division of the PAVN had been infiltrated into the area. The Que Son Valley was also recognized as strategically important by Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
(MACV). The 5th Marine Regiment minus its 2nd Battalion
, an experienced force that had fought in Vietnam since their arrival in the Summer of 1966, was assigned to the valley in 1967 to support the outnumbered Army of the Republic of Vietnam
(ARVN) forces in the area, the 6th ARVN Regiment and the 1st ARVN Ranger Group.
Since mid-January 1967 Foxtrot Company
, a reinforced company of the 2nd Battalion 1st Marines
(F/2/1), had manned an outpost atop Nui Loc Son (Loc Son Mountain), which dominated the southern Que Son Valley. Although the Communist forces operating in the valley did not initially take much notice of the Marines, on April 15, 1967 the Foxtrot company commander advised Colonel
Emil Radics, the commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, that enemy units appeared to be preparing for an all-out assault on the outpost.
Radics developed a plan for a multi-battalion assault and sweep aimed at clearing PAVN units from the vicinity of the mountain. The plan was approved as Operation Union by Major General
Herman Nickerson, the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, on April 20 and was put into action the following morning.
(3/1), arrived to support them via a helicopter assault
.
The main body of the 3/1 fought into the village to join Foxtrot in engaging the enemy while other elements of the battalion landed from helicopters east of the battlefield to block the enemy’s most likely escape route. During the afternoon, United States Army
175 mm self-propelled artillery
and Marine 105 mm howitzers established separate firebases near the battlefield, and that evening the 1st Battalion 1st Marines
(1/1) landed atop Nui Loc Son.
Fox 2/1/1 earlier referred to as bait sustained 18 KIA in the initial stages of the fight, during which time the actions of Pfc Gary Martini without regard to his own safety, was awarded The Medal of Honor. Throughout the fight Fox co had sustained another 9 men KIA on 21April1967. and additionally another 3 men KIA by the morning of 22April1967
The PAVN 21st Regiment sustained hundreds of casualties and was left unfit for combat. It is believed that Operation Union, together with the succeeding Operation Union II
, inflicted over three thousand casualties on the PAVN. Although the Communists had lost ground around Nui Loc Son they remained in firm control of much of the rest of the Que Son Valley and were steadily reinforced.
The 5th Marine Regiment also sustained over 300 casualties and the entire regiment received the Presidential Unit Citation (US)
awarded by President Lyndon Johnson.
On May 26, 5th Marines, which had assumed control of the latter stages of Operation Union, kicked off Operation Union II
.
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
operation conducted by the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. It was a search and destroy
Search and destroy
Search and Destroy, Seek and Destroy, or even simply S&D, refers to a military strategy that became a notorious component of the Vietnam War. The idea was to insert ground forces into hostile territory, search out the enemy, destroy them, and withdraw immediately afterward...
mission in the Que Son Valley
Que Son Valley
is a district in Quang Nam province, Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, it was the site of heavy fighting, including Operation Union I & II. From 1962 to 1967, the southern side of the valley was Quang Tin province....
carried out by the 1st Marine Regiment. The object of the operation was the 2nd Division of the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN, often in US sources "North Vietnamese Army" or NVA). Launched on April 21, 1967 the operation ended May 16.
Background
The Que Son Valley is located along the border of Quang Nam and Quang TinQuang Tin
Quảng Tín was a province of South Vietnam. It was created from the part of Quang Nam province on the south side of the Que Son Valley on July 31, 1962. The capital was Tam Ky. During the Vietnam War it was the site of heavy fighting, including Operation Union I & II...
provinces. During the Vietnam War it lay in the southern part of South Vietnam's I Corps Military Region.
Populous and rice-rich, the valley was viewed as one of the keys to controlling South Vietnam's five northern provinces by the communists and by early 1967 at least two regiments of the 2nd Division of the PAVN had been infiltrated into the area. The Que Son Valley was also recognized as strategically important by Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
The U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, MACV, , was the United States' unified command structure for all of its military forces in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.-History:...
(MACV). The 5th Marine Regiment minus its 2nd Battalion
2nd Battalion 5th Marines
2nd Battalion 5th Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps consisting of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. They are based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and fall under the command of the 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division...
, an experienced force that had fought in Vietnam since their arrival in the Summer of 1966, was assigned to the valley in 1967 to support the outnumbered Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The Army of the Republic of Viet Nam , sometimes parsimoniously referred to as the South Vietnamese Army , was the land-based military forces of the Republic of Vietnam , which existed from October 26, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975...
(ARVN) forces in the area, the 6th ARVN Regiment and the 1st ARVN Ranger Group.
Since mid-January 1967 Foxtrot Company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
, a reinforced company of the 2nd Battalion 1st Marines
2nd Battalion 1st Marines
2nd Battalion, 1st Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Nicknamed "The Professionals," the battalion consists of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors...
(F/2/1), had manned an outpost atop Nui Loc Son (Loc Son Mountain), which dominated the southern Que Son Valley. Although the Communist forces operating in the valley did not initially take much notice of the Marines, on April 15, 1967 the Foxtrot company commander advised Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Emil Radics, the commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, that enemy units appeared to be preparing for an all-out assault on the outpost.
Radics developed a plan for a multi-battalion assault and sweep aimed at clearing PAVN units from the vicinity of the mountain. The plan was approved as Operation Union by Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Herman Nickerson, the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, on April 20 and was put into action the following morning.
Operation
Acting as bait, Foxtrot Company was ordered to leave its outpost to sweep toward Binh Son, the nearest enemy-held village complex. Contact with PAVN elements began around 7 a.m., shortly developing into a full battle. The Marine company was soon pinned down in a tree line near Binh Son, thereby fixing the PAVN forces who were soon subjected to a withering air and artillery bombardment. This allowed Foxtrot Company to attack into Binh Son as the 3rd Battalion 1st Marines3rd Battalion 1st Marines
3rd Battalion 1st Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Horno on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California...
(3/1), arrived to support them via a helicopter assault
Air assault
Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing aircraft—such as the helicopter—to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces...
.
The main body of the 3/1 fought into the village to join Foxtrot in engaging the enemy while other elements of the battalion landed from helicopters east of the battlefield to block the enemy’s most likely escape route. During the afternoon, United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
175 mm self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery vehicles are combat vehicles armed with artillery. Within the term are covered self-propelled guns and rocket artillery...
and Marine 105 mm howitzers established separate firebases near the battlefield, and that evening the 1st Battalion 1st Marines
1st Battalion 1st Marines
1st Battalion 1st Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California consisting of anywhere from 800 to 2,000 Marines and Sailors, but the number fluctuates depending on the Battalion's mission...
(1/1) landed atop Nui Loc Son.
Fox 2/1/1 earlier referred to as bait sustained 18 KIA in the initial stages of the fight, during which time the actions of Pfc Gary Martini without regard to his own safety, was awarded The Medal of Honor. Throughout the fight Fox co had sustained another 9 men KIA on 21April1967. and additionally another 3 men KIA by the morning of 22April1967
Outcome
By the morning of April 22 the PAVN had been driven out of Binh Son and withdrew to the north. From that time until the end of Operation Union on May 14 the PAVN was hotly pursued by the Marines and the 1st ARVN Ranger Group in a series of bitter engagements that were costly to both sides.The PAVN 21st Regiment sustained hundreds of casualties and was left unfit for combat. It is believed that Operation Union, together with the succeeding Operation Union II
Operation Union II
Operation Union II was a military operation that took place in the Vietnam War. It was a search and destroy mission in the Que Son Valley carried out by the 5th Marine Regiment. Launched on May 26, 1967 the operation ended June 5. The North Vietnamese Army lost 701 killed and 23 captured, while U.S...
, inflicted over three thousand casualties on the PAVN. Although the Communists had lost ground around Nui Loc Son they remained in firm control of much of the rest of the Que Son Valley and were steadily reinforced.
The 5th Marine Regiment also sustained over 300 casualties and the entire regiment received the Presidential Unit Citation (US)
Presidential Unit Citation (US)
The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941...
awarded by President Lyndon Johnson.
On May 26, 5th Marines, which had assumed control of the latter stages of Operation Union, kicked off Operation Union II
Operation Union II
Operation Union II was a military operation that took place in the Vietnam War. It was a search and destroy mission in the Que Son Valley carried out by the 5th Marine Regiment. Launched on May 26, 1967 the operation ended June 5. The North Vietnamese Army lost 701 killed and 23 captured, while U.S...
.
See also
- Operation StarliteOperation StarliteOperation Starlite was the first offensive military action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War. The operation was launched based on intelligence provided by Major General Nguyen Chanh Thi, the commander of the South Vietnamese forces in northern I Corps area. Lieutenant...
- Operation Dewey CanyonOperation Dewey CanyonOperation Dewey Canyon was the last major offensive by the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. It took place from January 22 through March 18, 1969 and involved a sweep of the North Vietnamese Army -dominated A Shau Valley by the 9th Marine Regiment reinforced by elements of the 3rd...