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Cpl Elizabeth Davis
to remember
Marine SSgt John Vincent Chutis.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Elizabeth
Last Address Elizabeth
Casualty Date Apr 30, 1967
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Quang Tri (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment IOOF Cemetery - Berlin, Pennsylvania
Wall/Plot Coordinates 18E 119/Plot Section A, Lot 218, Row 56
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase II Campaign (1966-67)
From Month/Year
July / 1966
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Description This campaign was from 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967. United States operations after 1 July 1966 were a continuation of the earlier counteroffensive campaign. Recognizing the interdependence of political, economic, sociological, and military factors, the Joint Chiefs of Staff declared that American military objectives should be to cause North Vietnam to cease its control and support of the insurgency in South Vietnam and Laos, to assist South Vietnam in defeating Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces in South Vietnam, and to assist South Vietnam in pacification extending governmental control over its territory.
North Vietnam continued to build its own forces inside South Vietnam. At first this was done by continued infiltration by sea and along the Ho Chi Minh trail and then, in early 1966, through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). U.S. air elements received permission to conduct reconnaissance bombing raids, and tactical air strikes into North Vietnam just north of the DMZ, but ground forces were denied authority to conduct reconnaissance patrols in the northern portion of the DMZ and inside North Vietnam. Confined to South Vietnamese territory U.S. ground forces fought a war of attrition against the enemy, relying for a time on body counts as one standard indicator for measuring successful progress for winning the war.
During 1966 there were eighteen major operations, the most successful of these being Operation WHITE WING (MASHER). During this operation, the 1st Cavalry Division, Korean units, and ARVN forces cleared the northern half of Binh Dinh Province on the central coast. In the process they decimated a division, later designated the North Vietnamese 3d Division. The U.S. 3d Marine Division was moved into the area of the two northern provinces and in concert with South Vietnamese Army and other Marine Corps units, conducted Operation HASTINGS against enemy infiltrators across the DMZ.
The largest sweep of 1966 took place northwest of Saigon in Operation ATTLEBORO, involving 22,000 American and South Vietnamese troops pitted against the VC 9th Division and a NVA regiment. The Allies defeated the enemy and, in what became a frequent occurrence, forced him back to his havens in Cambodia or Laos.
By 31 December 1966, U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam numbered 385,300. Enemy forces also increased substantially, so that for the same period, total enemy strength was in excess of 282,000 in addition to an estimated 80,000 political cadres. By 30 June 1967, total U.S. forces in SVN had risen to 448,800, but enemy strength had increased as well.
On 8 January U.S. and South Vietnamese troops launched separate drives against two major VC strongholds in South Vietnam-in the so-called "Iron Triangle" about 25 miles northwest of Saigon. For years this area had been under development as a VC logistics base and headquarters to control enemy activity in and around Saigon. The Allies captured huge caches of rice and other foodstuffs, destroyed a mammoth system of tunnels, and seized documents of considerable intelligence value.
In February, the same U.S. forces that had cleared the "Iron Triangle", were committed with other units in the largest allied operation of the war to date, JUNCTION CITY. Over 22 U.S. and four ARVN battalions engaged the enemy, killing 2,728. After clearing this area, the Allies constructed three airfields; erected a bridge and fortified two camps in which CIDG garrisons remained as the other allied forces withdrew.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
July / 1966
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember 2ndLt Joseph R. Mitchell, Alexander City, AL (Bronze Star "V") SSgt Karol R. Bauer, Philadelphia, PA Sgt Milton E. Prescott, Blue Island, IL Cpl Bobby J. Ard, Tupelo, MS Cpl William D. Early, Akron, OH Cpl Douglas P. Hallock, Schenectady, NY Cpl James Mines, New Brunswick, NJ Cpl Robert J. Schley, Oregon, WI (Navy Cross) Cpl Larry M. Smith, Martinsville, IN LCpl Michael I. Colley, Birmingham, AL LCpl Robert J. Kotik, Mc Kees Rocks, PA LCpl Michael R. Morgan, Bethpage, NY (Silver Star) LCpl Francis M. Palma, Philadelphia, PA LCpl Peter Mazzillo, Avenel, NJ LCpl Frank T. Roth, Philadelphia, PA LCpl Marvin A. Schafer, Butler, KY Pfc James A. Randall, Somerville, AL LCpl Charles Shiver, Wichita Falls, TX LCpl James H. Whisenhunt, Crescent City, CA (Silver Star) Pfc George B. Byrd, Orlando, FL Pfc Charles H. Duty, Bluff City, TN Pfc Jerry W. Hood, Cincinnati, OH Pfc Randy N. McPhee, Long Beach, CA (Body not recovered) Pfc Peter R. Ommen, Central City, SD Pfc Ricky G. Smith, Gadsden, AL Pfc Dorsey B. Williams, Johnson City, TN
Memories In early April 1967 the North Vietnamese Army's 325C Division (18th, 95th, and 101st Regiments) moved through Laos and positioned itself to capture the combat base at Khe Sanh. By 25 April the 18th Regiment had emplaced itself on Hill 861, one of three hills which controlled key terrain around Khe Sanh. The 3rd Marine Division commander determined that the three hills had to be denied to the enemy. After heavy fighting, the Marines captured Hill 661, decimating the 18th Regiment, and turned toward Hills 881 North and 881 South, defended by the NVA 95th Regiment.
The initial assault on Hill 881 South was made by elements of the 3rd and 9th Marines on 30 April and was not successful - the enemy was well entrenched on the crest of the steep hill and vigorously resisted the Marine advance. By nightfall, the Marines withdrew from the hill, having lost 44 men from Kilo 3/9 and Mike 3/3, with well over a hundred wounded. Hill 881 South was subjected to heavy supporting arms fire on 01 May and captured on 02 May.
There were three missing Marines:
Sergeant Milton E. Prescott, who had disappeared and was not found after the hill was secured. His remains were recovered in September 1971 and he was buried in Willow Springs, Illinois, on 23 Sep 1971.
Lance Corporal Danny R. Brotz, a rifleman with Kilo 3/9. LCpl Brotz's remains were found on 31 May 1967, but were not identified until 16 January 1974 - more than two years after Sergeant Prescott was brought home to his family.
The 2nd Platoon's point man, Pfc Randy N. McPhee, who was killed by grenades just as 2nd Platoon entered the battle. Although he was known dead, his body was not recovered during the withdrawal, nor could he be located after Hill 881S was secured. His remains have not been recovered.