Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase III Campaign (1967-68)/Operation Checkers
From Month/Year
January / 1968
To Month/Year
January / 1968
Description As 1968 began, elements of the 1st Marine Division were shifting northward as part of Operation Checkers (January 4-15, 1968). The purpose of this operation was to relieve the 3d Marine Division of the responsibility of guarding the western approaches to Hue. To that end, the 1st and 5th Marines moved into Thua Thien Province from their TAORs around Da Nang. Operational control for this movement rested with Brig. Gen. Foster C. LaHue, the 1st Marine Division's assistant commander, with headquarters at Phu Bai.
As part of the shifting of U.S. Army units into I Corps in mid-December, the 11th Infantry Brigade moved into Duc Pho, at the southern tip of Quang Ngai Province. This allowed the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines to move to Phu Loc, north of the Hai Van Pass above Da Nang. In early January, MACV moved the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) and the 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) into Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces. When these changes were finished, General Cushman would have three U.S. Army and two U.S. Marine Corps divisions, plus assorted ARVN and allied units, operating under his III MAF.
