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Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase II Campaign (1966-67)/Operation Prairie IV
From Month/Year
April / 1967
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Description Apr 19 – May 31; 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines search and destroy operation in the Quảng Trị Province.
Operation Prairie IV was sweeping the area southwest of Con Thien. On 28 May 3/4 Marines ran into a bunker complex on Hill 174, 6 km southwest of Con Thien. Companies M and L attacked the complex but were forced back by small arms, machine guns, 57mm recoilless rifle and 82mm mortars for the loss of 2 Marines KIA and 21 wounded. Artillery hit the hill throughout the night and the next day Companies M and I attacked the hill, suffering 5 KIA and 33 wounded without driving the NVA from the crest of the hill.
Companies M and I attacked unsuccessfully again on 30 May suffering 1 KIA and 45 wounded. The NVA abandoned the hill during the night of 30/31 May. Operation Prairie IV resulted in 505 NVA killed and 8 captured for 164 Marines KIA and 1240 wounded.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
April / 1967
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories SSgt. Charles Burnett served as Platoon Commander with Delta Company, 1stBn, 9th Marines during Operation Prairie IV, from 20Apr67 to 14May67, in the vicinity of Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam.
During the combat action of Operation Prairie IV, SSgt. Burnett was mortally wounded by hostile small arms fire. He died outright. His body was recovered the same day, 14May67.
