Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase IV Campaign (1968)/Operation Houston II
From Month/Year
May / 1968
To Month/Year
May / 1968
Description May 1 – 31; 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines operation in the Thừa Thiên Province.
Mike company from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines moved up a ridge called Hill 1192, they wandered into an NVA base camp and were shot to pieces with 14 killed and dozens wounded. Three helicopters were shot down attempting to rescue wounded Marines. The surviving marines remained pinned down and bleeding for several days until rescued by another company. As units went up the treacherous Hai Van Pass (Hill 1192), and straight into a North Vietnamese Army training base camp. The company was cut off from aid from other Marine units, and constantly under fire, unable to get supplies in, or get help for their wounded.
