Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Campaign (1965-66)/Operation Utah / Lien Ket 26
From Month/Year
March / 1966
To Month/Year
March / 1966
Description Mar 4 – 7; 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and ARVN 2nd Division search and destroy operation against the NVA 36th Regiment and VC Main Force units operation. First USMC contact with the NVA 11 km northwest of Quảng Ngãi City, 632 VC KIA and 83 US and 32 ARVN KIA during the operation.
During the night of 4 -5 March, the enemy continued to harass the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, particularly when helicopters arrived. Company "H" took a trench line in a night assault and killed 20 NVA when they revealed themselves by firing 60mm mortars at the Marines and machine-guns at the resupply helicopters. Much need supplies were brought in to the Marines and 70 casualties were evacuated by those brave helicopter pilots who flew through a hail of steel each time they arrived to the Battalions perimeter. With the heavy contact and loss of personnel, Gen. Platt had already taken measures, he ordered another 155mm Battery deployed to Binh Son, and the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines to establish blocking defenses north of Utters Battalion. LtCol. P. X. Kelleys 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines was ordered to standby in Chu Lai and be ready for deployment in the morning.
The NVA stuck the ARVN near Hill 50 around 05:00 in the morning. Marine Corps artillery battery's fired 1,900 rounds in support for period of two hours and the 1st Marines were ordered to leave their blocking poasitions advance south . While the 1st Marines were to link with the ARVN under attack, the ARVN 2d Division Commander ordered addition ARVN troops to join the operation in progress. The 2d Battalion, 7th Marines were ordered to clear a landing zone of the arrival of fresh troop, clear it's battlefield from the previous day , and serve as the Task Force Delta reserve unit. Kelly's Marines began landing shortly after 08:30 and the helicopters once again were immediatly taken under fire. Several helicopters were put out of commission before all the troops were on the ground and moving towards their objectives. Two Company's of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines engaged the NVA in close quarters but persevered until all the Companies reached LtCol. Utter's Battalion and established night defensive postions. North of Utter's and Kelley's Marines the 1st Marines were slugging it out with a persistant enemy who was dug into a network of interconnected tunnels, bunkers and spider traps. Despite these defenses the Marines pressed the attack with Company "L" succeeding in taking Hill 50 after a three hour engagement. Little headway was made in the vicintiy of Chau Ngai (3) and with the coming of darkness the Marines were forced to withdraw. The 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines losses for the day were 32 killed and 90 wounded.
Company "B", 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, which had been attached to the 4th Marines and guarding a downed helicopter, came under heavy small arms fire and a mortar attack. The Marines came under increasing pressure and at about 01:30, the NVA launched a three pronged assault. This was repulsed with the help of supporting artillery fire. By morning, when relief arrived, 38 enemy dead were found. Twice that number were believed to have been carried away during the previous night. The Marines and ARVN pulled back and a intensive two and one-half hour air and artillery bombardment was launched. At approximately 12:40 on 6 March, the three Battalions advanced but the North Vietnamese were no longer there.
The Aftermath
A search of the area revealed a cave complex which apparently served as the NVA Regimental Command Post, and 100 enemy bodies on hill 50 were found by the 1st Marines. LtCol. Utter's Marines discouvered 43 enemy bodies in another tunnel complex. During Utah, the allied forces claimed to have killed 600 North Vietnamse soldiers, captured 5 prisoners, and 49 weapons including three 12.7mm machine-guns and two mortars. Marine casualties were 98 dead and 278 wounded, while the ARVN lost 30 killed and 120 wounded, the battle had been hard fought and won by Marines who stood their ground.
