Enjoying life, as we travel, be it on a cruise, flight, or a car trip. So much to see, and so little time remaining. Every day is a gift to be thankful for. Still, much more to see and do, as we continue the march.
Other Comments:
Enjoying my full retirement from the USMC,(20 yrs),and the Department of Agriculture(22yrs) as a Federal Meat & Poultry Inspector. I conducted anti, and post mortem inspections on all red meat species, that are sold in commerce. I have also been tasked with inspecting equine(horses) for export to France. Inspected poultry, and red meat in slaughter plants, and processing plants, from Maine to Virginia. Worked with Veterinarians on pathology dispositions of all species of red meat, and poultry. Conducted Pre-operational, and operational inspections of facilities, and plant personnel. Had to ensure product ingredient formulations were being adhered to. Restaurants, and supermarkets were not under our control. Only Federally regulated establishments were inspected, by the field Inspectors. We were considered the "Police Force", for the meat, and poultry industry. Consumer protection was our ultimate responsibility, and goal.
Description This campaign was from 25 December 1965 to 30 June 1966. 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
December / 1965
To Month/Year
June / 1966
Last Updated: Mar 11, 2023
Personal Memories
People You Remember LCol. John Quinn(Bn.CO.)Capt. Ed Gray(Div.Food Serv.Officer) M/Sgt. (Boss Hog) Klicker Heavy Eqt. Chief S/Sgt. "Jeff" Jeffries Motor pool Chief GySgt. Mike Caderra Admin Chief Cpl. Samuels Chief Cook Sgt. Stepp Asst. Mess Sgt. Dong Ha
Memories Landed at Danang, RVN Nov. 1966. Assigned to 3rd Shore party Bn. as the Bn. Mess Mgt. Chief. Relieved GySgt. Willey Smith. January, 1967 the 3rd Mar. Div. ordered to move north. 3rd Shore party was assigned Gia Le Combat Base, adjacent to 3rd Mar. Div. HQ, Phu Bai. We were a blocking force for Div. We had heavy equipment for every needed contingency. We lived in tentage for a few months until Sea Bees built us hard backs, and finally got us off the ground. Extra duties for ALL Staff NCO's,(of which I was one), Make ammuniton and supply runs to the grunts in the field, and take out ambush patrols to our front. I was, and still am very proud of the many missions that we were assigned, and accomplished.
