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Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase II Campaign (1966-67)/Operation Beaver Cage
From Month/Year
April / 1967
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Description Apr 28 – May 12; 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines operation to sweep a long-established VC stronghold 40 km (25 mi) south of Da Nang.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
April / 1967
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember 28Apr67: BLT-1st Battalion, 3rd Marines commenced Operation "Beaver Cage". The first four days were in support of Operation "Union". D Company with tanks made an Amphibious Landing on the beach area referred as Red Beach, and Companies A, B, and C with the BLT command element operated inland, approximately 27 miles SE of Da Nang AB. During this time only light enemy contact was made, however the BLT suffered Heat Causalities and more than 100 personnel were medi-evacuated during this period. The temperature during this operation was hot and humid with temperatures well over 100 degrees during the day and approximately 75 degrees at night with only one day of rain. After four days the BLT shifted 5 miles north and set up Headquarters in vicinity of LZ Cardinal Que Son district. The Companies were assigned individual Tactical Area of Responsibility (TAOR) and enemy contact began to increase in size and frequency.
30Apr67: CoB - Receiving Small Arms Fire (SAF) during lift out from LZ in helicopters 1-WIA.
02May67: CoC - Attacked by estimated reinforced platoon of VC with 82mm mortars, 57mm Recoilless Rifle fire, Automatic and small arms fire while digging in for the night. Artillery, Air strikes, Huey Gunship, Flare ship, and PUFF assisted throughout the night.
KIA/Fallen: 2ndLt Thomas W. Mallon CoC PFC Phillip D. Munday CoC PFC Chester J. Simmons CoC LCpl Gene Vaughn H&SCo
03May67: Medical-Evacuation and re-supply commenced at daybreak 0630 hours. 4 KIA and 20 WIA.
CoA- Early evening water-run patrol contacted 2-VC then attacked by unknown number of VC. Four squads committed to assist the water patrol ran into heavy automatic and small arms fire (ambushed), artillery and Huey Gunship called in, with support immediately available and used it throughout the area. The men (patrols) outside the perimeter, returned with the WIA, but 14 men were still cut off from the rest. The cut off squad returned with their WIA. Artillery missions continued through the night. At first light, the squads returned to the battle area, observed 60-70 VC, and called in more Artillery. After everything was secured, bodies recovered (morning of the 4th) 14 KIA and 9-WIA.
KIA/Fallen: HN James I. Balch CoA PFC James D. Borawski CoA PFC Monty D. Button CoA LCpl Troy M. Carnline CoA PFC Tommy E. Dickerson CoA PFC Donald W. Falwell CoA PFC Rickey M. Gilbertson CoA PFC Joseph R. La Rose CoA LCpl Eugene Murray CoA Cpl Luciano P. Peasakov CoA PFC Robert J. Rose CoA LCpl Eugene D. Spicer CoA PFC John E. Sweesy CoA Cpl John W. Urick CoA PFC David Verbilla CoA
04May67: CoD - 20 VC in village/firefight 1-WIA
CoD - Receiving mortars and small arms fire 2-WIA
CoC - Sniper fire 1-WIA.
CoD - While crossing a valley east of Hill 65, encountered intensive enemy resistance and had elements pinned down by 50 VC in fortified positions. Air and artillery called in and supported by CoC which had moved to Hill 65. Heavy fighting ensued, fighting continued throughout the night. Company D elements in contact with the enemy withdrew to Hill 65 under cover of darkness with all KIA extracted from the Battle Zone at 2325 hrs. One M-60 machine gun with firing mechanism removed, one .45 Cal pistol, and one M-16 rifles lost in action. 11 KIA and 26 WIA were evacuated on morning of the 5th.
KIA/Fallen: LCpl Melvin L. Allen CoD LCpl Jose M. Gomez CoD PFC David A. Hickman CoD PFC Don R. Hollingsworth CoD Cpl Frederick A. McMahon CoD Cpl Don W. Minton CoD Cpl Henry L. Turn CoD HM3 Elwood C. Sovey Jr CoD
05May67: CoB - Booby Trap 1-WIA
KIA/Fallen: Cpl Martin Cavazos CoD PFC Harry L. Hissong CoD PFC Dennis J. Mannion CoD
06May67: CoC - Sniper fire 2-WIA
CoB - Sniper fire/small arms fire 2-WIA.
07May67: CoD- Mortar attack 1-KIA and 6-WIA
KIA/Fallen: Sgt Milton L. Hall CoD
08May67: CoD - Mortar attack 3-WIA.
CoC - Mortar attack 3-KIA and 10-WIA.
KIA/Fallen: LCpl James E. Lakey H&SCo PFC David L. Rowell CoC LCpl William M. Shaw, Jr. CoC
09May67: CoC - Mortar attack 1-WIA.
10May67: Co B, C, and D: Co B and C were sweeping east, with CoD in trace moving down the center of the valley. CoB received small arms fire and automatic weapons fire from Hill 110.
CoC mortars firing on Hill 110, CoB reports 1-WIA and VC moving towards them, and requests Co C to check out and assist. CoD reports Co ?C? 1st Battalion, 5th Marines is 300 meters west of Hill 110 moving east. CoB reports taking heavy sniper fire and that 20 VC moving east. Co C moving 3rd Platoon to left flank of Co B. Co B and C receiving mortar fire, CoB pinned down by heavy fire suffering unknown number KIA and WIA.
Requesting Close Air Support, Co C was attempting to envelope with one platoon to stop enemy fire from the village. The enveloping platoon of Co C reports receiving mortars, and Co B requests Co C and D to link up on left and right flanks respectfully. Co B reports one company of VC wearing green uniforms and helmets, well camouflaged and entrenched on Hill 110.
C/1/5 to sweep area to east after Air strikes on Hill 110. Co C has one platoon pinned down by heavy fire from village and air strikes called in. Co C needs help on left flank; withdrawing platoon from right flank to assist pinned down platoon on left. Co C has VC in trench line directly in front of position delivering heavy fire, and units are still pinned downed. Heavy contact continues and more air strikes called in.
Co B reports approximately 6-KIA and 23-WIA, all friendly, in Co C's Zone. A SPARROW HAWK 40-man unit arrived in Zone at 1300 hrs, and almost immediately suffered 5-WIA and were pinned down in the LZ area. Heavy contact with enemy continues, more air strikes, and contact finally started to lessen with enemy fleeing to east. Co B, C, and D under command/control 1st Battalion 5th Marines established a perimeter for the night.
Causalities reported for the day long battle were:
22-KIA and 88-WIA and 86 VC/NVA KIA (confirmed).
The Operation ended two days later, with no more enemy contact, and 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines being transported by helicopter back aboard the ships of BLT.
KIA/Fallen: Cpl Delancy D. Tolbert CoA SSgt Epidio A. Arquero CoB NAVY CROSS PFC Allen F. Berweger CoB PFC Thomas L. Foy CoB PFC Randall R. Grueber CoB PFC Brian C. Hewitt CoB Sgt Dannie D. Jacobs CoB PFC Kenneth W. McGee CoB PFC Russel P. Miller CoB PFC Donald J. Pittenger CoB PFC James C. Riley CoB Cpl Sterling S. Woods CoB LCpl James M. Bishop CoC Pvt Alfred L. Brown CoC PFC James R. Cooper CoC PFC Albert J. Darling III CoC LCpl David M. Hart CoC Cpl John M. Reid CoC NAVY CROSS Cpl Thomas Sanders CoC NAVY CROSS PFC Frank. X. Cuozzo CoD HN Steven D. Chambers H&SCo