The Vietnam War lasted from 1 November 1955 to 30 April 1975, officially between North Vietnam (North Vietnam) and South Vietnam (South Vietnam). In reality, it was an international war between the French at first and then the United States and its allies on the side of South Vietnam, and the Communist Bloc on the side of North Vietnam.
The US believed it was saving Vietnam from Communism while North Vietnam saw it as an extension of their fight for independence against colonial rule.
To counteract the superior armed and technology of the United States, North Vietnam combined modern weaponry with guerrilla tactics to deadly effect. The most notable battles in that conflict are as follows:
1. Battle of Ấp Bắc
On 28 December 1962, US intelligence discovered that a large group of North Vietnamese Army (North Vietnam Army) were near the village of Ấp Bắc – deep in South Vietnam territory. The Army of the Republic of South Vietnam (ARVN) 7th Infantry were therefore ordered to destroy them with superior American weapons and training
On 2 January 1963, US helicopters dropped the ARVN near the village, but it was a disaster. The South Vietnam were defeated, while five American helicopters were destroyed. More had to be brought in to rescue the surviving ARVN.
The US realized that it had to get more involved.
2. Battle of Pleiku
In 1964 the Gulf of Tonkin Incident happened – it was claimed that a US ship was attacked by the North Vietnamese though it turned out much later that no attack had taken place. This gave them the excuse to bomb North Vietnam, forcing the Soviets to get involved. North Vietnam retaliated by attacking bases in South Vietnam.
The following year, the Viet Cong (VC) 409th Battalion attacked Camp Holloway (an American helicopter base) in Pleiku on February 6, while the VC 30th Company attacked a South Vietnam Army base on February 7.
These attacks convinced a reluctant President Johnson into escalating America’s involvement in Vietnam. As a result, China and Cuba were forced to do the same.
3. Battle of Van Tuong
Also called Operation Starlite, this was the first purely American assault on the VC, which took place on 18 August 1965. A VC defector claimed that North Vietnam was planning to attack the American Chu Lai Air Base from Van Tuong, so it was decided to launch a preemptive strike.
The Americans launched their assault near the border with North Vietnam using helicopters, tanks, and naval ships. Fighting ended on August 24 with a US victory after killing 614 VC, while the Americans lost 45.
North Vietnam claimed that it had won, however, since they kept the US forces out of their territory.
4. Battle of Ia Drang
This was the first major battle between US forces and North Vietnam in 1965. In October, the VC attacked the Special Forces camp at Plei Me, the US launched three counterattacks to cut them off from their retreat to Cambodia and destroy them.
Ia Drang was part of the second phase from November 14 to 18 when the VC launched a conventional attack on US forces that deployed by helicopter close to their main supply bases and the border. Instead of employing their usual guerrilla tactics they went head to head trying to overrun the Americans. They were beaten off and despite high casualties, both sides declared a victory.
It taught the Americans to stick to their superior air power, and the VC to stick to guerrilla warfare.
5. Battle of Khe Sanh
On 21 January 1968, the VC shelled the US Marine garrison at Khe San, and continued doing so until July 9. The VC surrounded the base and used anti-aircraft missiles to prevent planes and helicopters from providing reinforcements.
It was only in March that Operation Pegasus (a land-based rescue) was able to provide reinforcements and supplies. It could not, however, remove the personnel. It took Operation Charlie on June 19 to do that after heavy shelling of the VC.
General Giap said that Khe Sanh was just a distraction, which allowed North Vietnam to position their troops deeper into the South.
6. Tet Offensive
With the US and South Vietnamese soldiers focused on Khe Sanh, North Vietnam launched attacks on over 100 towns and cities in South Vietnam on 30 January 1968 to coincide with Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. VC and Communist sympathizers attacked military bases, government offices, and foreign embassies. They also executed thousands of civilians.
The attacks continued until March 28 when they were finally repelled. Though North Vietnam lost, it won a major psychological victory. Back in the US, support for the war waned and calls to withdraw from Vietnam grew louder.
7. Battle of Hamburger Hill
The 29th North Vietnam Army had entrenched themselves on Hamburger Hill in South Vietnam; a joint US-South Vietnamese force was ordered to remove them. The assault began on 10 May 1969 with the 101st Airborne Division and troops of the 9th Marine Regiment, the 5th Cavalry Regiment, and the 3rd ARVN Regiment. Despite heavy losses, they captured the hill on May 20. Instead of securing it, however, they were ordered to withdraw, causing outrage and further eroding support for the war. North Vietnamese soldiers moved back onto the hill during the following week.
It also forced the US into rethinking their military strategy of “maximum pressure” against the North Vietnam into one of “protective reaction.”
8. Easter Offensive
To end the war, the Paris Peace Accords were scheduled for 27 January 1973. To increase their bargaining power at those talks and further pressure the US into pulling out, North Vietnam launched a major offensive in South Vietnam on 30 March 1972.
They seized the cities of Quảng Trị, Huế, An Lộc, and Kon Tum. The US responded by carpet bombing North Vietnam, and though South Vietnam recaptured Quảng Trị, it lost 10% of its territory to North Vietnam.
Fighting ended on October 22. North Vietnam was repelled, but they kept their newly occupied territory and got their bargaining chip.
9. Battle of Xuân Lộc
Having captured strategic positions in South Vietnam during the Easter Offensive, North Vietnam continued to take more of South Vietnam’s northern territories. On 9 April 1975, they entered Đồng Nai Province, the final swath which led to Saigon, South Vietnam’s capital.
The ARVN 18th Infantry Division lodged themselves in the town of Xuân Lộc and were able to block the North Vietnam Army’s advance for almost twelve days. Then on April 21, the South Vietnam president ordered them to retreat so they could focus on Saigon’s defense.
Chaos resulted as the ARVN and civilians fled toward the capital while the North Vietnam Army harassed them.
10. The Fall of Saigon
When Xuân Lộc fell, all order collapsed. Hoping to find safety in American-held Saigon, the ARVN, and South Vietnam civilians made a chaotic retreat from the advancing North Vietnam Army.
Even if the US nuked North Vietnam, it wouldn’t matter. Xuân Lộc was only 26 miles away, so the North Vietnam Army and the VC were already at their doorstep. By April 27, Saigon was surrounded. On April 29, the shelling began, and the following day, the North Vietnam Army entered the capital.
11. Battle of Firebase Ripcord
The Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord was a four month long battle between elements of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and two reinforced divisions of the North Vietnamese Army March 12 to July 23, 1970.
In an attempt to retake the initiative, the 101st was to rebuild the abandoned Fire Support Base Ripcord in the A Shau Valley. For this, they relied heavily on the helicopter, for support in the difficult terrain. The firebase was set on four hilltops and was to be used as outposts for a planned offensive by the Marines to search and destroy the NVA supply lines in the mountains overlooking the valley.
While the members of the 101st division were rebuilding the base and preparing the attack on the enemy supply lines, the NVA was secretly gathering intelligence. They launched sporadic attacks from March 12 until June 30. It is estimated that as much as 25,000 NVA troops were positioned in the A Shau Valley area at the time.
On the morning of July 1, 1970, the NVA started firing mortars at the firebase. They began to besiege the Americans in the firebase. During the siege that lasted for 23 days, 75 US servicemen were killed. The battle for the hilltops raged for days. The 101st was surrounded, outnumbered almost ten to one and running low on supplies. It was only the high ground and the bravery of its defenders that kept the enemy from overrunning the firebase.
It was the last major confrontation between United States ground forces and North Vietnam of the Vietnam War. The final death toll of the battle was 138 American soldiers and 3 men missing in action.
Three Medals of Honor and five Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded to the men who fought at Ripcord.
12. Battle of Dak To
In some of the heaviest fighting seen in the Central Highlands area, heavy casualties are sustained by both sides in bloody battles around Dak To, about 280 miles north of Saigon near the Cambodian border.
The 1,000 U.S. troops there were reinforced with 3,500 additional troops from the U.S. 4th Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. They faced four communist regiments of about 6,000 troops. The climax of the operation came in a savage battle from November 19-22 for Hill 875, 12 miles southwest of Dak To. The 173rd was victorious, forcing the North Vietnamese to abandon their last defensive line on the ridge of Hill 875, but the victory was a costly one because the paratroopers suffered the loss of 135 men, 30 of whom died as a result of an accidental U.S. air strike on U.S. positions. In the 19 days of action, North Vietnam fatalities were estimated at 1,455. Total U.S. casualties included 285 killed, 985 wounded, and 18 missing.
During this battle, the North Vietnamese failed to achieve one of their main objectives, which was the destruction of an American unit. They came close, but the Americans, despite heavy losses, had achieved the true victory: they mauled three enemy regiments so badly that they were unavailable for the Tet Offensive that the Communists launched in late January 1968.
This article was originally published on Oct 11, 2016 by
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/vietnam-war/top-11-battles-vietnam-war-x.html/3
As a result of all the feedback I received from this article and on Facebook, I’ve added a second post with additional battles/Operations that readers deemed important to mention. Read it here: https://cherrieswriter.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/more-military-engagements-of-the-vietnam-war/
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Should you have a question or comment about this article, then scroll down to the comment section below to leave your response.
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Here’s an article about Hastings: https://cherrieswriter.com/2020/08/01/operation-hastings-a-marine-hell-hole/
Operation Prairie 1 – 4 are discussed here: https://cherrieswriter.com/2017/02/13/military-engagements-of-the-vietnam-war-part-i/
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Really enjoyed it. I was a kid throughout the war and when I signed up in ’79 all my instructors were Nam vets. A lot of the stuff that happened didn’t get talked about.
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This is a great article it shows the bravery and determination of our US Armed Forces.
Thank each and everyone who was there
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Joe Dirvin revised Ap Gu account of 1/26th Inf., 1st ID at Ap Gu. March 31-April 1, 1967.
“The enemy force was comprised of all three battalions of the 271st Regiment of the 9th Viet Cong Division, reinforced by elements of the 70th NVA Guards Regiment, and one additional NVA regiment. With fewer than 400 soldiers present on the battlefield, the Blue Spaders had been outnumbered by a margin of at least six to one. Enemy KIA at about 581.”
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May I suggest the Battle of Dong Xoai? Two Medals of Honor were awarded. I was air cover when the attack began in the middle of the night.
“The Battle of Dong Xoai was a series of battles and air mobile operations carried out by the 118th Aviation Company(AML) and other elements of the 145th CAB over a period of about 10 days. This operation was very important in defining the character and traditions of the 118th. The performance of the 118th over the 10 day period thrust the 118th into the spotlight of Army Aviation history. The attributes of valor and mission accomplishment arose often out of the extended performance by the men of the 118th. Forever after Dong Xoai, the 118th, as a unit, became the example that all other helicopter units in Vietnam had to look up to. The frenzied yet purposed days of action for the pilots and crews of the 118th and their heavily challenged maintenance crews, were extremely intense and hazardous….yet they got the job done!
The 118th Thunderbird motto, “It Shall Be Done”, was proven time after time. The Battle of Dong Xoai virtually insured the 118th would be emblazoned open the pages of US Army Aviation history in Vietnam. For years afterwards the battle cry within the 118th was, “Remember Dong Xoai!”
Combat operations began on 10 June 1965 and lasted until 20 June 1965. The town of Dong Xoai was situated at the most important road junction in the heart of northern “War Zone D”. The Special Forces had established a hugely fortified compound that had numerous strong points at strategic locations, thereby taking the entire area under their command.
Some parts of the fortifications were still under construction when the first mortar shells awoke the defenders, within. In fact, the Navy Sea Bees were on site still doing construction at the time of the attack. The valor shown by one of their men, Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Marvin G. Shields, rose to such a high level that he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Likewise, 2nd LT. Charles Q. Williams, one of the Special Forces Team members, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic leadership in preventing the total annihilation of US forces at Dong Xoai.”
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The information about the battle of 26 march 1970, involving C-2/8 reads like a high-dollar publicist for the battalion commander, Mike Conrad. He did not initiate the move of A Troop, 11th ACR and A-2/8. That was begun r prior to Conrad’s involvement. Conrad exhibited a dramatic lack of tactical and personal leadership,Hhis aka was, “Body Count Conrad – ours not theirs.” He as a morally corrupt officer, in offering icecream to a company or body counts.
On Illinworth he made no provision for a reserve (always done in defense of a fixed position of any duration), stayed in his CP except for a half-hour during which I never saw him outside ofit and can find none of the soldiers of C-2/8 who can recll their battalion commander during the battle.
The shallowness of this and other recountings involving C-2/8 are an affront to the men of that unit. From the 14 Feb 70 battle known as,”The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” to the 1 April battle of Illingworth, every officer was KIA or WIA, and loses in C-2/8 exceeded 120% of its field strength.
Other officers that served under Conrad’s command do not share my accounting of Conrad’s incompetence. I recommend a reading of the book, Crisis In Command, by Gabriel and Savage as scholarly research on leadership in Vietnam – – IMCO it is his biography/
I leave this commentary with one question. Conrad was told at 1300, that, “If you don’t get ammo here by 1530, don’t bother. Just send in the body bags..” From that time until the arrival of MG Casey’s choper, no further attempts were made — WHERE WAS THE UNIT’S LEADER? hint-Try well above .51 cal fire.)
George K. Hobson LTC (RET) USA
Commanding C-2/8 13 Mar-18 Aug 1970 RVN
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LZ Gold? Battle of Soui Tre? Don’t see it?????
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Watching the Ding Ho episode of Tour of Duty. When Sgt. Anderson is worried about the mission, there is a good reason to be scared.
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Can you lead me to some article on Rome Plows , 557 LE Engineers 1966-1967 Long Bien, Oxtine ( Rock Quarry) Perry Lopez
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HERD 68/69
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It seems to be a good thing. James D Bradley 173rd airborne brigade medic
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OUTSTANDING…..BROTHERS ALL
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Great article. I know there were a lot of battles, but I’d like to point out one more to you if you don’t mine. It was the battle for a Firebase called LZ. Brillo Pad along the Cambodian border in May 1968. The battle lasted 3 weeks Delta and Alpha Companies of the 1-14th. Infantry 4th. Div. fought off 3 NVA regiments for three weeks. We were receiving 200-400 incoming round everyday along with ground attacks at night. There was a book written called Orphans Of Honor by Terry Bender.
Thank You Ed Helrigel
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Thank you, bro!
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As requested, a link to my book. Available as an eBook,too.
https://www.Amazon.com/Stand-Manhood-Journey-Evans/product-reviews/0595450539
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Frank, Amazon does not show the ebook version. Where do I find it?
On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 3:30 PM, Cherries – A Vietnam War Novel wrote:
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I was drafted and spent two years in the States so don’t know that I can claim to be a Vietnam Veteran. Is it more appropriate to be classed as a Vietnam Era Vet the same ? Not that my service was like that of combat service in any way.
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Robert, you are a Vietnam Era Vet! Yet we are all brothers the same! Thank you, sir, for your service!
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Roger That about VEV.If you were called you would have gone.Thanks for your service.
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Dak To Hill Fights Nov.67–Battle of Tam Quan Dec.67–Battle for Quang Tri TET Offensive Feb.68 and a lot of small battles in between- Gerry Gudinas RTO A Co 1/12th 1st Cav Div 67-68
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“In 1964 the Gulf of Tonkin Incident happened – it was claimed that a US ship was attacked by the North Vietnamese though it turned out much later that no attack had taken place. ”
It is generally accepted by most historians that on August 2, 1964, the destroyer USS Maddox, while performing a signals intelligence patrol as part of DESOTO operations, was pursued by three North Vietnamese Navy torpedo boats of the 135th Torpedo Squadron. Maddox fired three warning shots and the North Vietnamese boats then attacked with torpedoes and machine gun fire. Maddox expended over 280 3-inch and 5-inch shells in what was claimed to be a sea battle. One US aircraft was damaged, three North Vietnamese torpedo boats were allegedly damaged, and four North Vietnamese sailors were said to have been killed, with six more wounded. There were no U.S. casualties. Maddox “was unscathed except for a single bullet hole from a Vietnamese machine gun round”. It was the second alleged incident a few days later with the USS Turner Joy that is generally conceded to have been a case of at best jitters, at worst an active imagination.
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Battle of Tam Quan in Bong Son planes “BEFORE” it was known as the Battle of Tam Quan.
I was in 19th Combat Engineer Battalion, A Company Second Platoon.
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Vietnam War Veteran/Survivor “WE WERE SOLDIERS” Battle of IA DRANG-1965, LZ Falcon
http://www.lzxray.com/articles/ronnie-guyer-ia-drang-photo-collection
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I was in several of these areas.. I fought in TEt 1968. We were pulled out of the Iron Triangle and sent to Ton Son Nhut air base to take it back from Charlie…. I remember seeing the enemy on the other side of the tarmac.. I was with the 25th ID… combat engineer, we did their demo work.
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I was part of a group of aviators who helped break the siege of An Loc during the Easter offensive. It was the only time we ever encountered modern anti-aircraft weapons. Very, very frightening.
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Ashau Valley – Hill 937 (Hamburger Hill) – YC328981 – We shot 8 inch and 175mm in support of the 101st Airborne 1CTZ from FSB Bastogne and FSB Blaze – Dong Ap Bai Mountains – May 1969 – We got hit hard, “C” Btry 1st Battalion 83rd Artillery, lost our medic here on May 12, 1969; he died on the 18th on a hospital ship. All our other casualties survived.
1Lt (Neal) Schwartz, 10/68-09/69 – FDO, FO, XO, Btry CO, “B” Btry (8″), & “C” Btry (175mm)…..
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I was at 1st Inf base camp when Tet 68 started. Cam at Engineer. We caught hell for several days.
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Combat engineer
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I like to mentioned a Baiting Operation / 3 Battles , 1st. Cavalry Division , being swept under a carpet – place Dog Head / War Zone C : Anonymous ( March 26 , 1970 ) , F.S.B. Jay ( March 29 , 1970 ) and F.S.B. Illingworth ( April 1 , 1970 ) prior going into Cambodia . K.I.A. 42 W.I.A. 137 Tragic Military Historical Blunder !
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I was at Khe Sahn the date you mentioned. Khe Sahn was more than the main base, Battles on the hills, at Lang vei. I never saw missles fired at us but doesn’t mean they weren’t there. Parachutes were found but I never saw a plane. VC were captured and killed in the area. The C-130 was shot down on the runway, I watched it blow. It was a tough battle and anything ould have happen. So thank you for covering it. Doc Mike Hill
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I am glad the author posted the article. He worked with what was available, but the Tet Offense was hardly the invasion of the city of Siagon. Before the NVA reached the city they over ran and killed many in the field; so many heroic battles are missing. I would have added these battles in the field like Que Son Valley, Hiep Duc Valley just to name a couple of many. Then there was the second Tet Offense for teh battle of Dong Ho, where the Marines suffered 80% casualties defending the attack of 8,000 to 10,000 NVA. Included in the battle was heavy casualties for the Infantry and Artillery untits of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.
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Still looking for the documentation on the 80% Marine casualty rate at Dong Ho.
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I was with 1/22/4 ID in the City of Kontum during TET 1968. Also, the Battle for Chu Moor Mountain for 8 days in April 1968.
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Thought sure you would include the Cambodian Incursion, spring of ’70. Battle of “Shakey’s Hill”?
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Great article. I was a 9th Cav Scout working out of the Kateka Tea Plantation in October November of 1965. I served with heroes.
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Was a member of A Brty 4/77 (ARA) arty 101st airborne 1970 was one of aircraft support personnel during the siege we had gunships over ripcord for 24 hours a day. We lost aircraft and members of our unit family
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What about Ap Gu?
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Yes, estimate that our Unit 1/26th Inf., 1st ID had a two day KIA of 272 or 273 VC Regiment of @609
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I agree with Mr. Moriarty about there being no enemy anti aircraft missiles at Khe Sanh. They did have some anti aircraft heavy machine guns. They hit an inbound C 130. It crashed outside the TAOR. The troops who died were not counted in the official casualty count of the battle.
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I agree with Robert Moriarty and John Glen. Yes, It was the North Vietnamese Army, a fully regimented Army.. Not some VC running around in pajamas.. Most people think that was what vietnam was.
.Anyway let’s not forget who went in to get those Marines out of that mess. They were crapping in their foxholes and couldn’t put their heads up because they were surrounded by NVA snipers and being rocketed and shelled to death. It was the 1st. Air Cav. Yes, the Cav came to their aid.. Along with other divisions , 101 etc. my point is why did they set up that base camp below all the surrounding mountains where the NVA were? Yes, history repeats itself… Generals? What about those tactics, strategy, you learned in those war colleges? We learned that watching TV as kids not to do that when the Indians would always take the high ground..
Yes, I am still pissed about it!
But, I’m (we) are blessed to have made it back.
God Bless the Vietnam (combat) Vets!
Bob
1st. Air Cav. 10/68-10/69
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I do not want to get into a Pissing Match with you about how many times the 1st Air Cav. or any other Army outfit has saved the Marines asses, because I’d be Pissing for weeks.So I’ll just say the Army has a lot of catching up when it comes saving Marines Asses.One comes to mind that I was involved in taking Chu Lai back from NVA after the Marines turned it over to the Army (Twice). I-Corps 66-67 and 69-70 Chu Lai 7th Marines/12th Marines. Let’s just say we fought as Brothers and came to the aid of who needed it the most at the time.Have to agree with you about the High Ground.
Man have I mellowed in my Old Age. LOL
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Fifty, I meant no disrespect of the Marines. This was about the battle of Khe Sanh and how it ended. Yes, I know the Marines helped Army units too. Salute!
Welcome home my friend…
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Bob In March 1968, an overland relief expedition was launched by a combined Marine–Army/South Vietnamese task force that eventually broke through to the Marines at Khe Sanh. We all have stories about the Army saving the Marines and the Marines saving the Army. Semper FI 68/69 onemore thing Welcome Home Brother.
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You have it dead wrong about Khe Sanh. There were no VC, it was all NVA in uniform and there were no anti-aircraft missiles used by the NVA, only arty and heavy machine guns going after the air. I don’t think anti-aircraft missiles were ever used in South Vietnam but certainly not in early 1968.
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How about Hastings and Praire 1
Sent from my iPad
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We never hear about Hastings for some reason. We that were there went through hell.
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Here’s an article about Hastings: https://cherrieswriter.com/2020/08/01/operation-hastings-a-marine-hell-hole/
Operation Prairie 1 – 4 are discussed here: https://cherrieswriter.com/2017/02/13/military-engagements-of-the-vietnam-war-part-i/
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See my response with the info you requested…
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