Army Reporter information
for 25 INF DIV
3/17 CAV

For date 680518


25 INF DIV was a US Army unit
3/17 CAV was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Operation TOAN THANG
Hau Nghia Province, III Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Cu Chi
Description: The following is an edited version from the weekly Vietnam Communique column in the 18 May 1968 issue. Units of the 25th Inf Div participating in the Toan Thang offensive reported killing 56 enemy in a day-long series of encounters. Tropic Lightning soldiers and supporting gunships killed at least 36 VC as they battled an enemy force estimated to be as large as 500 soldiers 19 miles NW of Saigon and four miles south of the division's Cu Chi basecamp. In the morning gunship crews of the 3/17th Cav spotted approximately 200 VC wearing green uniforms and pith helmets and carrying assault rifles. The crews observed the enemy while flying aerial reconnaissance missions. The crews opened up with rockets and automatic weapons and called in Army artillery and USAF airstrikes. During the day, the crews counted 31 enemy killed. By late afternoon, elements of three battalions - the 4/23rd Inf; 4/9th Inf; and 2/34th Armor - had moved into blocking positions around the enemy killing an additional five Communist soldiers. Gunships, artillery and tactical airstrikes continued to bombard the enemy throughout the night as ground units received light small arms and rocket grenade fire. Chopper gunners of the 3/17th Cav reported killing 13 more VC in five separate contacts 20 miles NW and 27 miles NNW of Saigon. Six more enemy were killed by tactical airstrikes and gunship crews supporting elements of the 2/27th Inf in contact with an enemy force 13 miles NNW of Saigon. Two U.S. soldiers were killed and one wounded in the battle.

The source for this information was 6805AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines


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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023