joint operation UTAH/LIEN KET 26 information

From date 660304 to 660307


Operation UTAH
South Vietnam
Location, Quang Ngai
Description: Operation UTAH\LIEN KET 26 began as a joint effort with one battalion from the 7th Marines and one from the 2d ARVN Div based on intelligence that the 21st NVA Regiment had recently moved into a region seven miles northwest of Quang Ngai City. The NVA used several 12.7mm antiaircraft weapons to oppose the helicopter assaults though the ground units initially received on light resistance. Both the ARVNs and the Marines added more infantry and artillery units. There were serve major battles. Artillery and tactical air strikes were used sometimes on a continuous basis. This was the first USMC contact with the NVA. By the end, the allied forces claimed to have killed nearly 600 NVA, captured five and 49 weapons including three 12.7mm machine guns and two mortars. They found two huge cave complexes that had been used by the NVA. The Marine casualties were 98 dead and 278 wounded, while the ARVN lost 30 killed and 120 wounded. The majority of 1 MAW accesses were engaged to support this battles. At least one F-4 and several helicopters were shot down.

The source for this information was Rand, USMC History 1966 P 109 to 119


Additional information is available on CD-ROM.

Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org


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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023