unit history information
for A/1/9 CAV
B/1/9 CAV
For date 660330
A/1/9 CAV was a US Army unit
B/1/9 CAV was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Operation LINCOLN
Pleiku Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Chu Pong Mountains
Description: After reviewing the 2/20th ARA unit history record, during LINCOLN, the following was emailed to the VHPA. In line with the history of Chu Pong Massif of March 30, 1966 an addition is noted. The original battle begin when the Pink team from A Troop 1/9th Cavalry spotted and engaged a large enemy force in trenches on the morning of the 30th. There was no artillery within range of the area and the Air Force was used to bombed the area. The only other support was from the 1/9th Cav gunships and scouts. The Blue platoon from B Troop was inserted to evaluate the situation, in spite of the fact that the area was known to be the assembly area for the NVA. Shortly after the Blues made their Air Assault, they were taken under fire by an unknown size force. The Blues capture a NVA soldier and after interrogation, they learn that there were at least 1,000 NVA in the area. The Blue Platoon normally had only 15 to 25 men in the platoon, depending on the number of lift ships. The lift ships were part of the Blue Platoon and there were four per platoon. The Blue Platoon was ordered to withdraw and their lift ships were recalled to pick them up. However, as they were loading up on the ships, the NVA open fire with machine gun and RPG fire destroying two of the lift ships and wounding a number of troops. Of the two remaining helicopters, the pilot of the lead helicopter was killed and the co-pilot badly wounded. The crew chief removed the body of the pilot and although the hydraulics had been shot up, managed to fly the helicopter out. He later was awarded the Distinguish Flying Cross. The remaining flyable helicopter followed and this is where we come in. The helicopter crashed into the jungle shortly after and we (the squadron commander’s chase ship) went in to take them out. We managed to take all nine men out, but the ship was a total loss. Other units of the 1st Cavalry Division were inserted later that day and they too came under heavy fire from an entrenched position. Later that night the NVA withdrew into Cambodia. This was my first major engagement. Submitted to the VHPA in December, 2000 by Lineal Deal Rose, 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry U.S. Army Infantry.
The source for this information was email from Lineal Deal Rose
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
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Last updated
12/05/2000
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023