operation report information
for VMO-6
For date 660724
VMO-6 was a US Marine Corps unit
Primary service involved, US Marine Corps
Operation HASTINGS
South Vietnam
Description: In the early afternoon, one of the BLT companies moved to the top of a hill to establish a radio relay position. As one platoon moved down the opposite side, the NVA opened up. After overrunning part of the platoon, the NVA moved over the Marines and shot anyone who moved. LCPL Pittman played dead though the NVA took his cigarettes and watch, they didn't shoot him. Soon thereafter, VMO-6 gunship arrived and temporarily silenced the enemy weapons, especially the mortars. Pittman later received the Medal of Honor. Another company reinforced and they set up an NDP. Even after engineers were lowered in to blow an LZ, MAG-16 helicopters were only able to extract 11 casualties from this battle. That night the two companies withstood several attacks. During this battle the Marines suffered 18 KIA and 82 WIA but counted 22 enemy KIA, one POW, two NVA mortars, 27 rifles, a machine gun and a recoilless rifle. The POW confirmed they had been fighting the 6th Battalion, 812th NVA Regiment.
The source for this information was USMC 1966 H, P 173
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023