operation report information
for HMM-265
HMM-161
VMO-2
For date 660808
HMM-265 was a US Marine Corps unit
HMM-161 was a US Marine Corps unit
VMO-2 was a US Marine Corps unit
Primary service involved, US Marine Corps
South Vietnam
Description: About midmorning six HMM-265 CH-46s landed a 40-man Marine platoon to reinforce the Groucho Marx "Stringray" team (see 6 Aug). Midafternoon eight HMM-161 UH-34s extracted 20 of the 45 Marines on the ground while receiving NVA fire from a ridgeline to the north. The NVA fire and an assault on the remaining Marines cancelled the extraction. After some air strikes, three HMM-161 UH-34s inserted an eight man volunteer reinforcing squad lead by CPT Lee but only three were able to link-up with the friendly force. MAJ Vincil W. Hazelbaker flew a VMO-2 UH-1E to extract the remaining five and provide some ammo resupply. After more air strikes, the NVA drove off a collection of HMM-265, HMM-161, and VMO-2 ships trying to insert additional reinforcements. One HMM-161 gunner was KIA and another WIA. A Marine C-117 flare ship and VMO-2 gunships provided support until two Air Force AC-47s arrived. Shortly after midnight the Marines needed another resupply and Hazelbaker volunteered to go in again. While unloading the ammo, an enemy rocket exploded on the rotor mast; so Hazelbaker and his crew joined the fight on the ground. During the rest of the night, the NVA removed their dead and probed the Marine position with grenades but did not attack. By midmorning the next day, reinforcement arrived and by midafternoon everyone had been extracted. The Marines lost 5 KIA and 27 WIA including those from HMM-161 mentioned above and three helicopter pilots. They found 37 enemy KIA but drag marks indicated there were others. For his actions CPT Lee received the Medal of Honor and MAJ Hazelbaker the Navy Cross.
The source for this information was USMC 1966 History, P 177 & 178
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:
08/17/2025