battle report information
From date 660823 to 660825
Primary service involved, US Marine Corps
Operation PRAIRIE
Quang Tri Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Rockpile
Description: The Marines maintained an 11-man outpost on the top of the Rockpile. The NVA countered by positioning a 12.7mm machine gun midway between the Rockpile and the Razorback. This NVA gun "played" with any aircraft that came near the Rockpile and remained active despite artillery and air strikes. On the 23d, the Marines sent a company to neutralize this gun. They found a maze of very large caves and the NVA suddenly attacked from several of them. By late evening, Marine helicopters inserted a second company and brought in 106mm recoilless rifles, flamethrowers, and 50 cal machine guns. VMO-2 sent two gunships to help the forces in contact. The battle continued all night long as an Air Force AC-47 provided illumination and mini-gun support. At 0600 the NVA exited their caves to form up an assault line and the Marine annihilated them. During the morning, Marine helicopters brought more troops in. The force fought the NVA in this area for two more days. During this battle, the Marines had 21 KIA and 99 WIAs. Estimates of enemy dead ranged from 120 to 170. The one prisoner said he was a sergeant from the 803d Regiment, 324B Division.
The source for this information was USMC 1966 H; P 182-186
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