Operation CHICAGO FIRE information
For date 681225
Primary service involved, US Army
Operation CHICAGO FIRE
Tay Ninh Province, III Corps, South Vietnam
Description: This was a prisoner release operation that began when, on 18 Dec., NLF announced over Liberation Radio that they desired to release three American POWs. It was part of their overall strategy to obtain political recognition from America for the communist-supported movement in the South. Code-Name Bright Light contains a summary of the political ramification of the first open offer of direct battlefield negotiations.
Army General Walter T. Kerwin, the American commander of III Corps, was order to pick a five-man team to rendezvous with the NLF representatives. With a local cease-fire in effect, on 25 Dec., LTC John V. Gibney and his team flew by helicopter to an enemy controlled area in Tay Ninh province and landed when they spotted a large NFL Banner. With the NVA on a political agenda and the Army interested in recovering their men, there were several hours of fruitless arguing the Vietnamese broke off the meeting and stated they would inform the Americans by radio if they intended to meet again.
Comments: GEN Kerwin, Walter T.; CG III Corps; ;
LTC Gibney, John V.; ; ;
The source for this information was Code-Name BRIGHT LIGHT P:196+
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023