Armed Forced of the Republic of Viet Nam

 

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    The First Marine Artillery Battalion

                                                                         Written by: Lieutenant Colonel Doan Trong Cao

In 1965, all French troops withdrew out of Vietnam, The ARVN increased in number to 150,000. A number of Vietnamese soldiers, who had belonged to French units, stayed in Vietnam and entered the ARVN.

Several independent units of French commandos in North and South Vietnam merged to form two naval amphibious battalions and a few supporting administrative and training units. On October 1st 1955, the Marine Group was officially formed. It was composed of the heavy 106mm (4.2'') gun company (commanded successively by First Lieutenants Nguyen Hai Dang and Nguyen Thanh Yen), which had three platoons. Each platoon had three gun squads.

In 1961, the heavy gun company transformed into the 75mm Artillery Company. It was composed of two artillery platoons. Each platoon had four gun squads. The Artillery Company also had a command and services platoon. The 1st Company Commander was Captain Cao Van Thinh. The ARVN Artillery Corps sent five officers along: First Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao, Second Lieutenant Nguyen Trong Dat, Second Lieutenant Nguyen Tan Loc, Warrant Officer Luong Xuan Loc, Warrant Officer Tram Huu Phuoc. (Warrant Officer Tram Huu Phuoc died in 1988 after numerous years of being tortured in a Communist concentration camps).

The 75mm artillery range was 8,500m. It could fire six rounds per minute. This kind of artillery gun was supplied by the US to the Airborne and to units performing activities in mountainous areas. Horses or donkeys could transport it, and it was easily unloaded and dismantled in difficult terrains such as mountains or muddy fields. Parachutes could also deliver it. We actually transported ours in sampans and and rafts made of logs strapped together.

The make up of the Company was as follows:

* Company Commander: Captain Cao Van Thinh.
* Executive Officer:
First Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao.
* First Platoon Leader:
Second Lieutenant Nguyen Trong Dat.
* Second Platoon Leader:
Second Lieutenant Nguyen Tan Loc.
* Forward Observers:
Warrant Officer Luong Xuan Loc
,  Warrant Officer Tran Huu Phuoc
* Company Master Sergeant Tran Kim Ty.
* Company Supply Master Sergeant  Nguyen Ngoc Lit.

The Company was transported to Binh Duong to be trained at the Artillery School in firing technique, shelling technique, topography, gun squad, weaponry, tactics and communication.

In October 1961 the Artillery Company's initiation occurred at Rung Sat, where it gave fire support to the 3rd Marine Battalion. It was transported there by VNN (Vietnamese Navy) LCVP and LCM6 fighting boats.

On January 1st 1962, the Marine Group was upgraded to the Marine Brigade, with its four battalions, an artillery battalion and other supporting units.

 

The commanding officers were:

* Commandant: Major Le Nguyen Khang.
* Assistant Commandant and  Chief of Staff: Captain Nguyen Ba Lieu.
- Chief G1: Captain Nguyen Van Nho
- Chief G2: Captain Do Ky
- Chief G3: Captain Le Dinh Que
- Chief G4: Captain Thai Vinh Thu.
- Secretary: Captain Le Huu Dinh.

 

* Battalion Commanders:

- 1st Battalion: Captain Tran Van Nhat.
- 2nd Battalion: Captain Nguyen Thanh Yen
- 3rd Battalion: Captain Ma Viet Bang.
- 4th Battalion: Captain Bui The Lan
- Artillery Battalion: Captain Nguyen Van
Truoc.

 

The 75mm Artillery Company was also upgraded to the Artillery Battalion, which was composed of:

- A 105mm Howitzer Company with eight guns.
- Two 75mm companies each with eight
guns.
- The Battalion moved from Thi Nghe to
Thu Duc, Gia Dinh.

This battalion's commanding officers were:

* Battalion Commander: Captain Nguyen Van Truoc
* Executive Officer: Captain Cao Van Thinh
- 75mm Company A Commander:
First Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao.
- 75mm Company B Commander:
First Lieutenant Nguyen Huu Hanh.
- 105mm Company C Commander:
First Lieutenant Nguyen Ho Quy.
- Artillery Command and Services Com
pany: First Lieutenant Nguyen An Khung
- Chief of S3: First Lieutenant Nguyen
Dich Hai
- Chief of S4: Master Sergeant Nguyen
Ngoc Ut
- S4 and S5 : Warrant Officer Nguyen Vinh
Duyet
- Chief of S1: Warrant Officer Vuong Van
Tin.

- Battalion Master Sergeant: Tran Kim Ty.

 

Except for the 75mm Company A which had been trained before, the other two companies (B & C) were transported to the Artillery School which had recently been moved to Duc My, in Khanh Hoa province to train. In June 1962, the 75mm Company A reinforced the 4th Marine Battalion, commanded by Captain Bui The Lan, in an operation in Phan Thiet. The 4th Marine Battalion performed its military activities in Phan Thiet, destroyed the Communist sanctuary of Le Hong Phong, north west of Mui Ne District. Their camp was razed and the fields destroyed. All weapons and supplies from the North were confiscated. Other sanctuaries such as Dang Kia and Ara Salour, southwest of Phan Thiet were also eradicated.

Meanwhile, the Artillery Battalion, with the 75mm Company B and the 105mm C, were following the Marine Brigade to search and destroy the enemy at That Son.

In 1963, the 75mm Company A commanded by First Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao participated in the Do Xa Campaign.

While on R & R in Song Cau after the campaign, the Marine Brigade was transported to Saigon by C 130 aircrafts from the US base in the Philippines. The political scene in the capital was troubled.

In October 1963, the Marine Brigade was sent to III Corps to reinforce the operations in the Iron Triangle, which was situated between Binh Duong and Tay Ninh Province. Lieutenant Colonel Le Nguyen Khang commanded the first phase of the operation.

Participating units were:

* The 1st Marine Battalion, commanded by Captain Tran Van Nhut.
* The 4th marine Battalion, commanded
by Captain Le Hang Minh.
- The Artillery 75mm Company A, of First
Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao.
- The Artillery 105mm Company C, of
First Lieutenant Nguyen Ho Quy.

In the second phase, Lieutenant Colonel Le Nguyen Khang had to return to the Brigade Headquarters in Saigon because of the political unrest.

Major Nguyen Ba Lien, the Assistant Commandant took over the responsibility.

In that operation, Artillery Company A succeeded for the first time in destroying two enemy 81mm mortars, by counter shelling during the attack on the Brigade Staff.

On November 1st 1963, the Brigade received orders to perform another operation. But when it reached Bien Hoa, it was ordered to change directions and to go straight to Saigon to participate in the Coup of January 1st, 1963.

The 1st battalion of Captain Le Hang Minh occupied Saigon radio station.

The 4th Battalion of Captain Le Hang Mimh invaded the Police General Headquarters.

The Marine Artillery Battalion stationed at Thanh Thai Street, Cho Lon.

On the night of November the 1st, the 4th Marine Battalion occupied Gia Long Palace.

After the Coup:

Lieutenant Colonel Le Nguyen Khang was promoted to Colonel to appease the Marine units. He was then appointed to the position of Military Secretary to the Vietnamese Ambassador in the Philippines.

Major Nguyen Ba Lien was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and then replaced Colonel Khang in the position of Commandant of the Marine Brigade.

Captain Tran Van Nhut was promoted to Major and became the Brigade Assistant Commandant/Chief of Staff.

Captain Nguyen Thanh Yen was promoted to Major and became Task Force Commander.

In 1964, a task force commanded by Major Tran Van Nhut, composed of two battalions and Artillery Company A, was sent as reinforcement to IV Corps. The target was the communist enclave of Thanh Phu situated between the two provinces of Kien Hoa and Tra Vinh (Vinh Binh). It was a dumping ground for all weapons and supplies coming from the north. In the operation, a Communist Chinese ship carrying medical equipment, medicine, dry food, weapons and ammunition was destroyed by aircraft bombardment.

In February 1964, a task force commanded by Major Tran Van Nhut performed an operation in Go Cong, south west of Saigon.

Two Marine Battalions and the Artillery Battalion - minus one company - and the Task force Staff deployed in Gi Cong. Another Marine Battalion and Artillery Company B evolved in Can Giuoc District, in Long An province.

After the Coup of 1963, the new government abandoned the National Program of “Strategically Hamlets”. This resulted in:

- Countless areas losing security.
- Roads being destroyed
- villages and hamlets falling one by one to the enemy.

Only cities were under government control. The general population could not develop their businesses. Some cities were isolated, and the economy was depressed. Go Cong Province fell into this category. The two main routes: Saigon to Gocong and My Tho to Go Cong were blocked. Only Go Cong City and Hoa Dong District were under government control. Nearly all villages and hamlets in surrounding areas were lost to the enemy. Markets could not operate, and rice field were left uncultivated due to lack of security. Even the fishing industry was hindered. That was why the Marines were assigned the task of normalizing the area. The new provincial chief was Major Nguyen Viet Thanh.

In February 1964, at exactly 8.00am of the Lunar New Year, (Year of the Dragon), the Marine Brigade moved to My Tho City. It was then sent to reinforce the 7th Infantry Division. They were to dislodge the enemy from the segment of Route 4 from My Tho to the ferry port, My Thuan.

On the 4th day of the New Year, the whole Task Force moved to Go Cong. On the 5th day, all units entered their areas of responsibility; They extended the government control area around the city of Go Cong to about 5km. The district of Tan Nien Tay returned to its normal pattern of life. After only a month, Go Cong province was completely back to normal, and quickly developed at an even better rate than before 1963.

In April of 1964, there was another change made to the Marine Brigade due to political tension. Colonel Le Nguyen Khang returned from the Philippines to his former position as Commandant of the Marine Brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ba Lien replaced him as military secretary to the Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines. Captain Bui The Lan, while studying in the USA was summoned back to become a Task Force Commander, replacing Major Tran Van Nhut. At that time, the Marine Brigade had two Task Forces - one commanded by Major Nguyen Thanh Yen, the other by Major Tran Van Nhut.

The newly promoted Major Bui The Lan replaced Major Tran Van Nhut as Chief of Staff. The Marine Artillery Battalion still had Major Nguyen Van Truoc and Captain Nguyen Ho Quy as its Commander and executive officer. Captain Doan Trong Cao commanded Artillery Company A. Captain Nguyen Huu Hanh commanded Artillery Company B. Captain Tran Thien Hieu commanded the 105mm Company C.

The second half of 1964 was a string of political events. Military activities increased in the whole of South Vietnam. The main National routes: 1,4,13,19,21, were cut here and there by the NVA. Supplies to the Central Highland Cities and to the centre of Vietnam had to sent by air or sea.

The Marine Brigade was ordered to move to Vung Tau to protect General Khanh's Vung Tau Charters.

* Major Ton That Soan commanded the 1st Marine Battalion.
* Major Hoang Tich Thong commanded the 2nd Battalion
.
* The Marine Artillery Battalion
commanded by Major Nguyen Van Truoc.

In December 1964, the 4th Marine Battalion and its Commander, Major Nguyen Van Nho and the executive officer Tran Van Hoan battled at Binh Gia, confronted by two enemy regiments. They encircled the 4th Battalion, which suffered heavy losses. However, they still broke the enemy's attempt to invade Binh Gia. About 100 Marines were killed in action, among them the Battalion Commander, the executive officer, and the battalion surgeon. The remaining units withdrew to Vung Tau wounded. Captain Nguyen Thanh Tri became the new Battalion Commander. Captain Nhon became the Executive Commander.

III Corps then organized a second operation with the Marine Corps as the main force. The Marine Brigade Headquarters stationed at Vung Tau. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Yen's Task Force was stationed at Dat Do district. The Artillery Battalion was reinforced by another 155mm Artillery Company, and two 105mm Howitzer Artillery Platoons. The operation was dubbed “Nguyen Van Nho”.

In April 1965, a Marine task Force was sent to II Corps as reinforcement. The Task Force commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Yen was composed of:

* The 2nd Marine Battalion of Major Hoang Tich Thong.
* The 1st Marine Battalion of 
Major Ton That Soan.
* Artillery 75mm Company A,
led by Captain Doan Trong Cao.

The Task Force was to clear the National Route 1 from Qui Nhon Province northwards to the Binh De Pass at the border of Quang Ngai Province. They were to break the enemy pressure in the districts of Duong Lieu, Hoai An, Hoai Nhon, An Lao, and Tam Quan. Meanwhile, Artillery Company B commanded by Captain Nguyen Huu Hanh reinforced an Airborne Brigade ordered to clear National Route 19 and break the enemy between Qui Nhon to Pleiku.

Artillery Company C commanded by Captain Tran Thien Hieu and another Marine Battalion also reinforced II Corps.

The battle in II Corps happened at Tam Quan, north of Binh Dinh province. That was the most famous victory of the 2nd Marine Battalion, commandeered by Major Hoang Tich Thong.

His company commanders were:

- Captain Nguyen Van Hay, the Executive Officer/Company Commander.
- Captain Pham Nha.
- Captian Ngo Van Dinh
- Captain Nguyen Nang Bao.

In 1965, a very important event took place. The then Premier, was Dr Phan Huy Quat. The Chief of State was Mr Phan Khac Suu. They were not able to unite all political parties. Thus the government became weak, and the country was at stake.

Premier Phan Huy Quat transferred the power to the ARVN. On June 19th 1965, the Council of Armed Forces took over the responsibility. Lieutenant Nguyen Van Thieu became the Chairman of the Directorate of Generals and also Chief of State. Major General Nguyen Cao Ky held the position of premier and Chairman of the Executive Council.

In 1966, the Artillery B Company's 75mm guns were replaced by 105mm Howitzers. Captain Nguyen An Khuong was the Company Commander. During that year, the Marine Artillery Battalion reinforced support operations in

a) all tactical zones - from I to IV.
b) all battlefields from the Central
Highland to the seashore
c) the Mekong Delta and especially the
   waterway of Long Tao river from Saigon
to Vung Tau

d) the Capital Military District.

There were also other changes:

- Captain Nguyen Tien Hanh replaced Captain Doan Trong Cao as Artillery A Commander.
- Captain Vo Dang Phuong replaced Captain Nguyen An Khuong as Commander of the 105mm Artillery Company B.
- Captain Nguyen Tan Loc replaced Captain Tran Thien Hieu as Commander of the 105 Artillery Company C.
- Captain Doan Trong Cao became Artillery Command and Services Company Commander.
- Captain Tran Thien Hieu had another position in Marine Brigade Headquarters.

At the end of 1966, Captain Doan Trong Cao replaced Captain Nguyen Tien Hanh who was going to attend a military course.

In 1967, the Artillery Battalion followed the Marine Task Forces to perform operations in all tactical zones, especially in the Mekong Delta and the vicinity of Saigon.

In 1968, the enemy launched a general attack all over South Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Marine Corps and the ARVN confronted the NVA, which was equipped with much more sophisticated weapons, such as AK 47 (personal automatic rifles); B40 and B41 rocket launchers, 82mm recoilless rifles from Red China. The ARVN at that time only had personal weapons such as the Garant M1 and Carbine M1, M2.

At that time, the Marine Brigade had six fighting battalions, one Artillery Battalion, and Task Forces A and B. Task Force A was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Tich Thong; Task Force B by Lieutenant Colonel Ton That Soan.

Major Nguyen Van Truoc commanded the Artillery Battalion.

The Marines, Airborne and Ranger units repelled the enemy from the Capital Saigon.

Task Force A, was sent to Hue to recapture the Imperial Citadel. Artillery Company B of Captain Vo Dang Phuong accompanied Task Force A.

In 1968, the Marine Brigade was upgraded to the Marine Division.

In mid 1968, Artillery Company A's 75mm guns were replaced by 105mm Howitzers. A fourth Artillery Company was formed - the 105mm Artillery Company D. So the Marine Artillery Battalion had four companies.

At the beginning of 1969, the 2nd Artillery Battalion was formed. Major Nguyen Ho Quy was Commander. Captain Tran Thieu Hieu was executive officer.

The 1st Artillery Battalion was now under the command of Major Doan Trong Cao. At that stage the battalion had no executive officer.

The First Artillery Battalion had three 105mm Companies: A, B, C.

- Captain Tram Huu Phuoc was Commander of Company A.
- Captain Phan Minh Hung was
Commander of Company B.
- Captain Tran Van Nhan was
Commander of Company C.

From 1969, the 1st Artillery Battalion started to go into operations as a whole. By mid 1969, Captain Nguyen Huu Lac had replaced Captain Tram Huu Phuoc, who became Artillery Command & Services Company Commander, as well as Base Camp Commander.

In September 1969, the VNN (Vietnamese Navy) organized an Amphibious Force named Amphibious 211. It was composed of three Navy Riverine groups and one Marine Brigade. It was formed to replace the American 9th Infantry Division Mobile Riverine Force, which had returned to the USA. Its TAOR was all the rivers and canals in Cuu Long Delta and U Minh. The Commander was naval Colonel Dinh Manh Hung. The executive officer was Colonel Ton That Soan. The 1st Artillery Battalion reinforced for the Amphibious 211.

That same September, the Amphibious Force performed activities in Kien Hoa, My Tho, and Chuong Thien. In October 1969 Amphibious Force 211 cleared the Rach Gia Triangle. Chung Thien and Ca Mau, including U Minh Ha. It was a complete success achieving many aims:

The waterway from Chuong Thien to Rach Gia i.e Cai Lon River was cleared.

Tan Bang Canal; the main waterway from Rach Gia to Camau was cleared.

Under our control were: Ong Doc River, Can Gao Canal, Kien Long District, Dam Doi, Bay hap River, Chac Bang and Canh Den.

Thanks to this Amphibious Force, the provinces were able to harvest rice and seafood, fish in the rivers and forage in the forests. The inhabitants cultivated rice fields right up to the seashore. Previously, they V.C had allowed Thai fishermen and farmers to exploit sea food and rice fields, as the Thais paid them taxes and permitted them to transport weapons from Cambodia and Thailand to Vietnam.

It was one of the biggest pacification campaigns organized by IV Corps - in which the 21st Infantry Division of Brigadier General Nguyen Vinh Nghi and the Amphibious Force played a major role. It was a huge success. The entire triangular area of U Minh Thuong and U Minh Ha was safe and secure. The 9th Viet Cong Corps, a.k.a the Delta Corps had to move to Cambodia as a whole.

In 1970, the 1st Artillery Battalion underwent some changes.

- Major Doan Trong Cao was Battalion Commander.
- Captain Dang Ba Dat was Executive
Officer.
- Captain Thanh was Company A
Commander.

- Captain Lac had gone to the USA to study

Captain Nguyen Van Tam replaced Captain Phan Minh Hung as Company B Commander. The latter went to join the newly formed 3rd Artillery Battalion, which was led by Captain Tran Thien Hieu.

Company C commander was Captain Tran Van Nhan.

In April 1970, Major Nguyen Ho Quy died of an illness. Captain Dang Ba Dat replaced him as the 2nd Artillery Battalion Commander.

The Marine Division Artillery Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Truoc.

- 1st Artillery Battalion Commander: Major Doan Trong Cao.
- 2nd Artillery Battalion Commander:
Captain Dang Ba Dat.
- 3rd Artillery Battalion Commander:
Captain Tran Thien Hieu.

In April 1970, the ARVN performed an incursion into Cambodia to break the NVA supply route. The 258th Marine Brigade, led by Colonel Ton That Soan, was airlifted fron Chung Thien to Cambodia. Only the one company led by Captain Nguyen Van Tam of the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion followed them. The rest of the 1st Artillery Battalion remained to reinforce IV Corps in Ca Mau and Chuong Thien.

In June 1970, we returned for R & R in Thu Duc.

In October of that year, the 1st Artillery Battalion replaced the 3rd Marine Artillery Battalion, which had been in Cambodia with the 369th Marine Brigade.

The achievements of the Marines in this period were:

1. Repulsing the NVA out of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
2. Clearing Route 4 from Phnom Penh to
Sihanoukville of NVA blockades.
3. Assuring security of Picknil Pass
4. Protecting the main waterway from
Chau Doc to Phnom Penh.

At the beginning of 1971, Colonel Pham Van Chung replaced Lieutenant Ngo Van Dinh as the Commander of the 369th Marine Brigade. The most notable victory was the Marines' counter-attack to the ambush organized by the NVA. They had intended to destroy the entire fleet of boats sailing between Chau Doc and Phnom Penh, at a point 10km north of Port Neak Luong.  The 8th Marine Battalion commanded by Major Nguyen Van Phan received supporting firepower from the 1st Artillery Marine Battalion and one 155mm Artillery Company, which was stationed at Ba Nam. The 8th Marine Battalion landed directly at the enemy position. The Marines immediately charged and killed the whole NVA battalion, which had organized this ambush. Interestingly, an NVA diary was discovered. It had belonged to the commander of the NVA battalion, and one entry read: “We attacked a Marine company north of the Saigon Bridge in 1968...” Ironically, the Marine Company Commander then, was now Major Phan, who had orchestrated their demise that very day.

Lieutenant Colonel Doan Trong Cao
“Lightning Fire” in Laos

Lieutenant Colonel Doan Trong Cao

In February 1971, the whole 369th Marine Brigade returned to Saigon to resupply, re-equip and to prepare for Operation Lam Son 719 in South Laos. Resting only a day at base Camp, the 369th Marine Brigade was airlifted to Khe Sanh airfield. Lamson 719 had already started before they arrived.

The other two Marine Brigades were already there:

The 147th Marine Brigade commanded by Colonel Hoang Tich Thong was composed of the 2nd, the 4th, the 7th Marine Battalion, and the 2nd Marine Artillery Battalion.

The 258th Marine Brigade commanded by Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tri was composed of the 1st, the 3rd, the 6th Marine Battalions, and the 3rd Marine Artillery Battalion.

The 369th Marine Brigade commanded by Colonel Pham Van Chung was composed of the 5th, the 8th and the 9th Battalions and the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion. This Brigade served as a Reserve for I Corps, and protected the Operation Headquarters. Headquarters was composed of the Forward Headquarters of the 1st Infantry Division, that of the Airborne Division, that of the Marine Division, and that of the Ranger Group. It also included the logistical dump and the Khe Sanh airfield.

The most remarkable thing I recall is the successful retreat of the 147th Marine Brigade. After all ARVN units - the 1st Infantry Division, the Airborne Division, the Armor Brigade, and the Ranger Group - had all withdrawn out of Laos, the enemy concentrated on besieging the 147th and the 258th Marine Brigades, bombarding them mercilessly. Colonel Bui The Lan, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Division daringly ordered the 147th Marine Brigade to withdraw at night to evade the enemy. No one had dared to withdraw at night in such forbidding terrain - it was mountainous, riddled with deep crevices, and covered with thick jungle. At 3.00 pm, on the day of the withdrawal, Colonel Lan ordered 5,000 artillery flares to be delivered. At Khe Sanh, fog always started to fall at around 4.00pm. When the first trucks arrived with the flares, we placed them in nets.

Twenty-four US Marine CH 53 Skorsky helicopters airlifted the nets immediately to Mt Coroc, where the 3rd Marine Battalion was. We were able to supply only 3,000 flares before night fell. The 3rd Marine Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Nang Bao received orders to move south westerly about 4 km to evolve and to await the return of the 147th Marine Brigade. As soon as there was total darkness, the 3rd Marine Artillery Battalion was ordered to send flares into the sky to lead the 147th Brigade. It was an unbelievable feat that all three Battalions of the 147th Marine Brigade, the 2nd Marine Artillery Battalion and their communications, engineers and reconnaissance units all arrived safely at the rendezvous point, and that they had only lost 50 in action.

Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Lam of I Corps was stupefied, and demanded of Colonel Hoang Tich Thong: “How on earth did you Marines return in such numbers unscathed?”

Lieutenant Colonel Doan Trong Cao

20,000 Rounds Artillery a Day

Lieutenant Colonel Doan Trong Cao

After Operation Lam Son 719, the 369th Marine Brigade continued to reinforce the 1st Infantry Division, which operated west of Hue. Then it helped the 3rd Infantry Division in the west of Quang Tri Province.

In March 1972, the Marine Artillery Company B Commander, Captain Nguyen Van Tam and his artillery men were captured at Camp Carroll. Only 30 Artillerymen escaped.

The 369th Marine Brigade had been in R & R in Saigon when it received orders to be airlifted with the Marine Division Headquarters to Hue. The NVA had crossed the 17th Parallel and the DMZ to attack the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marine Brigade.

The 369th Marine Brigade moved to Quang Tri and defended the area west of the National Route 1 from the My Chanh River to the Truong Phuoc River in the north. It was composed of the 2nd, the 5th, the 9th, Marine Battalion and the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion. The latter was reinforced by an I Corps Artillery 155mm Company and an I Corps Artillery 175mm Company.

The 1st Marine Artillery stationed at Nancy had two 105mmm Artillery Companies and a 155mm Company. The Artillery Company C positioned west of Base Nancy was to provide fire support to the 2nd Marine Battalion. During this period, the NVA artillery continuously shelled the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion positions. We had to move frequently - up to four times a day. Later, the 9th Marine Battalion caught a group of NVA forward observers, and our positions were no longer fired at.

The 369th marine Brigade fulfilled its task of protecting the left flank of the 3rd Infantry Division and its subordinate groups, enabling them to retreat south out of Quang Tri.

The battle was savage but thanks to the talented and intelligent maneuvers overseen by Colonel Pham Van Chung, the 369th Brigade succeeded in stopping the advance of the NVA forces (The 74th NVA Corps and the B2 Front).

Then on the 30th of April 1972, the 369th Marine Brigade moved to the south bank of the My Chanh to form a new defensive line.

Later on, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen The Luong replaced Colonel Pham Van Chung who was appointed Forward Chief of Staff.

Colonel Ngo Van Dinh's 258th Marine Brigade later replaced the 369th Marine Brigade at the My Chanh defensive line. The 1st Marine Artillery Battalion reinforced the 258th Marine Brigade; The 2nd Marine Artillery gave fire support to the 147th Marine Brigade. The 3rd Marine Battalion positioned with the 369th Brigade.

The operation to recapture Quang Tri was organized by I Corps in conjunction with the Airborne Division and the Marine Division.

The TAOR of the Airborne Division was from the left side of National Route 1 to the foot of Truong Son Range in the far west. The TAOR of the Marine Division was from the right side of the National Route 1 to the sea.

On the 28th of June 1972, the 258th Marine Brigade on the left, and the 147th Marine Brigade on the right simultaneously crossed the My Chanh to advance northwards. The 369th Marine Brigade served as a reserve. The Marine Division Headquarters positioned in Hue Citadel.

From May 1st 1972 to June 28th, I Corps applied “Operation Thunderstorm” - which applied: - All Marine Artillery Battalions - One 155mm Artillery Battalion. - Two 1005mm Artillery Battalion from I Corps - One 175mm Artillery Battalion of the 1st Infantry Division. - US Naval guns - US B 52 bombers - US tactical aircrafts.

All these were used to hammer the enemy from My Chanh to the north. Everyday, we were allowed to fire 20,000 artillery rounds, and the US naval guns were permitted 7000 rounds of 5”, 6”, 8” with all kinds of fuses.

The 258th Marine Brigade attacked Quang Tri City, from National Route 1 to Vinh Dinh River in the east. It had the 3rd, the 6th, and the 8th Marine Battalion and the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion. It is worth noting that during the recapture of Quang Tri Citadel, only the Vietnamese Artillery was involved. The US aircrafts bombarded north of The Thach Han River. An American F4 did however; use a small bomb to breach the southeastern wall, allowing troops to enter. On one particular day, the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion fired up to 21,000 rounds at Quang Tri City, the Citadel, and the enemy at Thach Han River.

Both sides tried to support their ground troops with artillery.

After Quang Tri City was recaptured, not a single house was left standing. Only Lavang Cathedral, the Lavang Statue of Mary, and three Buddhist pagodas on the left of National Route 1 was left standing.

In November 1973, Major Nguyen Huu Lac replaced Lieutenant Doan Trong Cao, who went away to study. Lac remained the 1st Marine Artillery Battalion Commander until 30/4/1975.

       

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