Posted on Aug 17, 2016
Marines launch Operation Starlite - Aug 18, 1965 - HISTORY.com
3.08K
19
4
10
10
0
After a deserter from the First Vietcong Regiment had revealed that an attack was imminent against the U.S. base at Chu Lai, the Marines launch Operation Starlite in the Van Tuong peninsula in Quang Ngai Province.
In this, the first major U.S. ground battle of the Vietnam War, 5,500 Marines destroyed a Viet Cong stronghold, scoring a resounding victory. During the operation, which lasted six days, ground forces, artillery from Chu Lai, close air support, and naval gunfire combined to kill nearly 700 Vietcong soldiers. U.S. losses included 45 Marines dead and more than 200 wounded.
@SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas , Capt Christopher Mueller , CPT (Join to see) , COL Mikel J. Burroughs , Sgt Joe LaBranche , SSgt (Join to see) , Capt Seid Waddell , SrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom Earley PVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel @SGT John McConnell SGT John " Mac " McConnell , SSG Leo Bell , SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
In this, the first major U.S. ground battle of the Vietnam War, 5,500 Marines destroyed a Viet Cong stronghold, scoring a resounding victory. During the operation, which lasted six days, ground forces, artillery from Chu Lai, close air support, and naval gunfire combined to kill nearly 700 Vietcong soldiers. U.S. losses included 45 Marines dead and more than 200 wounded.
@SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas , Capt Christopher Mueller , CPT (Join to see) , COL Mikel J. Burroughs , Sgt Joe LaBranche , SSgt (Join to see) , Capt Seid Waddell , SrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom Earley PVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel @SGT John McConnell SGT John " Mac " McConnell , SSG Leo Bell , SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
Marines launch Operation Starlite - Aug 18, 1965 - HISTORY.com
Posted from history.com
Vietnam War
American History
Military History
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 4
5
5
0
Thanks for reminding us about Operation Starlite SP5 Mark Kuzinski. It is noteworthy that a Viet Cong deserter provided information just in time to warn Chu Lai Air Base that an attack was about to launched against the base.
I expect that few VC deserted during the course of the war but thankfully this one did.
It was great that the marines were able to launch Operation Starlite before the VC attacked.
The relative body count favoed the USA but I expect the families of the 45 marines killed in this operation were not comforted at the body county ratio while they grieved the loss of their son, brother, father.
Here are some pictures of Chu Lai and a map for perspective.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton CSM Charles Hayden SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Forrest Stewart SGT Robert Hawks SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright
I expect that few VC deserted during the course of the war but thankfully this one did.
It was great that the marines were able to launch Operation Starlite before the VC attacked.
The relative body count favoed the USA but I expect the families of the 45 marines killed in this operation were not comforted at the body county ratio while they grieved the loss of their son, brother, father.
Here are some pictures of Chu Lai and a map for perspective.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton CSM Charles Hayden SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Forrest Stewart SGT Robert Hawks SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright
(5)
(0)
2
2
0
Thank you for sharing this day in Vietnam history with us SP5 Mark Kuzinski, I appreciate it.
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
Thanks Mark for this article. Even the VC's had rats amongst them.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google