Posted on Feb 22, 2017
Operation Junction City begins - Feb 22, 1967 - HISTORY.com
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Operation Junction City is launched to ease pressure on Saigon. It was an effort to smash the Viet Cong’s stronghold in Tay Ninh Province and surrounding areas along the Cambodian border northwest of Saigon.
The purpose of the operation was to drive the Viet Cong away from populated areas and into the open, where superior American firepower could be more effectively used. In the largest operation of the war to date, four South Vietnamese and 22 U.S. battalions were involved–more than 25,000 troops. The first day’s operation was supported by 575 aircraft sorties, a record number for a single day in South Vietnam. The operation was marked by one of the largest airmobile assaults in history when 240 troop-carrying helicopters descended on the battlefield. There were 2,728 enemy casualties by the end of the operation on March 17.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser Maj Kim Patterson SSgt Robert Marx
The purpose of the operation was to drive the Viet Cong away from populated areas and into the open, where superior American firepower could be more effectively used. In the largest operation of the war to date, four South Vietnamese and 22 U.S. battalions were involved–more than 25,000 troops. The first day’s operation was supported by 575 aircraft sorties, a record number for a single day in South Vietnam. The operation was marked by one of the largest airmobile assaults in history when 240 troop-carrying helicopters descended on the battlefield. There were 2,728 enemy casualties by the end of the operation on March 17.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser Maj Kim Patterson SSgt Robert Marx
Operation Junction City begins - Feb 22, 1967 - HISTORY.com
Posted from history.com
Vietnam War
Warfare
Military History
American History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Knew a guy in the 173rd during that time, SP5 Mark Kuzinski, but he arrived in Vietnam too late for the combat jump.
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LTC Stephen C.
SP5 Mark Kuzinski, I just had a chance to read the article and unfortunately, it's really lacking content even for an abbreviated format. Operation Junction City included the only airborne combat jump of the Vietnam War which was carried out by elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade! How can that not be mentioned?!
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski
LTC Stephen C. - Great point and thanks for your addition. There are so many elements to these operations that one could almost write a book on many of them. I will do my best to add to some of these post.
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LTC Stephen C.
No worries, SP5 Mark Kuzinski. It's not your fault! I can't imagine any author omitting a combat airborne operation though! Wonder if that guy ever served?
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