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Junction City - Operation Junction City was conducted in 2 phases. Phase I was from 22 Feb - 17 March 1967. Phase II was from 21 March - 14 May 1967. The
goals of Junction City I were 1) Elimination of COSVN, the Central Office for South Vietnam. The head quarters used by the North Vietnamese communists to
control their military and political efforts in the south; 2) Pacification of War Zone C; 3) Drive the enemy away from populated areas and into the open where superior
American firepower can be more effectively used. On 22 February, in one of the largest airmobile assaults in history, more than 240 troop-carrying helicopters
descend on the battlefield of Junction City I. On 28 February the 1/16th Infantry and B-2/18th Infantry engage the 2/101st NVA Regiment at Prek Klok, 20 miles north
of Tay Ninh City. Losses for the battle: U.S. - 25 KIA, 27 WIA; NVA 167 KIA. 10-11 March - “Battle of Prek Klok II.” In renewed fighting near Prek Klok, the
2/2d Infantry Division, fight a battalion from the 272d Viet Cong Regiment. Three Americans are KIA and 41 WIA; 197 VC are killed in the fight. Junction City II
also occurred in War Zone C. The objective was to search and destroy additional NVA/VC units. On 19 March 10 U.S. soldiers are KIA and 18 WIA when VC
forces ambush the 3/22d Infantry at a landing zone near Fire Support Base Gold, approximately 20 miles northeast of Tay Ninh City. From 19-20 March, the “Battle
of Ap Bau Bang” occurred. The 273d VC Regiment assaulted A-3/5th Cavalry near Ap Bau Bang and Soui Tre, 35 miles north of Saigon. 3 Americans are KIA and 63
WIA. Viet Cong losses are reported at 227 KIA and three captured. The “Battle of FSB Gold” occurred on 21 March. A force of 2500 Viet Cong of the 272d Main
Force Regiment attack the 3/22d Infantry and 2/77th Artillery defending FSB Gold.
The 2/12th Infantry reinforces the 3/22d during the bloody battle in which pointblank artillery fire and hand-to-hand combat finally turned back the human wave
attack launched by the VC. Losses in the battle: U.S. - 30 KIA, 187 WIA; NVA/VC 43 - 423 KIA. From 31 March - 1 April the “Battle of LZ George” was fought. The
1/26th Infantry fights a fierce battle with the 271st VC Regiment near Ap Gu, 28 miles northeast of Tay Ninh City. Reinforcements, 1/16th Infantry, heavy artillery
fire and tactical air support help turn the tide of battle in favor of the Americans. More than 600 enemy KIAs are reported. U.S. losses are 10 KIA and 62 WIA.
Casualty totals for Junction City I-II: U.S. 282 KIA, 1576 WIA; NVA/VC - 2728 KIA.
Photo - Parachute jump by elements from 173rd Airborne Brigade, during Operation Junction City, Troops were dropped by Fairchild C-123 Providers. Operation Junction city (22 February –
14 May 1967) Photo byCatherine Leroy (Flickr)
Map - Approaches to Saigon, January-May 1967, Junction City Battlefields. Joel D. Meyerson "Images of a Lengthy War." Washington DC: US Army Center of Military History, 1986.
| Tommy Trampp |
