Operation Montgomery Rendezvous

Operation Montgomery Rendezvous
	Part of the Vietnam War
Date	8 June – 15 August 1969
Location	western Thừa Thiên Province, South Vietnam
Result	US operational success
Belligerents
United States	North Vietnam
Commanders and leaders
John M. Wright	;
Units involved
101st Airborne Division	;
Casualties and losses
87 killed	US body count: 393 killed; 174 individual and 47 crew-served weapons recovered

Operation Montgomery Rendezvous was a security operation during the Vietnam War conducted by the 101st Airborne Division in the area southwest of Huế in western Thừa Thiên Province, from 8 June to 15 August 1969.

Background

Following the conclusion of Operation Apache Snow, the 101st Airborne Division continued operations in the same general area to interdict People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) infiltration routes and attack their bases in order to forestall attacks on Huế.

Operation

On the early morning of 14 June the Brigade command post at Firebase Berchtesgaden was attacked by sappers resulting in 12 US killed and 33 PAVN killed and 3 captured. On 15 June sappers attacked Firebase Currahee resulting in 54 PAVN killed. The 3rd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment began armored cavalry operations in the A Sầu Valley on 20 June, but contact continued to be sporadic with the PAVN forces avoiding engagement. On 28 June the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 4th Battalion, 1st Regiment observed a large force of PAVN moving south in the open near Firebase O'Reilly and called in airstrikes which killed 37 PAVN.^[1]

On 11 July the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment assaulted an entrenched PAVN position on Hill 996 (16°13′04″N 107°09′36″E / 16.2178°N 107.160°E / 16.2178; 107.160) in the western A Sầu Valley, losing 16 killed, including the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Arnold Hayward; PAVN losses were ten killed.^[2]^: 25 Sergeant Gordon Ray Roberts would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.^[3]

On 18 July at 15:00 elements of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, air-assaulted into an area 33 miles (53 km) southwest of Huế, received small arms fire. Accompanying helicopter gunships fired on the positions, and the air assault was completed one hour later. One PAVN soldier was killed, and one individual weapon captured.^[2]^: 36 On 20 July at 16:30 an element of the 3rd Brigade engaged a PAVN force 30 miles (48 km) of Huế. The fighting continued until 19:30 when the PAVN withdrew leaving 3 dead, US losses were 2 killed.^[2]^: 40

On 22 July 3rd Brigade troops discovered the bodies of 12 PAVN soldiers 32 miles (51 km) west southwest of Huế. They apparently were killed two months previously by small arms fire. ^[2]^: 43

On 24 July 3rd Brigade troops found the bodies of 13 PAVN 29 miles (47 km) southwest of Huế. They apparently were killed three weeks previously. ^[2]^: 46 On 3 August at 21:10 an armored cavalry element under the control of the 3rd Brigade, in a night defensive position 30 miles (48 km) south of Huế was attacked by PAVN. The troopers defended with unit weapons, including tank guns, and were supported by a USAF AC-47 Spooky gunship. The PAVN withdrew leaving nine dead, four individual and two crew-served weapons.^[4]^: 12

On 7 August at 07:30 an element of the 3rd Brigade, operating in a jungle area 11 miles (18 km) northwest of A Shau and 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the Laotian border received heavy small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fire from a PAVN force. The troopers fought back with unit weapons until 08:15 when the PAVN withdrew, leaving two dead and one individual weapon. US casualties were one killed. ^[4]^: 19

On 10 August at 14:00 an element of the 3rd Brigade engaged a PAVN force 31 miles (50 km) southwest of Huế and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east of the Laotian border. The PAVN withdrew, leaving 11 dead. While sweeping an area 4 miles (6.4 km) further north and 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the Laotian border at 15:30, another element of the same unit received small arms and automatic weapons fire from a PAVN force. The PAVN withdrew leaving one dead and one individual weapon. U.S. casualties were five killed. ^[4]^: 27

On 12 August at 06:30 a unit of the 1st Brigade, 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Hill 937 (Hamburger Hill) and 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the Laotian border was attacked by PAVN small arms and mortar fire. The infantrymen fought back with unit weapons, and after a 20-minute fire-fight the PAVN withdrew leaving five dead and four individual and one crew-served weapon. A later sweep of the area found six graves of PAVN apparently killed by airstrikes two days previously.^[4]^: 36–7

Aftermath

The operation ended on 15 August 1969. PAVN losses were 393 killed and 174 individual and 47 crew-served weapons captured. US losses were 87 killed.^[5]^: 55

References

^ "Operational Report - Lessons Learned, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) for Period Ending 31 July 1969". Headquarters 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). 20 August 1969. p. 7. Retrieved 27 August 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Headquarters MACV Monthly Summary July 1969" (PDF). Headquarters United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. 28 October 1969. Retrieved 28 July 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ "Vietnam War War (M-Z); Roberts, Gordon Ray entry". United States Army Center of Military History. 3 August 2009. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Headquarters MACV Monthly Summary August 1969" (PDF). Headquarters United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. 10 December 1969. Retrieved 28 July 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ "Headquarters MACV Monthly Summary August 1969" (PDF). Headquarters United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. 10 December 1969. Retrieved 28 July 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.