5th Infantry Division
Sư Đoàn 5 Bộ Binh
May 1969 - January 1972
ARVN Officer
Hat Badge
Infantry, Queen of the Battle
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Cac Trang Lính
5th Infantry Division was one of the big units of ARVN that suffered high casualties in mid-1960's. After years of reform and consolidation, it regained the strength and became the victorious infantry division, second only to the 1st Infantry.
The division headquarters was based at Lai Khe, previously home to the US Army 1st Infantry (the Big Red One). It covered the large area of 3 provinces Binh Duong, Binh Long, and Phuoc Long where there have been famous enemy secret zones (D- War Zone, Duong Minh Chau, Iron Triangle...).
I was first an XO at 16th Company, 4th battalion, 8th Regiment; then promoted to CO of 15th Company in mid 1970, CO of 8th Regiment HQS Company in September 1971 before being transferred to the 2nd Air Division.
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I was with 16th Company after graduation from Polwar College. Nov-Dec 1969, our 4th battalion was sent to Bunard to secure the road for convoy to supply Phuoc Long province, 60 miles North of Saigon. The road had not been used for years. My company accompanied the tanks of 1st Cavalry Regiment to secure 16 kilometers from Bunard to Budop. We set out every morning, and withdrew late in the afternoon after secretly leaving small teams to ambush.
Either sides along the road, US Army sprayed Agent Orange to clear bushes and trees to prevent the enemies from ambushing our troops. At night, while the company retreated, we laid some squads behind to ambush in case the enemies tried to infiltrated the highlander village to get foods. Minor fire fights happened sporadically.
In the last week of 1969, one regiment of North Vietnam regular army ambushed 14th company on a 10 km long front line. We were ordered to move quickly to engage the battle. 7th USAF fighter planes and 5th Infantry artillery bombarded the area the whole morning before we could make assaults to the enemy's hiding positions. We killed 127 North VN troops. Two weeks after, I was shot at my stomach as we were attacked in another fierce battle 5 kms north of Bunard. The wound was life threatening, but US helicopter evacuated just in time to save my life.
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15th Company was ready for a new operation |
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Bunard 1969 |
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I was back from hospital in April 1970 to the same unit where the leadership had changed. Months later, I was assigned 15th Company Commander. We were to build a fire support base and stationed amid Long Nguyen secret zone. Dense forest, mine fields, booby traps, guerilla activities were all we encountered at that time. Looked like the enemies big units had been withdrawn deeply inside Kampuchea territory. We continued to carry out "Search and Destroy" operations with air and artillery support from the Big Red One (US 1st Infantry)
I Just about 10 kilometers from Saigon downtown, this area is simply a swamp with only short palm trees and muddy rice paddies separated by narrow canals. In the afternoon, water begins to rise covering all the surface. We had no means to raise our tents and had to sleep standing up, one leaning against other. At night, the enemies rowed sampans and threw grenades to our position. Thanks to claymore mines we set at every canal intersection, there were no more enemy activities during the 2 months we were there, and Saigon could celebrate the New Year safely.
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