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Operation Beaver Cage

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Operation Beaver Cage
Part of Vietnam War
DateApril 28–May 12, 1967
Location
Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
United States Viet Cong
Commanders and leaders
COL James A Gallo Jr.
Units involved
1st Battalion, 3rd Marines
Casualties and losses
55 killed 181 killed
66 captured

Operation Beaver Cage was a U.S. Marine Corps operation in the Que Son Valley that took place from 28 April through to 12 May 1967.

Background

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Operation Beaver Cage was an operation by Special Landing Force Alpha comprising 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines and HMM-263 against the Viet Cong (VC) base areas in the Que Son Valley south of Danang[1]: 158 

Operation

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The operation commenced with a helicopter assault into the valley at 07:00 on 28 April. Contact was minimal until the night of 2 May when a VC unit attacked Company C's night defensive position and was forced back by artillery and AC-47 Spooky gunfire.[1]

On 5 May as the Battalion headquarters was being withdrawn by helicopters it was attacked by VC mortar and small arms fire, the assault was repulsed without loss.[1]: 158–9 

On 9 May Beaver Cage was joined with Operation Union. On 10 May Companies B and C engaged a large VC unit killing 86 VC.[1]: 159 

Aftermath

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The operation concluded on 12 May, Marine losses were 55 dead and 151 wounded, while VC losses were 181 killed and 66 captured.[1]: 159 

References

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

  1. ^ a b c d e Telfer, Gary (1984). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese 1967. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 978-1494285449.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.