| Operation Osceola | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theVietnam War | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 United States |  North Vietnam | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| MGRathvon M. Tompkins Col. Herbert E. Ing Col. Joseph E. Lo Prete | |||||
| Units involved | |||||
| 1st Battalion, 1st Marines 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines | 4th Battalion 808th Battalion | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 19 killed | 100 killed (per US) | ||||
Operation Osceola was a security operation around theQuảng Trị Combat Base,Quảng Trị Province,South Vietnam from 20 October 1967 to 16 February 1968.
The Hải Lăng Forest was the location of thePeople's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) Base Area 101 which supported the PAVN 5th and 6th Regiments. The1st Battalion, 1st Marines,2nd Battalion, 1st Marines and1st Battalion, 3rd Marines mountedOperation Medina in the forest from 11 to 20 October 1967.[1]: 139 Operation Osceola commenced immediately from the conclusion of Operation Medina.[2]: 73
Colonel Herbert E. Ing's1st Marine Regiment was responsible for the Osceola area of operations which bordered theLancaster area of operations to the west,Kentucky andNapoleon/Saline to the north andNeosho to the east and south and included the Quảng Trị Combat Base, but notQuảng Trị city which was defended by theArmy of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). The 2/1 Marines and2nd Battalion, 4th Marines were under the control of the 1st Marine Regiment. Ing concentrated his units on security and pacification operations rather than pursuing the PAVN in the Hải Lăng Forest as in Operation Medina with the 2/1 Marines deployed south of theThạch Hãn River guarding the approaches to Quảng Trị Combat Base and the 2/4 Marines protecting the base and the area north of the Thạch Hãn River.[2]: 73–4
On 24 December 1/1 Marines replaced 2/1 Marines in the southern sector and on 31 December the 1/3 Marines replaced the 2/4 Marines in the northern sector.[2]: 74 From 2–20 January the two Marine battalions had numerous skirmishes with small PAVN units south and west of the base resulting in 17 Marines and 76 PAVN killed.[2]: 76–8
On 20 January 1968 the3rd Marine Regiment assuming control of the Osceola area of operations as Operation Osceola II with essentially the same forces.[2]: 118
On 22 January the1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division began deploying into the Osceola southern area of operations as part ofOperation Jeb Stuart and Operation Osceola II was reduced to the defense of Quảng Trị Combat Base and its immediate vicinity. 1/1 Marines was moved back toPhu Bai Combat Base leaving 1/3 Marines as the only battalion involved in the operation.[2]: 119 On 24 and 31 January the base was hit by 122mm rocket and mortar fire causing minimal damage.[2]: 118
When the PAVN andViet Cong (VC) launched theirTet Offensiveattack on Quảng Trị city the 1/3 Marines were unable to assist the ARVN due to their commitments to the defense of Quảng Trị base and the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division was the only unit available to assist the ARVN.[2]: 135–6
On 16 February the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division assumed responsibility for the Osceola II area of operations from the 3rd Marine Regiment which only retained responsibility for perimeter defense of Quảng Trị base.
Operation Osceola concluded on 16 February 1968. Marine losses were 19 killed, with the US claiming PAVN losses were 100 killed.
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