| Operation Pocahontas Forest | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theVietnam War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States South Vietnam |  North Vietnam | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| MGCharles M. Gettys BGHoward H. Cooksey | |||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Americal Division2nd Division | 1st Regiment,2nd Division | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 18 killed | US/ARVNbody count: 127 killed | ||||||
Operation Pocahontas Forest was a security operation conducted during theVietnam War by the U.S.Americal Division and theArmy of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)2nd Division in theQuế Sơn Valley,South Vietnam from 6 to 31 July 1968.
At the beginning of July, Allied intelligence indicated that thePeople's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 1st Regiment,2nd Division was operating nearHiệp Đức at the western end of the Quế Sơn Valley. GeneralWilliam B. Rosson ordered Major GeneralCharles M. Gettys, commander of theAmerical Division to secure the area.[1]: 610
Operation Pocahontas Forest was launched on 6 July to search for the 1st Regiment and preempt a possible attack on Hiệp Đức.[1]
MG Gettys formed a brigade-size task force under the command of his deputy Division commander BGHoward H. Cooksey.Task Force Cooksey comprised the4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, the4th Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, the4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, a mechanized platoon fromTroop F, 17th Cavalry Regiment, a company from the26th Engineer Battalion and fourMIKE Force companies. The ARVN 2nd Division contributed a separate combat group comprising the 2nd and 4th Battalions, 5th Infantry Regiment, supported by an artillery battery.[1]
During the initial phase of the operation the Allied force located some supply caches around Hiệp Đức, but did not make contact with the 1st Regiment.[1]
On 11 July MG Gettys added the5th Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment, toTask Force Cooksey and on 21 July he added the2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, but even this expanded force made little contact with the PAVN.[1]: 611
The operation ended on 31 July, with PAVN losses of 127 killed while U.S. losses were 18 killed. While the Allied forces had not engaged the 1st Regiment directly, it had succeeded in keeping them away from Hiệp Đức and improved security in the Quế Sơn Valley to allow for pacification.[1]: 611
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Army Center of Military History.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.