UNCLASSIFIED AD NUMBER AD390548 CLASSIFICATION CHANGES TO: unclassified FROM: confidential LIMITATION CHANGES TO: Approved for public release, distribution unlimited FROM: Distribution: Further dissemination only as directed by Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development [Army] Washington DC 20310; 8 May 1967 or higher DoD authority. AUTHORITY 8 May 1979, DoDD 5200.10, 26 July 1962.; Per OAG D/A ltr 29 Apr 1980. THIS PAGE IS UNCLASSIFIED aL UA 5 14ATY DIVISIOI!ý 1 *. b UM T1ACNTAws' COtCP.X~~m- - - RERODUCTIONS',,!,co' N FLACK AND ORIGINAL M4AY BE EzE I, DDC HEADQU TERS AFTER ACTION PEPORT - OPEP-ATION JUNCTION CITY 1. NtJUE AND TYPE OF OPERATION: Operation JU.CTION CITY was a search and destroy operation. Reference: Maps Vietnam, 1:50,000, Series L701 4 , Sheets 6231 I, IV; 6232 II, III; 6332 III, IV; 6331 IV, ShE s 6131 I, II, and 6132 II. 1967;/•/, .a••- and •2.Series (U), L7016, DATES OF PERATION: Initiated 220700 February -- S•erminated 152400 Ap 1967. Ir.. ,..-3.• CC)._ENERLJ Operation JUNCTION CITY was a multi-division, tM 'IIFFV controýled operation. The 1st Infantry Division was augmented by the 173d Airborne Brigade; 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division; l1th. Armored Cavalry Regiment, (-); and ARVN Cavalry Troop nand Rnger Battalion.S The operation was intended to destroy COSVN and VC/NVA forces end M E installations in northern and eastern War Zone.C. The operation wps3 0 conducted in two major phases. JUNCTION CITY I placed blocking forces L - near the Cambodinn border in a horseshoe configuration. The 1st nbInfantry Division forcesooo occupied the northern and eastern portions, as a search and devtroy force drove north. Phase I included two -.e jor E - engagements and tho first U. S. battalirin-sized parachute assault sirce) i 0 > the Korean War. Tko airfields aid one CIDG camp were constructed during this phase. JUNCTION CITY I ended 172403 March 1967; JUNCTION a C \ 0) 4 CITY II commenced ai 180001 March 1967. JUNCTION CITY II placed two reinforced brigades astride enemy lines omunication in eastern "-War Zone C to conduct search and destroy rations. Concurrent oper- -- ations opened Hwy 13 from DI AN to QUAN I• during t-.Is period. One airfield capable of receiving C-130 aircra was constructed, one CIDG camp was established, and a bridge capable f supporting armored vehicles was erected over the SAI(DN River. These latter projects were undertaken in eastern War Zone C to fal tate reentry into that -~ . area. The general area of the operation is a Annex C. * a. The reporting officer for this port is Major General ".LI John H. Hay, Co~amnding General, lst Infantry Division. , b. Task Organization: Control of t:, operation was excer- cized by Headquarters, IIFFV. - 1st Infantry Division forces were corr trolled*from a forward command post loca.ted initially at MINH TH•'H and later at LAI KHE. The initial task organization is listed below. Sub- sequent changes are showa, as they occurred, in paragraph 7 o this report. Co-mmanders are showna at Annex A. A 3F I ist Bde C1) 2d Bde - 1-22-18 Inf in 1-161 Infn -J2 1-26 Inf 1-18 Inf 1-28 Inf **)3-5 Cay TF W.LLACE U :. •_ - -/5-2' Cj Arty * 36th.Ranger Bn (ARVN) U Sect 3/b/71 Arty Troop, 3-1 Cay (ARV)r 1-7 A.-tr-DS Sect, land 5b/71 Arty feat,* t be 1-5 Arty DS _ ue-5 1 -• l 'f th - DOW4NGR'.DEDDECLASSIFIED AT 3AFTER YEAR 12fINTERVALS YE)A'kJ V t b .% 4. Io'Pa t.*' J. -~er &,-r . DOD DIR 5200.10 • ' - r %nob; is %' W."l • S•olo .•^• ea' V= to L~~0 +,,o36S) SC o ¢ / 0 --j• 2!dBde Div Trps - 2-2 Inf (Mech) 1st Avn •n 2-28 Inf 1st Fzgrr Bn B/2-34 Anor 121st Sig En A/5.-2 Art7-.- 2-33 Arty DS 173d Abn Bde 1-503 inf Div Arty 2-503 Ir. 4-503 Inf .- 8-6 Arty GSR Arty 3-319 1 FB 8-6 Arty GSR 1-5 Arty SFB (155) 8-6 Arty GSR 2-33 Arty . C/2-35 Arty GSR 3-319 Arty 4. (C) If0ELIGECE: See Annex B 5. (C) MSSIO14: 1st Infantry Division conducts airmobile and ground assault with three brigades to block escspe routes in northern and eastern portions of AO; conducts search and destroy operations to destroy COSVN and VC/NVA forces and installations; secures WOC from E C TAY NfNH to KATU3; secures NATIONAL ROUTE, 13 from DI 'J-! to QUAN LOI; C 0 0 provides security for engineers constructing airfield vic KATUM (XT3390) O LL , and for SF/CIDG camp with airf.eld vic PTMK KIOK (XT2777W8); continues . -U Revolutionary Development Support operations in TAOR. 6. (C) CCGTCEPT OF OPEERATION: a., Phase I- The nmlti-division blocking fbrce was to be 0 0L positioned on 22 February, with 25th'Division forces blocking on the WU' west along Highway 22 from vie TAY NINH to vie XT1796, 1st Bde assaulting .- by air to block in the north from vie XT20r97 to vie XT2796, 173d Abn Bde - assaulting by air to establish blocking positions vie XT3194 to KATUM (XT3390), mnd 3d Bde attacking north along Highway 4 to block on the west from vic SUOI DA (XT3457) to KATUM (XT3390). These forces would maintain their blocking positions, conducting search and destroy operations in zone, "for an estimated three weeks while ground and air assault forces under control of the 25th Division swept north toward the blocking forces. b. Phase II:- The 25th Division was to continue search and destroy operations in western War Zone C. The 3d Brigade, 1st Division, and the 173d Airborne Brigade were to continue search and destroy oper- ations upon repositioning of their forces into eastern War Zone C; Ist Brigade was to complete repositioning into MINH THA°NH/AN IOC/QU•AN LWI and was to secure the bridge site vie XT 624815 (RTE 246) for the engin- eer construction party. The 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, OPCON 1o Ist Infantry Division effective 040800 Mareh 1967, was to move to UiI KIM on 4 March 1967 and .open Highway 13 to AN IDC/QU,^J OI0 on 6 March 1967. The 2d Brigade was to prepare for employment in eastern War Zone C on or about..,.15 March 1967. 7. (C) EXECUTION: 22 February - The 1st Brigade coammenced Operation JbUCTION CITY at 072U4 hours by conducting a three battalion airmobile assault from MIJNH .THINH with 1-28 Inf, 1-26 Inf, and 1-2 Inf into landing zones (LZs) 5,1, and 3 respectively. The air assaults en=cuntered sporadic 3mall arms fire on the LZs. The 173d Airborne Brigade conducted one parachute assault from BIEN HOA by the 2-503 Inf end two assaults by Vie 1-503 Inif end the 4-503 Inf -from 1-.fNH TH.'airmobile .14 to LZs 2 ki 4., S ICC IIMP//I r/,6q- L i C, E, and 4A and 4B, respectively. The 3d.Brignde initiated the 16 operation at 0630 hours by moving from artillery Base I (FSBI) 0) (XT2768) along 'ids IRON with'the 1-4 Cav (-) and B/2-34 Armor followed M by the 2-2 Inf (Mech) (-). The-1-4 Cav (-) became OPCON 173d Airborne Brigade upon reaching C? 4 (XT3393). Elements',of the Division Artillery displaced forward to TSBs II, III, IV, V, and VI. 3 Feb ry - Chnges in Task Organization: ,0t 2-2 Inf" Sow-" 1-16 Inf (eff 1746 hi-s) 0 >. 2-28 Inf 0 Q.a. 1-4, Cav (-) '4 ill units conducted limited seakch and destroy operations while •cntinuing to improve upon their blocking positions. The 2-2 Inf (M4ech) (-) and 1-4&Cav (-)-conducted road security operations in sector. At 0905 hours, 2-28 Inf conducted an ainnobile assault from SUOI DA to a LZ (Xr231871). At ,1746 hrs 1-16 Inf closed SUOI DA. 24 February - Changes in Task Organization: None The 1-16 Iif moved from SU0I DA to a blocking position vicinity XT273729. The 2-28 inf secured Highway TL-4 in sector. All other b,.t- talions conducted limited search and destroy operaticns and improved upon blocking positibns. 25 February - Changes in Task Organization: None The battalions continued limited search and destroy operations and route clearance in sector and improved upon blocking positions. 26 February - Changes in Taek Orgmnization: None The 2-28 Inf located and destroyed 2.5 tons of dried fish and 3.5 tons of rice. The 1-2 Inf located .5 ton of rice and a cache of coamunications enuipment at XT219963. The 1-26 Inf captured 10,000 units of penicillin. 27 February - Changes in Task Organization: None Activities for this dayr consisted of limited search and destroy operations and route security operations. To date, minor contacts have occurred, and many small base camps and supply caches have been located and destroyed. 28 February - Changes in Task Organization:. None The 1-28 Inf located 90 tcns of polished rice and 2.3 tons of dried fish vicinity XT293968. At 1025 hours, B/l-16 Inf made cbntact with a battalion of the 101st NVA "tegiment at XT287726. The enemy attacked Company B on the ncrth, east, and south, causing the company to defend in a horseshoe configuration. The VC employed automatic weapons and snipers to good effect. The B Company comnander employed all available artillery and airstrikes. At 1500 hrs the VC broke contact. At 1600 hrs, B/2-18 Inf air landed in a nearby LZ and pro- ceeded to B/2-16 Inf position and provided security while a police of the battle area was conducted.