STRIKE Vietnam War Weekly History August 20th – August 26th, 2017 Issue: 62 st nd nd st Brief History of the 501 , 502 and 2 Brigade (101 ABN DIV) The 502nd, or “five-oh-deuce”, was activated July 1, 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia as the 502nd parachute infantry battalion, as an experimental unit formed to test the doctrine and tactics of parachute assaults. The 502nd entered combat in World War II on June 6, 1944, by jumping into Normandy, with allied forces landing on D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. Between 1945 and 1964. A major reorganization took place on 3 February 1964, when the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne was activated at Fort Campbell, replacing the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 501st Infantry Regiment. The reorganization from the battle groups to brigades and battalions placed two battalions of the 502nd in different brigades of the 101st. The 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry was in the 1st Brigade with 1-327th and 2-327th Infantry. Which deployed to Vietnam and arrived at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam on 29 July 1965, they were commanded by the most notable commander LTC Hank “The Gunfighter” Emerson. The new 2nd Brigade’s original organic battalions were the 1st and 2d Battalions, 501st Infantry, and the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry. December 1967 the 501st, 502nd and 2nd Brigade deployed by C-141 aircraft and arrived at Bien Hoa Airbase on 13 December 1967. Over the next five years, Soldiers of the “Ready to Go” Brigade participated in twelve campaigns, compiling of a distinguished combat record as well as an enviable reputation for success in the rehabilitation of a war-torn nation. The Brigade redeployed to Fort Campbell in April 1972. Prepared by: Ryan P. Niebuhr During this week, in the span of 8 years since the 501st Infantry Regiment, 502nd Infantry Regiment and 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division deployed in support of the Vietnam War the following are from After Action Reports, Staff Duty Logs, and Personal Accounts. 20 August 1967 Operation BENTON: At BT 188102, B/2-502 IN was engaged by an estimated reinforced platoon, very well dug in with thick overhead cover. After taking 5 WHA, B/2-502 IN called in numerous Airstrikes and a massive Artillery barrage. These fires failed to neutralize the enemy which was separated from B/2-502 IN by a rice paddy area, and B/2-502 IN was unable to advance. The enemy held its position, and continued to put out effective fire whenever friendly elements or aircraft exposed themselves. It was decided to use CS gas in an attempt to silence the tenacious enemy force, but due to a complete lack of masks in the forward area the attack had to be postponed until the following day. During the night masks were collected in DUC PHO, and they were delivered to B/2-502 IN early in the next morning. The gas was employed by helicopter in conjunction with napalm and artillery, and finally B/2-502 IN was able to cross the open paddy without resistance. The enemy, however, had dispersed by the time B/2-502 IN reached his bunkers. Later that day, in a separate action to the NW, B/2-502 IN killed 9 VC at a cost of 1 KHA and 4 WHA. (HQ, 2-502 IN BN; After Action Report; Operation BENTON; 5 September 1967) 20 August 1968 A/1-502 IN conducted RIF, vicinity YD6131 with negative contact. B/1-502 IN secured An Lo and security of Rome plow. C/1-502 IN discovered 3 VC bodies, vicinity YD6333 that had been result of A/1-502 IN action on, 27 July. C/1-502 IN also captured 1 VC WIA, vicinity YD6433. 20 August 1970 Operation TEXAS STAR: A medivac was requested for a soldier in E/1-502 IN who was cut while using a machete to cut a trail. MTT #20 located at YD791095 spotted two NVA/VC. They engaged enemy with ARA obtaining negative results. 20 August 1970 Operation TEXAS STAR: C/2-502 IN received a mortar attack resulting in two C/2-502 IN trooper KIA and seventeen wounded, ten of whom were Medevaced. B/2-502 IN searched a bunker complex, engaged two NVA, killing one and capturing one AK-47 and two machine guns. Further search found an 82mm mortar base plate, bipod, and sighting device, miscellaneous ordnance and several documents. 20 August 1971 Ranger Team vicinity YD841026 received small arms fire from west at unknown distance. Fire was AK-47. Rangers returned fire. Results: 1 US WIA. (1st Battalion (Airmobile), 501st Infantry; Annual Supplement to the History; 1 January 1971 – 31 December 1971) 21 – 22 August 1968 Contact extremely light. D/1-502 IN was sent to LZ Sally for RRF duty. They utilized this time to get new equipment and resupply. 21 August – 14 September 1968 Operation NEVADA EAGLE: Phase II was conducted. 2-502 IN BN returned from Operation Somerset Plain and took up security of FSB Veghel and FSB Bastogne. Limited RIF operations were conducted around these bases. 21 August 1970 Operation TEXAS STAR: C/1-502 IN reported five incoming rounds of mortar or artillery approximately 800 meters from their position. 21 August 1970 Operation TEXAS STAR: A/2-502 IN was engaged with RPD and AK-47 fire, resulting in on US KIA and two wounded. Both Medevaced. FSB Barnett received 12 rounds of 82mm mortar fire with one round inside the perimeter. 22 August 1967 Operation BENTON: The Recondos maneuvered against a sniper that had been firing on the TAC CP, and succeeded in killing 2 VC and capturing one Mauser type sniper rifle with scope. Also, on the 22nd, GHOST RIDER’s C&C ship was shot down in our AO. WO Reinhold in 2-502 IN BN C&C ship went in under heavy fire & rescued the crew & passengers, who were surrounded. That evening at 1800H two LRRP Teams were inserted in the north of B/2-502 IN AO. (HQ, 2-502 IN BN; After Action Report; Operation BENTON; 5 September 1967) 22 August 1970 Operation TEXAS STAR: B/1-502 IN, 2nd platoon, 2nd squad sprang a day ambush on one NVA/VC with negative results. 22 August 1970 Operation TEXAS STAR: 2-502 IN BN continued operations around FSB Barnett with light contact. FSB Barnett received 11 rounds of 60mm mortar fire outside the perimeter. LTC Shay spotted four NVA in the open, employing artillery killing two. 23 – 26 August 1965 Operation HIGHLAND: Over these two days the rest of 1BDE, including the 1-327 IN BN and 2-502 IN BN, and its heavy equipment arrived by sea at Qui Nhon and moved to An Khe via Highway 19. Supported by air and artillery strikes, these units carried out Phase II on the twenty-sixth, clearing Highway 19 through to An Khe so that convoys could begin to bring cavalry division supplies and Soldiers to their new base camp. With both of Highway 19 and the base camp in hand, Phase III began—an aggressive campaign to keep the highway open for convoys and protect the force building the division’s base. (Combat Operations; Stemming the Tide; May 1965- October 1966; John M. Carland) Prepared by: Ryan P. Niebuhr 23 August 1967 Operation BENTON: A/2-502 IN made an air assault to a hill top just north of their position, and swept to the south. All units were still making daily contact with small enemy forces, and losses due to sniper were mounting uncomfortably. (HQ, 2-502 IN BN; After Action Report; Operation BENTON; 5 September 1967) 23 August 1967 Operation BENTON: B/2-502 IN at 0855H vicinity BT183107 had contact with 1VC with weapons; results 1VC (BC), 1 Mosin Nagant SRS. (HQ, 2-502 Dailey Staff Journal or Duty Officer’s Log; 23 August 1967) 23 August 1967 Operation BENTON: A/2-502 IN at 0946H vicinity BT178100 had one man wounded in the back by a sniper; dust-off requested and Soldier extracted. (HQ, 2-502 Dailey Staff Journal or Duty Officer’s Log; 23 August 1967) 23 August 1967 Operation BENTON: B/2-502 IN at 2112H vicinity BT181106 reports 5VC walked into ambush perimeter of main body; results VC through 2 grenades wounding 5 US Soldiers. (HQ, 2-502 Dailey Staff Journal or Duty Officer’s Log; 23 August 1967) 23 August 1968 A/1-502 IN RIF, vicinity YD6133, they were utilizing local sampans to search river and one capsized which 1 US drowned. B/1-502 IN security of An Lo and Rome plow operation. C/1-502 IN conducted CA to, vicinity YD6031, results were 3 VC KIA, 1 VC captured and 2 Chieu Hoi's. D/1-502 IN killed 2 VC, vicinity YD6729 in bunkers. 23 August 1968 Operation NEVADA EAGLE: One downed helicopter w/5 bodies were discovered vicinity YD533032 on 23 August by A/2-502 IN. Numerous old base camps were discovered by Delta Company vicinity YD5604. 23 August 1970 Operation TEXAS STAR: Sampans were removed to safe area after they crossed the boundary on the river again today. D/1-502 IN, 1st platoon, 2nd squad found one bunker and 12 fighting positions. C/1-502 IN found two hootches on a trail at 776054 built about thirty days ago. 23 August 1970 Operation TEXAS STAR: 2-502 IN BN had light contact with only helicopters receiving fire with no results. 23 August 1971 FAC and Pink Team took fire and two hits vicinity YD866024.
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