Operation Dewey Canyon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Operation Dewey Canyon
Part of the Vietnam War
courtesy of www.popasmoke.com
Date January 22–March 18, 1969 Location A Shau Valley Result Tactical United States victory, but strategically inconsequential
Combatants
United States Marine Corps	North Vietnamese Army
Commanders
Colonel Robert H. Barrow	N/A
Strength
	5,000+
Casualties
130 killed, 932 wounded (USMC account)	1617 killed, unknown number wounded (USMC account)

Operation Dewey Canyon was the last major offensive by the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. It took place from January 22 through March 18, 1969 and involved a sweep of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA)-dominated A Shau Valley by the 9th Marine Regiment reinforced by elements of the 3rd Marine Regiment. The 56 days of combat were a tactical success, but did not stop the overall flow of North Vietnamese men and materiel into South Vietnam.

Contents 1 Background 2 Operation 3 Trivia 4 References

[edit] Background

Prior to the launching of the operation, U.S. Marine infantry units in the northern I Corps region had been tied to their combat bases along the South Vietnam border as part of the McNamara Line. This "line" was a combination of infantry units and ground sensors devised to stop North Vietnamese infiltration into South Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. When Lieutenant General Raymond Davis took command of the 3rd Marine Division, he ordered Marine units to move out of their combat bases and engage the enemy. He had noted that the manning of the bases and the defensive posture they developed was contrary to the aggressive style of fighting that Marines favor. In early 1969, intelligence reports indicated that there had been a large NVA build-up in the A Shau Valley. The A Shau was just 6 miles east of the Laotian border and some 21 miles long. Based on this intelligence, Colonel Robert Barrow’s 9th Marine Regiment was ordered to depart Vandegrift Combat Base some 50 miles to the east and sweep west to deny use of the valley to the enemy.

[edit] Operation

Operation Dewey Canyon was divided into three parts: 1) the movement and positioning of air assets, 2) the movement of the 9th Marines south out of their combat base, and 3) the sweep of the A Shau valley. As the 9th Marines moved towards the A Shau valley, they established numerous firebases along the way which would provide them their artillery support once they entered the valley and guard their main supply route. All of these bases needed to be resupplied by helicopter due to their distance from the main combat bases and because resupply via ground was very difficult during monsoon season.

The Marines encountered stiff resistance throughout the conduct of the operation, most of which was fought under triple canopy jungle and within range of NVA artillery based in Laos. Marine casualties included 130 killed in action and 932 wounded.

In return, the USMC reported 1,617 killed enemies, the discovery of 500 tons of arms and munitions, and denial of the valley as a NVA staging area for the duration of the operation. They claimed the operation as an overall success.

[edit] Trivia

• Lieutenant Wesley Fox was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions as commanding officer of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines.
• Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines set up ambushes inside Laos during the operation before asking permission from General Creighton Abrams. Permission was granted after the fact.
• LtGen Raymond Davis’ son, Lieutenant Miles Davis, was wounded in action during the operation.
• In 1971, the South Vietnamese launched an invasion of Laos named Operation Dewey Canyon II. The invasion was repelled and resulted in a major tactical defeat.
• In April 1971, the Vietnam Veterans Against the War organized a protest rally in Washington, D.C. and named it Operation Dewey Canyon III.

[edit] References

• Dewey Canyon. F/2/9 website. Retrieved on 2006-07-06.

• Herb, Richardson (2001). Dewey Canyon, Trek Into Former Battlefield Revives Memories and Creates New Friendships. Leatherneck. Retrieved on 2006-07-06.

• Sterner, C. Douglas (2001). Operation Dewey Canyon. Wesley Fox. Retrieved on 2006-07-06. (PDF file, posted on the Official website of the 1st Battalion 9th Marines Network, Inc.)