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Operation EMPORIA was directed by Headquarters of the 9th Infantry Division, with ground operations conducted by the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Blackhorse), and convoy escort support provided by elements of the 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade. It was initiated to secure engineer route clearing operations along the major transportation avenues in Long Khanh Province, III Corps Tactical Zone.
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The objective of this activity was to deny the Viet Cong concealment along Inter Provincial Routes #2, #20 and National Highway-1, which the enemy had long used as vantage points for tax collection, as well as ambush purposes. The 273rd and 275th Viet Cong Regiment, and the D300 Viet Cong Dong Nai Battalion, all supported by the 5th and 9th North Vietnamese Army Divisions posed the most immediate threat to Route #20. Up to $1,000,000 (Vietnamese) have been collected daily on a continuing basis by Viet Cong finance personnel in the area. These transportation and plantation tax points (extortion points), on and adjacent to Route #20, are protected by local force and irregular elements of Viet Cong of up to company size. |
21 July Operation EMPORIA was initiated with the 3rd Squadron conducting a road march along Interprovisional Route #20 (QL20) to secure engineer route clearing operations conducted by B Company, and Rome Plow teams of the 86th Engineers. The purpose of these road clearing efforts was to deny the Viet Cong concealment along Route #20 which they had exploited in the past for extensive tax collection operations.
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0935 Hours At 9:35 AM the 3rd platoon of L-Troop, 11th ACR leading the squadron column, accompanied by 10 members of the 615th Military Police Company, operating one V100 Commando Armored Car and two Armored Gun Jeeps, was ambushed by a Viet Cong force estimated at two battalions of the 275th Main Force Regiment at Grid Coordinates YT432316. The enemy employed withering fire from concealed reinforced positions with Recoilless Rifle, heavy machine gun, Rocket Propelled Grenades, and automatic weapons fire.
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photograph taken shortly before the ambush
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