III Corps Tactical Zone, Republic of South Vietnam

Note: This is an excerpt regarding Bien Hoa from the original document. The acronym's have been expanded to allow those not familiar with military terminology to better identify the units involved. Several links have also been used to further identify the type of units and weapons involved. To view the after action report in its entirety Click Here

Commanding General United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam

e.     The Battle of Bien Hoa.

        Simultaneous with the 0300 Hours (3:00 AM) attack on the eastern portion of Long Binh, Bien Hoa Airbase received about 25 rockets followed closely by a mortar supported ground attack.  Two Battalions of the 274th Viet Cong (VC) Regiment attacked from the east, while the 238th VC Local Force Company-reinforced, attacked III Corps Headquarters.

        The VC attacking the airbase were initially engaged by the east bunker line manned by a Regional Forces (RF) Platoon, and the MP Base reaction force.  The VC breached the perimeter wire but did not get onto the airstrip.  The 57th RF Battalion, dispatched by the Dong Nai Sensitive Area Command, reinforced the defenders of the Air Base at 0420 Hours (4:25 AM) and the VC were driven out of their penetration.

        At 0820 Hours (8:20 AM) the 2/506 Airborne Battalion was deployed by helicopter from its operational area in AO MANCHESTER to the 101st Airborne Division HQ at Bien Hoa Air Base and commenced an attack south out through the east gate.

       A Troop 3rd Battalion 5th Cavalry from the 9th Infantry Division had been ordered to reinforce III Corps Headquarters, departed from Blackhorse Base Camp, fought right through the middle of the 275 VC Regiment astride Highway 1 and plowed into the flank of the 274th VC Regiment attacking Bien Hoa Air Base, inflicting and suffering heavy losses.  It linked up with the 2/506 Airborne Battalion and assisted in securing III Corps Headquarters.  Air strikes, gunships and artillery saturated the VC approach routes east of the airbase.  Despite the heavy ground attack air operations were not halted at Bien Hoa except between 0300 Hours (3:00 AM) and 1300 Hours (1:00 PM) on 31 January.

        By late afternoon, 31 January, the immediate ground threat to Bien Hoa and the III Corps Headquarters had been eliminated.  Several hundred VC were killed in this action.  

It was to take three more days, and the concerted efforts of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade elements of the 101st Airborne Division, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the 9th Infantry Division to drive out or destroy the remnants of the five VC battalions in the Bien Hoa/Long Binh area.

199th Light Infantry

101st Airborne

11th Armored Cavalry

9th Infantry Division

   The major ground attack from the 5th VC Division, however, was eliminated on the first day of the offensive.