Operation Paul Revere

Part of Vietnam War

Date	10 May-1 August 1966
Location	west of Pleiku, South Vietnam 13°48′18″N 107°52′19″E / 13.805°N 107.872°E / 13.805; 107.872
Result	US operational success

Belligerents

United States

North Vietnam

Commanders and leaders

BG Glenn D. Walker

unknown

Strength

3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment

32nd Regiment
33rd Regiment
66th Regiment

Casualties and losses

66 killed

546 killed
68 captured

Operation Paul Revere was a 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division operation that took place west of Pleiku, lasting from 10 May to 1 August 1966.

On 10 May 1966 following sightings of large People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces west of Đức Cơ and Plei Me Camps, the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division was deployed to Landing Zone Oasis to sweep the area to the southwest. After a week of fruitless searching the Brigade changed its focus to the west to the Chu Pong Massif.

On the morning of 24 May a CIDG patrol was ambushed by an estimated two battalions of PAVN 10 kilometres southwest of Plei Djereng Camp. The patrol was reinforced by a further two CIDG Companies and the fighting continued throughout the day with both sides digging in for the night. On the morning of 25 May, the PAVN attacked the CIDG positions and they withdrew in a running firefight towards Plei Djereng, losses were 18 Montagnards and 2 US Special Forces advisers. The PAVN then proceeded to mortar the camp killing a further 30 Montagnards and wounding 54.

BG Glenn D. Walker ordered the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment {2/35th Infantry) to relieve Plei Djereng and they operated south of the camp for the next 2 days. On 27 May the 2/35th Infantry moved 20 kilometres south of Plei Djereng to Landing Zone (LZ) Eleven Alfa and on 28 May Company B was landed by helicopter 10 kilometres west at LZ Ten Alfa. LZ Ten Alfa was a "hot" landing zone and after only 63 men had been landed it was closed to helicopters due to PAVN fire. The men of Company B beat off several PAVN attacks before supporting fire allowed the rest of the Company and Company A 1/35th Infantry to land. After midnight on 29 May the PAVN 66th Regiment launched an attack on LZ Ten Alfa while the PAVN 33rd Regiment attacked LZ Eleven Alfa, both attacks were repulsed and at dawn the Americans found 80 PAVN bodies around LZ Ten Alfa. As the Americans moved beyond the perimeter on LZ Ten Alfa they were met with PAVN fire and forced back into the LZ which was hit by mortar fire and the PAVN then assaulted again. This attack and another several hours later were both beaten back with total PAVN losses of 250 dead.

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Wikipedia