Battle of Lo Giang

At 03:45 on 8 February, the PAVN began mortaring the Combined Action Program (CAP) E-4 compound in the hamlet of Lỗ Giáng (1)(16°00′00″N 108°12′07″E / 16.0°N 108.202°E / 16.0; 108.202), 4km northeast of Dương Sơn (1) and by daybreak had surrounded the hamlet. At 07:00, Robertson moved the 1/6th Infantry to Lỗ Giáng (5) (16°00′29″N 108°13′01″E / 16.008°N 108.217°E / 16.008; 108.217), 1km northeast of Lỗ Giáng (1) where they were quickly engaged by another enemy force. Robertson then deployed the 2/3 Marines and 3/5 Marines to support the 1/6th Infantry and they were engaged in battle until late afternoon. Meanwhile, a 15-man Marine detachment attempted to move south from Hòa Vang (16°00′47″N 108°12′18″E / 16.013°N 108.205°E / 16.013; 108.205) to relieve Lỗ Giáng (1), but all but one were killed. At 15:50, the CAP platoon in Lỗ Giáng (1) was evacuated by Marine helicopters with gunship and air support. PAVN losses were over 150 killed.^[1]: 162

On the evening of 8 February, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment was deployed and the Army task force named Task Force Miracle under the command of Colonel Louis Gelling established its command near Dương Sơn. Gelling deployed the 2/1st Infantry in blocking positions south of Lỗ Giáng (1).^[1]: 162

On the morning of 9 February the 2/1st Infantry attacked north, engaging a PAVN force in a nine hour battle, later finding 46 PAVN bodies and taking one prisoner who revealed that he was from the 3rd Battalion, 31st Regiment, while the forces in Lỗ Giáng (5) were from the Vietcong (VC) 1st Regiment. West of Lỗ Giáng the 2/3 Marines engaged two companies from the 1st Regiment killing 90.^[1]: 163

Marine intelligence reported on 9 February that the PAVN 2nd Division was moving its headquarters back to its usual positions in the Gò Nổi Island area (15°51′04″N 108°11′10″E / 15.851°N 108.186°E / 15.851; 108.186). Task Force Miracle continued to patrol the Lỗ Giáng area for two days, but on 11 February Cushman released control of Task Force Miracle back to the 23rd Infantry Division.^[1]: 163

Marine losses were 14 killed, Army losses were 18 killed, while PAVN/VC losses were in excess of 286.^[1]: 163 PAVN claim that their 1st Regiment eliminated nearly one U.S. Battalion.^[2]

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.