Operation Burlington Trail

The operation began on 8 April when Companies C and D 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment were landed on two hilltops overlooking Route 533 10km southwest of Tam Kỳ.^[1]

On 9 April the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment was landed on Hill 218, several km west of the 1/46th Infantry positions. The 1/6th Infantry began constructing Firebase Bowman (15°29′24″N 108°25′34″E / 15.49°N 108.426°E / 15.49; 108.426) to serve as the main fire support base for the operation.^[2] Meanwhile, Troop A and a platoon from Troop C 1/1st Cavalry, began their advance along Route 533 towards Tiên Phước. The column was ambushed by elements of the VC 72nd Main Force Battalion, but the Cavalry fought through the ambush, killing 33 VC and capturing four.^[1]: 486

On 10 April, a VC mortar attack hit Firebase Bowman, killing two Americans and wounding eight. On the afternoon of 13 April Company A 1/6th Infantry, engaged a VC platoon 5 kilometers southwest of Firebase Bowman killing seven VC while another 19 were killed by air strikes. That evening, the VC launched an attack on Company B 1/6th Infantry's night defensive position, wounding 22 Americans.^[1]: 486

On 14 April the Cavalry column reached Tiên Phước and by 17 April Route 533 was open to regular traffic.^[1]: 486

Later in April the remaining companies of the 1/46th Infantry joined the operation together with Company A, 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry Regiment, which assumed responsibility for the defense of Firebase Bowman.^[1]: 486

On 30 April, a VC force attacked Firebase Bowman losing four dead and wounding eight defenders. On 1 May, Company A 1/46th Infantry, was landed 11km southwest of Bowman and was engaged by a VC force, the VC lost 31 dead before disengaging.^[1]: 486

On 23 July elements of the 1/1st Cavalry engaged the VC 105th Local Force Company and elements of the VC 2nd Division's engineer battalion near the southern entrance to the Quế Sơn Valley, 10km northeast of Tam Kỳ killing 68 VC.^[1]: 611

The operation continued until 11 November 1968.

VC losses were 1,931 killed, while U.S. losses were 129 killed.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.