The operation proceeded uneventfully for the first week. On the evening of 14 February, three Vietcong (VC) battalions attacked Vĩnh Long and the 1st Brigade was put on alert to assist, however the South Vietnamese forces were able to force the VC out without U.S. assistance.[1]:373
Firebase Jaeger
Battle of Firebase Jaeger, 25 February 1968
The 1st Brigade had established Firebase Jaeger (10°23′42″N106°16′34″E / 10.395°N 106.276°E / 10.395; 106.276) to support the operation approximately 7km northeast of Đồng Tâm Base Camp.[2] Jaegar was built on dry rice paddy criss-crossed by shallow dikes giving clear observation of the surrounding area. Four 155 mm howitzers of Battery B, 1/84th Artillery were located at Jaegar, together with Companies B and C, 5/60th Infantry, equipped with 25 M113 armored personnel carriers, a 30-man road-building team from Company B, 15th Engineers and a platoon from Company A, 2/39th Infantry. Half of the M113s were spaced at 25-meter intervals around the base perimeter, while the rest were concentrated at the center. Given the hard dried out ground, none of the M113s were dug in and the base was only lightly fortified.[1]:373
In the early hours of 25 February 3-400 VC 263rd Main Force Battalion and the 313th Sapper Engineer Company approached Jaeger from the south, east, and west. At 01:45 an observation post on the southeast of the base saw VC through a Starlight scope and raised the alarm. Four M113s were sent to investigate the contact and had only just exited the north of the base when they were hit by Rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) setting the lead M113 on fire. Seconds later, more RPGs were fired at the M113s on the western perimeter setting a further five ablaze. VC sappers then attacked the perimeter wire with satchel charges. Williams called for reinforcements from Firebase Hessian, 3km to the east and Firebase Fels, 3km to the west. At 02:45 a VC squad penetrated the artillery battery capturing two of the howitzers. The commander of Company C then called for artillery support from Firebases Hessian and Fels as airbursts directly over Jaeger. The defenders took cover as the artillery barrage temporarily disrupted the VC attack.[1]:374
A relief force of seven M113s had left Firebase Hessian and despite losing two M113s to RPGs en route, five arrived at Jaeger at 03:00 and began attacking the VC around the perimeter. By 03:15 the VC began retreating. At 03:30 M113s carrying Company A, 2/39th Infantry arrived from Firebase Fels and pursued the VC to the south. At 04:15 Company C 2/39th Infantry, walked in from Firebase Fels and by 05:15 the area had been secured and the engagement was over. 22 Americans had been killed, nine M113s had been destroyed and two howitzers had been damaged. The VC had lost approximately 100 killed.[1]:374–6
Aftermath
VC activity in Dinh Tuong Province dropped off noticeably after the battle at Firebase Jaeger. U.S. night ambushes of VC mine-laying teams on Route 4 reduced mine attacks to negligible levels. The operation concluded on 10 March 1968.[1]:377
United States
Viet Cong
