Operation Vinh Loc
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| Operation Vinh Loc | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Vietnam War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States South Vietnam |
 Viet Cong | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Melvin Zais Ngô Quang Trưởng | |||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division 54th Regiment | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
2 killed |
US ARVN body count: 154 killed 370 captured 56 defected | ||||||
Operation Vinh Loc was an operation conducted by the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 54th Regiment on Vinh Loc Island, Phú Vang District, lasting from 10 to 20 September 1968.[1]: 206
Vinh Loc Island is a coastal estuary island, 25 miles (40 km) long and a maximum of 3 miles (4.8 km) wide, located 15 miles (24 km) east of Huế. During the Battle of Huế in February 1968, South Vietnamese Regional Forces and Popular Forces responsible for the security of the island had been removed to support the battle, allowing the Viet Cong (VC) to establish control of the area.[1][2]: 163
On 9 July 1968 the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines began a one-week sweep of the island but were unable to locate the VC.[1]
On 4 September three Regional Force Companies conducting a sweep operation were engaged by the VC and were only able to break contact with helicopter gunship support. It was estimated that at least two VC Companies and possibly a Battalion were located on the island.[1]
