From the River - Battle of Cam Son Secret Zone - Campaign Series Vietnam 1948-1967

Jason Petho
15 May, 1967
[Cam Son Secret Zone, Dinh Tuong Province, South Vietnam]:
[SIDE A / H2H] [HIS] [CSL]:

On May 15th the 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, completed operations in the Rung Sal Special Zone and joined the brigade at Dong Tam. It was the 4th/47th's first major riverine operation in the Dong Tam area on May 15th.

The 2nd Brigade conducted the first of several operations in the Cam Son Secret Zone. The Cam Son area was considered one of four major Viet Cong bases in Dinh Tuong Province by the intelligence staffs of both the province and 7th Vietnam Army Division.

The operation of May 15th relied entirely on intelligence provided by these Vietnamese organizations. The brigade plan was to search the southern area of Cam Son along the Rach Ba Rai and Rach Tra Tan streams and to capture or destroy the Viet Cong, their supplies, and their equipment.

The 2nd Brigade command post and a barge-mounted artillery base was established on the southern bank of the My Tho River, five kilometres southeast of the mouth of the Rach Ba Rai. The operation began at 0815 when the 3d/47th Infantry landed from assault craft at the mouth of the Rach Sa Rai and began to search northeast along the stream.

At 0830 the 4th/47th Infantry landed two companies from assault craft on the north bank of the My Tho River, approximately halfway between the mouths of the Rach Ba Rai and the Rach Tra Tan.

Both battalions had a company in reserve at the Dong Tam, ready to be transported by helicopter into Landing Zones north of the assault area. The task force could also count on HAL-3, also known as the "Seawolves", which flew UH-1B Huey gunships in all weather, day or night, in support of the Brown Water Navy.

[ALL, NO VV] [CSEE, Variable Objectives] [1.00]