Prek Klok 2 - Circle The Wagons - Campaign Series Vietnam 1948-1967

Jason Petho
10 March, 1967
[Prek Klok, Route 4, Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam]:
[SIDE A][HIS][CSL]:

The Battle of Prek Klok II occurred on March 10, 1967, during Operation Junction City when American military forces were conducting a search and destroy operation against the Viet Cong (VC) forces in Tay Ninh Province west of the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon. During the course of the operation, there had already had a significant engagement in the Battle of Prek Klok I where a Viet Cong battalion nearly overran an American battalion, only to be saved by the superior firepower that could be brought to bear.

The following two weeks were relatively quiet and the search and destroy mission had become routine. While the operation was underway, the 2d/2d Infantry (Mechanized) were tasked with protecting the Main Supply Route, Route 4, through War Zone C. It did so by patrolling the highway during the day and bivouacking at various Artillery Fire Support Bases that were situated along the road. While bivouacked, the armoured personnel carriers of the mechanized battalion would be positioned around the perimeter, circling the wagons.

Just after dusk fell, the troops on the perimeter fired a "mad minute" to test their weapons and provide a show of force to the enemy. Ambush patrols and listening posts left the perimeter for their positions in the surrounding jungle. At about 2030, men of an A Company listening post to the east of the perimeter, while moving into position, reported seeing and engaging three Viet Cong with unknown results. the battalion was placed on 75 percent alert as preplanned artillery harassing fires continued. A wise move as the Viet Cong mortar fire came crashing down an hour later, signaling the start of an attack.

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