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Operation Kingfisher
Part of the Vietnam War
3/4 Marines patrol with a 3rd Tank Battalion M48, 29 July 1967
Date 16 July – 31 October 1967 Location Quảng Trị Province, South Vietnam Result Both sides claim victory
Belligerents
United States	North Vietnam
Commanders and leaders
Robert E. Cushman, Jr. Col. George E. Jerue (until 13 September) Col. Richard B. Smith
Strength
3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines 3rd Battalion 26th Marines ~4-5,000	324B Division ~8-10,000
Casualties and losses
340 killed	US body count: 1,117 killed 5 captured further 1,942 claimed

Operation Kingfisher was a US Marine Corps operation that took place during the Vietnam War. The operation was executed in the western part of Leatherneck Square near Con Thien, lasting from 16 July to 31 October 1967.

Prelude

Following the conclusion of Operation Buffalo and Operation Hickory II, III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF) launched Operation Kingfisher in the same general area with the same objective of blocking the entry of People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces into eastern Quảng Trị Province.

Battle

16–27 July

This period saw only minor contact with the PAVN.

28–30 July

2/9 Marines, supported by a platoon of 5 M-48s, 3 M50 Ontos and 3 LVTEs moved north along Provincial Route 606 to make a spoiling attack into the DMZ, the unit made no contact with the PAVN and set up a night defensive position near the Bến Hải River The following morning as the unit was returning along the same route a command detonated mine exploded wounding 5 Marines. Further down the convoy, a second mine was being detonated. The PAVN then opened fire with small arms and mortar fire and attacked the armored vehicles with RPG-2 rockets. The PAVN attempted to hug the US column negating the use of air support and the column broke up into several separate firefights. The convoy then proceeded to retreat with close air support planes dropping ] on the attacking PAVN.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).The close-quarters fighting continued all day, ending at nightfall. The Marines had lost 16 killed and 118 wounded, while claiming the PAVN were estimated to have lost 39 killed. At the end of the battle the Marines left 15 of their dead on the battlefield, on 10 October 2/4 Marines went back in to retrieve their dead. LCPL Jedh Colby Barker would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in this battle. The Marines were unable to retrieve bodies from the site for three weeks.

14 October

At 01:25 on 14 October PAVN artillery hit 2nd Battalion 4th Marines position around Washout Bridge between the C-2 Strongpoint and the Con Thien Combat Base. A night LP reported that a large PAVN unit (2 companies)was moving past its position towards the bridge. Marine snipers using Starlight Scopes saw the PAVN massing in front of Company H's position for an attack. The Marines tanks opened fire first with beehive rounds; machine guns causing the PAVN to attack prematurely. The PAVN failed to penetrate the companies wire and withdrew.

At 02:30 the PAVN attacked Company G, by destroying 2 machine gun position with RPG's. The PAVN penetrated the wire and overran the Company command post (CP) killing the Company commander Capt. Jack W. Phillips, his forward observer and 3 Platoon leaders; these young 2nd lieutenants just arrived in country. Capt. James W McCarter was ordered to take over command of Company, but he was killed by PAVN fire before he could reach the Command Post. Company F was ordered to support Company G and sweep through the area and drive the PAVN out. The Marines were supported by AC-47 Spooky gunships. Finally the PAVN was forced to withdraw by 04:30. The Marines had lost 21 dead and 23 wounded. SGT Paul H. Foster was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle. The PAVN were alleged to have lost 24 killed.

25–27 October

On 25 October 2/4 Marines began a sweep north along Route 561, there was no enemy contact but progress was slowed by heavy undergrowth and the unit set up a night position. That night PAVN rockets hit the 2/4 position killing the Executive Officer, Major John Lawendowski and wounding the commanding officer Lt.Col. James Hammond and two others of the command group who were evacuated by helicopter. The regimental operations officer Lt Col. John C. Studt was flown in to take over command of 2/4 Marines.

On 26 October, 2/4 Marines, less Company F which remained at the night position to guard a stock of ammunition, moved north and secured the objective by 13:00. The Battalion then came under PAVN mortar and small arms fire. A UH-34D helicopter of HMM-363 was shot down as it attempted pick up casualties, killing the pilot and door gunner, another UH-34 attempted to land but was damaged and made a forced landing at the C-2 Strongpoint. Lt Col Studt called for reinforcements and Company F moved north to the Battalion position, while two Companies from 3/3 Marines moved north from the C-2 Strongpoint arriving at the 2/4 position at dusk. The PAVN probed the Marine position with direct and indirect fire and ground attacks before withdrawing around 02:00 on 27 October. The following morning the Marines claimed 19 PAVN dead but were unable to police the area due to PAVN mortar and artillery fire. The Marines had lost 8 dead and 45 wounded in the period from 25–27 October.

Aftermath

Operation Kingfisher concluded on 31 October. Marine casualties included 340 dead and 1,461 wounded. According to US operation claims, the PAVN sustained 1,117 killed and 5 captured, and a further 1,942 claimed to have been killed by U.S. forces and 155 weapons were captured. Tactical victories were claimed by both sides. Operation Kingfisher was followed immediately by Operation Kentucky.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

1. ^ Telfer, Gary I. (1984). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese 1967. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 139. ISBN 978-1482538878.
2. ^ "Operation Kingfisher II OP File". USMC History Division. p. 178. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
3. "41 U.S. Marines in 11 Days of Fighting", Associated Press, September 23, 1967, retrieved March 8, 2010
4. ^ Ward, Geoffrey C.; Burns, Ken (2017). The Vietnam War: An Intimate History. Alfred A. Knopf. p. 219. ISBN 9780307700254.
5. Cite error: The named reference LATimes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

• Battles and operations of the Vietnam War
• United States Marine Corps in the Vietnam War
• Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1967