The Battle of Soui Tre took place March 18 and 19, 1967. At the time I was the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 118th Attack Helicopter Company (AHC). The company was a part of the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion. For this operation out battalion was augmented with the 335th AHC on March 18 and the 68th AHC on March 18th.
Saturday, March 18, 1967
On the above date the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion had the mission to insert an Infantry unit into a landing zone (LZ) in War Zone C. The operation was staged from a pickup zone (PZ) located on the edge of Ap Trai Dan. The Infantry unit’s mission, with a direct support artillery unit, was to establish a fire base om the location of the LZ. The original plan called for an Armored Cavalry unit to go out and secure the LZ. Once secured the 145th Cbt Avn Bn was to airlift the Infantry unit from the PZ to the LZ. I believe it was to require six or seven lifts. En route to secure the LZ the Armored Cav unit was ambushed and stopped. Their efforts during the day were unsuccessful and they failed to complete their mission.
There were two Assault Helicopter companies participating in this battalion operation - the 118th AHC under my command and the 335th AHC, a company on loan to the 145th from the 173rd Airborne Brigade. The 335th was assigned as the direct support aviation company.
Around mid-afternoon a standard combat assault operation was considered but rejected. After waiting all day, the 145th mission was cancelled and the AHC’s were released to return to their respective home bases. The mission would be continued on March 19th.
Sunday (Palm Sunday), March 19, 1967
On this date the 145th Cbt Avn Bn had the mission to return and complete the mission from the previous day. This time it would be a combat assault insertion of the Infantry unit. The operation was again staged from the PZ on the edge of ApTrai Dan. The 118th AHC was a participating unit. The 68th AHC replaced the 335th AHC on Sunday. Our final briefings on the operation were conducted at the PZ. The 68th AHC was designated the lead company for the operation. The final briefing provided several facts - War Zone C had a limited number of LZ’s that could handle a battalion sized combat assault; no preparatory fires were planned; and our formation would have ten aircraft in each company. There would be a two-minute separation between the two companies.
The operation began around 0900. The 68th made its approach into the LZ, disembarked their troops; took off and reported the LZ “COLD”. It was a surprise and some relief to hear that transmission. The 118th made its approach to the LZ. The troops disembarked and I was just starting my takeoff when there was a horrendous explosion behind me. Radios became alive and reported that three aircraft near the middle of our formation had been damaged and were burning. The 118th aircraft managed to fly out of the LZ. One aircraft from the 118th reported control problems and had to quickly land just a short distance away from the LZ. A Bandit Gun Team put protective cap on them until help could arrive. Five aircraft got back to the LZ, still in flyable condition. A sixth aircraft got back to the PZ a little bit late despite moderate damage. It could not be used when the mission continued. At this point the 118th had only five operational aircraft.
The operation was temporarily stopped to assess the situation. In a span of a few minutes the operation was resumed. The troops on the ground from the first lift would secure an area in the LZ to accommodate flights of five aircraft.
In the second lift, the two flights of five ahead of me in the 68th went in and out with no problems. As directed, I came to a hover and the troops jumped out. Before I could start my takeoff, there was a strong explosion in front of my helicopter. Everything went black and the XO and I were both struck by debris The explosion blew out the chin bubbles, part of the windshield and bent the front doors. We had to exit the aircraft through the cargo doors. The major explosion to the 118th’s formation in the first lift was a rigged unexploded 250-pound bomb.
It was an assault that could have had fewer difficulties for our unit, but it was successful.
Your dates are incorrect for the Battle of Soui Tre. The Dates were March 19th (insertion)and March 21st for the Battle. My name is Joe Engles. I was the gunner on #3 A/2/77. I was there for the entire insertion and the Battle.
ReplyDeleteI was there and experienced the "Broken Arrow" called on March 21st 1967 after our artillery units were overrun. I had been a 44th IPSD dog handler assigned to the 3/22 for perimeter sweeps upon setting up the LZ,.
ReplyDeleteEric 36X3
DeleteI too was with the 44th IPSD with my German Shepherd Eric and was in the Battle of Landing Zone Gold in war zone C. The enemy broke throughout lines on 3/21/67 and over ran 3 of our Howitzer positions, one truck mounted Quad 50 and breeched the command center resulting in command calling a "Broken Arrow". The initial "bird dog" spotter plane was immediately shot down a short distance from our defunct perimeter. Jets arrived shortly thereafter and began dropping napalm between the command post and the uncleared jungle. I can not recall any participation of helicopter gun ships due to heavy fighting and confusion. The 3/4 Cav tank unit, elements of the 2/12 Infantry and Company A of the 3/22 Mech Infantry arrived mid day and swept across the LZ taking no prisoners and securing the area for helicopter resupply and transport of our wounded and deceased. A Chinook air delivered a bulldozer which dug a large mass grave trench for the enemy combatants. The enemy allegedly lost 997 and our losses were never released to the troops.
My father was a pilot that was wounded in the explosion Sidney Schmidt wo. On march 19,1967
ReplyDeleteI was in B/3/22 and was there. We lost 10 men on the 19th and 31 on the 21st. Three good friends burned to death on the 19th in one of the hueys that was hit by an explosion. It was hard to pull their bodies from the ashes after the fire cooled down. 55 years ago but it seems like yesterday. I will always remember.
ReplyDeleteHow one Infantryman feels about the Artillery I was in A battery Gun1 2ND 77TH Artillery 4th I.D during the Battle Soui Tre. I came across this quote.James Holder A/3-22 wrote in his book War Storys Utah To Pleiku . As he recalled the battle of Soui Tre -LZ Gold he was a squad leader and always felt the Infantry was better then the Artillery Troops.But during the battle when we were informed the enemy penetrated the perimeter in three places,I watched the rear of our position.As i looked for the enemy i noticed that amid the 82 mm and rifle fire. the artillery men from the 2-77 were standing in the open without cover loading and firing there howitzers with beehive and HE into the tree line. I saw many of these fine soldiers hit the ground one at a time and then it hit me like a rock-these men where falling from wounds.I came away that day with a new found pride in the artillery.We had cover they did not,yet they stayed on duty continuing to fire there Guns untill they were silenced or ran out of ammo.My hat is off to the men of the artillery!Keep up that fighting spirit. Go Redlegs Bob Hayes
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