Veteran Stories from the Battle of Suoi Tre

The Battle of Suoi Tre took place March 18th thru 21st, 1967.
The Battle involved the A 3-22 INF, 2-77 FA, 2-34 INF, 2-22 INF, and the 2-12 INF.

This is one soldiers story

On 19 March, 1967 elements of the 3d Brigade made an opposed airmobile assault into a small clearing near the abandoned village of Suoi Tre in Central War Zone C, Republic of Viet Nam, at coordinates XT385708. Their mission was to establish a Fire Support Base at the location of the air landing to support further offensive operations.

The Fire Support Base was code-named “Gold” after the code name of the landing zone. By late afternoon on 19 March the 2d Bn 77th Artillery (105mm) had been airlifted into position. On 20 March the 2d Bn 12th Inf, under the command of LTC Joe F. Elliott had moved west on a search and destroy mission against Viet Cong forces expected to be in the area. Less than two battalions of U.S. Troops now remained at Fire Support Base Gold, the 3d Bn 22d Inf (minus Company C), commanded by LTC John A. Bender, and the 2d Bn 77th Artillery, commanded by LTC Jack Vessey. Total complement of U.S. troops at Fire Support Base Gold was less than 450. To the south, the 2d Bn 22d Inf (M) under the command of LTC Ralph Julian, and the 2d Bn 34th Armor (minus company B) under the command of LTC Raymond L. Stailey were attempting to cross the Suoi Samat River and join the 2d Bn 12th Inf (call sign “FLAME”) in an offensive sweep to the west and neutralizing the small remaining pockets of resistance.

Analysis of the enemy actions of 21 March 1967 indicate an intent to conduct a ground attack against the 2d Battalion 12th Infantry immediately following the mortar attack on that unit. Only the early commitment of the 2d Battalion 12th Infantry prevented the ground attack. The entire movement of the battalion was subjected to continuous sniper fire from the north flank. The presence of the great numbers of anti-tank weapons further indicated that the Viet Cong expected a quick “roll-up” of Fire Support Base Gold followed by an engagement with the mechanized forces.

Despite a heavy preponderance of automatic and anti-tank weapons, the Viet Cong force was so thoroughly defeated that the mechanized forces suffered only two slightly wounded personnel. This action prematurely triggered an attack on FSB Gold which subsequently proved to be the largest single attack and the most catastrophic enemy defeat of the war to date.

**FA Artillery fired 2,200 rounds of 105mm HE, 42 rounds of 105mm Beehive

**The infantry units in contact used approximately 90% of the two basic loads, carried by all the units of small arms ammunition, grenades, claymores, 81mm and 4.2 inch mortar ammunition.

**Total U.S. casualties for the Battle of Suoi Tre were 85 KIA and 237 wounded in action, 92 of which were evacuated. The remaining wounded were treated on the battlefield and returned to duty. By mid-afternoon of 21 March all U.S. personnel were accounted for with none missing or captured.