3rd Battalion 26th Marines (Vietnam)

Jan 1-31

KHE SANH

     From 1-31 January, the Battalion provided "Kilo"  Company for the defense of Hill 861 at XD803443 and    "India" Company for the defense of Hill 881S at XD777437.    For the entire month, "Lima" Company defended the Red    Sector of the KHE SANH Combat Base perimeter.  These companies also conducted day and night patrols to destroy enemy forces and to detect enemy infiltration.
     From 2-4 January, "Mike" Company conducted a sweep operation in the vicinity of XD862398 to XD916403.  At 1600H on 4 January, "Mike" Company assumed the mission of Regimental Reserve and provided for a "Sparrow Hawk" platoon. 
     From 2-4 January, "Mike 3" was assigned the mission of combat outpost at XD823416 and from 13-22 January was the battalion reaction platoon. 
     On 19 January, "Mike"(-), moved to reinforce "India" Company on the defense of Hill 881S. 
     On 21 January, the battalion assumed operational control of the 2nd Platoon, of A 1/26.  Company E of 2/26 chopped opcon to this battalion on 26 January and from the vicinity of XD806445, supported "Kilo" Company in the defense of Hill 861.

KIA 24
WIA 135

Feb

KHE SANH

     From 1-29 February, the Battalion provided "Kilo" Company for the defense of Hill 861 and "India" and "Mike"(-) Companies for the defense of Hill 881S.  "Lima" Company defended the Red Sector of the KHE SANH Combat Base perimeter.
     For the entire month "Mike 3" was assigned as the battalion reaction platoon.  For the entire month, the Battalion retained operational control of A2 1/26 and E 2/26.  On 5 February, the Battalion assumed operational control of D3 1/26.

KIA 20
WIA 122

Mar

KHE SANH

     From 1-31 March, the Battalion provided "Kilo" Company for the defense of Hill 861 and "India" and "Mike"(-) Companies for the defense of Hill 881S.  "Lima" Company defended the Red Sector of the KHE SANH Combat Base perimeter.
     For the entire month "Mike 3" was assigned as the battalion reaction platoon.  For the entire month, the Battalion retained operational control of A2 1/26, E 2/26, and D3 1/26.

KIA 6
WIA 99

Apr 1-16

KHE SANH
  

     From 1-7 April the Battalion provided defense of Hill 881S, Hill 861, Hill 861A and the Red Sector of the KHE SANH Combat Base.  From 7-9 April the Battalion moved to Hill 881S and prepared to attack Hill 881N, which was seized on 14 April.  On 15 April, the Battalion returned to KSCB and completed its move to QUANG TRI Combat Base on 16 April. 
     On April 17 the Battalion assumed the defense of LZ BETTY in the vicinity of YD335505, LZ SHARON at YD304487 and began operations in a new AO to the south and west of QUANG TRI CITY.
     On 17 April, the Battalion assumed the defense of LZs BETTY and SHARON and assumed responsibility for Operations within the new AO.  Operation RICE, 17-30 April.

17-30

QUANG TRI
LZ Betty
LZ Sharon
  

     On April 17 the Battalion assumed the defense of LZ BETTY in the vicinity of YD335505, LZ SHARON at YD304487 and began operations in a new AO to the south and west of QUANG TRI CITY.
     On 17 April, the Battalion assumed the defense of LZs BETTY and SHARON and assumed responsibility for Operations within the new AO.  Operation RICE, 17-30 April.

KIA 21
WIA 165

May 1-31

QUANG TRI
  

GA Bridge

     From 1 to 17 May the Battalion conducted squad, platoon, company and battalion size operations in an AO which was generally to the south and west of QUANG TRI City.  During this time frame, the Battalion guarded the GA Bridge, was prepared to defend either QUANG TRI City or the QUANG TRI Base, and continuously conducted rice denial operations.  From 1-5 May the Battalion provided for the defense of LZ BETTY at YD335505 with 1 company and LZ SHARON at YD304487 with 1 company.
     On 17 May, the Battalion was opcon to the 1st Marine Division for Operation MAMELUKE THRUST.  On 19 May the Battalion attacked to the west from Hill 10 at AT923691 towards Hill 1235 in the vicinity of ZC200620 in HAPPY VALLEY to find, fix, and destroy the enemy forces and installations in its zone of action.

KIA 7
WIA 37

Jun 1-30

Hill 10
  


 
Hill 1235
HAPPY VALEY
THOUNG DUC SF Camp
LZ PELICAN
  

     From 1 to 14 June the Battalion attacked to the west of Hill 10 at AT923691, towards Hill 1235 at ZC200620 in Happy Valley to find, fix, and destroy the enemy forces and installations in its zone of action.
     On 14 June "Kilo" and "Lima" Companies were deployed to the THOUNG DUC Special Forces Camp in the vicinity of ZC154537 to provide security for the motor convoys and the fire base.
     On 16 June "India" and "Mike" Companies took up the security of THOUNG Duc Special Forces Camp and on 19 June the Battalion initiated Phase II of Operation MAMELUKE THRUST.  The Battalion was helo lifted into LZ PELICAN in the vicinity of ZC110670, in HAPPY VALLEY, to conduct search and destroy operations.

KIA 11
WIA 84

Jul 1-31

HAPPY VALLEY
Hill 55
  


NAN HOA
DAI IA Rockcrusher

From 1-5 July the Battalion conducted search and destroy operations in the HAPPY VALLEY area in the vicinity of ZC110670.
     From 9-14 July the Battalion conducted search and destroy operations in the area of Hill 55 area in the vicinity of AT970620.
     From July 14-18, the Battalion conducted search and destroy operations in the NAN HOA(AN HOA?) area in the vicinity of AT841455.
     From 19-22 July the Battalion returned to the Rear at the DAI IA Rock crusher and became the 1st Marine Division Reserve.
     From 22-31 July the Battalion was Opconed to the 26th Marines and operated in the Operation HOUSTON AO.

KIA 7
WIA 11

Aug 1-31

From 1-31 of August the Battalion was Opcon to the 26th Marines and operated in the Operation HOUSTON AO.

KIA 7
WIA 28

Sep 1-30

From HAI VAN Pass
To PHU LOC Village
On National Route #1
THUA THIEN Province

     During September 1968, 3/26 carried out the primary mission of providing security for the main supply route, National Route #1 from HAI VAN Pass, at the southern boundary of THUA THIEN Province, north to PHU LOC Village.  This mission was accomplished through the use of platoon strong points and aggressive small unit maneuvers.  The presence of K 3/5 in an OpCon status enabled the battalion to keep a mobile force operating in the mountain terrain south and north of the highway.  This unit's use of Killer Ambush Teams and imaginative use of supporting arms enabled the battalion to approach a seemingly defensive mission with an offensive attitude.

KIA 8
WIA 38

Oct 1-31

From HAI VAN Pass
To PHU LOC Village
On National Route #1
THUA THIEN Province

     During the first sixteen days of October, 3/26 was engaged in Operation OWEN MESA.  The primary mission of the Battalion was that of providing security for the National Route #1 from the southern boundary of THUA THIEN Province, north to PHU LOC Village: to seek out and destroy harbor sites and base camps from which the enemy could launch attacks on Route #1 and harass the local populace.  This mission was accomplished by the use of supporting arms in an offensive matter and extensive use of killer/ambush teams and company sized sweeps through areas of suspected enemy habitation.

KIA 0
WIA 6

Nov 1-30

Combat Base in a forward area at AT929887.

DAI IA Pass

DODGE CITY

     During the first 14 days of November, 3/26 was engaged in Operation NICOLLET BAY.  The primary mission of the Battalion was to establish a combat base in a forward operating area in the vicinity of AT929887 in the assigned AO and conduct reconnaissance in force operations to find, fix and destroy enemy forces, materials and caches.  This mission was accomplished by conducting mutually supporting, company size. reconnaissance in force sweeps through the AO.
     From the 15th of November until the 19th of November, the Battalion rested and rehabilitated in their rear area at DAI IA Pass and prepared for Operation MEADE RIVER, scheduled to begin 20 November 1968.  The mission of the Battalion was to move by helicopter to the prescribed positions along Route 4 in the southwest sector of the Regimental cordon to capture and/or destroy enemy forces in the vicinity of the cordon in the assigned sector; conduct mobile reserve mission within the area of operations; establish blocking positions during the search and destroy operations along the eastern sector of the DODGE CITY AO.

KIA 10
WIA 56

Dec 1-31

DODGE CITY

ROCK CRUSHER

Prepations to go afloat.

DA NANG AO

SLF Bravo

     During the first 9 days of December this Battalion was engaged in Operation MEADE RIVER.  The mission of the Battalion, was to set up along Route 4 in the southwest sector of the Regimental cordon, and to capture or destroy the enemy within the vicinity of the cordon.
     The enemy in the area of DODGE CITY were extremely well dug in. Bunkers were found with reinforced concrete decks, and overheads made of railroad ties, rails and covered with six feet of dirt.  It was found that the enemy had to be ferreted out by individual Marines, using tactics similar to those used during World War II during the Island Campaigns.  "Many veterans of other wars stated that this was the fiercest fighting they had ever seen."On 9 December, 3/26 was helilifted out of the DODGE CITY area.  Upon arrival back at the ROCK CRUSHER the Battalion commenced preparing to go afloat. People with less than 6 months left in country as of 1 January were transferred out of the Battalion and replaced with new men.  While preparing for the float 3/26 continued with combat activities in their AO.  On 20 December the Battalion designated BLT 3/26.  By 31 December BLT was aboard SLF Bravo ships.

KIA 23
WIA 67