History of the 3/506th

  Part 1

 To follow the history of the Recon element of the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 506th Infantry (3-506), and for that matter, the 3-506th, is to follow a continual work in progress.  From their reactivation in the spring of 1967 of three infantry companies and an anti tank and reconnaissance platoon, they would become an interregnal part of a 2,000 man, highly mobile task force.  The reconnaissance platoon would reinvent itself several times from a battalion recon and 4th rifle platoon to a Long Range Patrol and Long Range Reconnaissance unit.  Their recon missions would end up covering the four southern provenances of II Corp., to the areas around LZ North English, Cambodia and eventually near the DMZ. 

  The 3-506th was reactivated as part of the 101st Airborne Division in April 1967 at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky for the specific purpose of deployment to the Republic of South Vietnam.  The all Airborne battalion was commanded was LTC John Geraci.  The main body of the battalion were three infantry companies, A, B, and C and the battalion Recon and Anti Tank platoon  (Shock Force) which was assigned to Headquarters Company and commanded by 1LT. Michael Pearson.  The battalion would train in the woods of Kentucky and Tennessee for the next six months.

  On the 2nd of October 1967, the battalion was transported by air to the West Coast and boarded the USNS General William Weigle in San Francisco Bay.  On the 3rd of October they sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge for the Republic of South Vietnam.  Also on board was the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

  On the 22nd of October the USNS Gen. Weigle arrived in South Vietnam at Qui Nhon, where the 3/503  disembarked from the ship then continued south and arrived at Cam Rahn Bay on 26th October, off loading the 3-506th.  The battalion proceeded by convoy south to Phan Rang and linked up with the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division at Eagle Roost base camp.

It was becoming apparent to many of the military leaders, many of who had seen combat during World War II and Korea, that they were fighting a very elusive enemy.  The 1st Brigade had been using small team long-range patrol missions with high degree of success in locating Viet Cong (VC) units.  This made an impression on the commanders of the 3-506th and would eventually lead to a change in the structure of the reconnaissance platoon.

One of the first and more notable operations conducted by Shock Force occurring in early December 1967.  South of Phan Rang the Viet Cong had set up a tax collection point along the main highway, QL-1.  The Viet Cong had been quite successful at collecting “tax money” and, for the most part, had gone unchallenged by the local ARVN forces.  1Lt Pearson and Platoon Sergeant Phillip Chasson , along with several members of Shock Force, borrowed a Vietnamese bus.  They dressed from the waist up as locals and with PSG Chasson driving, they headed south on QL-1 toward the tax point.  As luck would have it the Viet Cong were there stopping traffic and collecting money.  The VC were totally unaware of the Shock Force in the bus.  PSG Chasson even wore a conical hat.  At the correct moment the Shock Force quickly exited the bus catching the VC totally off guard.  A brief firefight followed resulting in 2 VC KIA and 1 VC POW. 

 In December 1967 the 1st Brigade moved to I Corps to prepare for the arrival of the main body of the 101st Airborne Division from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.  The 3-506 remained in II Corps and moved their tactical operation center to the Song Mao area and then on to Bao Loc.  The Shock Force continued to provide reconnaissance for the Battalion.  With the experience gained from working with and observing the 1st Brigade Long Range Patrol unit in Phan Rang, the recon platoon started breaking down into smaller terms and focused more on acquiring intelligence.

  In early January 1968, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) consolidated its widely scattered elements in I Corps Tactical Zone (I CTZ).  This consolidation pulled the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Cavalry (Gen. Custer’s old outfit) out of II CTZ and left the four southern provinces of Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Tuyen Duc, and Lam Dong without US Forces.  General Westmoreland, Commander of the US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, decided to create a separate Airborne-Airmobile Battalion Task Force, under the operational control of Lieutenant General William R Peers, First Field Force Vietnam (I FFV).  The 3-506 was chosen to become the nucleus of this unit to be called Task Force 3/506.  On January 17 the Battalion was relocated to replace the 2/7th Air Cavalry at LZ Betty on the South China Sea near the city of Phan Thiet.  The task force would have the responsibility for airmobile deployment into the four southern provinces of II CTZ.  The 3/503rd and the 173rd Airborne Brigade was also moved in to augment the US presence and a small tactical HQ was created in Dalat called Task Force South. 

  This move by MAC-V epitomized the Battalions motto, We Stand Alone.  The move also created a much greater challenge for the recon element, Shock Force.  It gave them a far greater operational window than a typical battalion recon element, and would require them to make changes in their structure and skills.

  To have a better understanding of the unique position the 3-506th and their recon element were given, it is important to have a basic understanding of what I Field Force Vietnam was.

  United States involvement in Vietnam goes back to the 1950s with the establishment of the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Indochina (MAAG-I).  This was changed in 1961 to the Military Assistance Advisory Group Vietnam (MAAG-V) when the US made the commitment to provide economic, technical and military assistance to Vietnam.  From 1961 to 1965, under the US Army Support Group, Vietnam, American involvement in Vietnam increased up to combat operations.  This resulted in the creation of two subordinate field commands, I Field Force Vietnam (IFFV) and II Field Force Vietnam (IIFFV).  IFFV was located in Nha Trang to command US Army units in II Corps.  IIFFV area of responsibility was III Corps.

  The Field Force idea was adopted instead of a normal corps headquarter for several reasons:

One, the headquarters was to operate within an existing South Vietnamese corps zone and it would be confusing to introduce another corps designation within the same zone. 

Next, unlike a corps headquarters, which mainly has a tactical function, the Field Force was to have additional responsibilities such as supply, pacification and an advisory sole to the South Vietnamese. 

And lastly, the Field Force organization was more flexible, making it possible to add additional subordinate units when and if required.

  On January 15, 1968, the G-3 Plans Division of I First Field Force Vietnam issued OPLAN 200-68.  This was an open-end search and destroy operational plan.  Its purpose was to counter enemy threats, exploit hard intelligence and assist Allied Forces in security.  The area of operation was expanded to include the four southern provinces of II Corps, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Lam Dong and Tuyen Duc and portions of Binh Tuy Province in III Corps.  This new area of operation (AO) was named AO MCLAIN.

  On January 17, 1968, the 3-506 relocated to their new base camp, LZ Betty near Phan Thiet.  The Shock Force was sent to provide security at a near by Fire Support Base, FSB Judy.  FSB Judy had a battery of 155mm towed artillery and a 40mm Duster platoon that were IFFV assets. 

  1LT Pearson was promoted to Captain and a change of command was planned for the Shock Force.  In addition to the new command, a structural change was planed that will begin to convert the Shock Force, a battalion reconnaissance platoon and sometimes 4th rifle platoon, into a long range reconnaissance asset for the battalion and add support for the intelligence requirement for IFFV in AO MCLAIN.  But within a few days these plans would be put on hold.  On January 28, the day before the official cease-fire date in observance of the Tet Lunar New Year, the Shock Force ambushed a 40-man Viet Cong patrol northwest of Phan Thiet.  Nine VC were killed and numerous blood trails were found.  Three members of Shock Force were wounded.  Unknown to anyone at the time, this enemy, along with several other undetected enemy units, were converging on Phan Thiet to begin the Tet Offensive.

  On January 30, the Tet Communist Offensive begins.  The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong launched a countrywide surprise attack against the US and South Vietnamese forces.  They begin with over 100 major attacks that included 36 of the 44 provincial capitals.  Phan Thiet was not only a strategic provincial capitol, it was a cultural center located on the coast and it had also been the home of Ho Chi Minh when he taught school.

  In the early morning hours of January 31, the Viet Cong 482nd Local Force and the Viet Cong 840th Main Force Battalions attacked the city of Phan Thiet, LZ Betty and outlying Fire Support Bases and ARVN posts. The offensive continued until February 23.  Over that 24-day period, rifle companies from the 3-506 counter attacked and assaulted in some of the heaviest fighting in South Vietnam.  The Shock Force served as a quick reaction force and was sent into Phan Thiet to reinforce the Province Chief’s Headquarters and provide personal protection for the Province Chief.  At approximately 03:00 on February 18, the Viet Cong 482nd launched an attack against an ARVN compound just north of Phan Thiet.  At the same time the companies from the Viet Cong 480th, 430th and 899th launcheed attacks from the southwest.  The 840 Main Force Viet Cong Battalion overran an ARVN outpost and took over the prison, freeing 500 prisoners. This is approximately 200 meters from the Province Chiefs Headquarters.  The enemy’s objective was the Province Chief’s compound and they attacked aggressively.  The Shock Force was able to hold the Province Headquarters and killed or repeled the enemy. 

  At the end of the Tet Offensive in the Phan Thiet area, the enemy losses are put at 1,256 KIA and 48 POWs.  Friendly losses are 91 KIA and 569 WIA.  Civilian causalities are reported at 36 KIA and 664 WIA.   Additionally 13,500 civilians are made homeless. 

  With Tet over, the battalion went back to reorganization.  A fourth Rifle Company was planned, Company D, and the Shock Force resumed their pre-Tet plans.

  On March 12 a Memorial Service was held at LZ Betty for those from HHC, Company B and Company C who were killed during the Tet Offensive. A second Memorial Service was also held at LZ Bartlett for the 14 men killed from Company A.  Capt. Michael Peasron was given command of Company B and Shock Force was disbanded and a provisional Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol or LRRP Platoon was created under the new leadership of 1Lt. Roy Summers. 

  The Recon or LRRP Platoon moved their compound from the Headquarters area to the West Side of the perimeter at LZ Betty.  Lt. Summers and Platoon Sergeant Ireland broke the platoon down into four 6-man teams, Romeo 1 through 4.  Arrangements were made to send three men at a time to MAC-V Recondo School in Nha Trang, and all equipment was reevaluated.  A large supply of camouflaged (flower power and tiger) fatigues was inventoried and a large supply of LRP rations was stocked.  Later this would also include Indigenous Rations. Those returning from Recondo School would organize recon training exercises.  A rappelling tower was built by the beach, and extractions by McGuire Rig were practiced.  Advanced map reading and the use of codebooks were taught. By May 1968 the old Shock Force had completely transformed into a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol unit.

  Mission Warning Orders would come from or through S-2.  Many of these would originate at IFFV in Nha Trang.  IFFV also had under its command its primary recon asset, Company E (LRP) 20th Infantry (changed in January 1969 to C/75th).  When a Warning Order was received, often an over flight of the target area was done with the S-2, the team leader, assistant team leader and the platoon leader or sergeant.  A detailed plan would then be put together and a 6 man team would be inserted for a period of up to six days.  These missions could be conducted in any one of the four plus provenances in AO MCLAIN. 

to be continued