Annual Summaries
This page provides annual summaries for each year that the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment operated in the Republic of Vietnam - 1967 to 1971. Scroll down to view each summary, then click on each link for more in-depth historical information and pictures. It is important to note that the 3rd Battalion was the only element of the 187th Infantry to serve in the Republic of Vietnam.
1967 - Operation Eagle Thrust & Phuoc Vinh Basecamp
In August of 1967, the 101st Airborne Division was alerted for deployment to Southeast Asia. The initial plan was for 2nd and 3rd Brigades to deploy in February of 1968 (1st Brigade had been operating in Vietnam since 1965). This set off a series of administrative and logistical activities to include training and the transfer of soldiers to the 101st Airborne Division at FT Campbell to fill the ranks of the 2nd and 3rd Brigades. In September and again in October of 1967, the deployment dates were accelerated. The final decision was for the division advance guard/party to deploy in mid-November of 1967, with the bulk of division personnel deploying between December 1, 1967 and December 20, 1967. In December of 1967, 2nd and 3rd Brigades of the 101st Airborne Division were airlifted from FT Campbell, Kentucky into Bien Hoa Airbase in South Vietnam (Operation Eagle Thrust). The majority of the 3rd Brigade and the 3/187th deployed the first week of December 1967 with 2nd Brigade deploying in mid-December. Bien Hoa Airbase was the first location for the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division with Major General Olinto M. Barsanti commanding. After a day or two at Bien Hoa, the 3/187th convoyed to Phuoc Vinh, the new basecamp for the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. Originally constructed by the French, 3rd Brigade was taking over Phuoc Vinh Basecamp from the 1st Infantry Division, which moved operations into Binh Long and Phuoc Long Provinces (closer to the Cambodia border). The remainder of December 1967 was spent reinforcing the basecamp, acclimation, training, pulling perimeter security and as December wore on, conducting longer ambush patrols.
1968
After additional training in combat assault insertions and reconnaissance in force tactics in early January of 1968, the 3/187th began full scale combat operations. 3rd Brigade became involved in Operation Manchester on January 12, 1968, and spent time pulling security at the Phuoc Vinh Basecamp, the Song Be Bridge, along HWY 1A and engaging in reconnaissance in force operations around FSB Dave. The Tet Offensive exploded across the Republic of Vietnam on January 30 and 31, 1968, pulling elements of 3rd Brigade and the 3/187th into Bien Hoa, Saigon, Tan Sun Nhut/MACV Headquarters and other locations, while still supporting Operation Manchester. March, April and May found the 3/187th continuing operations to disrupt NVA/VC basecamps and infiltration routes in Warzone D, the rocket-belt (north/northeast of the Bien Hoa-Long Binh military complex) and many other locations throughout the III Corps Tactical Zone. The battalion participated in Operation Queyet Thang, Operation Box Springs and Operation Toan Thang I (among other operations) during this period of time. In late May of 1968, elements of 3rd Brigade were moved to the Central Highlands in II Corps Tactical Zone in order to reinforce the 4th Infantry Division - Operation Lucas Green - arriving at Dak To on or around May 24, 1968. After several days in the Dak To area, elements of 3rd Brigade were moved further north to Dak Pek in order to reinforce Special Forces Camps in the area. By roughly June 9, 1968, the bulk of 3rd Brigade was back at Phuoc Vinh Basecamp. But not for long... After only a few days at Phuoc Vinh Basecamp, elements of 3rd Brigade began movement to the 25th Infantry Division Basecamp at Cu Chi (3rd Brigade rear remained at Phuoc Vinh Basecamp). Starting in mid-June of 1968, the 3/187th operated primarily to the west of the Saigon River in the 25th Infantry Division area of operations - Operation Toan Thang II. In August of 1968, the 3/187th rotated back to Phuoc Vinh Basecamp for several weeks to provide security at the 3rd Brigade Basecamp and conduct operations in the vicinity. By late August, the 3/187th had rotated back to Cu Chi where it continued to operate through mid-October of 1968, with September of 1968 being a particularly deadly month for the Rakkasans, suffering fifty (50) soldiers killed in action and an unknown number of wounded in September. The 3/187th was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for actions June 13, 1968 through September 23, 1968. Starting in September of 1968, 3rd Brigade began movement to I Corps Tactical Zone to join the rest of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) - Operation Golden Sword. The 3/187th wrapped up operations in the III Corps Tactical Zone in mid-October, officially reporting to Major General Zais on roughly October 18, 1968 on the tarmac at Phu Bai. After a period of time at Camp Eagle, the 3/187th moved to Camp Evans, 3rd Brigade's Basecamp in the I Corps Tactical Zone. By November 1, 1968, the 3/187th was up in the mountains along rocket ridge - building FSB Rakkasan and reinforcing FSB Long and FSB Helen. Late 1968 was a period of massive change for the 3/187th. Having operated as a rapid response force throughout the III Corps Tactical Zone, the 3/187th and 3rd Brigade were now fully attached to the 101st Airborne Division operations. The terrain change from III Corps Tactical Zone to the I Corps Tactical Zone was significant, impacting all aspects of operations. Additionally, the division underwent a large-scale personnel change as the soldiers who deployed together in late 1967 (who had survived 1968), DEROS'd home. The first I Corps operation that the 3/187th engaged in was Operation Rawlins Valley. Operation Rawlins Valley ran from December 16, 1968 through December 24, 1968 and found the Rakkasans patrolling along the Rao Trang. December 25, 1968 found the Rakkasans back on firebases, celebrating their second Christmas in the Republic of Vietnam.
1969
The dawn of 1969 found the 3/187th continuing operations in the mountains of the I Corps Tactical Zone along Rocket Ridge and supporting division-wide operations. During Operation Todd Forest, which ran from December 31, 1968 to January 13, 1969, the 3/187th continued to operate in and around FSB Rakkasan, FSB Helen and FSB Long. Operation Ohio Rapids, a three-phase division-wide operation, commenced on January 24, 1969 and saw elements of the 3/187th moved onto FSB Mexico and FSB Barbara. In mid-February, the 3/187th was pulled into Operation Spokane Rapids, a 1st Brigade Operation in and around FSB Blaze and Leech Island. In March of 1969 the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) began Operation Kentucky Jumper, a multi-phase operation to take back and secure the A Shau Valley. Operation Massachusetts Striker ran from March 1 to May 1, 1969. Significant actions for the 3/187th during this period of time include the NVA sapper attack on FSB Jack in late March and in late April, intense fighting on Dong Ngai. Dong Ngai was the mountain on which FSB Airborne was soon constructed. Operation Apache Snow - the assault on Dong Ap Bia/Hamburger Hill - commenced May 10, 1969 and found the 3/187th engaged in an intense 11-day battle to take control of the hill from entrenched NVA forces. The 3/187th was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for actions May 10, 1969 through May 21, 1969 during Operation Apache Snow. Following the battle of Hamburger Hill, the battalion was pulled back Camp Evans to rebuild and regroup. During this period, the 3/187th operated in and around Camp Evans, An Lo Bridge, Song Bo Railroad Bridge, Pho Trach Bridge, Eagle Beach (Colco Beach), Hue Naval Pumping Station, FSB Jack and patrols along Rocket Ridge. Operation Montgomery Rendezvous commenced June 8, 1969. In late June, the 3/187th began moving back into the mountains of the I Corps Tactical Zone and began conducting combat operations. By early July, elements of the battalion were at FSB Bastogne and FSB Cannon, preparing for operations back in the A Shau Valley. Through July and into August, the 3/187th supported road and airfield building operations on the valley floor. The 3/187th spent time at FSB Birmingham, FSB Blaze, FSB Currahee, FSB Rendezvous, patrolling the A Shau Valley Floor and back at Dong Ap Bia where the short lived FSB Destiny was constructed. Operation Kentucky Jumper/Montgomery Rendezvous ended August 14, 1969. The 3/187th remained in and around the A Shau Valley, conducting and supporting operations in the northern A Shau. Operation Louisiana Lee ran from mid-August through late September and found the Rakkasans in and around FSB Erskine, FSB Turnage, FSB Cunningham and the A Loui Airfield. In late September/early October of 1969, the 3/187th returned to Camp Evans and operations shifted to support pacification efforts in Phong Dien District - The Street Without Joy. Operation Republic Square officially began on September 29, 1969. The battalion's mission "...was to conduct offensive operations emphasizing reconnaissance and ambush in order to deny the enemy access to the populated areas and support the GVN accelerated pacification program while upgrading local GVN forces through training and combined operations" (3/187th Annual Historical Summary, page 12). Although the 3rd Brigade Basecamp remained at Camp Evans, the 3/187th Battalion Headquarters was moved to Phong Dien District Headquarters. Operation Randolph Glen began December 7, 1969 and the support of pacification programs continued.
1970
Early 1970 found the battalion continuing Operation Randolph Glen in support of pacification efforts in the Phong Dien District. The mission of Operation Randolph Glen was to "Conduct offensive operations emphasizing reconnaissance and ambush in order to deny the enemy access to the populated areas and support the GVN accelerated pacification program while upgrading local GVN forces through training and combined operations" (Combat After Action Report: Operation Randolph Glen, page 3). Operation Randolph Glen wrapped up on March 31, 1970 and the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) began Operation Texas Star. Available records indicated that at the beginning of Operation Texas Star, the 3/187th was placed under the operational control of 2nd Brigade and remained operating in the Coastal Plains (at some point in April or May, the 3/187th was returned to the control of 3rd Brigade). However, security, pacification and resettlement operations were expanded into Huong Dien, Quang Dien and Huong Tra Districts. In late May of 1970, elements the 3/187th began operating in the foothills, Rocket Ridge, and the mountains of I Corps Tactial Zone, while still maintaining a presence in the lowlands/coastal plains. According to the "3/187th Annual Historical Summary 1970", the battalion command post moved to FSB Rakkasan on or around May 22, 1970. Sometime in early June of 1970, combat units from the 3/187th were completely pulled from Phong Dien district as the Rakkasans role in pacification and resettlement ended (Mobile Advisory Teams remained). In late July of 1970, the battalion command post was moved to FSB Bastogne, while also engaging in pacification efforts once again in the coastal plains. In early August of 1970, the battalion command post returned to Camp Evans with Operation Texas Star ending September 5, 1970. Operation Jefferson Glen began on September 6, 1970 and the battalion command post moved to FSB Jack. The battalion continued to operate in the foothills, just west of the lowlands/coastal plains. In mid-November, after a short stand-down and refresher training, the 3/187th moved back into the mountains, west of FSB Rakkasans - FSB Gladiator, FSB Granite, FSB Mexico and FSB Mooney. Operations in the mountains west of Rakkasan and east of the A Shau Valley continued. December 25, 1970 found the Rakkasans celebrating their 4th Christmas in Vietnam.
1971
1971 dawned to find the 3/187th continuing Operation Jefferson Glen, in the mountains west and northwest of FSB Rakkasan. The battalion forward command post was located at FSB Rakkasan and elements of the 3/187th continued operations around FSB Gladiator, FSB Granite, FSB Mooney and FSB Mexico. In mid-January, the 3/187th engaged in combat operations along the Ngon O Lau and its tributaries in an area known as The Falls. In mid to late January 1971, the 3/187th was pulled back to Camp Evans for an extended stand-down and refresher training. Little did the Rakkasans know that the division was planning a large-scale operation in the northern reaches of the I Corps Tactical Zone, in support of an ARVN attack on NVA strongholds in Laos. On January 30, 1971 the Battalion choppered out of Camp Evans in mass - Dewey Canyon II had kicked off. 3/187th soldiers were initially inserted in and around FSB Shepherd in Quang Tri Province. The Rakkasans supported the road clearing operations to open Hwy 9 into the old Khe Sahn Combat Base. Over the next several months, the 3/187th soldiers supported Lam Son 719 by providing security along QL9, reopening and securing Khe Sanh Combat Base, conducting reconnaissance in force operations in the surrounding mountains as well as engaging in re-supply efforts. In mid-February, 3/187th operations shifted slightly north to the vicinity of FSB Scotch and the Rockpile. Late February, operations moved in and around FSB Vandergrift. In early March, the battalion command post was moved again - into Khe Sahn Combat Base. Operations shifted to the area north-northwest of Khe Sahn. On March 17, 1971, an observation helicopter crashed west of Khe Sahn Combat Base. The helicopter was carrying LTC Brian Sutton, 3/187th Battalion Commander and MAJ Ronald Scharnberg, the Battalion S-3. LTC Sutton and MAJ Scharnberg were the highest ranking Rakkasans to lose their lives in the Republic of Vietnam. On April 7, 1971 Dewey Canyon II/Lamson 719 ended and the 3/187th returned to Camp Evans. The battalion resumed Operation Jefferson Glen in the lowlands/coastal plains of Phong Dien District. Operations were conducted in conjunction with South Vietnamese forces. In May of 1970, Bravo Company was placed under the operational control of the 2/506th and for the next 5 weeks, participated in the last operation that elements of the 3/187th would engage in along the mountains bordering the A Shau Valley to the east. July found the battalion back up in the mountains northwest of FSB Rakkasan - between FSB Granite and "The Falls" area near the Ngon O Lau. The 3/187th was involved in building a new firebase named FSB Firestone as well as combat operations in the vicinity. In late July, the battalion returned to Camp Evans. From roughly August 4, 1971 through early October, 1971, the battalion replaced the 4th Battalion, 503 Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade as the security force around Cam Ranh Bay. Returning to Camp Evans in early October, the 3/187th continued operations in the lowlands/coastal plains through late November 1971. In November of 1971, the 3/187th packed up and headed home, ending four years of combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam. Ne Desit Virtus!