Vietnam Task: The 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, 1966-67

Description

On 24 May 1966, eight hundred men of the 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, landed at Nui Dat, in Viet Cong territory. For the next 12 months they were faced with the task of restoring peace, civil law and regular commerce to the Vietnamese of Phuoc Tuy province. This book is a detailed record of those months in the monsoon jungles—of the problems that were faced and the solutions that were found. Captain O’Neill’s position as battalion intelligence officer enabled him to view the war from the standpoint of the battalion as a whole. However, he does not omit description of personal feelings—towards the Viet Cong, the jungle environment and the Vietnamese people, as well as the other Allied forces involved in the war. Most of the book was written on the spot in Vietnam. On operations or at Battalion Headquarters, Captain O’Neill jotted down details of the war against the Viet Cong, putting the events of each day in order, often in the small hours of the following morning. Thus not only is this a factual account of the 5th Battalion’s activities over the year; it is also a vivid and compelling picture of the war in Vietnam from the soldier’s point of view. Plates The Prime Minister, Mr Harold Holt, and Second Lieutenant Roe, a member of our advance party, at Bien Hoa, 25 April 1966 (see Chapter 2). A bridge on Route 15 between Ba Ria and Vung Tau destroyed before our arrival by the Viet Cong. Brigadier Jackson and General Westmoreland on board HMAS Sydney to welcome C Company to Vung Tau, 2 May 1966 (see Chapter 2). Colonel Warr (centre) planning helicopter requirements with Lieutenant Brinnon of the 68th US Army Aviation Company (left) and Major Hannigan, operations officer, First Australian Task Force (right) at Vung Tau, May 1966 (see Chapter 2). Major Carroll (right) and Corporal Western, his radio operator, at the battalion helicopter rehearsal before Operation Hardihood, May 1966 (see Chapter 2). During the first hours of Operation Hardihood on 24 May 1966 (see Chapter 3): Lieutenant Hartley (centre) with his radio operator and the ubiquitous Le Van Yen, a fluent French speaking herbalist. Private Allen (left) and Corporal Cleary with Viet Cong panji spikes encountered on Operation Hardihood (see Chapter 3). Staff Sergeant Mick Seats, assistant to Captain White, giving treatment to a sick baby. Medical aid was given to the villagers several times each week. Unloading the guns of 105 Field Battery at Tennis on Operation Sydney, 6 July 1966. They were carried inside APCs (shown in the rear) so that the Viet Cong would not know our strength (see Chapter 4). Pte. Jerry Bruin of B Company distributing captured Viet Cong rice to the villagers from whom the Viet Cong had taken it in the first place. Operation Sydney at Duc My, 20 July 1966. In the foreground is the Viet Cong prisoner whose capture is described in Chapter 4. He had just been resuscitated by Captain White (kneeling) and his capture had been controlled by Second Lieutenant Rainer MC, sh A service in the village church at Binh Ba conducted by Father Joseph, village priest, and Father Williams, battalion padre; attended by members of C Company under Second Lieutenant Neesham (left). The five Ngai Giao villagers of military age who had no identity cards being guarded by members of D Company under Sergeant Witheridge (standing right), Operation Crowsnest, 3 October 1966 (see Chapter 7). Pte Shoebridge and L/Cpl Bryan supporting Pte Riik after a booby trap explosion had wounded several members of C Company on Nui Thi Vai on 8 October 1966, during Operation Canberra (see Chapter 8). Members of C Company after clearing a helicopter pad on the slopes of Nui Thi Vai to evacuate the men wounded by booby traps on 8 October. Major Miller is standing bottom centre without hat. Second Lieutenant Deak MC, Reconnaissance Platoon commander, at Phuoc Hoa during Operation Hayman in November 1966 (see Chapter 11). The platoon soon established friendly relations with the people. B Company after dismounting from APCs in the Binh Ba rubber plantation before patrolling an area crossed by tracks used by the Viet Cong. Pte. Barney Gee is the forward scout. The officers of the Fifth Battalion in January 1967. Four members of the Intelligence Section by the model of An Nhut which they prepared in early February 1967 before Operation Beaumaris (see Chapter 14). From left: Pte. Colin Ross, Pte. Noel Clare, L/Cpl. Colin Bruce, Cpl. Bob Williams. Second Lieutenant Bob Askew, a helicopter pilot of 161 Recce Flight, who performed outstanding feats of flying in support of our operations. Major Maizey—a historic photograph of the second-in-command. One of the eight inch guns of the 1st/83rd US Artillery Regiment stationed at Nui Dat. These guns possess extraordinary precision over long ranges (see Chapter 15). An APC of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, controlling ox cart traffic along Route 2 near Nui Dat. The APCs supported most of our operations. Commencing the planning after the An Nhut reconnaissance, 12 February 1967 (see Chapter 14): from left, Colonel Warr, Major Carroll and the author. The battalion lifting off from Luscombe Field, Nui Dat, late in the afternoon of 18 February 1967 to launch Operation Renmark (see Chapter 15). This was the only operation for which we carried steel helmets. The risk of Viet Cong mortar bombardment of Bat Members of D Company beginning the defences at the Horseshoe, March 1967 (see Chapter 16). A Sioux helicopter of 161 Recce Flight is hovering below the rim of the crater. Pte. Wales of D Company looking south from the crest of the Horseshoe over Dat Do towards the Long Hai hills on the horizon. Building the fence around Dat Do, March 1967 (see Chapter 16). Sergeant Chinh, our senior Vietnamese interpreter, at Binh Ba (see Chapter 14). The handover. Colonel Warr presenting Colonel Smith, CO 7 RAR, with the ‘tiger pig’, 26 April 1967 (see Chapter 17). Intelligence officer Captain Bob O’Neill briefing soldiers in 5 RAR’s open-air theatre, ‘The Mayfair’. Diagrams Fig. 1. Phuoc Tuy province, May 1966. Fig. 2. The corps areas and major towns, South Vietnam. Fig. 3. The provinces, major towns and Viet Cong bases, 3 Corps area. Fig. 4. Major roads, 3 Corps area. Fig. 5. The movements of A and D Companies to clear the Viet Cong away from Nui Dat, Operation Hardihood, 24–31 May 1966. Fig. 6. The movements of B and C Companies, Operation Hardihood, 24–31 May 1966. Fig. 7. An example of the many ambushes planned by Major McQualter. This ambush was set on the Suoi Da Bang by B Company on the night of 29–30 May 1966. Fig. 8. The rifle companies move in towards Nui Dat before commencing to build the defences of the base, Operation Hardihood, 1–4 June 1966. Fig. 9. The company movements during the search around Nui Nghe, Operation Sydney One, 6–17 July 1966. Fig. 10. Placing the cordon around Duc My on the night of 19–20 July 1966, Operation Sydney Two. Fig. 11. The cordoning of Binh Ba, 7–8 August 1966, Operation Holsworthy. Fig. 12. The search for the Viet Cong who survived the battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966, Operation Darlinghurst. Fig. 13. The blocking operation west of Binh Ba, Operation Toledo, 2–8 September 1966. Fig. 14. The company movements during the preliminary clearance of Nui Thi Vai to secure Route 15, Operation Canberra, 6–10 October 1966. Fig. 15. The company dispositions while the American convoys were using Route 15, Operation Robin, 11–16 October 1966. Fig. 16. The company movements to dislodge the Viet Cong encountered on Operation Canberra from Nui Thi Vai, Operation Queanbeyan, 17–26 October 1966. Fig. 17. The cordoning of Phuoc Hoa on the night 6–7 November 1966, Operation Yass. Fig. 18. The clearing of Viet Cong from Long Son island, Operation Hayman, 8–12 November 1966. Fig. 19. The second cordoning of Binh Ba, Operation Caloundra, 9–10 January 1967. Fig. 20. The cordoning of An Nhut, Operation Beaumaris, 13–14 February 1967. Fig. 21. The search of the Viet Cong base areas in the Long Hai hills, Operation Renmark, 18–22 February 1967. Fig. 22. Phuoc Tuy province, May 1967. Symbols Used in Diagrams Foreword Introduction 1. The Problem 2. Holsworthy to Vietnam 3. The Clearance of Nui Dat 4. An Experiment in Night Movement 5. The Reclamation of Binh Ba 6. A Frustrated Effort 7. Assistance for Duc Thanh 8. Clearing a Mountain 9. Securing Route 15 10. Return to Nui Thi Vai 11. The Western Approaches 12. An Isolated Outpost 13. A Re-evaluation of Strategy 14. Against the Village Cadres 15. In the Long Hai Hills 16. Interdiction in the East—the Horseshoe and the Fence 17. The Final Balance Appendix A Fifth Battalion Roll of Honour Vietnam 1966–67 Appendix B Citation accompanying the award of the Distinguished Service Order to Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Warr Citation accompanying the award of the Military Cross to Second Lieutenant M. G. J. Deak Citation accompanying the award of the Military Cross to Second Lieutenant J. D. McAloney Citation accompanying the award of the Military Cross to Second Lieutenant D. C. Rainer Citation accompanying the award of the Military Medal to Private C. J. Cogswell Citation accompanying the award of the Military Medal to Private P. Fraser Citation accompanying the award of a Mention-in-Despatches (Posthumously) to Corporal N. J. Womal Appendix C 5 RAR Nominal Roll, 1966–67 About the Author Other Publications by the Author Index