27 December 1964
 

The 62nd provided five (5) troop carriers (UH-lB), seven (7) armed UH-lB's, and one (1) C&C aircraft (UH-IB).  These aircraft were attached to the 121st Avn Co (AML) for support of an operation staged out of Soc Trang.  The aircraft arrived at the staging area at Soc Trang at 0800 hours on 27 Dec 64, and at approximately 0900 hours an airmobile landing was made vicinity coordinates XR260410 in support of a ground operation being conducted in that area.  Negative contact was made and at approximately 11:00 hours an Eagle Force was landed in an LZ vicinity coordinates XR150730.  This force was deployed in support of a regional force on a search and clear operation in the area and who had reported encountering VC opposition.
 

The Eagle Force was landed in the LZ and immediately upon unloading from the aircraft made contact with the VC.  The Eagle Force encountered stiff opposition from what was later learned to have been three VC hard core battalions and the headquarters of a Viet Cong general who was in charge of terrorist activities in the IV Corps area.

The ensuing battle saw the commitment of two additional ARVN battalions which were airlifted into the area.  Subsequent lifts into the operational area were conducted throughout the afternoon and into the hours of darkness.  Intense small arms, automatic weapons fire, recoilless weapons, and mortar fires were received by the troop carriers on the second and each succeeding landing in the LZ.

What started out as a search for the VC, utilizing a routine Eagle Force, developed into a full-scale effort in which the entire assets of the 13th Aviation Battalion were employed.  The entire operation lasted approximately twelve hours.

An intensive ground battle was fought which was supported by VNAF (Vietnamese Air Force) and the armed platoons of the 62nd, 114th and 121st Aviation Companies.  Numerous hits from ground fire were received by the troop transports and practically all of the armed aircraft committed were damaged, two of which were shot down by enemy fire, one of these was burned by the VC and the other secured by friendly troops and evacuated the following day.

Although the outnumbered ARVN ground forces sustained numerous casualties the VC forces were handed a decisive defeat resulting in excess of 150 killed with reports of 300 wounded.  Numerous heavy weapons including .50 caliber with anti-aircraft sights, recoilless rifles, as well as small arms were captured.

Throughout the operation the air crews' performance was characterized by aggressiveness, professionalism, discipline under fire, and numerous examples of personal and group heroism.

* Extracted from an interview with Captain Bryce R. Kramer, Infantry, Platoon Commander, 62nd Aviation Company (AML) on 28 December, 1964.

This interview was kindly provided for inclusion here by (at that time)

Thomas E. Anderson
Major, Infantry
Commanding
62nd Aviation Company (AML).