Operation Buffalo (Vietnam)
Encyclopedia
Operation Buffalo was a major operation of the Vietnam War
that took place in the southern half of the Demilitarized Zone
, northeast of Con Thien
. On July 2, Alpha and Bravo Companies, 1st Battalion 9th Marines
were ambushed on highway 561, near a place called "The Market Place". Out of nearly 400 Marines, the two companies suffered 84 killed, 190 wounded and 9 missing (single worst day for Marines in Vietnam). Only 27 Marines from B/1/9 and about 90 from A/1/9 were fit for duty after the first day. It was the first time North Vietnamese Army used flamethrowers in combat against U.S. troops. B Company Headquarters was wiped out when a single NVA artillery round exploded within the command group. The company commander, two platoon leaders, the radio operator, forward observer and several others were killed. The operation ended on the 15 July with total casualties for the operation at 159 killed, 345 wounded and 9 missing for the Marines making it one of the bloodiest battles of the war. The Marine Corps claimed that the NVA suffered 1,290 known killed. 1st Lt Gatlin J. Howell and SSgt Leon R. Burns earned the Navy Cross for their actions during this battle.
North Vietnamese Army (NVA)
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
that took place in the southern half of the Demilitarized Zone
Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone
The Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone was established as a dividing line between North and South Vietnam as a result of the First Indochina War.During the Second Indochina War , it became important as the battleground demarcation separating North Vietnamese territory from South Vietnamese territory.-...
, northeast of Con Thien
Con Thien
Con Thien , was a United States Marine Corps combat base located near the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone about 3 km from North Vietnam...
. On July 2, Alpha and Bravo Companies, 1st Battalion 9th Marines
1st Battalion 9th Marines
The 1st Battalion 9th Marines is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Formed during World War I, it served until the mid-1990s when it was deactivated to make room for one of three light armor reconnaissance battalions...
were ambushed on highway 561, near a place called "The Market Place". Out of nearly 400 Marines, the two companies suffered 84 killed, 190 wounded and 9 missing (single worst day for Marines in Vietnam). Only 27 Marines from B/1/9 and about 90 from A/1/9 were fit for duty after the first day. It was the first time North Vietnamese Army used flamethrowers in combat against U.S. troops. B Company Headquarters was wiped out when a single NVA artillery round exploded within the command group. The company commander, two platoon leaders, the radio operator, forward observer and several others were killed. The operation ended on the 15 July with total casualties for the operation at 159 killed, 345 wounded and 9 missing for the Marines making it one of the bloodiest battles of the war. The Marine Corps claimed that the NVA suffered 1,290 known killed. 1st Lt Gatlin J. Howell and SSgt Leon R. Burns earned the Navy Cross for their actions during this battle.
Order of battle
United States Marine Corps- 1st Battalion 9th Marines1st Battalion 9th MarinesThe 1st Battalion 9th Marines is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Formed during World War I, it served until the mid-1990s when it was deactivated to make room for one of three light armor reconnaissance battalions...
- 3rd Battalion 9th Marines3rd Battalion 9th MarinesThe 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Formed during World War I it served until the early 1990s when it was redesignated as 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines during a realignment and renumbering of the Marine Corps' infantry battalions, following the...
- 1st Battalion 3rd Marines1st Battalion 3rd Marines1st Battalion, 3rd Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Nicknamed the "Lava Dogs", the battalion consists of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors and falls under the command of the 3rd Marine Regiment of the 3rd Marine...
- 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines2nd Battalion 3rd Marines2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and sailors...
- 3rd Battalion 12th Marines3rd Battalion 12th Marines3rd Battalion 12th Marines is an artillery battalion comprising three firing batteries and a Headquarters Battery. The firing batteries are all on 6 month rotations in Okinawa from the 10th Marine Regiment and the 11th Marine Regiment...
- "E" Battery - 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion3rd Reconnaissance BattalionThe 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion conducts amphibious and ground reconnaissance for the 3rd Marine Division and Marine Forces Pacific , operating in the commander's areas of influence. The Battalion is based out of Camp Schwab, a satellite base of Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler...
- detachment
North Vietnamese Army (NVA)
- 90th NVA Regiment from the 324B Division