Article about an operation by the South Vietnamese 7th Division

Item

derivative filename/jpeg

363-07838 to 363-07839.pdf

Digital Object Identifier

363-07838 to 363-07839

Title

Article about an operation by the South Vietnamese 7th Division

Description

Article about an operation by the South Vietnamese 7th Division, for the Associated Press

AI Usage Disclosure

Draft transcripts were automatically generated via Google Document AI and are currently under review. Please report significant errors to Archives & Special Collections at archives@unl.edu.

Transcript

Saigon 25536. WITH THE 7th DIVISION--More than 8000 [deletion: Army of] Vietnam [insertion: -ese] troops launched a massive drive today in one of the largest operations in the [XXXX indicating deletion] explosive Mekong Delta area. [deletion: the integrated air-land-and sea operation began yesterday. was initiated yesterday when] Almost a full division of troops [deletion: the 7th Inf. Division] supported by sea, air and local militia swooped through a 10 sq. mile area dominated by the [XXX indicating deletion] Communist Viet Cong about 30 miles south of the “eagles beak” of the Cambodian border. Initial contact with the Viet Cong in the continuing operation was slight. [deletion: Approximately 40 Viet Cong were killed yesterday when 2 AD-6’s, supported by heavy artillery] An airstrick by two AD-6’s supported by heavy artillery [insertion: yesterday] reportedly killed an estimated 40 Viet Cong spotted in a concentrated area. No official headcount could be taken as darkness set in and the Viet cong removed their dead. [deletion: One] At least two prisoners were captured along with an unknown amount of ammunition and a rucksack. [deletion: Only one casualty was suffered] Army of Vietnam forces suffered only one casualty--when a soldier was wounded by a water buffalo. The [XXXX indicating deletion] extensive operation began when [deletion: seven] many of the nine battalions of the 7th Infantry Division, moved into a marshy area of the Plain of Reeds in the Kien Phong Province, about 120 miles [XXXX indicating deletion] southwest of Saigon, in an attempt to encircle elements of the 502nd Viet Cong Battalion. The northern boundary of the area of operation, the 19-mile long Thap Moui Canal, was patrolled and blocked by 12 light naval vessels. Civil Guard units [deletion: from 3 neighboring provinces] added to regular army strength. One airborne battalion was held on alert at Saigon’s Ton Son Nhit Airport, but were not called into today’s activity. One H-34 helicopter was on standby for medical evacuation. One light aircraft, an L-19, was used for making reconnaissance missions of the area. [deletion: Civil Guard units were called from 3 neighboring provinces. [illegible] called in from 4 other [illegible]] The operation is the largest in heavily [XXXX indicating deletion] VC infested Kien Phong province since [deletion: last June when a successful, large-scale operation was made] the VC guerrilla action began. The operation was conducted after weeks of intensive planning and final approval by high military officials in Saigon. The commander of the 7th Inf. Div. is Col. [insertion: Nuynhuan] Cao. Col. Clay is U.S. Military Assistance advisory group. [As troops were moving into position yesterday, an estimated 200 Viet Cong were spotted in a reedy, marshy area. Two A-D-6’s--the fighter planes which had [XXXX indicating deletion] bombed the Presidential Palace--were called in for support. Bombs, [insertion: strafing] and heavy artillery support killed an estimated 40 Viet Cong, according to intelligence information gained from [XXXX indicating deletion] the prisoners. Vietnamese troops today [XXXX indicating deletion] moved [insertion: by foot or boat] today into position to squeeze reported Viet Cong in an encirclement pincher [deletion: entrapment] trap. The operation was still continuing today.] [deletion: This is the largest operation] Portion in brackets not transmitted April 3/62. [insertion: Arun] telephone Cao [illegible] Saigon. Calls made at 6:30 to Bill [illegible] - AP office - Copy clear but [insertion: my] voice not understandable at time. Call re-made 8:15 pm. - Contact clear.

Date

1962

Subject

Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam (Republic). Quân lực; Tactics; Battles; Field service (Military science)

Location

Saigon, South Vietnam

Coordinates

10.8231; 106.6311

Size

20 x 26 cm

Container

B1, F5

Format

dispatches

Collection Number

MS 363

Collection Title

Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers

Creator

Keever, Beverly Deepe

Collector

Keever, Beverly Deepe

Copyright Information

These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.

Publisher

Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries

Language

English