The operations are time dated and pretty much confined to certain areas until priorities and type of enemy changes. Which segments of 3/3 were where is anybody's guess. Each of us can piece segments together, but unless we had the ops that each of us were on, this map will represent the group' movement.
Our involvement in 1965 was more of a support and presence than an actual confront, search and destroy mission. Starting with Piranha (no stated locale other than "Cap Batanga" area) which I think is in the vicinity that Op Blue Marlin was in, which is the Quang Ngai Province, our focus was south of DaNang and then the in QuangNam Province around and in DaNang. In 1966 we moved up to Leatherneck Square (which was located between DongHa, KheSanh, the DMZ, and ConThien) for the beginning of Op Sparrowhawk, which was the "longest" operation and dated from 1966-73. Sparrowhawk was strictly search and destroy. Then we broke off and moved down to PhuBai for Operation New York, that was 2Feb-3Mar66.
In 1966 we became the aggressors with Prairie View. We sought the enemy out on a regular basis and pounded them with everything we had. We were depended on more for firepower and taking and holding positions. We held the enemy accountable. Our operations increased as did our casualties. Evidently you can't have one without the other, unfortunately.
The movement of the battalion was usually accomplished by truck or on foot. In 1966 our 'major' move from Quang Tin Province to Quang Tri Province was done during the rotation of 3rd Division to Okinawa for reinforcements and rest. We returned in 1967 and became the most active division in VietNam. That 3/3 had been involved in (or will be) we participated in eleven major operations in 1967. With the smaller ops unreported and not counted we were the most active Battalion in VietNam. And again that means we had more casualties. TET was the defining moment, in 1968. Faced a major offensive push by the NVA and not only survived it but won more battles and had fewer casualties than the enemy.
Operations tapered down in '68 but the war still kept us busy. We were in at least seven major operations and still maintained control of the DMZ south. Along with 1st Marine Division and 1st Calvary, we ruled.
1969 was our last year there and we went out with a bang. Four major operations to let HoChiMinh know who was boss. Idaho Canyon was our last offensive, that was at the end of 1969.
3/3 was a force from the time we got there to the time we left. We were in and out of the frying pan so many times they (our commanders) renamed QuangTri Province Leatherneck Square. It should still be called that, because we reshaped that countries future.
Ron Treff
