The 5th Marine Battalion
Written by: First Lieutenant Duong Buu Long
After having completed its training, the 5th Battalion had its baptism of fire in 1965. In the provinces of Kontum and Pleiku in central Vietnam; the NVA had gathered there and were creating much havoc. Although it was but newly created, the 5th Battalion's effort was
highly admirable. It succeeded in recovering the sub districts of
Dakto and Tumorong, both of which had fallen into enemy hands. The
battalion also managed to bring the siege at Duc Co camp, on the
Laotian border, to an end. The camp had been besieged by the NVA for
four months, and was on the brink of toppling into their clutches.
In this particular battle, the 5th Battalion felled a great number
of Viet Cong, and seized countless weapons. The whole battalion was
later honored in a ceremony to mark their victory, a ceremony which
was presided over by the Commander of II Corps, Lieutenant General
Vinh Loc.
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