Operation Starlite (also known in Vietnam as Battle of Van Tuong) was the first major offensive action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War from 18 to 24 August 1965. The operation was launched based on intelligence provided by Major general Nguyen Chanh Thi, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) I Corps commander.

Jun 26, 2023 · On July 5, 1965, it had overrun and almost annihilated the 1st Battalion, 51st ARVN Regiment at Ba Gia 20 miles south of Chu Lai, but had also suffered extremely heavy losses and needed time to rest, refit, and begin recruiting and training new conscripts.

Chu Lai was a United States Marine Corps military base from 1965 to 1970, and a United States Army military base from 1970 to 1971 during the Vietnam War. Roughly 56 miles (90 km) southeast of Đà Nẵng, the base had an airfield to supplement the major base at Đà Nẵng.

Tra Bong River. As Marines from the Chu Lai area conducted numerous operations in the area south of the river in July and August 1965, they often were inserted or extracted from the mouth of the river with LVTP

Aug 30, 2016 · Operation Starlite (also known in Vietnam as Battle of Van Tuong) was the first major offensive regimental size action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War.

STARLITE lasts until August 24. The Marines, partly supported by fire from U.S. Navy vessels near the coast, inflict heavy casualties on a large enemy force in heavy fighting around Van Tuong, approximately 12 miles south of Chu Lai. STARLITE is the first battle of American troops against a large main force Viet Cong unit.

In August, 1965 after 3 months in country, 3/3 participated in the first major battle of VietNam near Chu Lai. This was known as Operation Starlite, and was the first of many

Operation Starlite (also known in Vietnam as the Battle of Van Tuong) was the first major offensive action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War from 18 to 24 August 1965.

On August 15 the Marines received their first break. A deserter from the Vietcong 1st Regiment in-formed General Thi of a major build-up of enemy Maine Force units in the Van Tuong village complex, twelve miles southeast of Chu Lai along the coast.

Aug 13, 2013 · On Aug. 18, 1965, more than 5,000 Marines descended in force upon a Viet Cong base near Van Tuong, Vietnam, in the first major offensive action of regimental size conducted solely by U.S....