HEADQUARTERS
1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF
FPO, San Francisco, California 96602
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
From: Commanding General
To: Commanding Officer, Combined Action Platoon 2-7-2
Via: (1) Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force
(2) Commanding Officer, 2d Combined Action GroupSubj: Letter of Appreciation
1. On 5 July 1970, your platoon provided the sweep force for an operation which was launched into Thanh Truong Village, Dien Ban District. The operation resulted in the apprehension of 14 Viet Cong Infrastructure personalities, plus one secret hiding place, one secret tunnel, four M-26 grenades, eight to ten pounds of C-4 explosives, miscellaneous medical supplies and five pounds of documents being neutralized.
2. Through your unit’s quick and willing response to information provided by the 3d Counterintelligence Team and Police Special Branch, Danang City, the success of this operation was insured. Through skillful planning and coordination, an effective cordon was established which undoubtedly prevented the escape of the targeted Viet Cong Infrastructure personalities. The sweep force efficiently gathered all inhabitants within the cordon which facilitated the screening of villagers and greatly reduced the time and efforts normally involved in such operations.
3. Through close team work and coordination of Marine elements involved, your command has made a significant contribution in neutralization of the Viet Cong Infrastructure in Thanh Truong Village. In, addition, the professionalism displayed on the part of your command plus the speedy and willing response to intelligence information has made a pronounced impression on the Vietnamese representatives involved. This action has undoubtedly enhanced future cooperation of Vietnamese agencies in subsequent operations of this nature. Well done.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
(This letter was forwarded and endorsed by Keith B. McCutcheon, commanding general of the IIIrd Marine Amphibious Force, Ralph F. Estey, commanding officer of the Combined Action Force, and D.R. Christensen, commanding officer of the 2d Combined Action Group.)
| My description of this “op” is contained in a letter I wrote to my parents on July 6, 1970. |