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Battle of Minh Thanh Road

Battle of Minh Thanh Road
Part of Vietnam War

Battle of Minh Thanh Road, 9 July 1966
Date9 July 1966
Location11°31′30″N 106°31′55″E / 11.525°N 106.532°E / 11.525; 106.532
Result US claims victory
Belligerents
 United States Viet Cong
Commanders and leaders
Col. Sidney Berry unknown
Units involved
2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment
1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment
1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment

9th Division

  • 272nd Regiment
Casualties and losses
25 killed
113 wounded

US body count: 238 killed
44 weapons recovered

PAVN report: 128 killed
167 wounded [1]

Part of Operation El Paso II, The Battle of Minh Thanh Road took place on 9 July 1966 when a Viet Cong force attacked a 1st Infantry Division column and in turn was attacked by a larger reaction force based on three infantry battalions and supporting fire.[2] The Viet Cong, primarily armed with RPG-2, recoilless rifles and small arms engaged and destroyed some vehicles in the initial column but were pushed back by the combined reaction force. The attacking Viet Cong unit was able to fall back using the heavy jungle in the area as cover.[2]

  1. ^ Willbanks, James H. (2017-11-16). Vietnam War: A Topical Exploration and Primary Source Collection [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. pp. 200–201. ISBN 9781440850851.
  2. ^ a b Stanton, Shelby L. (2007-12-18). The Rise and Fall of an American Army: U.S. Ground Forces in Vietnam, 1963-1973. Random House Publishing Group. pp. 103–104. ISBN 9780307417343.