Index at bottom of the page.

1. When did President Johnson,
who was up for election that
year, launch retaliatory air
strikes and go on national
television?

2. As a result of his
testimony, Congress passed a
joint resolution (H.J. RES
1145), titled the Southeast
Asia Resolution, which granted
President Johnson the
authority to conduct military
operations in Southeast Asia
without the benefit of a
declaration of war. When was
the resolution passed?

3. According to the Pentagon
Papers, who said a few days
after the incident,
commented privately: "For all
I know, our Navy was shooting
at whales out there."

4. The operation was launched
involving Marines of the 9th
Marine Amphibious Brigade. The
brigade comprised 2nd
Battalion 4th Marines (2/4),
3rd Battalion 3rd Marines
(3/3), and 3rd Battalion 7th
Marines (3/7) - from the
Special Landing Force and
originally a reserve
component) in an assault on
the Viet Cong base near Van
Tuong. When was the
operation launched?

5. Viet Cong forces comprised
the 1st VC Regiment made up of
the 60th and 80th VC
Battalions, the 52nd VC
Company, and a Company of the
45th VC Weapons Battalion. The
total Viet Cong strength was
around 1,500 men. What was the
U.S. Marine's strength?

6. Mike Co. (3/3) was
designated the blocking force
and deployed on using LVTs to
the operational area. When it
landed on the beach, it
marched 4 miles to establish
their blocking positions. 3/3
made an amphibious landing and
were tasked with driving the
Viet Cong towards the 2nd
battalion 4th Marines who were
to be lifted by helicopter
into three landing zones west
of Van Tuong. Secrecy was
paramount, and no ARVN
commander or units were
informed of the impending
operation.

7. Echo Company, A (2/4)
company spotted Viet Cong in
the open and called in
artillery fire from 3rd
Battalion 12th Marines. The
artillery barrage was
reported to have killed 90
Viet Cong. What was
the company?

8. Hotel Company (2/4)
assaulted a VC Battalion who
put up a vicious fight. One
prisoner was taken and 40
weapons were captured. What
was the VC Battalion?

9. India Company (3/3)
attacked An Cuong after
receiving heavy fire from the
hamlet and losing their
company commander in the
engagement. They were ordered
to join Kilo and Hotel
companies and clean up any
opposition but was caught in
a crossfire from Nam Yen
Dan Hill 30.

10. Hotel Company established
a defensive perimeter and were
told to await reinforcements.
The expected reinforcements
were diverted to assist the
supply column that was
ambushed west of their
position. Recoilless rifle
fire from the VC positions
tore into the 5 LVTs and 3
flame tanks, forcing the
Marines to mount a rescue. The
Marines were hit by intense
mortar and rifle fire. The
Marines suffered 17 wounded.
How many were killed
in action?

11. The developing engagement
necessitated the deployment of
Lima Company (3/7) from the to
join India company to assist
the ambushed supply column.
What ship did they come from?


12. The balance of (3/7)'s
Marines came ashore during the
night and the battalion got
ready for a morning assault on
the Vietnamese positions. When
they finally attacked they
found the VC unit had fled
during the night, though
pockets of resistance
continued from other Viet Cong
soldiers holed up in bunkers
and caves. Resistance ceased
at nightfall.

13. How many Marines received
the Medal of Honor for their
actions during the operation?


14. The idea was to insert
ground forces into hostile
territory on special missions
to target enemy forces and
withdraw immediately
afterwards, a strategy that
was thought to be ideally
suited for counter-guerrilla
/ jungle warfare.

15. The complementary
conventional strategy, which
entailed attacking and
conquering an enemy position,
then fortifying and holding it
indefinitely. What was
it known as?

16. Missions were mainly
assigned to the second phase
along with operations “Clear
and Secure.” What were the
years the mission was used?


17. Search and destroy
missions entailed sending out
platoons, companies or larger
detachments of US troops from
a fortified position to locate
and destroy Vietcong or NVA
units in the countryside.
Where did it most commonly
involved hiking out into?


18. The mission set up an
ambush in the brush, near a
suspected VC trail. The ambush
typically involved use of
fixed Claymore anti-personnel
mines, crossing lines of
small arms fire, mortar
support, and possibly
additional artillery support
called in via radio from a
nearby firebase.

19. In February 1967, the
largest mission was operated
in an area located between
Saigon and Routes 13 and 25.
What was the area known as?


20. The largest mission began
with an offensive began where
the American units assigned
had destroyed hundreds of tons
of rice, killed 720 guerillas,
and captured 213 prisoners.
What was the operation
known as?