Starlite
Written March 2013
Operation
Dates:
17 Aug 1965 - 24 Aug 1965
Area of Operation:
Van Tuong Peninsula, 16 miles south of Chu Lai, I Corps
Allied Units:
USMC 3d Battalion 3d Marine Regiment, 2d Battalion 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Battalion 7th Marine Regiment
Allied Casualties:
45 KIA, 120 WIA
Enemy Units:
VC 1st Regiment
Enemy Casualties:
614-700 KIA
Objective(s):
To rid the Van Tuong peninsula of the Viet Cong 1st Regiment, as they were a significant threat to the Chu Lai base, with a hammer and anvil attack using amphibious and heliborne forces.
Significance/Notes:
Starlite was the first decisive action between American and Viet Cong forces. The operation was prompted when a Viet Cong prisoner said that there was a planned attack on the Chu Lai airfield. Because Starlite was the first large action against the enemy and ended successfully, it served at a huge confidence and morale boost for the troops.
Sources:
Vietnam War Almanac by James H. Willbanks
The Vietnam Center And Archive (at Texas Tech University)
Further Reading:
