OPERATION DOUBLE EAGLE PHASE 2
FEBRUARY 19 – 28, 1966
Late on February 18, 1996 BLT 3/1 received Task Force DELTA Frag Order and initiated planning for Operation DOUBLE EAGLE PHASE II.
On February 19th at 0500H BLT 3/1 embarked aboard assigned trucks and proceeded to Tam Ky where two designated company blocking positions were established; search and destroy operations were initiated by BLT 3/1. During this phase of Double Eagle, activities were conducted in assigned zone, which changed daily as dictated by the tactical situation.
Kilo Company on February 20th at 2155H while in perimeter defense of 3/1 C. P. received five rounds of enemy 60MM mortar and three additional rounds were received during the next 3 ½ hours. “Moderate casualties sustained” per command chronology.
Operation Double Eagle Phase l and II BLT 3/1 actions resulted in:
a. 115 Separate Enemy Contacts.
b. Enemy losses: 112 Viet Cong KIA, 61 VC Confirmed, 112 VC
Suspects, 20 VC WIA and 4 VC WIA Possible
c. Weapons and Equipment Destroyed or Captured: 1 81mm
Mortar, 1 57mm Recoilless Rifle, 2 U.S. M1 Rifle, 2 Bolt Action
CHICOM Rifle, 1 U.S. Thompson SMG, 2 CHICOM SMG, 1
U.S. M-1 Carbine, 1 CHICOM Pistol, 2 U.S. 12 Gauge Shotguns,
42 CHICOM Hand Grenades, 1 U.S. M-2 Grenade, 4 82mm
Mortar Shells, 9 81mm Mortar Shells, 1 60mm Mortar Shell, 57mm
Recoilless Rifle Shells, 1 Bangalore Torpedo, 1 U.S. M-14 A. P.
Mine, 1 Bear Trap. Approximately 40,000 lbs of VC rice was
captured and evacuated.
Fire Support Coordination and Naval Gunfire:
a. The BLT was supported during the initial stages of DOUBLE EAGLE by the LVTH (LVT’s with modified mounted 105mm Howitzer) Platoon from 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion. The LVTH’s provided adequate direct and indirect support and the mobility of the LVTH, once inland, proved beneficial in direct support missions on close-in targets.
b. During the latter stages of Phase I and Phase II the BLT was supported by a provisional artillery group composed mainly of elements of 3rd Battalion 12th Marines.
c. There were 27 unobserved missions (H&I Fires and Counter Mortar), 11 observed missions (Targets of Opportunity and Registrations), 316 105mm Howitzer shells expended and 217 155mm Howitzer shells expended.
3rd Battalion 1st Marines suffered the numerous casualties during both Phases of Operation DOUBLE EAGLE. The command chronology often refers to “sustained light causalities” but does not reflect any numbers. From the command chronology it was difficult to determine actual causalities due to wording and casualties to units that were under the operational control of either Command Group Alpha or Bravo. There are numerous references that both command groups had different responsibilities with the Tactical Area of Responsibility (TAOR).
Individual K-3-1 Marine/Corpsmen observations:
A. During Phase I the Kilo Company Administrative Chief remained embarked on USS PAUL REVERE while the remainder of the company was ashore. I believe that the 1st Sergeant and one clerk remained at Chu Lai during Phase II. I am able to document the casualties to Kilo Company since I have the company unit diaries that reflect casualties from Jan 1966 – May 1971
B. Kilo Company on-hand strength on January 28, 1966 was 5 officers and 178
enlisted. We suffered 3 KIA’s (2 on Jan 31st and 1 on Feb 2nd) and 1 WIA on Feb 1st, this resulted with an on-hand strength of 5 officers and 174 enlisted upon completion of Operation DOUBLE EAGLE PHASE 1.
C. Kilo Company’s on-hand strength on February 19, 1966 was 5 officers and 174 enlisted. We suffered 1 KIA on Feb 20th and 27 WIA’s (25 on Feb 20th, 1 on Feb 25th and 1 on Feb 26th). 1 officer and 3 enlisted WIA’S were WIANE (wounded in action not evacuated). This resulted with an on-hand strength of 4 officers and 151.
D. This was our final tactical test for all the training we had undergone – it was our baptism under fire. Many of us had served together since the fall of 1963 as 3-5 till February 1964 when became a trans-placement battalion to Okinawa as 1-9 until March 1965 and upon rotation back to Camp Pendleton became 3-1. I would estimate that almost 75% of the battalion waived their overseas control date so we could deploy in August 1965 to Okinawa then Vietnam. We had been together for over two and 1/2 years when we hit the beach on Operation DOUBLE EAGLE. We had trained together, went on liberty together, we knew each others strong and weak points but we were a Band of Brothers plain and simple. The amphibious landing that initiated Operation DOUBLE EAGLE January 28, 1966, was the largest amphibious operation in combat since Inchon, Korea. Our battalion was the amphibious assault battalion and Kilo Company was the first assault wave – we were the TIP OF THE SPEAR.
E. I recall that due to a lack of letter writing gear, we used the tops of the individual C-Rations meal boxes as post cards to drop a few lines to those back home.
F. Since the battalion left Camp Pendleton during August 1965, with a 13 month tour those who deployed with the battalion were scheduled to rotate back to CONUS during September 1966. Recognizing this 1st Marine Division commenced numerous reassignments of personnel within the division to stagger the rotation dates of the battalion. Those who transferred from the battalion carried with them the knowledge gained to other units and those who joined the battalion received the knowledge of those who stayed.
Jim Keely, MGYSGT USMC Ret.
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