1.  On 22 March 1970, the 1st Battalion 6th Infantry assumed responsibility for
Operation NANTUCKET BEACH from the 5th Battalion, 46th Infantry.  The objective
of the operation was to eliminate the 48th Viet Cong Local Force Battalion and elements
of the Viet Cong Infrastructure (VCI) in the Tactical Area of Responsibility (TAOR)
and to introduce and expand GVN control.  The TAOR, commonly known as the
Batangan Peninsula, extended eastward just south of Chu Lai, Vietnam.

     a.  The total area of approximately 270 square kilometers (12 miles long and 6
miles wide) was marked on the west by Highway QL1 and on the south by the Song
Tra Khuc (river).  The area was characterized in the lowlands by a checkerboard of
small fields bounded on all sides by tall, thick, practically impenetrable hedges that
limited observation to twenty or thirty meters.  The low hills were covered with thick,
jungle like vegetation.

     b.  In March 1970, when the 1st Battalion 6th Infantry assumed its new duties in the area,
the enemy in the Batangan consisted of the following units:

    (1)  48th VC Local Force Infantry Battalion, a Viet Cong unit composed of approximately
400 widely dispersed VC and NVA soldiers.  In March 1970, intelligence sources located the
48th Inf Bn at BS 71 88,  in the vicinity of the Lac Sons hamlets.   In July 1970, two companies
were reported in the vicinity of BS 670 875 (Tam Hoi 2), while the others were in the western
Binh Son District.  In September 1970, they reportedly were armed with 1x60mm mortar,
1x82mm mortar, and 1x30cal MG.

     (2) The M-51 Weapons Company, a Local Force Viet Cong unit of thirty soldiers, located
near BS 66 89, in the Tam Hoi hamlets.  The reported mission of C-51 in July 1970 was to
coordinate with the 48th LF Bn and 95A to attack or mortar Van Tuong outpost at Binh Duc,
and to plant mines and harass US engineers on the road north of Nui Pho Tinh (BS 648936)
in the vicinity of Phu Long (5).  At that time they had only 17 soldiers armed with 1 x 82mm
mortar, 1 x 60mm mortar, and 1 machine-gun.

     (3)  95A Sapper Company, a Local Force Viet Cong unit, of approximately 40 soldiers,
was located near BS 70 90, in the Lac Son hamlets in April 1970.  In July 1970, the unit was
reported to have moved to BS 655 960 (Phu Long 1).

     (4)  T20 Infantry Company, a Local Force Viet Cong unit of approximately 55 soldiers, who
were located near BS 70 80, the Van Thien village area, in January 1970.

     (5)  K51, K52.  In early September 1970, the K51 LF Heavy Weapons Co. was
reported to be operating in the vicinity of An Loc (BS 684 957).  Their mission was to harass
GVN hamlets.  The unit also was reported to be planning to attack the Binh Son OP.

[Note: is is not known whether the enemy unit identifiation of the "M-51 Wpns Co," "K51 Heavy
Weapons Co," and "C-51" referred to the same unit.  In any event, the enemy was thought to be
approximately 500 strong in the Batangan area when the 1st Battalion 6th Infantry assumed its
duties for Operation NANTUCKET BEACH.]

     (6)  These experienced combat veterans were experts at camouflage and concealment
in the hedgerows.  They sought cover in spider holes and shallow trenches, and avoided
prolonged battle engagements by using evasive tactics.  Instead, they inflicted significant
numbers of casualties on U.S. forces with mines and booby traps.  Occasionally they used
sniper fire, while relying on hit and run tactics.  (Of the 249 casualties suffered by the 1st Bn
6th Inf between 22 March and 1 December 1970, 203 were the result of mines and
booby traps.)

     c.  Weather significantly affected operations.  Hot (90+), dry weather, however, had
less impact than the monsoon rainy season.  In 1970, rainfall in inches in the TAOR
for selected periods:  August--1.38";  September--11.08";  October--31.34";
November--26.55"; and, December--9.24".

     d.  During 1970-71, the 1st Bn 6th Inf had several general and specific missions.

          (1)  Find, fix, and destroy enemy forces in the TAOR, including interdiction of
enemy forces and supplies along the coastline and inland waterways.

          (2)  Support the Government of Viet Nam Pacification and Development Plan, in
 part by committing one infantry company the Combined Unit Pacification Program; by
 providing support to ARVN and local forces; by providing security to road upgrade
operations; and, by protecting Vietnamese Nationals against terrorist attacks.

          (3)  Conduct rice and salt denial operations to deprive the Viet Cong of food.

          (4)  On order:  relieve, reinforce or evacuate the Special Forces camps at Ha
Than (BS 382 7000) and Tra Bong (BS 343 883) [link to photos]; provide reaction
forces to defend the cities of Ly Tin, Binh Son, and the base at Chu Lai; and, deploy
anywhere in South Vietnam on 12 hours notice.

2.  Beginning on 15 May 1970, units of the 1st Bn 6th Inf were assigned the missions
of securing the area of operations for four engineer companies working on three district
 road construction projects and one land clearing project by the 39th Engineer Land
Clearing Platoon (LCP).  The road construction projects were intended to provide better
farm-to-market support for the populace, while the landing clearing was designed to
deprive the 48th VC Bn of cover and concealment.  The 39th LCP were replaced by the
 59th Land Clearing Company on 9 July 1970.  The units used the large D7E bulldozer
tractors.  The operators were unfazed by bombs they might hit with the main blade,
but booby trapped artillery shells hung in the trees threatened wounds in addition to
perforated eardrums.

     a.  By the end of May 1970, the engineers had cleared 2,935 acres, found and
destroyed 78 bunkers, 1,430 of tunnels and 40 mines and booby traps.  By August
1970, approximately 100 of the 200 enemy soldiers known to be in the area moved
west of QL1 to the vicinity of BS 56 84 because of the lack of cover and concealment
in the 1st Bn 6th Inf TAOR.  By 31 October 1970, 5,176 additional acres of land were
cleared.  186 bunkers and 6,505 linear meters of tunnels were destroyed, and 48
mines and booby traps were detonated by the engineers.

     b.  Extensive land clearing, night operations by 1st Bn 6th Inf soldiers, and a
shortage of food and medical supplies resulted in low enemy morale.  Between 3
December 1970 and 28 January 1971, a widespread series of loudspeaker broadcasts
and surrender leaflet drops resulted in 92 Hoi Chans defecting from the Viet Cong
under the Chieu Hoi (Open Arms) program.

3.  On 1 March 1971, Operation NANTUCKET BEACH ended.  According to the 198th
Infantry Brigade Situation Report dated 1 March 1971, cumulative results (20 July
1969-1 March 1971) for losses in the infantry battalions conducting the operation (i.e.
5th Bn 46th Inf or 1st Bn 6th Inf for different periods of time):

               US                                               Enemy

               254           Killed in Action           481 (Confirmed)
               740           Wounded in Action     (Not estimated)
                 77           Slightly wounded         (Not estimated)
                  0            MIA/Prisoner of War  32 VC and NVA
                                Weapons Captured     102 Individual/  5 Crew

These are significant US losses, as the field operating strength for the 1st Bn 6th Inf at
any one time during 1970-71 was about 450 men.

Combat Operations by Unit and Date, 1st Battalion 6th Infantry, Mar 70 to Mar 71
The following information is taken from Operational Report[s]--Lessons Learned, Americal Division,
for Operation NANTUCKET BEACH.  Comments have been added in brackets.  These reports did
not identify all enemy contacts in the 1st Battalion 6th Infantry tactical area of operations.  Only certain
events deemed significant for review at the Division level because of the numbers of enemy and US
personnel involved were included in the reports.

Additional incidents that were documented in the 1st Bn 6th Inf  S2/S3/S5 TOC journals have been
included for a limited number of days in August, September, November, and December 1970.
In addition, some incidents from 1971 have been included.

 It should be emphasized the combat incidents listed below are neither complete nor
detailed.  Only a careful study of all of the relevant log entries from the 1-6 Inf and the 198th
Inf Bde TOC journals would identify all enemy contacts.

13 Mar 70.  A/1-6 Inf detonated two booby trapped 105 mm rounds at BS 753 852.  Results were 1 US KIA and
5 US WIA (E)

14 Mar 70.  C/1-6 Inf detonated a 105 mm booby trap at BS 758 842 with 2 US KIA and 12 US WIA (E)

24 Mar 70.  H/17 Cav had 5 US WIA (E) from a 40 pound mine at BS 690 926.

9 Apr 70.  A/1-82 Arty engaged an estimated 45 VC, killing 12 of the enemy.  [155 mm howitzers firing from
LZ Dottie; exact enemy location not reported]

12 Apr 70.  A/1-14 Arty engaged 20 VC at BS 697 900.  Results 4 VC KBA. [105 mm howitzers firing from
LZ Dottie]

12 Apr 70.  D/1-6 Inf had 7 US WIA (E) from an M016 anti-personnel mine.

17 Apr 70.  B/1-6 Inf found 5 individual weapons at BS 707 816.

26 Apr 70.  A/1-1 Cav detonated a 25 pound nitro-starch mine.  Results were 1 US KIA and 6 US WIA (E).

27 Apr 70.  ER/1-6 Inf suffered 5 US WIA (E) from two booby traps at BS 702 894.

5 May 70.  H/17 Cav detonated a booby trap at BS 720 820 and lost 1 US KIA and 5 US WIA (E).

11 May 70.  A/1-82 Arty pounded an enemy force at BS 736 780, killing 8 VC. [155 mm howitzers firing from
LZ Dottie]

28 May 70.  B/1-6 Inf entered a heavily mined area and detonated 4 mines or booby traps before they could be
extracted.  Total losses were 2 US KIA and 30 US WIA (E).

11 Jun 70.  A/1-6 Inf ambushed an unknown sized enemy force at BS 728 796, killing 6 VC with no friendly casualties.

12 Jun 70.  C/1-6 Inf engaged 6 VC at BS 716 836, killing 5 of the enemy and capturing 4 individual weapons.

26 Jun 70.  D/1-82 Arty engaged 40 VC at BS 672 995 and killed 5 of the enemy.  [8" guns firing from LZ Dottie]

21 Jul 70.  B/1-6 Inf killed 2 VC at BS 689 855 while suffering 1 US WIA (E) and 2 US WIA (M).

11 Aug 70.  A/1-6 Inf detonated an unknown type mine resulting in 13 US WIA (E) at BS 703 904.

30 Aug 70.  176th Avn engaged 15 VC at BS 639 966, killing 6.

20 Sep 70.  C/1-6 Inf ambushed 7 VC at BS 687 896, killing 4, detaining 1 WIA, and capturing 1 individual weapon.

19 Oct 70.  B/1-6 Inf detonated an unknown type booby trap; 1 US KIA and 3 US WIA (E).

27 Oct 70.  HHC/1-6 Inf received fourteen rounds of 82mm mortar.  All rounds impacted to the east and west of
the perimeter at LZ Dottie.

17 Nov 70.  B/1-6 Inf engaged 5 VC vic of BS 718 832, killing 4 and capturing 1 individual weapon.

18 Nov 70.  D/1-6 Inf at BS 698 865 engaged and killed 3 VC, 4 individual weapons captured, 3 US WIA (E) and 5
VC detainees.

21 Nov 70.  C/1-6 Inf detonated an unknown type booby trap vic BS 660 871 resulting in 2 US KIA.

21 - 27 Nov.  1-6 Inf light and scattered contact resulted in 2 US KIA and 4 VC/NVA KIA.

1 Dec 70.  C/1-6 Inf engaged an unknown size force at BS 669 945 with 9 VC KIA and 1 weapon captured.

28 Nov - 6 Dec 70.  1-6 Inf totals for all scattered contacts were 15 VC KIA, 3 IWC, 1 US KIA, 4 US WIA (E) and
1 US WIA (M).

7 - 19 Dec 70.  1-6 Inf reported 10 VC/NVA KIA, 7 IWC and 5 US WIA.

20 Dec 70.  A/1-6 Inf detonated an 82mm mortar round booby trapped with a pressure release firing device in the
vic BS 644 896 resulting in 6 US WIA (E) and 2 US WIA (M).

31 Dec 70.  D/1-6 Inf while operating in the vicinity of BS 679 881 received small arms and M79 grenade fire
sustaining 3 US WIA.

5 Jan 71.  D/1-6 Inf engaged 10 VC at BS 673 894.  Results were 1 VC KIA, 1 IWC and 4 US WIA (E).

7 Jan 71.  D/1-6 Inf detonated an M26 hand grenade in the vic BS 674 894.  Six US WIA.

9 Jan 71.  A/1-6 Inf while operating in the area of BS 720 845 engaged 7 VC and accounted for 6 VC KIA and
2 US WIA (E).

11 Jan 71.  ER/1-6 credited at 0505 hr. when a mechanical ambush detonated at BS 682 897 with 1 VC KIA and
1 IWC.

11 Jan 71. A/1-6 Inf found 2 VC KBA in the vicinity of BS 726 854.

15 Jan 71.  At 1130 hrs. D/1-6 engaged and killed 2 VC in the vicinity of BS 654 884.

25 Jan 71.  At 1715 hrs. D/1-6 on a search and clear mission at BS 657 891 detonated a booby trapped "Bouncing
Betty" anti-personnel mine that caused one US KIA and two US WIA.

7 Feb 71.  At 1150 hrs. C/1-6 engaged 6 VC at BS 703 881 resulting in one VC KIA, 1 VN detained WIA, and 3
weapons captured with no US casualties.  At 1510 hrs at BS 738 842 and 1650 hrs at BS 752 840, C/1-6 detonated
two booby traps resulting in 7 US WIA.

20 Feb 71.  D/1-6 detonated a booby trapped can penta causing 5 US WIA.

At 0600 hrs on 1 Mar 71, Operation NANTUCKET BEACH was terminated.
 

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