The Area of Operations (AO) for the first five years and up until the Cambodian excursion was within a large fan shaped area anchored at the base by Saigon and fanning out northwest to the Cambodian border. Within the fan were the three principal Tactical Operations Support Bases of Cu Chi, Tay Ninh, and Dau Tieng. This represented an area roughly 100 kilometers by 65 kilometers wide. The southern portion was largely flat terrain, the western part was farmed with some forests and the eastern portion had some agricultural land but mostly rubber plantations and forests.
This area was under the command and control of the 25th Infantry Division which in turn reported to lll Corps as a major unit of the ll Field Force. The 'Bobcats' were initially
attached to the 2nd and subsequently to the 1st and 3rd Brigades of the 25th
Infantry Division during their time in Vietnam. Cross attachment of combat and
combat support units was common and specifically tailored to each assigned
mission. For example, the 'Bobcat' Task Force in the "Battle of Ben Cui"
(Aug-Sep 1968) contained an attached platoon of cavalry, a platoon of engineers,
two scout dog platoons, a 105mm and 155mm artillery battery, an 8" artillery
battery and a platoon of M42 "Dusters" all in direct support.
About Us
The Bobcat Society
1st Bn. (M) 5th Infantry Society of
Vietnam Combat Veterans, Inc.
The Bobcat Society is created, owned and operated by,
Combat Veterans of the Vietnam War.
Who We Are
This page was last updated on: December 31, 2004
The 1st Battalion (Mechanized) 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division traces its heritage to the 12 th of April 1808 when the 5th Infantry was raised in New England. This makes the 5th Infantry the third oldest regiment on continuous active duty. During the war of 1812 the 5th Infantry was credited with the first major victory over the British at the Battle of Lundy's Lane in Canada. It was in this battle that the commanding officer when asked if he could capture the seven cannons firing on the American troops replied: "I'll Try Sir". This has been the proud motto of the regiment that prior to Vietnam participated in 36 campaigns including the War of 1812, Indian Wars, Civil War, Mexican War, Phillipine Insurrection, World War ll and Korea.
On 1 February 1963, the Battalion, as a mechanized unit, was activated and assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 25th Division at Scofield Barracks. Intensive training and receipt of armored combat vehicles by the 'Bobcats' as they are known, followed. The alert and subsequent deployment (Operation Green Light) to Vietnam came in December 1965. The USMTS General Gordon with the 'Bobcats' aboard arrived in Vung Tau on 19 January 1966.
The initial combat operation "Clean Sweep" was a determined effort to clear the area around Cu Chi of Viet Cong elements. This resulted in the "Battle of Cu Chi", on what was termed "Hells Half Acre", the site of the 25th Infantry Division base camp.
By combining traditional infantry tactics with the high-speed mobility of the armored personell carrier, the 'Bobcats' provided a quick-reaction and assault ground force which was called upon repeatedly during the Vietnam War. Armored Personel Carriers were also invaluable in penetrating enemy jungle positions. Because of its mobility it could counter innumerable mines, snares and booby traps planted by the enemy. In open areas, mechanized units and helicopters formed an effective team to fix and destroy the enemy. Road busting operations by mobile units cleared and retained control of major roadways and allowed ground resupply to allied forces.
The M113 Armored Personnel Carrier was a workhorse during the Vietnam War and the backbone of the Army's mechanized infantry. Bobcats were initially issued the aluminum armored M113 APC with a V8 gasoline engine that developed 215 HP; a combat weight of 22,900 pounds, fuel capacity of 80 gallons providing a cruising range of about 200 miles at a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour on a level road. By mid 1968 the battalion received the M113A1 with a diesel fueled V6 engine, fuel capacity of 95 gallons that provided a cruising range of about 300 miles. The crew was composed of a commander, driver and 11 infantrymen. The three rifle platoons in a company were supported by a weapons platoon also track mounted. Weapons platoons were equipped with the M125 (81mm) mortar carrier with a basic load of at least 114 rounds and had a crew of six men. Due to casualties, ETS and R&R, the full complement of authorized personnel was rarely available for operations.
Armament included a .50 caliber HB M2 machine gun with a commanders gun shield or cupola, two 7.62mm M60 machine guns, and additional squad weapons such as the M16 (5.56mm) automatic rifle, the M79 grenade launcher, LAW's, claymore mines, hand grenades and large amounts of ammunition. The Headquarters company had a reconnaissance platoon also mounted on ten M113's. The size and available fire power of the reconnaissance platoon was often employed as if it were another company in the battalion. The direct support artillery came in the form of a platoon of four M106 carriers mounting the 4.2 inch mortar. Basic load of each carrier was at least 88 rounds and also had a crew of six men. The M577 command post carrier was utilized by the four battalion staff sections (S1-S4), communications, mortar platoon fire direction center, and medical aid station (angel track). In late 1968, D Company was activated consisting of several platoons transferred from Headquarters Company and the issue of the new M132 flame thrower. The flame track had a two man crew and a 7.62mm M73 machine gun coaxial mounted with the flame thrower in the cupola. The M132 carried 200 gallons of flame fuel, had a firing time of 32 seconds and a rangeof 200 meters.
The following was written and submitted by Major General (Ret) Andy Anderson for exclusive use of the Bobcat Society for this web site.
Additional equipment carried aboard the M113's included: pierced steel planking, rolls of concertina wire, anti-RPG cyclone (chain link) fencing and stakes, spare road wheels and extra track blocks, sandbags, water cans, rations, limited personal gear and as much assorted ammunition as space allowed.
Due to the numerous mines encountered, all personnel rode on the top of the track. The driver steered by using lateral extensions. Sandbags were also placed on the APC floor to minimize personnel casualties when tracks hit a mine. The most serious damage and personnel loss came from enemy command detonated mines. These were much larger charges than standard 20 pound Chicom antitank mines and were made from recovered unexploded ordnance dropped by U.S. aircraft such as 500 pound bombs.
The 25th Infantry Division occupied an enemy infested territory in which there existed an extensive number of enemy base camps to include the infamous and complex tunnels of Cu Chi.
The Bobcats conducted operations in all of the following locations.
Provinces
Tay Ninh
Hau Nghia
Binh Duong
Zones
War Zone "C"
Iron Triangle
Citadel
Angel's Wing
Parrot's Peak
Crescent
Razorback
Trapezoid
Plantations
Filhol
Michelin
Cau Khoi
Ben Cui
Big Rubber
Little Rubber
Saigon ~ Cu Chi ~ Duc Hoa ~ Dau Tieng ~ Tay Ninh ~ Boi Loi ~ Ben Cui ~ Bao Trai ~ Tan My
Hoc Mon ~ Tan Binh ~ Trang Bang ~ Xuan Loc ~ HoBo Woods ~ Thanh Dien Forest ~ Tam Dap Forest ~ French Fort ~ Buell ~ Rawlings ~ Scofield ~ Mahone ~ Patton ~ St. Barbara ~ Carol ~ Chamberlain ~ Devlin ~ Crook ~ Dees ~ Jackson ~ Janet ~ Joyce ~ Martha ~ Nickel ~ Pike ~ Stuart ~ Washington
Enemy Units Engaged:
The senior headquarters was the central office for Southern Vietnam (COSVN). COSVN was the communist party headquarters that controlled revolutionary activities in south Vietnam. The B2 Front was the military organization subordinate to COSVN. The 5th, 7th, 9th Divisions were deployed in the general area of the U.S lll Corps. The 5th Division comprised of the 5th, 33rd, 88th, and the separate 16th and 275 Regiments which reported directly to COSVN, were the enemy units most often engaged by the 'Bobcats'. These Regiments consisted of 3 battalions of 4 companies each.
During the Battle of Ben Cui the 33rd and 275th Regiments were the principal enemy units involved. Following the fighting and heavy losses on both sides these units withdrew to the Cambodian border to avoid further contact with the 'Bobcats' and to escape the B52 air strikes.
The 'Bobcats' served more than 1900 days in Vietnam and received 12 campaign credits in addition to the previously awarded 36 streamers of earlier campaigns. Additional unit awards include the Valorous Unit Award (Cu Chi District Jan-Apr 1966); Presidential Unit Citation (Ben Cui Aug-Sep 1968); Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (Jan-Sep 1970); Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation (Jan 1970).
The first 'Bobcat' casualty was: Robert Cantrell, B Company, (KIA 11 Feb 1966) and the last was: Phillip Monson, A Company, (KIA 15 Mar 1971). More than 570 'Bobcats' were killed and thousands more were wounded in action. One 'Bobcat' is missing in action: Humberto Acosta-Rosario, B Company, (MIA 22 Aug 1968).
Three 'Bobcats' were postumously awarded the Medal of Honor; SP/4 Daniel Fernandez, C Company (KIA 18 Feb 1966), SSgt. Marvin Young, C Company (KIA 21 Aug 1968), Lt. Steven Doane, B Company (KIA 25 Mar 1969). They gave their lives to save others.
The 1st Battalion (Mechanized) 5th Infantry was deployed in an effort to assist the brave and dedicated people of the Republic of Vietnam. Their mission was to defeat the enemy, protect the people and help them build a free and independent nation. Their heroic actions on the battlefield and deeds of goodwill in the countryside materially contributed to the common goal of the forces of freedom. Eventually and unfortunately, we abandoned our allies and without our support, the Republic of Vietnam fell some three years later.
