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Landing Zone Bird
The attack commenced at 0100 hours 27 December 1966. The attack was made by two battalions of the 22nd NVA Regt, controlled by the Regt Hq. Approximate strength of the attacking force was 1000 men. Units occupying LZ Bird at the time of the attack were Btry C, Btry B, 2/19th Arty, two platoons of Company C, 1/12th Cavalry (infantry), and a three man Path-finder team for LZ control. Total friendly strength at the LZ was 170 men.
The NVA attacked from two directions. One from the north end of the LZ into Battery C position area, and one from the east that turned south into Battery B's position area. It was a typical, well organized NVA attack. Automatic weapons and mortars were zeroed in on the penetration points with further suppressive mortar fire on the length of the LZ. Their infantry attacked into their own fire immediately upon its initiation. The infantry perimeter was immediately overrun due to the NVA ability to creep to within 20 meters of the perimeter prior to the attack and poor defensive characteristics of the terrain. The attack carried into and thru our No. #1 section before the section chief could look up from the prone position he assumed upon receipt of incoming rounds. The chief and two other men did escape to alert the FDC and other sections and continued the fight with the fourth section. The battery's volume of fire steadily increased in tempo to blunt the attack after it had overrun three of the five howitzers. The attack into Battery B proceeded simultaneously with equal success overrunning half of that battery prior to being blunted. It is interesting to note that although the enemy overran half of the battery area, it was unsuccessful in destroying our bunkers around the first three. The personnel that were not KIA or WIA continued to place effective fire on the enemy around them. Many incidents of heroism took place during this time. A "quiet" period of approximately twenty to thirty minutes followed the first ten minutes of the attack. During this period individuals on both sides had run low or out of ammunition and were scrambling around obtaining additional ammo. Friendly illumination was obtained and artillery adjusted into the position by the FO with C, 1/12 at that time. Additional aerial rocket artillery arrived on the scene and commenced firing around the LZ most effectively. Approximately 40 minutes after the attack friendly small arms fire increased and the BC of B, 2/19 with a crew managed to fire a "Beehive" round thru half of his battery directly into the entire length of Battery C. This had a very settling affect combined with increased tempo of fire support and small arms within the battery. At this time, the NVA started to withdraw. "A" Company 1/15th Cav arrived by lift shortly and met no resistance in linking up with the batteries and clearing the Landing Zone. It was shortly after "A" 1/5th had swept the area that I arrived to assume command. The battery had not fired direct fire due to the fact it would have been ineffective due to minus elevation and the closeness of the enemy.
The various acts of valor are too numerous to mention. Hand to hand combat was common and many troops engaged in pitch and catch with enemy hand grenades. Sixteen men have been recommended for awards at this writing. SSG Gregario Nieto has already been awarded the Silver Star for his actions and Sp/4 Caldwell and PFC bouchard were decorated immediately after the fight by General norton with the Bronze Star with "V". The battery suffered four KIA and twenty one WIA, (a third of its Landing Zone strength). All wounded will recover completetly.
The lessons learned during this battle are so numerous I will save them for later correspondence. I'm sure you will share with me this great pride I have of Battery C. Thier action reflects great upon not only themselves and the 1st Cavalry Division but also its parent battalion. Due to the extremely poor U.S. press coverage of great Vietnamese Battles, I request that as much publicity as possible be given to our unit thru the Cannoneer so that all Artillery men everywhere may know that the spirit of "Defend the Gun" is still so very much alive.
We hope to commission an artist soon to paint a picture on one of the battle scenes which will be forwarded to you upon completion. It will also serve as the basis for a mural to be painted on the mess hall when completed.
If we can be of assistance in any way please write. We will be looking forward to further correspondence.
ROBERT D MIDDLETON
CPT, Arty
Commanding
Information for
1st CAVALRY DIVISION
December 12, 1966
1 CAV was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Binh Dinh Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, LZ Bird
Description: At 0105H three NVA battalions from the 22d Regt used the two-day Christmas truce to move into position for a surprise attack on LZ Bird in the Kim Son Valley which was well away from their usual haunts in the Hoai Nhon Delta area. The LZ was defended by only part of the C/1/12th Cav plus B/2/19th (105mm) and C/6/16th (155mm) artillery. All were understrength. It was within the artillery fan of two other FSBs. Initially the weather restricted air support operations. The NVA broke through the perimeter and occupied a few gun positions. The 1st Cav soldiers fought back hand-to-hand and with everything they had. Finally, some of the 105s were cranked down to pointblank range and "beehive" rounds sliced through the attackers like scythes. For the next two days, the 1st Cav pursued the fleeing NVA and made contact several times. At least 266 NVA died in this battle. Delbert Jennings won the Medal of Honor and would later become the CSM of the Division. Many ARA and armed CH-47 sorties were flown in support of this battle. Not only after this battle, the site at the bend in the river was deemed highly vulnerable and a new LZ BIRD was built on a hogback several miles farther to the east
The source for this information was The First Team P 153; Bird by SLA Marshall
Two undermanned US Army artillery batteries and a rifle company of the First Cavalry Division (Airmobile) guarded Landing Zone Bird located in Binh Dinh Province on South Vietnam's eastern coast. Shortly after midnight, three entire battalions of North Vietnamese regulars burst out of the darkened jungle and began to swarm over the landing zone. The struggle for control lasted only about an hour.
