Vietnam War: Staff Film Report 66-17A (1966)

"April 1966 in Vietnam Cu Chi - 25th infantry division armored cavalry on April 8, 1966 on a recovery mission in support of Operation Kahuku the day before. (A huey helicopter was shot down.) The Michelin Rubber plantation is a staging area and enemy contact is made - the Viet Cong in tunnels open fire and the US troops overrun the guerrillas & enter the tunnels. Most of the captured materiel is from Communist China. APC overturns but no further contact with enemy is made. Xa Binh Ga - Howitzer battery supports 1st infantry div on April 7, 1966 Operation Abilene (AKA Battle of Xa Cam My). Class on patrols is given to administrative personnel. All personnel are to be trained on basic infantry tactics regardless of their job. April 8th a patrol moves into a deserted village. Elsewhere, a captured Viet Cong prisoner makes a tape recording urging his fellow guerrillas to surrender. April 9th, 1966 a new base camp is set up and patrols continue. A search party checks a nearby village and bunkers for Viet Cong. Pleiku - On April 5, 1966 Caribou aircraft air-drop deliver 155mm ammo in support of Operation Lincoln. 1st Cav troops open the boxes. Helicopters deliver troops and are shown landing at LZ Oasis. Tan Son Nhut AFB - On April 13, 1966 the Viet Cong attacked the base with mortars and set a fuel tank alight. 5 Americans were killed and 31 aircraft damaged. Bien Hoa - M-79 grenade launcher modified by 173d for more accurate indirect firing. Sattahip, Thailand - On February 15, 1966 elements of the Army Engineers arrived after completing work on the Bangkok Bypass road. They will construct a military housing complex. Also, they are creating base pads and foundations for a petroleum tank farm. Pleiku - On April 9th, 1966, with the aid of an ARVN interpreter, Army civic action medics with the 1st Air Cav Division (civic affairs) provide medical care for 2 villages a day. They are shown at a tea plantation examining villagers and prescribing medication. Tan Son Nhut AFB - an Army Signal Brigade - US Army Strategic Communications Signal Brigade Southeast Asia - is activated April 1966 at Camp Gaylor near Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base. Brigadier General Richard J. Seitz, Deputy Chief of Staff Vietnam, observes. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - April 10, 1966 Easter services are shown in a civilian church. Soldiers attend. A Protestant sunrise service takes place at Camp Randall. On April 11, 1966 a farewell revue is held for Ambassador William Tapley Bennett Jr. The 440th Army Band plays and Brigadier General Robert R. Linville. Commander of US Army Forces in the Dominican Republic troop the line and a UH-1B helicopters fly over." Department of Defense PIN 26966 STAFF FILM REPORT 66-17A VIETNAM - COMBAT AND OTHER ACTIVITY, APRIL 1966 - 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION, 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION, 173D AIRBORNE BRIGADE, AND ACTIVITIES OF U.S. ARMY SIGNAL BRIGADE.