ARVN 1st INFANTRY DIVISION BEN HAI DMZ OPS VIETNAM WAR
$18.99
2 in stock
Description
ARVN 1st Infantry Division
was a highly respected unit of the South Vietnamese army. It was responsible for defending the northernmost part of South Vietnam, known as I Corps. Here, its primary duty was to counter North Vietnamese forces operating near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the Ben Hai River.
The northern defense line
The DMZ was a buffer zone that separated North and South Vietnam. However, North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) forces frequently used the area to move troops and supplies. The 1st Division’s job was to block this movement and defend the provinces of Quang Tri and Thua Thien. The division’s headquarters were in the city of Hue.
The Tet Offensive
During the Tet Offensive in 1968, NVA and VC forces attacked cities across South Vietnam. In Hue, the battle was especially brutal.
- The 1st Division headquarters in the Hue Citadel were surrounded.
- The division’s elite “Black Panther” company fought to defend its compound.
- ARVN and U.S. Marine forces fought for almost a month to take back the city.
- The 1st Division’s successful defense of Hue earned it a U.S. Presidential Unit Citation.
Easter Offensive and final battles
In 1972, the NVA launched a massive invasion, the Easter Offensive, crossing the DMZ with tanks and heavy artillery.
- The invasion first hit the newly formed ARVN 3rd Division, which was largely destroyed.
- The 1st Division, now under a new, skilled commander, helped defend Hue from the NVA advance.
- Despite being weakened, the division launched counterattacks and retook lost territory.
- The war ended in 1975 when North Vietnam launched its final offensive.
- Overwhelmed by the NVA, the 1st Division was destroyed during the collapse of South Vietnam.
Additional information
| Weight | .41 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 9 × 6 × 2 in |
