A DUTY DONE
During the night the enemy withdrew having suffered hundreds of casualties from the aggressive fire and movement tactics by A Company and the APC Troop. Next day an exhausted company returned to Nui Dat knowing it had done a very good job in unfamiliar tactical circumstances for which it had received no prior training, ie urban warfare. It was also established later that the whole of D445 VC Battalion reinforced by Local Guerilla Units had been A Company’s opponent during the 24 hours of battle. 3 February. D Company 3RAR (Maj PR Phillips) was tasked to support an ARVN battalion to clear Long Dien which had been occupied by at least an enemy platoon for three days, which the ARVN battalion had been unable to dislodge. After deploying by APC and harbouring northwest of the town, the company moved at first light on 4 February to clear the market place. After having done so the company was fired at by a group of VC which were cleared by 12 Platoon (2Lt NB Peatling) which in turn was engaged from a house by enemy machine gun fire (1). 11 Platoon (less one section) (Lt MR John) was tasked to clear the house and came under fire first from an estimated VC squad which it sent packing with several dead and wounded and then, after returning with the third section, was fired at by nearby ARVN troops. The Platoon withdrew to the company position but returned late afternoon when it was engaged by snipers mortally wounding one soldier (Pte RJ Caston). After clearing the town and doing a cordon and search of a nearby hamlet, D Company returned to Nui Dat by foot on 6 February. 7 February. B Company 3RAR (Maj HW Irwin) was tasked to secure the approaches to Baria on the west of the Song Dinh and on 8 February to support ARVN forces in clearing an enemy platoon from Long Dien. After securing the bridge over the Song Dinh, B Company moved by ARVN transport on 8 February to Long Dien and by late morning had deployed to the south west of the town. Later that day, the Company was requested to search for a missing ARVN Battalion Commander and his US Army Adviser. At 6.30 pm 5 Platoon (2Lt LA Taylor) made heavy contact with a VC platoon located in and around brick houses (2). During a fierce exchange the platoon suffered two dead (the Platoon Commander and the Platoon Signaler, Pte GR Godden) and 5 wounded, one of whom later died (Pte GF Mathews). Some 15 of the enemy were killed and one captured before the remainder of B Company arrived to assist. The company returned to Baria that night in ARVN transport arriving about midnight and returned to Nui Dat by APC on 9 February. For their roles in these company operations (and in some cases also for other operations) the following awards were made: Military Cross: Maj BW Howard, OC A Coy 3RAR (see 1Feb); Lt MR John, OC 11 Pl 3RAR (see 4 Feb); Maj PR Phillips, OC D Coy 3RAR (see 3 Feb); 2Lt RLM Tingley, OC 3 Tp A Sqn 3 Cav (see 1 Feb). Distinguished Flying Cross: Capt JL Coggan, 161 Recce Flt (see 1 Feb). Military Medal: Cpl JJ Davis, Coy Medic, A Coy 3RAR (see 1 Feb). Mentioned In Despatches: 2Lt PH Fraser, OC 2 Pl 3RAR (see 1 Feb); Maj HW Irwin, OC B Coy 3RAR; Cpl BJ Joyce, Sect Comd B Coy 3RAR (see 8 Feb); Capt RJ Martin RNZA, FO A Coy; Sgt JP Murphy 3 Tp A Sqn (see 1 Feb); Cpl PK Williams, 2 Pl 3RAR (see 1 Feb); WO2 A Parrello, AATTV (Posthumous) (see 1 Feb).
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