Battle of Tra Binh Dong

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Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Tra Binh Dong
partof=the Vietnam War
date=February 14-February 15, 1967
place=Tra Binh Dong, South Vietnam
result=South Korean victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Unknown commander
commander2=Kyung-Jin Chung
strength1=2,400+
strength2=294
casualties1=240+ killed
2 captured
casualties2=15 killed
33 wounded

The Battle of Tra Binh Dong was probably the most famous battle fought by the South Korean Marines during the Vietnam War. It was fought in the Tra Binh Dong village near the border of Cambodia.

The battle took place after a Viet Cong defector, former commander of a training camp, revealed that the North Vietnamese Army were planning an attack on the ROKMC's 11th Company.

On February 14, the North Vietnamese 40th and 60th Battalions moved into their positions in the forest surrounding the perimeter of the South Korean 11th Company. The regular VPA battalions were also supported by one VC local force battalion from Quang Ngai. With their troops build up around the area, the Communist forces planned to cut all communication lines and wipe out the South Korean forces in the area.

At dawn on February 15, the battle began with the Viet Cong attempting to cut through the wires of the South Korean base. The South Korean marines were dug in and waiting with requests for air-support. When the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong had penetrated Korean positions, heavy fighting immediately followed. Initially the outnumbered South Koreans were pinned down, but Communist forces' ranks soon started to break up in heat of the battle as the South Koreans counterattacked. When the fighting ended more than 200 enemy bodies were left behind.

External links

* [http://cafe3.ktdom.com/vietvet/us/trabinh.htm The Blue Dragon heros who won a brilliant victory at Tra Binh Dong operation]