Charlie and Mike Come To Breakfast*
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Location: Duc Lap, South Vietnam*
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Date: August 25, 1968*
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Type: North Vietnamese Assault vs U.S. Defend*
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Design: C. Berry*
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On August 23, 1968, the 1st NVA Division crossed the Cambodian border to begin an offensive in the neighboring Duc Lap District of South Vietnam. The objectives of this offensive were the two U.S. Special Forces camps located in the district. Special Forces Camp A-239, a Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) base, was attacked by the NVA 320th Regiment on the night of August 24-25. By 0530, the northern outpost of the camp was overrun and the defenders were being pressed at the wire of the main base.*
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The Americans were not unaware of the NVA buildup in the area and had already tasked heavy air and artillery support to the camps. On the morning of the 25th, Lt. General Peers;
CG,I FFORCEV, authorized the use of Mobile Strike Force (MSF) or "Mike" Force companies and the shifting of Arc Light B-52's to bolster the camp's defenders.*
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At 0900, the 204th MSF Company was helilifted into an LZ near Duc Minh, east of Camp A-239. The "Mike" Force Company ran into heavy resistance and was stopped short of the beleaguered base. A second MSF Company; the 202nd, was landed at 0930 south of the SF camp and managed to fight its way into the CIDG perimeter. With this influx of the "Mike" Force troops, the defenders counter-attacked and cleared the North Vietnamese from inside the wire.*
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Source: Combat After Action Report-The Battle For Duc Lap; U.S. Department of the Army; 24 September, 1968. Available at U.S. Army Command and Staff College Combined Arms Research Library-http://usacac.army.mil*   