Reference Entry
OPERATION STARLITE
During the early buildup of American ground forces in Vietnam, United States Marines launched Operation Starlite, the first regimental-size offensive undertaken by American units in that war. Intelligence suggested a large Viet Cong force was preparing to strike the Marine base at Chu Lai, so commanders chose to attack first. On August 18th, 1965, Marines moved in by helicopter, amphibious landing craft, and overland routes to encircle enemy positions near the coast.
Dated Historical Context
A RECORDED MOMENT IN HISTORY
Operation Starlite begins
During the early buildup of American ground forces in Vietnam, United States Marines launched Operation Starlite, the first regimental-size offensive undertaken by American units in that war. Intelligence suggested a large Viet Cong force was preparing to strike the Marine base at Chu Lai, so commanders chose to attack first. On August 18th, 1965, Marines moved in by helicopter, amphibious landing craft, and overland routes to encircle enemy positions near the coast. Over the next several days, they fought a series of sharp engagements in villages, rice paddies, and scrub-covered hills, facing mortar fire, small-arms fire, and determined resistance. The operation inflicted heavy losses on the enemy unit and disrupted its plans, while also revealing the complexities of coordinating aviation, armor, and infantry in a landscape crisscrossed by dikes and hamlets. Starlite became both a celebrated early success and a preview of the demanding, attritional fighting that would characterize many later operations in Vietnam.
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