The 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron (Vietnamese: Thiết Đoàn 3 Thiết giáp) a battalion-sized unit of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), the South Vietnamese army. It was part of II Corps that oversaw the twelve provinces of the central highlands; corps headquarters being in the mountain town of Pleiku. The 3rd Armored Cav was organized on January 1, 1954.[1]
Map depicting the military regions of South Vietnam including II Corps where the 3rd Armored Cav served.
In 1971, the Presidential Unit Citation of the United States was awarded to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron and attached U.S. Advisor/Liaison Personnel (MACV) for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy during the period January 1, 1968, to September 30, 1968, in Pleiku and Binh Dinh Provinces.[2] This makes the squadron one of only a few non-U.S. military units to receive the highest U.S. military honor awarded at the unit level.
THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (ARMY) FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM TO THE 3D ARMORED CAVALRY SQUADRON ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CONSISTING OF SQUADRON HEADQUARTERS AND SERVICE TROOP AND 1ST, 3D AND 4TH TROOPS AND U.S. ADVISOR/LIAISON PERSONNEL
The 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism in military operations against hostile ground forces during the period 1 January 1968 to 30 September 1968. The Squadron engaged a Viet Cong battalion near the city of Pleiku during the Tet Offensive. Utilizing an imposing array of weapons, the enemy fought tenaciously in an attempt to occupy the city of Pleiku. The Squadron, by steadfast resolve and against countless odds, annihilated the enemy force. This lifted the siege of the city of Pleiku, and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron was able to resume its normal mission of securing the U.S. 4th Division logistical lifeline between Pleiku and Kontum. The enemy then committed large forces in an effort to close a single existing supply route. The 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron engaged a most determined enemy to relieve the pressure of being isolated. In each encounter, the South Vietnamese cavalrymen exhibited brilliant tactics under harrowing circumstances and inflicted prohibitive casualties on a numerically superior force. Elements of the Squadron spearheaded direct strikes against the 18th North Vietnamese Army regiment in other major engagements in Binh Dinh Province and the city of Phu My. The resulting enemy casualties together with the destruction of residual weapon supplies forced the North Vietnamese to flee the field of battle. Through their unyielding tenacity, imaginative tactics, and fierce determination the officers and men of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron achieved victory against insurmountable odds. Their demonstrated professionalism and extraordinary heroism under hazardous and adverse conditions reflect the utmost credit on them and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
Specific ActionsEdit
February 1, 1968 (during the Tet Offensive) The ARVN 3rd Cavalry Squadron fought a pitched battle with the Liberation Front's H-15 Local Force Battalion in or near Pleiku.[3]
August 1968 Elements of the 3rd ARVN Cavalry, along with a reaction platoon from the 2/1st Cav, OPCONed to the 4th Inf, foiled an attempted NVA ambush, killing 31 enemy. The following day the soldiers found 10 more bodies bringing the toll to 41 enemy killed. In the third day of enemy harassment of convoys along Highway 14 in Kontum Province, an estimated force of two NVA companies attacked a 4th Div convoy 14 miles south of Kontum with mortar, recoilless rifle, small arms, and rocket and machinegun fire. Armored cars from the 4th MP Company immediately returned the fire. At the outbreak of the attack, tanks and armored cavalry assault vehicles of the 3rd ARVN Cavalry and the 2/1st Cav, which had been deployed along the highway in anticipation of possible contact, began to pour heavy fire into the enemy positions. Under the onslaught of allied armor the enemy broke contact, leaving 41 killed behind.[4]
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The 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron Vietnamese Thiết Đoan 3 Thiết giap a battalion sized unit of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam ARVN the South Vietnamese army It was part of II Corps that oversaw the twelve provinces of the central highlands corps headquarters being in the mountain town of Pleiku The 3rd Armored Cav was organized on January 1 1954 1 3rd Armored Cavalry SquadronActive1954 1975CountrySouth VietnamBranchArmy of the Republic of VietnamPart ofII CorpsGarrison HQPleikuEngagementsVietnam War Tet OffensiveDecorationsPresidential Unit Citation United States Map depicting the military regions of South Vietnam including II Corps where the 3rd Armored Cav served In 1971 the Presidential Unit Citation of the United States was awarded to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron and attached U S Advisor Liaison Personnel MACV for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy during the period January 1 1968 to September 30 1968 in Pleiku and Binh Dinh Provinces 2 This makes the squadron one of only a few non U S military units to receive the highest U S military honor awarded at the unit level Contents 1 Presidential Unit Citation 2 Specific Actions 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksPresidential Unit Citation Edit nbsp U S advisor probably a MACV officer confers with an ARVN 3rd Cav commander in front of an M113 APC DA General Order No 24 27 April 1971 2 THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM TO THE 3D ARMORED CAVALRY SQUADRON ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CONSISTING OF SQUADRON HEADQUARTERS AND SERVICE TROOP AND 1ST 3D AND 4TH TROOPS AND U S ADVISOR LIAISON PERSONNELThe 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism in military operations against hostile ground forces during the period 1 January 1968 to 30 September 1968 The Squadron engaged a Viet Cong battalion near the city of Pleiku during the Tet Offensive Utilizing an imposing array of weapons the enemy fought tenaciously in an attempt to occupy the city of Pleiku The Squadron by steadfast resolve and against countless odds annihilated the enemy force This lifted the siege of the city of Pleiku and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron was able to resume its normal mission of securing the U S 4th Division logistical lifeline between Pleiku and Kontum The enemy then committed large forces in an effort to close a single existing supply route The 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron engaged a most determined enemy to relieve the pressure of being isolated In each encounter the South Vietnamese cavalrymen exhibited brilliant tactics under harrowing circumstances and inflicted prohibitive casualties on a numerically superior force Elements of the Squadron spearheaded direct strikes against the 18th North Vietnamese Army regiment in other major engagements in Binh Dinh Province and the city of Phu My The resulting enemy casualties together with the destruction of residual weapon supplies forced the North Vietnamese to flee the field of battle Through their unyielding tenacity imaginative tactics and fierce determination the officers and men of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron achieved victory against insurmountable odds Their demonstrated professionalism and extraordinary heroism under hazardous and adverse conditions reflect the utmost credit on them and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam Specific Actions EditFebruary 1 1968 during the Tet Offensive The ARVN 3rd Cavalry Squadron fought a pitched battle with the Liberation Front s H 15 Local Force Battalion in or near Pleiku 3 August 1968 Elements of the 3rd ARVN Cavalry along with a reaction platoon from the 2 1st Cav OPCONed to the 4th Inf foiled an attempted NVA ambush killing 31 enemy The following day the soldiers found 10 more bodies bringing the toll to 41 enemy killed In the third day of enemy harassment of convoys along Highway 14 in Kontum Province an estimated force of two NVA companies attacked a 4th Div convoy 14 miles south of Kontum with mortar recoilless rifle small arms and rocket and machinegun fire Armored cars from the 4th MP Company immediately returned the fire At the outbreak of the attack tanks and armored cavalry assault vehicles of the 3rd ARVN Cavalry and the 2 1st Cav which had been deployed along the highway in anticipation of possible contact began to pour heavy fire into the enemy positions Under the onslaught of allied armor the enemy broke contact leaving 41 killed behind 4 See also EditNon U S recipients of U S gallantry awards 1968 in the Vietnam War M113 armored personnel carrierReferences Edit Organized on January 1 1954 Archived from the original on 14 June 2010 Retrieved 2010 06 11 a b Presidential Unit Citation Army for extraordinary heroism PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 16 Retrieved 2010 06 11 ARVN 3rd Cavalry Squadron fought a pitched battle Archived from the original on 2010 12 01 Retrieved 2010 06 11 3rd ARVN Cavalry foiled an attempted NVA ambush Retrieved 2010 06 11 Further reading EditSimon Dunstan Vietnam Tracks Armor into Battle 1945 75 Osprey Publishing Ltd London 1982External links EditVideo taken of 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron in 1969 https archive org details gov archives arc 32456 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron South Vietnam amp oldid 1168578459, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
