USA Lost 88 Times In Vietnam

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Attack on Qui Nhon Barracks - The US Army leased a hotel to house a helicopter field support unit. On February 10, 1965, Vietcong sappers killed its two guards, placed two large satchel charges, and blew up the hotel, killing 23 Americans and seriously wounding another 21.

The Battle of An Ninh - The newly arrived 101st Airborne employed the new helo assault tactic to surprise the NVA. The plan was to fly an entire battalion into an area where a strong enemy presence was suspected. The intelligence proved accurate as the first company landed next to a large NVA unit and was pinned down. As the second wave attempted to land, several helicopters were shot down and the rest fled without dropping troops after all suffered damage. Helicopters were borrowed from other units and troops eventually landed further away and rushed to save the surrounded company that was nearly overrun. 

LZ Hereford Overrun - During Operation Crazy Horse, the 1st Battalion of the 12th Cavalry was was out searching for the enemy. A hundred NVA slipped past and quickly overran a mortar platoon, killing 16 GIs while wounding five soldiers as they escaped.

Helicopter Valley - On July 15, 1966, Operation Hastings began as the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Marines helicoptered into small LZ Crow. Enemy ground fire caused five large Marine CH-46A helicopters to crash, killing 13 Marines and seriously wounding a dozen more.

Battle of Bong Trang - In late August 1966, a squad from of the 1st Infantry Division ventured into the dense jungle near Saigon in search of the enemy. It wandered into a large NVA base camp and was shot up. Reinforcements poured into this confusing, bloody, two-day battle that left 45 Americans dead, hundreds wounded, with the loss of a helicopter and several armored vehicles.

Kon Tum Attack - During Operation Sam Houston, elements of the 4th Division swept along the Cambodian border. The isolated 1st Platoon from Company C, 2/8 Infantry was attacked. Only one soldier remained unscathed as 21 were killed and 14 wounded but the platoon held on until rescued at daybreak. 

Coast Group 16 Naval Base Destroyed - On August 7, 1967, the Vietcong launched a surprise attack on the coastal gunboat base at Tra Khuc and quickly seized it. All but one of the base buildings were destroyed as friendly gunboats arrived and engaged the invaders aboard the base. The fighting killed 14 South Vietnamese sailors along with an American officer and 20 civilians, while 30 Vietcong prisoners were freed.

Battle of Plei Doc - During Operation Francis Marion, B Co., 8th Inf., 1st Bde., 4th Inf. Div went into the dense jungle near in Cambodian border to make contact with the NVA. On May 18, 1967, its D Platoon went on a short patrol and chased a lone NVA scout, who led them into an ambush. The platoon was surrounded and wiped out with 22 killed and one missing. Seven wounded survivors hid from the NVA that night until their battalion came to the rescue, which lost a total of 48 killed and 96 wounded during this battle. 

A MIG Day - On August 30, 1967, the U.S. Air Force launched a second attack on a power plant near Hanoi. Two MIGs slipped into the formation of 28 aircraft and shot down two F-105 fighter bombers. The strike was aborted and several F-105s circled to support the rescue effort. Two more MIGs swooped down and chased them away while shooting down another F-105 and damaging another with no MIGs lost.

Chu Lai Attack - In the early morning of Jan. 31, 1968, the Vietcong fired 48 122mm rockets at the Marine Corps airbase at Chu Lai while sappers attacked. They exploded the main ammo dump that set off 600 tons of bombs. This attack flattened several hangars, damaged buildings, destroyed five F-4 fighters and damaged 18 other aircraft, while killing three officers and wounding several enlisted.

Echo Relief Force Wiped Out - In February 1968, a Marine outpost near Da Nang was in danger of being overrun. A Marine captain led 16 Marines on foot to reinforce them, but ran into a much larger NVA force and they were slaughtered. Twelve Marines were killed, three escaped, while two were taken prisoner and died in captivity.