Author Keith William Nolan's book...*Into Laos..The Story of Dewey Canyon II/Lam Son 719.
some background:
Lam Son 719 was a major operation of the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam, ARVN, into Laos early in 1971. U.S. provided all of the aviation assets for this operation. A/101 AVN was one of the aviation units in this operation, along with being the sole 101st Airborne aviation unit supporting the Special Operations Group in I Corp, during the month of 02/71.
The objective was to disrupt an ongoing North Vietnamese Army supply buildup at Tchepone, Laos. American Helicopter Units supported and provided all transportation of ARVN troops/supplies into and out of Laos during this operation. The US Helicopter Crewman went against the heaviest anti-aircraft barrage incurred in the War. The US helicopters, along with RPG, tank, and small arms fire, were regularly opposed by 23mm, 37mm, and 57mm anti-aircraft weapons, with .51 caliber machine guns arranged to provide mutually supporting fire. The enemy opposition comprised a permanent logistical force of engineers, transportation, and anti-aircraft troops, together with elements of five divisions, 12 infantry regiments, a tank regiment, an artillery regiment, and 19 anti-aircraft battalions.
The South Vietnamese government claimed that 13,341 enemy had been killed against 5,000 ARVN KIA/WIA. American estimates put the ARVN losses at 10,000, which amounted to half of its forces committed to the operation. The losses to US Helicopter Forces were 65 Helicopter Crewmen KIA, 818 Crewmen WIA, and 42 Crewman MIA. 618 American Helicopters shot up, Downed and Damaged, 20% of which were not expected to fly again - 106 Helicopters lost outright - all from 30 January to 24 March '71. The official end to Lam Son 719 was 9 April 1971
For those who enjoy great drama reads..this is a good book..and written well..its hard to put down.
The heroism and bravery under fire of the U.S. forces in this action....and the ARVN too..for some did fight to the last man on hill top firebases.
Helo's lifting off with wounded...ARVN hainging from skids as NVA overrun a firebase.
U.S. Command with dozens of downed helo crews..add to this..downed combat jet crews in the Laotian jungle...with NVA hunting them.
No rest for anyone in Quang tri sector...
shot up helo's by the hundreds at their forward bases..with Charlie zapping them day and night.
the road system to the Laotian border...U.S. forces running a gaunlet of ambushes, RPG's flying everywhere.
It reads like *We were Soldiers....but goes on for weeks.
Personal accounts:
