Moving Through War-Torn Mountain Sides

The Ivy Division’s Fighting First Brigade, since arriving at Nha Trang, Vietnam, in early October 1966, has scored many impressive victories over North Vietnamese Army units in the thick, jungled Central Highlands.

The brigade, composed of the 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry; 3^rd Battalion

8th Infantry; 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry; and the 6th Battalion, 29th Artillery was committed to battle just 20 days after arriving in country. Taking part in Operation Adams on the coast, the 1st Brigade opened Highway 1 north of Tuy Hoa to traffic and, working with elements of the 101st Airborne and the 9th ROK (White Horse) Division, eliminated the Viet Cong domination in Phu Yen Province.

The brigade and its supporting elements accounted for 491 enemy killed, 2043 suspects detained and 160 individual and crew-served weapons captured during the five and one half month operation, longest conducted by the 4^th Division.

Upon completion of Adams, the brigade joined the 2^nd Brigade west of Pleiku near Plei Djereng in Operation Sam Houston. The two brigades fought side by side, defeating large North Vietnamese Army units.

In early April 1967, the brigade moved south to Le Thanh (nicknamed Jackson Hole) and moved into Operation Francis Marion. The objective of this operation was to screen and guard the strategic border west of Pleiku. Throughout the operation, units of the Fighting First clashed with well-equipped North Vietnamese troops infiltrating into South Vietnam. During a period referred to as "Nine Days in May," the brigade killed

Medical Care To The Sick And Wounded