Cedar Falls
Written May 2013
Operation
Dates:
8 Jan 1967 - 27 Jan 1967
Area of Operation:
Iron Triangle and Thanh Dien Forest Reserve; Bình Dương Province, Hậu Nghĩa Province, Tây Ninh Province; III Corps
Allied Units:
US Army 2d & 3d Brigades 1st Infantry Division, 3d Brigade 4th Infantry Division, 1st Division 26th Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade, 196th Infantry Brigade, 173d Airborne Brigade, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment; ARVN 5th Division; VN Navy 3d Riverine Company
Allied Casualties:
US 72 KIA, 337 WIA; RVN 11 KIA, 8 WIA
Enemy Units:
VC 165th Regiment, 272d Regiment
Enemy Casualties:
720-750 KIA, 280-488 POW
Objective(s):
Search and destroy VC elements near Saigon
Significance/Notes:
Operation Cedar Falls was a two phase operation using the hammer and anvil tactic. During the operation, American forces found a widespread and intricate tunnel complex. In the end, Cedar Falls seemed to have little to no long lasting effects on the VC presence in the Iron Triangle area.
Sources:
Vietnam War Almanac by James H. Willbanks
The Vietnam Center And Archive (at Texas Tech University)
Further Reading:
Operation Cedar Falls After Action Report - 25th Infantry Division - Vietnam Center and Archive
Operation Cedar Falls After Action Report - 1st Infantry Division - Vietnam Center and Archive
