OPERATION MACARTHUR, THE BATTLES AT DAK TO - Corregidor

At 1530 hours, the 335 th AHC aircraft 498 received
AW fire in the vicinity of FSB 16 with no friendly
casualties. The aircraft returned to DAK TO. At 1630
hours, aircraft 621 was shot down in the vicinity of FSB
16 with no friendly casualties. At 1740 hours, aircraft
717 was shot down in the vicinity of FSB 16 resulting in
2 US WIA. At 1745 hours, aircraft 638 was shot down
in the vicinity of FSB 16 with no friendly casualties. All
the aircraft were flying in support of resupply operations
for the 2-503d Inf.
MSF elements continued patrolling activities in AO
HAWK and AO FALCON. At 1257 hours, the MSF Co
under the OPCON of 2-503d Inf engaged 3 NVA
resulting in 3 NVA KIA and 2 AK-47’s and 1 SKS rifle
being captured.
Intelligence: The intelligence Annex to OPORD 25-67,
Operation MACARTHUR, Headquarters, 173d Airborne
Brigade (Separate), dated 050900 November 1967, gave
the most current enemy locations available for use by
friendly forces prior to conduct of Operation
MACARTHUR. These enemy locations were general in
nature and there were no confirmed enemy locations
within the Battalion area of operation at the beginning of
the operations.
Mission: The 2-503d Infantry had been alerted to
assault Hill 875 after the 26 th MIKE Special Forces
Company (OPCON to the 2/503d Infantry) had made
contact with a large NVA force on its slopes the
previous day (18 November 1967).
Concept of Operation / Execution:
The attack was to be made with 2 companies abreast.
“D” Company on the left and “C” Company on the right
with the trail running up the mountain acting as the
boundary between the attacking companies. The
companies were to attack with two platoons forward
and one platoon in reserve. A third company (“A”
Company) was to be held in reserve and was to insure
security of the rear flank of the other two companies and
secure the area at the bottom of the hill.
(continued….)
2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / November 2012 – Issue 47
Page 36 of 125