THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (ARMY)
FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM
IS AWARDED TO
BATTERY B, 2D BATTALION, 19th ARTILLARY
1ST CAVALRY DIVISION (AIRMOBILE)
AND THE FOLLOWING ATTACHED UNITS
BATTERY C, 6TH
BATTALION, 16TH ARTILLERY
COMPANY C, 1ST BATTALION, 12TH
CAVALRY
DETACHMENT, 11TH
PATHFINDER COMPANY
DETACHMENT, 229TH
AVIATION BATTALION
1ST PLATOON, TROOP
D, 1ST SQUADRON, 9TH CAVALRY
UNITED STATES ARMY
Battery B, 2d
Battalion, 19th Artillery and its attached units distinguished themselves
by extraordinary heroism in action against hostile forces at Landing Zone Bird,
Binh Dinh
Province in the Republic of Vietnam,
on 27 December 1966. During the early morning hours, two North Vietnamese Army
battalions, under the cover of heavy mortar, recoilless rifle and machinegun
fires, launched human wave assaults against the outnumbered defenders of the
landing zone. The artillerymen lowered the tubes of their howitzers and placed
direct fire into the charging enemy ranks as they overran the perimeter
defensive positions. As the determined enemy forces continued their assault and
penetrated the position, the artillerymen increased the tempo of their fires,
supporting the rifle and grenade fire of the infantrymen. The enemy assault
continued until he overran four of the six howitzer positions of Battery C, 6th
Battalion, 16th Artillery. The displaced guncrews regrouped around
the remaining howitzer positions and continued to place effective fire on the
attackers. The gun sections, supporting the heavy rifle and grenade fire from
the infantry, poured devastating antipersonnel rounds into the enemy
penetration halting the attack. Exploiting the fire of the howitzers, a
composite force of artillerymen and infantry launched a counterattack which
recovered the overrun howitzers and drove the enemy from the position. The
guncrews remanned their recaptured howitzers and
conducted an aggressive pursuit-by-fire upon the fleeing enemy and his
withdrawal routes while the infantrymen reestablished the defensive perimeter.
At daylight, 211 enemy dead were found in and around the landing zone. The men
of Battery B, 2d Battalion, 19th Artillery and its attached units,
by their outstanding bravery, determination, esprit de corps, and devotion to
duty, decimated a superior enemy force and maintained the integrity of a key
forward support base while, in so doing, bringing great credit on themselves,
their units and the United States Army.
General Orders No. 7
Headquarters, Department of the Army
23 April 1970
[ Home ] [ Up ]