History

The 1/92nd Field Artillery
Association - Vietnam

B Battery 1/92nd
Presidential Unit Citation

General Orders
No. 38

GO 38

HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Washington, DC, 20 July 1971

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (Army)

1. THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (ARMY). Award of the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) by the President of the United States of America to the following units of the Armed Forces of the United States is confirmed in accordance with paragraph 194, AR 672-5-1. The text of the citation, signed by President Richard Nixon on 5 May 1971 reads as follows:

By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States and as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, I have today awarded

THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (ARMY)
FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM
TO THE
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY
1ST BRIGADE, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION (1st Oak Leaf Cluster)
1ST BATTALION, 8TH INFANTRY
3RD BATTALION, 8TH INFANTRY
3RD BATTALION, 12TH INFANTRY(1st Oak Leaf Cluster)
TROOP C, 2ND SQUADRON, 1ST ARMORED CAVALRY
COMPANY B, 1ST BATTALION, 69TH ARMOR(3RD Oak Leaf Cluster)
BATTERY C, 6TH BATTALION 14TH ARTILLERY
BATTERY A, 5TH BATTALION 16TH ARTILLERY
BATTERY B, 5TH BATTALION 16TH ARTILLERY
BATTERY D, 5TH BATTALION 16TH ARTILLERY
6TH BATTALION, 29TH ARTILLERY
BATTERY A, 4TH BATTALION, 42ND ARTILLERY
2ND PLATOON, BATTERY B, 4TH BATTALION, 60TH ARTILLERY
BATTERY B, 1ST BATTALION, 92ND ARTILLERY
52ND AVIATION BATTALION
COMPANY A, 4TH ENGINEER BATTALION
COMPANY D, 704TH MAINTENANCE BATTALION
1ST PLATOON, 4TH MILITARY POLICE COMPANY
COMPANY B, 4TH MEDICAL BATTALION
1ST PLATOON, COMPANY B, 124TH SIGNAL BATTALION
DETACHMENT 1, 374TH RADIO RESEARCH COMPANY
AND
TEAM 1, 4TH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE DETACHMENT
UNITED STATES ARMY

The 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, together with attached and supporting units, distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism in action against a hostile force in Dak To District, Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, during the period 29 October 1967 to 30 November 1967.

Reacting promptly to intelligence indicating a major enemy offensive against Dak To base and the Central Highlands, the 1st Brigade deployed its forces to block the impending assault. Seizing the initiative by striking the enemy before he could attack, the Brigade with unrelenting courage and dedication fought and defeated a numerically superior enemy during thirty-three days of violent, sustained combat.

Vigorously executing a sound tactical plan with a spirit of total dedication to mission accomplishment, the Brigade severely crippled three enemy regiments and drove the entire force from the Central Highlands, inflicting on them devastating losses in personnel, supplies, and equipment.

The relentless determination against overwhelming odds, the sustained display of self-sacrifice, the untiring devotion to duty, and the extraordinary heroism of the officers and men assigned, attached, and supporting units of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon them and the Armed Forces of the United States.

See also Map Number: MAP 6538-3

Called Most Significant Battle In Vietnam
(Below Copy Of Stars And Stripes Article, Author Unknown, Edited by Fred Stella)

The following is a brief description of the movements and activities of Battery B from 29 November 1967 until 03 December 1967. All information is taken directly from the few Unclassified After Action- Lesson Learned Operational Reports that we have obtained. Nothing has been added or embellished. Our goal is not to make an exciting story but to give a factual account of the Bravery of the Men of Battery B, and why this Battery received The Presidential Unit Citation. We will add more information and eye- witness accounts as they become available, we ask all our Battery B Brothers to report in with their accounts of the Battle of Dak To.

Operational reports: Period Ending 31 January 1968

The battalion has established a forward observation post in the Central Highlands on Highway 19 East and with the all Batteries of the Battalion. Forward Observation Posts has been used as intelligence sources. The Battalion is presently participating in Operation Mac Arthur, an operation it has participated in the entire reporting period.

November 3rd 1967, Battery B is located at location at YB909121 in support of operation McArthur.

November 4, 1967, two howitzers from Battery B at location BR123552 on Highway 19 East, displaced by road to AR981653 to conduct an artillery raid in area AR8875. Intelligence indicated that this could be a VC resupply area. During the firing of 106 HE rounds two secondary explosions were observed. The Howitzers returned to the Battery location at 1630 hours.

05 November 1967, Battery B, which had two howitzers at BR036537 and four howitzers at on Highway 19 East, displaced the entire Battery (six howitzers) by road to ZB053218 Dak TO area. The Battery closed at 1815 hours with the Mission of General Support to the 4th Infantry Division, In order to insure the security of Highway 19 East. The two remaining howitzers from Battery A (-) attached to Battery B moved to BR123552. Two Howitzers from Battery C moved by road to BR036537.

13th November 1967, Battery B moved from Dak TO, ZB053218, to LZ Hambone at YB90851207. This move was accomplished through the use of CH-47 Chinook Helicopters and CH-54 Skycrane helicopters. The move was prompted by the large enemy build-up Southwest of Dak TO near the Cambodia Border. Battery B began almost immediately to play an important role in the upcoming Battle of Dak To. The Mission of Battery B was General support of the 4th Infantry Division

(From 13th November to 03 December 1967, we haven't any unclassified information regarding Battery B) 03 December 1967, Battery B moved by Chinook and Skycrane Helicopters to LZ Satan, YB853168. The Battle of Dak To was officially over and Battery B fired over 10,000 rounds since 13 November1967. Much of the firing was at night with several missions lasting over 42 hours.

DAK TO (MACV-IO) Ð

The Dak TO area is a crossroads complex in the Central Highlands Province of Kontum. Army of the Republic of Vietnam Units and elements of the U.S. Special Forces-trained Civilian Irregular Defense Group.

The Battle of Dak To began when it became apparent from intelligence reports that the North Vietnamese Army Units in the area were preparing battlefield positions from which to attack the Garrison at Dak To.

The 4TH Infantry Division immediately deployed troops (1/92 Artillery, Battery B and PLT of Battery A (-) into the area. Additional, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was sent into the area to reinforce the 4TH Infantry Division Units.

As the battlefield was developed, U.S. and ARVN troops, supported by Air Force aircraft, Army helicopter gunship and Artillery made and maintained contact with the enemy.

Breaking the enemy's thrust, the U.S. Forces then pursued his withdrawal. In addition to the pressure from the ground troops and air power and artillery, B-52 Bombers struck repeatedly at the enemy support bases and along his escape routes to the west.

U. S. and ARVN Forces in blocking positions in the northwest and northeast repulsed enemy units attempting to enter the battle area to relieve the pressure on the NVA elements under attack.

The last major engagement was Hill 875. There the NVA chose to stand and fight for four days. U.S. Troops killed over 1208 NVA troops in those four days and 275 individual weapons and 94 crew- served weapons were captured.

ORDER OF BATTLE INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:

ARVN
2nd and 3rd Airborne BN. And 42 Inf. Regt

U.S.
173rd Airborne Brigade
4th Inf. Division

NVA
24th, 32nd, 66th BN -174TH NVA Regiment