3rd Battalion Rock Troop Ops - 1971
Reprinted from:
Military.Com Unit Pages - June
27, 2002
Bulletin Board for 173rd
Airborne Brigade
In early 1971 3rd Bat. deployed to An Khe.
Numerous combat and recon operations were conducted by the Rock Troopers
including many night ambush missions. The relentless Skysoldier's
efforts severely hampered the movement of VC and NVA forces using the
well established Ho Chi Minh trails. Such operations conducted through
the monsoon season day and night provided security for the local
population of that region. One such notable operation was conducted by a
7-member 3rd Bat. recon team, eliminating 11 enemy VC/NVA and capturing
numerous weapons. In March of 1971 the battle weary battalion left LZ
English and relocated their Tactical Operations Center (TOC) to LZ
Uplift. With support from the well known Casper Platoon Huey Slicks, the
Rock Troops conducted combat operations in the Phu My, Hoai An, and Hoai
Nhon Districts. The infamous 3rd Battalion Skysoldiers saw combat in the
Tiger Mountains, "Happy" Valley, the Nui Mieu, and Binh Dinh Province in
major operations such as "Greene Lightning", "Green Storm", and "Greene
Sure". Later in 1971 the 173d Airborne Brigade left Viet Nam with its'
colors to return to Fort Campbell/Kentucky and left yet another legend
for the recently re-activated brigade to carry on.