Squadron History, July 1970

2nd Squadron, 17 Cavalry (Airmobile), Unit History for 1970.

The first week of July, A Troop continued its reconnaissance of the Khe Sanh Plains and surrounding highlands and provided a pink team daily to the 3rd Brigade. B and C Troop concentrated on reconnaissance, bomb damage assessment and artillery and airstrike adjustments in the A Shau Valley and southern reconnaissance zones. On 6 July, Headquarters Troop moved and established a forward CP at Quang Tri. The following day the remainder of the Squadron closed on Quang Tri Army Airfield with their air and ground assets. The second major Squadron operation was under way.

Having destroyed part of the 66th Regiment he previous month, the 2/17th Cavalry was targeted against the 9th Regiment believed to have first arrived in south Vietnam from its sanctuaries in Laos. At approximately 1130H on 8 July; a pink team, while conducting a visual reconnaissance in the FSB Snapper area, observed 150-200 NVA in the open moving along a fresh, well-beaten trail. The enemy was immediately engaged by the Cobra gunship. Additional pink team gunships and AIR were requested. In the initial engagement 50 NVA were killed. One hour later ten more NVA were killed by helicopters in the same area. Continuing to recon the area, the pink teams observed groups of ten to twenty NVA, separated by 100-200 meters all along the trail. The enemy was wearing green uniforms, with helmets, and were carrying rice rolls and assault rifles and carbines. At 1358H, Delta Troop and the Aero-rifle platoon of A Troop were inserted at the point of initial contact to sweep the area and capture a prisoner. The element placed a number of rugsacks and enemy equipment on landing zone, on the trail UH-1H as it off loaded the last of D Troop personnel.

Tue element was immediately extracted to Quang Tri where initial readout identified the enemy as elements of the 9th NVA Regiment.

On 9 July, the Squadron continued to conduct visual reconnaissance of the area resulting in two NVA/KIA vicinity FSB Snapper. That evening a wounded NVA was captured and evacuated to the 18th Surgical Hospital where he later died of wounds. Two hours later a LOH extracted a Hai Charh who was taken to Quang Tri for interrogation. In reaction to this activity, operation Clinch Valley, was initiated.

Elements of the 3rd Brigade opened FSB Shepard and two battalions of the 3rd Regiment (ARVN) assaulted into FSB Smith. This started the reconnaissance in force, which the Squadron with extensive aerial gunship cover.

While the 1st and 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment (ARVN) continued to operate in the area, both A paid B Troops checked possible infiltration routes into the battle area and possible escape routes used by the enemy. Operation Chionh Valley closed on 13 July, with the Squadron credited with 214 confirmed enemy KIA. As the finished Headquarters and B Troop moved back to Camp Eagle to continue their mission.