Battle of Trà Bình
Battle of Trà Bình
On February 14–15, 1967, in Trà Bình village, Trà Bồng District, Quảng Ngãi, South Vietnam, PAVN/VC forces attacked a South Korean Marine base defended by the 11th Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Brigade. The assault followed intelligence from a defector who revealed plans to target the ROK unit.
PAVN/VC strength included the 40th and 60th Battalions and a VC local force battalion. The ROK Marines, dug in, fought with all available weapons, including mortars and bayonets, as they bore the main defense. U.S. forces, specifically Sub Unit One of the 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), helped coordinate air support and artillery and joined a counterattack to restore the perimeter. Fog prevented AC-47 gunships from providing air support at dawn, leaving artillery as the primary aid.
The fighting lasted about four hours. The Koreans eventually repelled the attack and defended the base.
Casualties and outcomes:
- ROK casualties: about 15 killed
- PAVN/VC casualties: about 246 killed (ROK claimed)
- Weapons recovered: 30 enemy weapons
PAVN/VC claimed heavy casualties but did not publish a precise number. The battle is remembered in South Korea as a significant victory, with high honors awarded to participants, including the Taeguk Medal for Captain Jeong Kyung-jin and Second Lieutenant Shin Won-bae.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 01:55 (CET).