Operation Crazy Horse
| Operation Crazy Horse | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Vietnam War | |||||||
map of the Vinh Thanh valley and Operation Crazy Horse | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
|
United States South Vietnam South Korea | Viet Cong | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
MG John Norton Col. John J. Hennessey | unknown | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division | 2nd Regiment | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
79 killed 1 missing 8 killed: 227–8 14 killed: 227–8 |
US body count: 478 killed PAVN claim: 152 killed | ||||||
Operation Crazy Horse (16 May to 5 June 1966), named after Lakota warrior Crazy Horse, was a search and destroy mission during the Vietnam War conducted by military forces of the United States, South Vietnam, and South Korea in two valleys in Bình Định Province of South Vietnam.
The objective of the operation was to destroy the Viet Cong (VC) 2nd Regiment (approximately 2,000 men) believed to be in the area and thereby prevent an attack on the Vinh Thanh Civilian Irregular Defense Group camp. The U.S. forces had the continuing objective of protecting Highway 19 and the base camp of the 1st Cavalry Division at An Khe from harassment by the VC.