OCTOBEH 1969 – JAHUARY 1970
In late 1969 and into the first months of 1970, as part of President Nixon’s “Vietnamization” efforts, selected units of the 1st Air Cav mated up with ARVN airborne brigades to develop the South Vietnamese airborne division into an airmobile strike force. Pressure was placed on the Cambodian border in III Corps in an effort to neutralize the enemy and “level the playing field” for eventual ARVN takeover.
The 1/9 became especially busy with screening operations, traveling light and fast in the air and on the ground to interdict foot, bike, cart, and truck traffic on the interlocking maze of the “Ho Chi Minh Trail.” Division patrols penetrated deep into uncharted territory to scout out the trails and bunker complexes and report on enemy movement.
Behind the air and foot patrols came airmobile companies and platoons of the division’s brigades, many of which were integrated with ARVN paratroopers. They established temporary fire bases as launching points for deeper penetrations. Once ops were firmly established, the fire bases were closed and fresh ones opened in new territory. The goal was to run the NVA and VC completely out of III Corps, especially in the northwestern area and its corridors leading to Saigon. It was dangerous business, pushed forward beneath an umbrella of B-52 bombers, fighter bombers, aerial artillery, and helicopters.