Battle of Lima Site 85

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Date	March 10-March 11, 1968
Location	Phou Pha Thi, Laos
Result	• Decisive North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao Victory • Evacuation of Lima Site 85

Combatants

United States
Thailand
Hmong guerillas

North Vietnam
Pathet Lao

Commanders

Vang Pao

Vo Nguyen Giap

Strength

1,300+

3,000+

Casualties

11 Americans dead,
42 Thai and Hmong

Unknown

Vietnam War
Ap Bac – Binh Gia – Song Be – Dong Xoai – Ia Drang – Long Tan – Dak To – Tra Binh Dong –Ong Thanh – 1st Tet – Khe Sanh – 1st Saigon – Lang Vei – Hills 881 & 861 – 2nd Tet – Hamburger Hill – Binh Ba – Ripcord – Lam Son 719 – FSB Mary Ann – Easter '72 – An Loc – Kontum – Phuoc Long – Ho Chi Minh – Buon Me Thuot – Xuan Loc – 2nd Saigon – Barrell Roll – Rolling Thunder – Pony Express – Steel Tiger – Commando Hunt – Linebacker I – Linebacker II – Chenla I – Tiger Hound – Lima Site 85 – Tailwind – Chenla II – Cambodia

The Battle of Lima Site 85 was a battle of the Vietnam War. Lima Site 85 was located in Phou Pha Thi- 15 miles from the North Vietnamese border and 30 miles from Sam Neua, capital of the Pathet Lao.

As part of the secret war to disrupt the North Vietnamese war effort, the United States Air Force launched Operation Pony Express in 1967 to set up a radar station in Laos that would aid U.S air attacks against North Vietnam.

The first North Vietnamese attack on Lima Site 85 occurred on January 12 when three VPAF An-2 Colt dropped their bomb loads on the site, those biplanes were vulnerable so two were shot down by Air America helicopters while the third crashed into a mountain. The failure of the mission did not deter the North Vietnamese.

On March 10, 1968, the VPA 766th Regiment launched their formal attack with heavy artillery and infantry assault. During the night as North Vietnamese sapper commandos scaled the 5,600 foot mountain, the infantry units fought their way up the slopes to create a diversion. The Americans were taken by surprise when 33 sappers appeared with submachine guns and RPG-7s, several Americans were killed and their bodies were dumped over the cliff.

Through the night, F-4 fighters and A-26 bombers repeatedly hitting the attackers, at the same time, Air America were ready to evacuate the survivors. By morning, the USAF and Air America operations had airlifted out the surviving American personnel and the wounded combatants, the Hmong and Thai defenders abandoned the area as Phou Pha Thi fell to the Communist forces.

CMSgt Richard Etchberger was awarded the Air Force Cross for his efforts during the Battle of Lima Site 85.¹