Battle of Gang Toi

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Battle of Gang Toi

Date	November 8, 1965
Location	Gang Toi Hills, South Vietnam
Result	Viet Cong Victory

Combatants

Viet Cong

Australia

Commanders

Unknown

John Healy

Casualties

Unknown

6 wounded
2 missing presumed dead

Vietnam War
Ap Bac – Binh Gia –Pleiku – Song Be – Dong Xoai – Gang Toi – Ia Drang – Hastings – A Shau – Duc Co –Long Tan – Attleboro – Cedar Falls – Tra Binh Dong – Junction City – Hill 881 – Ong Thanh – Dak To – 1st Tet – Khe Sanh – 1st Saigon – Hue – Lang Vei – Lima Site 85 – Kham Duc – Dewey Canyon – 2nd Tet – Hamburger Hill – Binh Ba – Cambodia – Snuol – FSB Ripcord – Lam Son 719 – Ban Dong –FSB Mary Ann – Easter '72 – 1st Quang Tri –Loc Ninh – An Loc – Kontum – 2nd Quang Tri –Phuoc Long – Ho Chi Minh – Buon Me Thuot – Xuan Loc – Truong Sa –2nd Saigon – Rolling Thunder – Barrell Roll – Pony Express – Steel Tiger – Tiger Hound – Tailwind – Commando Hunt – Linebacker I – Linebacker II – Chenla I – Chenla II – SS Mayagüez

The Battle of Gang Toi was fought on November 8, 1965. It was one of the first engagements between Australian and Viet Cong troops during the conflict.

The battle occurred when the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, struck a Viet Cong bunker system in the Gang Toi Hills while in support of Operation Hump.

[edit] Summary

In June of 1965 the 1RAR arrived at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam, where it was placed under the command of the United States 173d Airborne Brigade.

On November 5, 1965, the 1RAR joined the 1st/503d Battalion of the 173d Airborne Brigade in Operation Hump, a routine search and destroy mission in War Zone D about 40km from Saigon. While the 1st Royal Australian Regiment were deployed from the south of the Dong Nai River, American units were conducting a helicopter assault up north.

During the initial engagements it had became obvious that a large Viet Cong regiment were in the area, outnumbering the combined American and Australian forces. On November 8 as American soldiers were closing in on Hill-65, A Company of the 1RAR were pushing deeper into the Gang Toi Hills. Suddenly the leading Australian platoon were pinned down by VC fire when they struck a well-prepared and strongly-defended Viet Cong bunker system. Five Australian soldiers were immediately wounded and all managed to withdrew, except for Lance Corporal Richard "Tiny" Parker.

Major John Healy, A Company commander, ordered another platoon to attack the enemy bunker from the flank. As the Australians continued the advance they were caught in the open under intense enemy fire, this time Private Peter Gillson was hit by a burst of machinegun fire when he stepped around the roots of a tree. Under heavy fire, Sergeant Colin Fawcet attempted to pulled Private Gillson out but was forced to move back without success.

At risk of being overwhelmed and under heavy enemy fire, Major John Healy was forced to break contact and withdraw leaving behind two Australian casualties. The decision to withdraw without evacuating the two Australians had caused much anger and sadness in the unit. A full battalion attack on Gang Toi Hills was planned but was never carried out.

[edit] Operation Aussies Home

Operation Aussies Home was set up by veteran Jim Bourke with the purpose of finding the two missing Australians- Lance Corporal Richard "Tiny" Parker and Private Peter Gillson.