The First Infantry Division in Vietnam

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Vietnam
Surnames/tags: First Infantry Division Vietnam War

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BY Robert Ellinger author, Manager

The First Infantry Division in Vietnam

Contents 1 Overview 2 Arrival and Departure 3 Area of Operation 4 Unit Composition of the Big Red One 5 Major Battles 5.1 1965 5.2 1966 5.3 1967 5.4 1968 5.5 1969 5.6 1970 6 Individual Stories 7 Photos

Overview

This is the start of a page for The Big Red One serving in Vietnam. I hope other members of the 1st Infantry will provide information, share stories and share photos of their experience while in country. Please provide feedback if you have any ideas as to how this page should be set up or if you would like to become a member of this page. As of now Mary Richardson and myself, Robert Ellinger are the only members, and we could use all the help we can get.

If you would like to join as a member, you can post a comment on this page, in G2G by using the project tag or send a private message to Robert Ellinger or Mary Richardson.

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Arrival and Departure

The Big Red One was one of the first two American Divisions sent to defend the Republic of Vietnam. They arrived in July of 1965 and began operations within two weeks. The division departed Vietnam in April of 1970 and the colors were returned to Fort Riley. During its deployment 11 members were awarded the Medal of Honor, 6,146 members were killed in action, 16, 019 members were wounded and twenty were taken as prisoners of war.

Area of Operation

The area of operation was known as III Corps located northwest of Saigon to the Cambodian border. It took in areas such as the Iron Triangle, the Michelin Plantation, Highway 13, Loc Ninh, An Loc, Phuoc Vinh, the Trapezoid, Quan Loi, Lai Khe, Di An, Phu Loi and many others. Division Headquarters were located at Bien Hoa 1965-1966, Di An 1966-1967, Di An & Lai Khe 1967, Lai Khe 1967-1969 and Di An 1969-1970.

Unit Composition of the Big Red One

Major Battles

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

Individual Stories

Photos

Rules for adding photos.

1. Describe what the photo is depicting or where it was taken.
2. Photos that you took should be identified as Personal Photo Collection of (your name).
3. No copyrighted photos may displayed.
4. If an image is used from a free source that approves its use, identify where it came from.

The First Infantry Division in Vietnam Image 2

Sources:

• https://www.fdmuseum.org/about-the-1st-infantry-division/history-of-the-first-division/#:~:text=the%201st%20Division-,Vietnam,the%20jungles%20northwest%20of%20Saigon

• https://www.fdmuseum.org/collection/online-exhibits/vietnam-war/
• https://www.1id.army.mil/About-Us/Mission-History/