Operation Starlite

Operation Starlite (August 1965) was the first large-scale US ground operation in Vietnam. The target of the operation was the 1st Viet Cong Regiment, reported to be at a strength of about 1,500 men, that had been located in the Van Tuong village complex. The attack force was under the command of the 7th Marines and consisted of the 2d Battalion, 4th Marines and the 3d Battalion, 3d Marines from Chu Lai, and the 1st and 3d Battalions of the 7th Marines from the Special Landing Force. Starlite began on August 18, 1965, with 2/4 and 3/3 leading the dawn attack. The 3d Battalion, 7th Marines landed by helicopter and over the beach later that day; 1/7 joined the operation on August 20. At the completion of Operation Starlite on August 24, 1965, 613 Viet Cong had been killed at the cost of 17 Marines killed and 203 wounded.