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Map of Double Eagle
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Operation Double Eagle was part of a coordinated US Army, US Marines and ARVN offensive that was targeted at a buildup of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese army units on the border of I Corps and II Corps. "Double Eagle" was the designation of the Marine Corps portion of the operation and "Masher" designated the 1st Air Cavalry segment. Intelligence estimates indicated that over 6,000 of the enemy were in the area. In the I Corps area, the Marine force included the 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, the 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, the 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, and a portion of the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines. They were reinforced by the ARVN 2d Division. In the II Corps, the Army 1st Air Cavalry Division operated with the assistance of the ARVN 22d Division. Fire support was provided by Marine and Army artillery units as well as by naval gunfire. The combined operation commenced on January 24, 1966; Double Eagle ended on February 19, and Masher was terminated on March 6. Over 900 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops were killed during the operation.
This illustration is from US Marines in Vietnam, an Expanding War, 1965, Jack Shulimson, History and Museums Division, Headquarters, US Marine Corps, Washington, DC, 1982.
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