JUNE 19, 1969. ATTACK ON FIRE SUPPORT BASE TOMAHAWK.

On the night of 19 June elements of the 72nd Sapper Company, 4th North Vietnamese Army Regiment attacked Fire Base Tomahawk (ZD 113009)—located on QL-1 in Phu Loc District—occupied by 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry and C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery (155). Enemy elements—as was indicated in later prisoner of war interrogation and captured documents—had made a thorough reconnaissance of the fire base for several days to detect weak spots in the perimeter’s defenses. At approximately 0130 hours the Infantry command post located in the southern most portion of the fire base received the primary thrust of the sapper attack. Mortar and RPG rounds poured in from the eastern and southern portions of the perimeter and onto the infantry and artillery command posts as the enemy breached the wire in these areas. Once inside the wire, the sappers moved to key locations destroying bunkers, exposed equipment and artillery positions. At 0230 hours the platoon leader of 1/C/2-501 organized a small force to regain control of the command post. ARA and med-evacs were on call throughout the night as was a reaction force organized by the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry. At 0330 hours the main attack on FB Tomahawk ceased while harassing fire continued until 0530 hours. At 0430 two platoons from B Company, 1-327th were moved from FB Roy to blocking positions to the south of FB Tomahawk. At 0550 hours the Reconnaissance Platoon, 1-327th was lifted onto FB Tomahawk and swept across the overrun command post to the southwest, but failed to find signs of enemy activity. At first light elements of C/1-327th were airlifted into the fire base and also swept to the south and southeast where they found staging positions for the attack as well as cached rucksacks. The losses suffered by the enemy were seventeen killed and one prisoner of war; casualties suffered by friendly forces were thirteen killed and fifty wounded. In addition, three 155mm howitzers were destroyed and one rendered inoperative. [309, p.98] See image and article below from the VFW Magazine May 2010.
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Image: National Guard’s Deadliest Days in Vietnam.