A combined airmobile operation by the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AM) in coordination with the 3d ARVN Regiment to locate and destroy forces, installations, equipment and supplies of the 5th NVA Regiment in the Thua Thien Province. Contact during the operation was light and sporadic, primarily initiated by friendly troops engaging enemy trail watchers, snipers and rice gathering parties. Enemy initiated contacts were indirect fire attacks on allied positions, small delaying actions and sabotage of the Hue-Da Nang Railroad. As allied operations intensified, the enemy withdrew south out of the 1st Brigade area of operation and west into LAOS, thus reducing their efforts to gather rice and support from the populated areas of the southern Thua Thien Province. The operation, through it did not locate or destroy the 5th NVA Regiment, did indicate the lack of large groups of enemy forces operating in the 1st Brigade area of operations.
(HQ, 101st ABN DIV; Operation Report, Lessons Learned for Period Ending 31 October 1969; 19 November 1969)
Unit(s) tasked organized or under brigade control: 2-502 IN BN
Operation Cumberland Thunder commenced on 08 August 1969 and terminated on 28 September 1969.
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