7 April 2024 M14 Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

Operation Prairie - Hill 484 in Vietnam, October 1966.



Operation Prairie was a U.S. military operation in Qu?ng Tr? Province, South Vietnam that sought to eliminate People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Over the course of late 1965 and early 1966 the Viet Cong (VC) and the PAVN intensified their military threat along the DMZ. The tactical goal of these incursions was to draw United States military forces away from cities and towns.

Casualties and losses
3rd Marine Division
226 killed
At least 5 helicopters were shot down

NVA 324B Division
US body count: 1,329 killed
1,713 estimated killed
27 captured
248 weapons recovered

[Ovidio]

Pretty heavy toll…

[CINDERS]

Sadly Ovidio any war is a grim reaper, battlefield casualties in the first 24 hours of the "Battle Of The Somme" British casualties on that first day were the worst in the history of the British Army, with 57,470 casualties, 19,240 of whom were killed.
I am not sure if this includes MIA or is it after a set period is the soldier who is MIA declared KIA. (Trying to learn more.)

[Ovidio]

Yes, I understand… But after WWI and WWII, hundreds of KIA for western armies always feel very akward… or even out of context. I know that it is foolish, but I can see all of these guys at school, in church, on a town’s road…