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Operation STARLITE

August 17, 1965

Operation_STARLITE
Operation_STARLITE
A Marine Aircraft Group –16 H-34 helicopter evacuates casualties during operation STARLITE while a Marine M-48 tank stands guard. (U.S. Marine Corps History Division)

In one of the first large American offensive operations of the war, elements of the U.S. 7th, 4th, and 3d Marines begin an amphibious and helicopter assault against the 1st Viet Cong Regiment in central Vietnam. It is known as Operation STARLITE and is part of the Marines’ change in primary mission from base defense toward offensive action. STARLITE lasts until August 24. The Marines, partly supported by fire from U.S. Navy vessels near the coast, inflict heavy casualties on a large enemy force in heavy fighting around Van Tuong, approximately 12 miles south of Chu Lai.
 
STARLITE is the first battle of American troops against a large main force Viet Cong unit. The U.S. force kills at least 614 enemy troops and suffers 45 Marines killed and 203 wounded.(1)
 
(1) Jack Shulimson and Charles M. Johnson, The Landing and the Buildup, 1965, U.S. Marines in Vietnam (Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division, 1978), 70–74, 80–83, states 614 Viet Cong troops killed. Tucker, ed., Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War, 658 (says that its 614 killed and that Marines lost 45.