Operation SWIFT Begins

In Operation SWIFT, units from the U.S. 5th Marines engage elements of the North Vietnamese 2d Division northwest of Tam Ky in the southern part of I Corps. The U.S. Marines anticipate that with upcoming South Vietnamese national elections, the Communists will try to increase their forces in the area. Their objective in Operation SWIFT is to find and eliminate Communist forces to prevent any disruption, and deny them access to food from the area’s extensive rice farms. The operation ends on September 15 after the Marines temporarily curtail Communist activity in the area.¹