2nd Marine Brigade (Republic of Korea)
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Marine Division, notably known as Blue Dragon (청룡), is an infantry division of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps
.
Nguyen Cao Ky
requested military aid from the Republic of Korea. To support South Vietnam from communist North Vietnam
, Korea State Council agreed to send a Division and its supporting units on July 2, and National Assembly of South Korea
made final decision to send troops on August 13.
On August 17, the Republic of Korea Marine Corps
attached various battalions, companies, and platoons to the 2nd Marine Regiment to increase its size to a brigade. The Marine Corps originally planned battalion to regiment size unit, but reports from Vietnam said that separating army and Marines was more appropriate to operate.
With President Park Chung-hee
in attendance, the 2nd Marine Brigade was formally activated at the Marine Corps training camp at Pohang
on September 20, 1965.
in September 1965, but in December moved to Tuy Hoa
to provide security against the NVA 95th Regiment.
In August 1966, the Blue Dragons moved to Chu Lai
and was placed under the operational control of the III MAF. Under an arrangement with the USMC, air assets would be provided to the brigade and assigned the same priority for available aircraft as American units. A team from Subunit One, 1st ANGLICO was dispatched and charged with the mission of keeping an air umbrella over the Blue Dragon Brigade in and out of the field. A two man fire control team was assigned to each ROKMC infantry company at all times.
Initially, the AK-47
-equipped Vietcong and NVA outgunned Korean soldiers, since they were armed with World War II-era weaponry (M1 Garand
and M1 carbine
). However, they soon received more modern weapons from the United States military such as the M16 rifle
.
Significant operations and actions involving the Brigade include:
Most of the operations never exceeded battalion-size, but they also conducted divisional size operations. Before conducting missions, the Marines laid out their plans much more carefully than their allies, with greater fire discipline, effective use of fire support, and better coordination of sub-units. They also had to their favor the distinguished combat leadership of the company and platoon commanders. During village searches, ROK soldiers would subject the settlement to a series of detailed sweeps while interrogating subjects on the spot. By comparison, American units tended to favor a single sweep followed by a removal of all civilians for screening. Such a painstaking approach paid dividends in terms of weapons seizures and reduced VC activity in ROK areas. Koreans quickly learned pidgin Vietnamese language; for fear that most Vietnamese translators were spies for Vietcong and NVA. Koreans also had better field intelligence than their American counterparts. Koreans conducted counterinsurgency operations so well that American commanders felt that the Korean TAOR (Tactical Area of Responsibility) was the safest. This was further supported when Vietcong documents captured after the Tet Offensive warned their compatriots to never engage Koreans until full victory was certain. In fact, it was often that the NVA and Vietcong were ambushed by Koreans and not vice versa.
The ROK Marines were experts at locating enemy weapons caches. The official U.S. report on South Korean participation in Vietnam states that "The enemy feared the Koreans both for their tactical innovations and for the soldiers' tenacity... The Koreans might not suffer many casualties, might not get too many of the enemy on an operation, but when they brought in seventy-five or a hundred weapons, the Americans wondered where in the world they got them. They appeared to have a natural nose for picking up enemy weapons that were, as far as the enemy thought, securely cached away. Considered opinion was that it was good the Koreans were 'friendlies.'"
The U.S. Army manual on Korean participation in Vietnam also states that "the Koreans were thorough in their planning and deliberate in their execution of a plan. They usually surrounded an area by stealth and quick movement. While the count of enemy killed was probably no greater proportionately than that of similar US combat units, the thoroughness with which the Koreans searched any area they fought in was attested to by the fact that the Koreans usually came out with a much higher weaponry count than US troops engaged in similar actions."
A total of 320,000 Koreans served in Vietnam, with a peak strength (of any given time) at around 48,000. About 4,000 were killed.
Republic of Korea Marine Corps
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Republic of Korea...
.
History
On June 1, 1965, Prime Minister of South VietnamSouth Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
Nguyen Cao Ky
Nguyen Cao Ky
Nguyễn Cao Kỳ served as the chief of the Vietnam Air Force in the 1960s, before leading the nation as the prime minister of South Vietnam in a military junta from 1965 to 1967...
requested military aid from the Republic of Korea. To support South Vietnam from communist North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
, Korea State Council agreed to send a Division and its supporting units on July 2, and National Assembly of South Korea
National Assembly of South Korea
The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is a 299-member unicameral legislature. The latest general elections were held on April 9, 2008. Single-member constituencies comprise 245 of the National Assembly's seats, while the remaining 54 are allocated by proportional representation...
made final decision to send troops on August 13.
On August 17, the Republic of Korea Marine Corps
Republic of Korea Marine Corps
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Republic of Korea...
attached various battalions, companies, and platoons to the 2nd Marine Regiment to increase its size to a brigade. The Marine Corps originally planned battalion to regiment size unit, but reports from Vietnam said that separating army and Marines was more appropriate to operate.
With President Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee was a Republic of Korea Army general and the leader of South Korea from 1961 to 1979. He seized power in a military coup and ruled until his assassination in 1979. He has been credited with the industrialization of the Republic of Korea through export-led growth...
in attendance, the 2nd Marine Brigade was formally activated at the Marine Corps training camp at Pohang
Pohang
Pohang is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, and a main seaport in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The built-up area of Pohang is located on the alluvium of the mouth of the Hyeongsan River...
on September 20, 1965.
Vietnam War
The Blue Dragons were initially deployed to Cam Ranh BayCam Ranh Bay
Cam Ranh Bay is a deep-water bay in Vietnam in the province of Khánh Hòa. It is located at an inlet of the South China Sea situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Nha Trang, approximately 290 kilometers / 180 miles northeast of Hồ Chí Minh City / Saigon.Cam Ranh is...
in September 1965, but in December moved to Tuy Hoa
Tuy Hoa
Tuy Hòa is the capital city of Phu Yen province in south-central Vietnam. The city has the total area of 107 km2 and the population of 262 000 ....
to provide security against the NVA 95th Regiment.
In August 1966, the Blue Dragons moved to Chu Lai
Chu Lai
Chu Lai is a sea port, urban and industrial area in Dung Quat Bay, Núi Thành district, Quang Nam province of Vietnam. The city is served by Chu Lai Airport.-Vietnam War:...
and was placed under the operational control of the III MAF. Under an arrangement with the USMC, air assets would be provided to the brigade and assigned the same priority for available aircraft as American units. A team from Subunit One, 1st ANGLICO was dispatched and charged with the mission of keeping an air umbrella over the Blue Dragon Brigade in and out of the field. A two man fire control team was assigned to each ROKMC infantry company at all times.
Initially, the AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
-equipped Vietcong and NVA outgunned Korean soldiers, since they were armed with World War II-era weaponry (M1 Garand
M1 Garand
The M1 Garand , was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. Called "the greatest battle implement ever devised" by General George S...
and M1 carbine
M1 Carbine
The M1 carbine is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S...
). However, they soon received more modern weapons from the United States military such as the M16 rifle
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
.
Significant operations and actions involving the Brigade include:
- Operation Lightning in Khanh Hoa ProvinceKhanh Hoa ProvinceKhánh Hòa is a province of Vietnam, located in the South Central Coast. It has a population of 1,066,300 and spans an area of 5,197 km². Its capital is Nha Trang...
from 8 to 14 November 1965 - Operation Jefferson, with the ARVN 47th Regiment in Phu Yen Province from 1 to 18 January 1966 results in 391 VC killed
- Operation Flying Tiger in early January 1966 results in 192 VC killed for the loss of 11 ROK.
- Operation Van Buren, a rice harvest security operation with the 101st Airborne Division101st Airborne DivisionThe 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
and ARVN in Phu Yen province from 19 January to 21 February 1966 results in 679 VC killed for the loss of 45 ROK - Operation Filmore, with the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division101st Airborne DivisionThe 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
and ARVN 47th Regiment in the vicinity of Tuy HoaTuy HoaTuy Hòa is the capital city of Phu Yen province in south-central Vietnam. The city has the total area of 107 km2 and the population of 262 000 ....
, Phu Yen Province from 24 March to 21 July 1966 results in 373 VC killed for the loss of 20 ROK - Operation Longstreet, an engineering security operation in Binh DinhBinh Dinh ProvinceBình Định is a province of Vietnam. It is located in Vietnam's South Central Coast region.-Administration:Binh Dinh is divided into one city and 10 districts:*An Lão*An Nhơn*Hoài Ân*Hoài Nhơn*Phù Cát*Phù Mỹ*Tuy Phước*Tây Sơn*Vân Canh...
and Phu Yen Provinces - Operation Lee, with the ARVN 4th Regiment in Quang Ngai ProvinceQuang Ngai ProvinceQuảng Ngãi is a province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam, on the coast of South China Sea. It is located 883 km south of Hanoi and 838 km north of Ho Chi Minh City.-History:...
from 3 to 10 October 1966- Binh Tai massacreBinh Tai massacreThe Binh Tai massacre was a massacre conducted by the South Korean Forces on 9 October 1966 of 68 citizens in Binh Tai village, Phuoc Binh of Song Be Province in South Vietnam.-Investigation:...
on 9 October 1966.
- Binh Tai massacre
- Operation Dragon Eye, a search and destroy operation in Quang Ngai provinceQuang Ngai ProvinceQuảng Ngãi is a province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam, on the coast of South China Sea. It is located 883 km south of Hanoi and 838 km north of Ho Chi Minh City.-History:...
from 9 to 27 November 1966 results in 154 VC killed for the loss of 38 ROK - Battle of Tra Binh DongBattle of Tra Binh DongThe Battle of Tra Binh Dong was probably the most famous battle fought by the South Korean Marines during the Vietnam War. It was fought in the Tra Binh Dong village near the border of Cambodia in February 1967. The battle took place after a Viet Cong defector, former commander of a training camp,...
- on 15 February 1967, 11th Company of the Blue Dragons was dug in near the village of Tra Binh Dong in Quang Nam ProvinceQuang Nam ProvinceQuảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
when they were attacked by an estimated 3 VC Battalions supported by heavy mortar and recoilless rifle fire. The VC launched secondary attacks on each flank of the company before attacking with one Battalion against the Company center, breaching the perimeter and using flamethrowers and bangalore torpedoes against the Company's bunkers. The Company counterattacked and with the aid of a Korean Marine quick reaction company helidropped into the position succeeded in driving back the VC killing 243. - Operation Giant Dragon in Quang Ngai ProvinceQuang Ngai ProvinceQuảng Ngãi is a province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam, on the coast of South China Sea. It is located 883 km south of Hanoi and 838 km north of Ho Chi Minh City.-History:...
from 17 to 22 February results in 16 VC killed and 61 weapons captured - Operation Dragon FireOperation Dragon Fire*For the 1967 Vietnam War operation list of allied military operations of the Vietnam War*For the 2007 Iraq War operation list of coalition military operations of the Iraq War...
in Quang Ngai ProvinceQuang Ngai ProvinceQuảng Ngãi is a province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam, on the coast of South China Sea. It is located 883 km south of Hanoi and 838 km north of Ho Chi Minh City.-History:...
from 5 September to 30 October 1967 kills 541 VC - Phong Nhi and Phong Nhat massacrePhong Nhi and Phong Nhat massacreThe Phong Nhi and Phong Nhat massacre was a massacre conducted by the 2nd Marine Brigade of the South Korean Marines on 12 February 1968 of unarmed citizens in Phong Nhi and Phong Nhat village, Dien Ban District of Quang Nam Province in South Vietnam....
in Quang Nam ProvinceQuang Nam ProvinceQuảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
on 12 February 1968. - Ha My massacreHa My massacreThe Ha My massacre was a massacre conducted by the South Korean Marines on 25 February 1968 of unarmed citizens in Ha My village, Quang Nam in South Vietnam. The victims were 135 women, children and elders from the thirty households...
in Quang Nam ProvinceQuang Nam ProvinceQuảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
on 25 February 1968. - Operation Daring Rebel, a search and destroy operation with the ARVN 2nd Division2nd Division (South Vietnam)The 2nd Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam —the army of the nation state of South Vietnam that existed from 1955 to 1975—was part of the I Corps that oversaw the northernmost region of South Vietnam, the centre of Vietnam....
and US forces on Barrier Island 24 km south of Danang Binh Dinh ProvinceBinh Dinh ProvinceBình Định is a province of Vietnam. It is located in Vietnam's South Central Coast region.-Administration:Binh Dinh is divided into one city and 10 districts:*An Lão*An Nhơn*Hoài Ân*Hoài Nhơn*Phù Cát*Phù Mỹ*Tuy Phước*Tây Sơn*Vân Canh...
from 5 to 20 May 1969 results in 4 VC killed - Operation Defiant Stand, an amphibious assault with the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines on 7 September 1969. This was the first amphibious assault ever conducted by the Republic of Korea Marine Corps
- Operation Hoang Dieu 101 with III MAF and the ARVN 51st Regiment in Quang Nam ProvinceQuang Nam ProvinceQuảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
from 17 December 1970 to 19 January 1971 results in 538 NVA killed - Operation Golden Dragon II, a clear and search operation in Quang Nam ProvinceQuang Nam ProvinceQuảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
from 4 to 21 January 1971 - Operation Hoang Dieu 103 with III MAF and the ARVN 51st Regiment in Quang Nam ProvinceQuang Nam ProvinceQuảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
from 3 February to 10 March 1971
Most of the operations never exceeded battalion-size, but they also conducted divisional size operations. Before conducting missions, the Marines laid out their plans much more carefully than their allies, with greater fire discipline, effective use of fire support, and better coordination of sub-units. They also had to their favor the distinguished combat leadership of the company and platoon commanders. During village searches, ROK soldiers would subject the settlement to a series of detailed sweeps while interrogating subjects on the spot. By comparison, American units tended to favor a single sweep followed by a removal of all civilians for screening. Such a painstaking approach paid dividends in terms of weapons seizures and reduced VC activity in ROK areas. Koreans quickly learned pidgin Vietnamese language; for fear that most Vietnamese translators were spies for Vietcong and NVA. Koreans also had better field intelligence than their American counterparts. Koreans conducted counterinsurgency operations so well that American commanders felt that the Korean TAOR (Tactical Area of Responsibility) was the safest. This was further supported when Vietcong documents captured after the Tet Offensive warned their compatriots to never engage Koreans until full victory was certain. In fact, it was often that the NVA and Vietcong were ambushed by Koreans and not vice versa.
The ROK Marines were experts at locating enemy weapons caches. The official U.S. report on South Korean participation in Vietnam states that "The enemy feared the Koreans both for their tactical innovations and for the soldiers' tenacity... The Koreans might not suffer many casualties, might not get too many of the enemy on an operation, but when they brought in seventy-five or a hundred weapons, the Americans wondered where in the world they got them. They appeared to have a natural nose for picking up enemy weapons that were, as far as the enemy thought, securely cached away. Considered opinion was that it was good the Koreans were 'friendlies.'"
The U.S. Army manual on Korean participation in Vietnam also states that "the Koreans were thorough in their planning and deliberate in their execution of a plan. They usually surrounded an area by stealth and quick movement. While the count of enemy killed was probably no greater proportionately than that of similar US combat units, the thoroughness with which the Koreans searched any area they fought in was attested to by the fact that the Koreans usually came out with a much higher weaponry count than US troops engaged in similar actions."
A total of 320,000 Koreans served in Vietnam, with a peak strength (of any given time) at around 48,000. About 4,000 were killed.
Order of battle during Vietnam War
2nd Marine Brigade-
- Direct Control Company
- 1st Marine Battalion
- 2nd Marine Battalion
- 3rd Marine Battalion
- 5th Marine Battalion
- 2nd Field Artillery Battalion
- 628th Field Artillery A Unit (Army)
Unit statistics for the Vietnam War
| Start Date | End Date | Deployed | Combat | KIA | WIA | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officer | Non-officer | Total | Large | Small | Total | Officer | Non-officer | Total | Officer | Non-officer | Total | ||
| October 9, 1965 | February 24, 1972 | 2,166 | 35,174 | 37,340 | 175 | 151,347 | 151,522 | 42 | 1,160 | 1,202 | 99 | 2,805 | 2,904 |
After Vietnam War
After returning from the Vietnam War, the 2nd Marine Brigade was expanded and restructured as 2nd Marine Division.See also
- Republic of Korea Armed Forces
- Republic of Korea Marine CorpsRepublic of Korea Marine CorpsThe Republic of Korea Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Republic of Korea...
- Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
- Battle of Tra Binh DongBattle of Tra Binh DongThe Battle of Tra Binh Dong was probably the most famous battle fought by the South Korean Marines during the Vietnam War. It was fought in the Tra Binh Dong village near the border of Cambodia in February 1967. The battle took place after a Viet Cong defector, former commander of a training camp,...
- Capital Mechanized Infantry Division
- 9th Infantry Division
- Kim Ki TaeKim Ki TaeKim Ki-tae is a reserve Republic of Korean Marine Colonel. Kim was known as a confessor of some civilian massacres of the Vietnam War.-Vietnam war:...