This plaque is dedicated to Marines and Corpsmen who served with 3rd Battalion 27th Marines in the Republic of Vietnam February 18, 1968 - September 10, 1968. 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines (3/27) was the shortest serving Marine battalion to deploy to Vietnam and was composed of over 400 Marines with non-infantry military occupational skills and over 400 Marines serving a second tour in Vietnam. Upon arriving in Vietnam, the battalion was assigned a patrolling and ambush area in the rocket belt south of the Da Nang and Marble Mountain area. The mission was to interrupt Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) rocket and sapper attacks on the air strip at Da Nang. The battalion reduced the number of attacks on the air strip but suffered a great number of casualties, mostly from land mines and booby traps. In late April 1968, the NVA had moved the 36th NVA Regiment of the 308th NVA Division, three VC battalions, and a rocket battalion into the An Hoa basin and the Go Noi area of Quang Nam Province. Operations commenced against U.S. and South Vietnamese forces right away. As a result of the NVA actions, 3/27 was in action as part of Operation Allen Brook and on 13 May, India Company, with an 81MM mortar section of Headquarters and Services Company were inserted onto Go Noi island. On 17 May, K and L companies were inserted to support Company I which was in heavy contact with an estimated battalion of NVA. Company K broke through heavy NVA opposition to link up with Company I, which had taken a large number of casualties. Company M, the battalion headquarters, and remaining support personnel joined I, K, and L companies on Go Noi Island the next day. During 18 - 29 May, the battalion was engaged with units of the 16th and 38th Regiments, 308th Division, NVA. Enemy casualties were 288 killed and six prisoners of war and on an unknown number of enemy wounded. The battalion returned to the Cau Ha-Tu area on 28 and 29 May and continued patrolling south of Da Nang until returning to Go Noi for the conclusion of Operation Allen Brook in late July 1968., During the 204 days involved in combat against VC/NVA forces, 3/27 suffered a casualty from a land mine or booby trap daily. The casualties mounted to over 900 purple hearts (many for second or third wounds) with 177 Marines and seven Corpsmen making the ultimate sacrifice and one still missing in action. Upon their return in September 1968, the battalion participated in a parade given by the city of San Diego. The battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its actions during this period.
This plaque is dedicated to Marines and Corpsmen who served with
3rd Battalion 27th Marines in the Republic of Vietnam
February 18, 1968 - September 10, 1968
3rd Battalion, 27th Marines (3/27) was the shortest serving Marine battalion to deploy to Vietnam and was composed of over 400 Marines with non-infantry military occupational skills and over 400 Marines serving a second tour in Vietnam. Upon arriving in Vietnam, the battalion was assigned a patrolling and ambush area in the rocket belt south of the Da Nang and Marble Mountain area. The mission was to interrupt Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) rocket and sapper attacks on the air strip at Da Nang. The battalion reduced the number of attacks on the air strip but suffered a great number of casualties, mostly from land mines and booby traps. In late April 1968, the NVA had moved the 36th NVA Regiment of the 308th NVA Division, three VC battalions, and a rocket battalion into the An Hoa basin and the Go Noi area of Quang Nam Province. Operations commenced against U.S. and South Vietnamese forces right away. As a result of the NVA actions, 3/27 was in action as part of Operation Allen Brook and on 13 May, India Company, with an 81MM mortar section of Headquarters & Services Company were inserted onto Go Noi island. On 17 May, K and
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L companies were inserted to support Company I which was in heavy contact with an estimated battalion of NVA. Company K broke through heavy NVA opposition to link up with Company I, which had taken a large number of casualties. Company M, the battalion headquarters, and remaining support personnel joined I, K, and L companies on Go Noi Island the next day. During 18 - 29 May, the battalion was engaged with units of the 16th and 38th Regiments, 308th Division, NVA. Enemy casualties were 288 killed and six prisoners of war and on an unknown number of enemy wounded. The battalion returned to the Cau Ha-Tu area on 28 and 29 May and continued patrolling south of Da Nang until returning to Go Noi for the conclusion of Operation Allen Brook in late July 1968.
During the 204 days involved in combat against VC/NVA forces, 3/27 suffered a casualty from a land mine or booby trap daily. The casualties mounted to over 900 purple hearts (many for second or third wounds) with 177 Marines and seven Corpsmen making the ultimate sacrifice and one still missing in action. Upon their return in September 1968, the battalion participated in a parade given by the city of San Diego. The battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its actions during this period.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam. A significant historical date for this entry is February 18, 1968.
Location.
38° 32.489′ N, 77° 20.569′ W. Marker is in Quantico, Virginia, in Prince William County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of Richmond Highway (U.S. 1) and Joplin Road (Virginia Route 619), on the right when traveling south. Located along the Devil Dog Trail on the grounds of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1775 Semper Fidelis Wy, Quantico VA 22134, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Translation Latin to English: Fratreus Infinitas—Semper Fidelis • Brothers Forever—Always Faithful
Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,576 times since then and 338 times this year. Last updated on June 28, 2023, by William Parson of Dunnellon, Florida. Photo1. submitted on March 14, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
