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Summary  April 1968

Operation Pegasus, the 1st Cavalry Division relief of the Marines at Khe Sanh, kicks off at the beginning of the month. C Company is airlifted north from the southern Quang Tri Province and stages through LZ Stud to help occupy LZ Tom, the 2nd Brigade base. During the two weeks of Operation Pegasus C Company will, along with D Company, complete the assault and occupation of the French Fort 3½ kilometers southeast of the Marine base at Khe Sanh and will conduct search and clear operations in the area, capturing large amounts of weapons, ammunition and explosives. When Operation Pegasus ends on 15 April 68 the Second Brigade is placed under the operational control of the 3rd Marine Division and takes part in Operation Scotland II while the rest of the 1st Cavalry Division attacks the A Shau Valley. C Company clears and occupies ground in the 11 kilometers between Khe Sanh Combat Base and the Laotian Border and provides security for LZ Snapper, the 2/5 Cav base. Near the end of the month C and D Companies occupy a Night Defensive Position (NDP)  together on Hill 663 (the Co Nual) and repulse an attack by a large NVA force.  (Written by Ken Burington)

Map_Pegasus_B&W.jpg (76526 bytes)
Map of the overall Area of Operations (AO) for Operation Pegasus.  Click to see larger version.  The map  is quite large - have patience while it downloads.

Map courtesy Shelby Stanton, Anatomy of a Division.


April 1 - 3

On April 1st, C 2/5 Cav is working on the north side of the  Song Thac Ma, the boundary river between Quang Tri and Thua Thien provinces.  The next day, the company moves to an open field two and one half kilometers southwest of the  Hai Lang District Headquarters for provisioning.  At 8:26 AM on April 3rd, C 2/5 Cav is airlifted from extreme southern Quang Tri  Province to LZ Stud, a big logistics base in the north of the province built for Operation Pegasus by Navy Seabees and units of the 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division.  Immediately after landing, the company CA'd to LZ Tom. 

PFC George Harvey Gilliam of 2nd Platoon was killed by fragments from an incoming 122mm rocket at LZ Tom (coordinates XD 900345, Map 6342-2) in Quang Tri Province.  Comanche was hit by the rocket fire about an hour after the company had CA'd onto the hilltop and were clearing brush and elephant grass and digging in.  (Source: Ken Burington)

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April 1 - 3

This is actual footage of Charlie Company.  It was shot by Ken Burington on an 8mm movie camera.  There is no sound.  While the quality of the original video is better than expected, it will be of poor quality if you view it over a dial-up connection.  Click here to watch the video.  You will need the free RealPlayer plug in.   

Here is the sequence of shots:

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April 7

SGT Dan Meddling of Tennessee is standing next to a captured enemy .51 caliber machine gun at the Old French Fort (see map above).  Trooper far left is unidentified.

Comanche_Captured_51cal_MG_Pegasus_April_68.jpg (24948 bytes)
Click on Photo to See Larger Version

Courtesy Ken Burington

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April 18

Though busy with other combat duties, this letter of condolence was written by the company commander, 1LT Burt Humphrey, to the family of PFC James Bateman who was KIA on March 9.

Comanche_Bateman_Letter0fCondolence_Humphrey_1968_from_JStory.jpg (90569 bytes)
Click on Letter to See Larger Version

Courtesy Jennifer Story


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Updated October 04, 2006