Following the Operation Double Eagle, which brought inconclusive results, Platt had received intelligence report that PAVN 21st Regiment moved into a region seven miles northwest of Quang Ngai City.
Following the planning in cooperation with generals English and McCutcheon, Platt launched the Operation Utah on March 4, 1966, and ordered airstrikes on the landing zone at Chau Nhai.
The incoming helicopters of Marine Aircraft Group 36 were met with intense anti-aircraft fire and one UH-1E gunship of VMO-6 and an F-4 from VMFA-531 were shot down.
Both crews survived and were evacuated.
The ARVN Airborne, which landed first encountered little resistance in the landing zones and advanced to Chau Nhai and Hill 50, where they encountered strong opposition.

Platt had ordered 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines to deploy in the landing zone.
They came under intense fire from two PAVN infantry battalions, which were entrenched on Hill 50.
The subsequent combats lasted  all night and marines were supplied by air.
Platt ordered an attack on the PAVN's anti-aircraft positions and his marines killed 20 PAVN soldiers.
They also marked the PAVN positions for air support and artillery fire.

The PAVN forces planned to attack the marine position, which Platt quickly realized and ordered the deployment of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines and 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in order to reinforce defensive positions.
The PAVN forces launched their attack in the morning of the next day, but were repelled.
The operation lasted until March 7 and Marines found more than 600 PAVN bodies on Hill 50 and an extensive tunnel and bunker complex inside the hill which had served as the PAVN Regimental command post.
The Marines under Platt's command had suffered 98 dead and 278 wounded.
Platt distinguished himself during these three operations and received second Legion of Merit with Combat "V".
Following the Operation Double Eagle, which brought inconclusive results, Platt had received intelligence report that PAVN 21st Regiment moved into a region seven miles northwest of Quang Ngai City. Following the planning in cooperation with generals English and McCutcheon, Platt launched the Operation Utah on March 4, 1966, and ordered airstrikes on the landing zone at Chau Nhai. The incoming helicopters of Marine Aircraft Group 36 were met with intense anti-aircraft fire and one UH-1E gunship of VMO-6 and an F-4 from VMFA-531 were shot down. Both crews survived and were evacuated. The ARVN Airborne, which landed first encountered little resistance in the landing zones and advanced to Chau Nhai and Hill 50, where they encountered strong opposition.
Platt had ordered 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines to deploy in the landing zone. They came under intense fire from two PAVN infantry battalions, which were entrenched on Hill 50. The subsequent combats lasted  all night and marines were supplied by air. Platt ordered an attack on the PAVN's anti-aircraft positions and his marines killed 20 PAVN soldiers. They also marked the PAVN positions for air support and artillery fire.
The PAVN forces planned to attack the marine position, which Platt quickly realized and ordered the deployment of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines and 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in order to reinforce defensive positions. The PAVN forces launched their attack in the morning of the next day, but were repelled. The operation lasted until March 7 and Marines found more than 600 PAVN bodies on Hill 50 and an extensive tunnel and bunker complex inside the hill which had served as the PAVN Regimental command post. The Marines under Platt's command had suffered 98 dead and 278 wounded. Platt distinguished himself during these three operations and received second Legion of Merit with Combat "V".
Jonas M. Platt