Operation Byrd
Operation Byrd was a security operation conducted during the Vietnam War by the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 44th Regiment in Bình Thuận Province, South Vietnam from August 1966 to 1 December 1967. Background The southern provinces of II Corps, namely Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận, Tuyen Duc, and Lâm Đồng Provinces and Bình Tuy Province in northern III Corps formed the Viet Cong (VC) Military Region 6 controlled by General Nguyễn Minh Châu. Châu controlled 4 VC Battalions and approximately 6 district companies. The area had seen little combat due to its small population, low rainfall and limited rice production. Operation On 25 August 1966 the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, equipped with 38 UH-1 helicopters, plus a battery each of 105-mm. and 155-mm. howitzers was deployed to Firebase Betty south of Phan Thiết the capital of Bình Thuận Province for a search and destroy operation that was expected to last 2 months. At the conclusion of this phase the VC had lost over 250 dead for minimal Allied losses. Following the conclusion of that operation, I Field Force commander LTG William B. Rosson decided to keep Task Force Byrd in