2nd Battalion 4th Marines - History - Vietnam War

Vietnam War

2nd Battalion 4th Marines was once again committed to ground combat operations, this time in South Vietnam. In May 1965 the battalion landed at LZ Blue (west of Green Beach) near Chu Lai. The first major engagement for the battalion was Operation Starlite (the first regimental sized battle for American forces since the Korean War) in August 1965. It was a combined amphibious/helicopterborne assault on enemy fortified positions of the Van Tuong Peninsula, 15 miles (24 km) south of the Chu Lai airstrip. Six days after the operation had begun; the 1st Viet Cong Regiment was decisively defeated. During this operation, Lance Corporal Joe C. Paul (H Co.) became the battalion's first Medal of Honor recipient. Total losses for both sides were 52 Marines killed and over 200 were wounded. VC losses were over 600 killed and 9 POW's. There were 2 Medal Honor, 6 Navy Crosses and 14 Silver Stars. Another major operation in 65 was Operation Harvest Moon.

Beginning in 1966, combat operations measurably increased with the battalion participating in Operation Double Eagle and Operation Hastings, a coordinated Marine/South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) search and destroy mission. Operation Prairie was one of the first operations that was fought in the hills west of Leatherneck Square. During this operation, Captain Howard V. Lee (G Co.) became the battalion's second Medal of Honor recipient. Total Marines losses were put at 200 killed and over 1000 wounded. The 324B NVA Division losses were put at 1329 killed and 7 POW's. On 25 June 1966 Operation Jay began about 30 kilometers northwest of Hue, and lasted nine days. 2/4 landed north of the North Vietnamese 812th Main Force Battalion, and other Marine units landed south of the enemy's position. Caught in between the two Marine units, the enemy suffered over 80 dead in nine days of fighting. The moniker of "The Magnificent Bastards" was first used by the incoming Battalion Commander, Lt.Col. Joseph R. (Bull) Fisher the day he assumed his command on 4 June 1964. On 24 September 1966, Battalion Order No. 5600.1B, was signed. It officially added (by legal order) the lower pennant with the nickname the "Magnificent Bastards".

The next major confrontation was with 324B NVA Division (8,000 men) came during the siege of Con Thien in the summer and fall of 1967. This was called Operation Kingfisher and ran from July 16 through October 31. The battalion arrived in the area around the second week of September. On the 14th Golf Company lose 5 men do to NVA artillery north of Com Lo. On the 16th and 17th Dong Ha reported over 17" rain in one 24 hour period up around Con Thien. September 25 was the largest single day for NVA artillery. The Hill and surrounding areas was hit with nearly 1500 rounds. The battalion took several KIA. 2/4 was involved in three major battles during this period. Phu Oc (9/21), Washout Bridge or "Bastard's Bridge" (10/14) and Hill 48 (10/25-27). The battalion commanding officer was wounded and the battalion executive officer was killed. The enemy was stopped in his attempt to overrun the American outpost. 2/4 started this operation with 952 Marines. Six weeks later they left "Leatherneck Square" with about 300 men still fit for duty. Total casualties for Operation Kingfisher were 340 Marines killed, over 3000 Marines wounded. NVA losses were over 1100 killed and 5 POW's. During this period of bloody fighting Sergeant Paul H. Foster (CP) and Lance Corporal Jedh Colby Barker (Fox Co.) were awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumously) for their actions during these battles. There were also nine Navy Cross awarded at this time. On the 28th of October Lt. General Cushman (head of all Marines in Vietnam) sent a message to the Battalion that read (last line) "2/4 has met and beaten the best the enemy had to offer. Well done".

The 1968 Tet Offensive resulted in an increase in fighting along the DMZ. A bitter clash started April 30 and ran through May 3 between 2/4 and 320th NVA Division (8,000 to 10,000 men) that broke out northeast of Dong Ha. To protect the base and also the 3rd Marine Division headquarters, 2/4 reinforced by B/1/3 was moved forward to seize the fortified village and area around Dai Do. After three days of bloody fighting the cost was very high for both sides. The enemy lost nearly 1500 killed, while 2/4 suffered 81 dead and 397 wounded. The battalion commanding officer LtCol. William "Wild Bill" Weise received the Navy Cross and two company commanders were awarded the Medals of Honor for their bravery and leadership; Captain James E. Livingston (E Co.) and Captain Jay R. Vargas (G Co.). By May 15 the NVA were driven back north across the DMZ. Total losses for the Marines were 233 killed and 821 wounded. The NVA's losses were put at 2945 killed and 47 POW's. Late in 1969, 2/4 was withdrawn to Okinawa as part of the United States policy of gradually turning the war over to the South Vietnamese.

In the early 1970s, 2/4 participated with other units from the 3rd Marine Division in providing Battalion Landing Teams as part of the Special Landing Force (SLF) off the coast of Vietnam. During the 1972 Easter Offensive, 2/4 actively supported Vietnamese Marines, U.S. Army Rangers and U.S. advisors ashore, from nearby amphibious ships.

During the summer of 1972 the battalion participated in a massive disaster relief effort, Operation SAKLOLO conducted in the northern part of the Philippines. On 12 April 1975, 2/4 took part in Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Americans from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. On 29–30 April they took part in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon.