Battle of Lima Site 85

Battle of Lima Site 85
Part of the Vietnam War
Date March 10 – March 11, 1968 Standort 20°28′5.4″N 103°43′32.2″E Phou Pha Thi, northeastern Laos UTM Grid UH 68-60 Result Communist victory
Belligerents
Vereinigte Staaten Royal Lao Army (Hmong) Thai "volunteers"	North Vietnam Pathet Lao Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. Clarence F. Blanton Richard Secord Vang Pao	Truong Muc
Strength
1,300+	3,000+
Casualties and losses
12 Americans killed 42 Thais and Hmongs killed	Unknown

The Battle of Lima Site 85 was a battle of the Vietnam War. The site was located at Phou Pha Thi, Laos; a mountain 15 miles (24 km) from the border of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV or North Vietnam) and 30 miles (48 km) from Sam Neua, capital of the Pathet Lao. The term "Lima Site" was derived from the American acronym for map designations of "Landing Sites" within the Secret War zone of the Second Indochina War, an active covert battleground in the larger Cold War.

Background

In August 1966, to assist ongoing aerial operations against the DRV (Operation Rolling Thunder), the United States Air Force sited a TACAN facility on the peak of Phu Pha Thi to assist American aviators conducting bombing operations in the northwestern region of North Vietnam. In 1967, a portable TSQ 81 COMBAT SKYSPOT ground directed bombing unit was added and operational by the end of November. By early 1968, the site was controlling 55% of Operation Rolling Thunder strikes in the DRV and 20% of air strikes being carried out in northeastern Laos under Operation Barrel Roll.

The first PAVN attack on Lima Site 85 occurred on 12 January 1968, when two Vietnam People's Air Force Antonov An-2 biplanes began dropping 120 mm mortar rounds on the site. An Air America Bell 205 helicopter, lifting off to avoid destruction, began to chase one of the An-2s, which had been damaged by ground fire. While maneuvering to escape, the An-2 crashed and burned. The Bell then gave chase to a second aircraft, which was shot down by the crew chief armed with an AK-47 rifle[1].

By 10 March the communists were ready for another attack, this time utilizing the 41st PAVN Dac Cong (sapper) Battalion and the 923rd PAVN Infantry Battalion, which had the task of capturing and/or destroying the radar equipment and covert USAF personnel at LS-85.

Battle

On the night of 10 March the 766th PAVN Regiment launched a diversionary attack preceded by an artillery barrage. Lima Site 85 was encircled by the North Vietnamese to trap the American personnel there, while all egress routes were blocked to prevent rescue from Thai "volunteers" and Hmong guerrillas of the Royal Lao Army. During the night, the North Vietnamese scaled the 5,600-foot (1,700 m) mountain, while the infantry units fought their way up the slopes to create a diversion. The Americans were taken by surprise when 33 sappers appeared with submachine guns and RPG-7s. Several Americans were killed.

Throughout the night, U.S. F-4 Phantom fighter-bombers and A-26 bombers repeatedly hit the attackers, while simultaneously, Air America aircraft were ready to evacuate the survivors. By morning, USAF and Air America missions had airlifted out the remaining defenders, including five American survivors and the wounded. The Hmong and Thai troops at the base of the mountain had abandoned the area as Phou Pha Thi fell to communist forces.

Aftermath

Once the 41st Sapper Battalion had secured the site, they began collecting weapons and documents. Top Secret Tactical Air Navigation was compromised.

It was assumed that the sappers buried the dead Americans or that their remains had been destroyed during air strikes on the base; no claim of POWs was made by the North Vietnamese. Eleven American personnel were not recovered and carried as missing in action, later changed to Killed in action - body not recovered and seven more were wounded. Another 42 Royal Thai Army "volunteers" and Hmong troops were killed during the action. This incident was not declassified until 1983, and it was the largest single ground combat loss of USAF personnel in the entire "Vietnam" war.

Two days after the fall of Lima Site 85, Captain Donald Elliot Westbrook's A-1 Skyraider was shot down while searching for survivors from the outpost. His body was never recovered. For his efforts during the battle, CMSgt Richard Etchberger was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross. In October, 2008, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley recommended Etchberger's Air Force Cross be upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

On 18 July 1968 with heavy air support from the CIA and Air Force a few of Vang Pao's Hmong commandos managed to reach the destroyed helipad and TSQ facility, but they were unable to hold the ridgeline. The 148th NVA Regiment sent Vang Pao's troops reeling, while taking heavy casualties.

USAF personnel on Phou Pha Thi (LS-85) 11 March 1968

• Rescued: Capt Stanley J. Sliz, SSgt John Daniel, SSgt Bill Husband, SSgt Jack Starling, Sgt Roger Huffman, Howard Freeman (CIA), John Spence (CIA)
• Killed in action during rescue: CMSgt Richard L. Etchberger
• MIA later changed to KIA/body not recovered: Lt Col Clarence F. Blanton, MSgt James H. Calfee, TSgt Melvin A. Holland, SSgt Herbert A. Kirk, SSgt Henry G. Gish, SSgt Willis R. Hall, SSgt James W. Davis, SSgt David S. Price, TSgt Patrick L. Shannon, TSgt Donald K. Springsteadah, SSgt Don F. Worley

Search and recovery of remains at LS-85

Between 1994 and 2004, 11 investigations were conducted by both JPAC and unilaterally by Lao and Vietnamese investigators on both sides of the border.

In 2002 one of the NVA soldiers who had taken part in the attack told investigators that he helped throw the bodies of the Americans off the mountain after the attack as they were unable to bury them on the rocky surface.

During one of the investigations in March 2003, several mountaineer-qualified JPAC specialists scaled down the cliffs where they recovered remains and personal gear on ledges.

On 7 December 2005 the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office announced that the remains of TSgt Patrick L. Shannon had been identified and were being returned to his family.

On 14 February 2007 the remains of Donald Westbrook were positively identified, the remains had been returned in September 1998.

See also

• Project 404
• William H. Sullivan U.S. Ambassador to Laos
• Richard Secord USAF officer in charge of Security at LS-85 (author of Honored & Betrayed)
• Lee Lue Royal Lao Air Force Hmong T-28 fighter-bomber pilot.
• Vang Sue Royal Lao Air Force Hmong T-28 fighter-bomber pilot.
• Royal Thai Army (covert "volunteers")

External links

• Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office
• Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command
• Lima Site 85
• Detailed Map of Lima Site 85
• The Fall of Lima Site 85