Battle of Binh Gia

Battle of Bình Giã
Part of the Vietnam War
VC drawing depicting the Bình Gia campaign
Date December 28, 1964 – January 1, 1965 Location Bình Giã, Phước Tuy province, South Vietnam 10°39′N 107°17′E / 10.650°N 107.283°E / 10.650; 107.283 Result VC/PAVN victory
Belligerents
South Vietnam  United States	Viet Cong North Vietnam
Commanders and leaders
Nguyễn Văn Nho Franklin P. Eller	Trần Đình Xu Nguyễn Thế Truyện[1] Tạ Minh Khâm[2]
Units involved
Airborne Division 1st Airborne Battalion 3rd Airborne Battalion 7th Airborne Battalion Marine Division 4th Marine Battalion ARVN Rangers 30th Ranger Battalion 33rd Ranger Battalion 35th Ranger Battalion 38th Ranger Battalion Support Two artillery platoons Section of M-24 tanks Aerial support: 68th Assault Helicopter Company	271st Regiment (1st regiment, or Q761 in PAVN doc.[3]) 272nd Regiment (2nd regiment, or Q762 in PAVN doc.[4]) 80th Artillery Detachment (U80 Biên Hòa[5][6]) Military Region 7 500th Battalion 800th Battalion Bà Rịa Province Command [vi][3] 440th Company 445th Company Military Region 6 186th Battalion 514th Battalion[7][8]
Strength
4,300[9]	Estimated at 1,800[9]
Casualties and losses
201 killed 192 wounded 68 missing[9]	At least 32 killed[9]

The Battle of Bình Giã (Vietnamese: Trận Bình Giã) was conducted by the Viet Cong (VC) and People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) from December 28, 1964, to January 1, 1965, during the Vietnam War in Bình Giã, Phước Tuy province (now part of Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province), South Vietnam.

The year of 1964 marked a decisive turning point in the Vietnam War. Following the ousting of President Ngô Đình Diệm in 1963, South Vietnam's top army generals continued to vie with each other for control of the country's military-dominated government instead of combating the emerging forces of the VC. The fragility of the South Vietnamese government was reflected on the battlefield, where its military experienced great setbacks against the VC. Taking advantage of Saigon's political instability, leaders in Hanoi began preparing for war. Even though key members of North Vietnam's Politburo disagreed on the best strategy to reunite their country, they ultimately went ahead to prepare for armed struggle against the South Vietnam government and the American occupation.^[10]

Towards the end of 1964, the VC commenced a series of large-scale military operations against the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). As part of their Winter-Spring Offensive, two VC Regiments attacked ARVN forces at Bình Giã, fighting a large set-piece battle for the first time. Over a period of four days, the VC held their ground and mauled the best units the ARVN could send against them, only breaking after intense attack by U.S. bombers.^[11]