Operation Dewey Canyon

Operation Dewey Canyon
Part of the Vietnam War
U.S. Marine CH-46 Knights during Operation Dewey Canyon
Date 22 January – 18 March 1969 Location A Shau Valley, Thừa Thiên–Huế Province, South Vietnam Result U.S. tactical victory
Belligerents
United States	North Vietnam
Commanders and leaders
Robert H. Barrow George W. Smith	Unknown
Units involved
9th Marine Regiment 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines	9th Regiment
Strength
	~5,000
Casualties and losses
130 killed	US body count: 1,617 killed 500 tons of arms discovered

Operation Dewey Canyon was the last major offensive by the 3rd Marine Division during the Vietnam War. It took place from 22 January through 18 March 1969 and involved a sweep of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN)–dominated A Shau and Song Đa Krông Valleys by the 9th Marine Regiment. Based on intelligence and captured documents, the PAVN unit in contact was believed to be the 9th Regiment.^[1]

The 56 days of combat were a tactical success but did not stop the overall flow of North Vietnamese men and matériel into South Vietnam. The 9th Marine Regiment and attached units were awarded the Army Presidential Unit Citation for their actions in Operation Dewey Canyon.