SOUTH VIETNAM: AFTERMATH OF VIETCONG ATTACK ON KANNACK CAMP; BODIES OF VIET CONG LIE ROUND DEFENCES

Record ID: 347349

  • Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: AFTERMATH OF VIETCONG ATTACK ON KANNACK CAMP; BODIES OF VIET CONG LIE ROUND DEFENCES
  • Date: 11th March 1965
  • Summary: 1. LV HELICOPTER LANDS 0.13 2. CU PEOPLE WAITING (4 SHOTS) 0.29 3. CU WOMAN CRYING 0.33 4. CU YOUNG MAN KISSES SMALL BABY 0.39 5. SV BAMBOO STAKES 0.44 6. CU VIET CONG DEAD (3 SHOTS) 1.01 7. LV PRISONERS 1.08 8. CU AMERICAN TROOPS LOOK AT CAPTURED WEAPONS (2 SHOTS) 1.18 9. SV AMERICAN ADVISORS ARE DECORATED 1
  • Embargoed: 26th March 1965 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KANNACK CAMP, SOUTH VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVA4SZQ12NIW3N3SK1UOOKL5CN84
  • Story Text: REPORTS SAY AT LEAST 100 VIET CONG SOLDIERS WERE KILLED ON MONDAY AFTER THEIR "SUICIDAL" ASSAULT ON A SOUTH VIETNAMESE MILITARY CAMP. NEXT DAY, GOVERNMENT TROOPS WERE SEARCHING THE SHATTERED PERIMETER DEFENCES OF KANNACK CAMP - 270 MILES (430 KILOMETRES) NORTHEAST OF SAIGON - FOR THE BODIES OF DEAD VIET CONG.

    ON TUESDAY, SOUTH VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS COLLECTED ABOUT 65 VIET CONG WEAPONS - INCLUDING ROCKET LAUNCHERS - FROM AROUND THE CAMP AREA. AMERICAN 'MILITARY ADVISORS AND SOUTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS WERE AWARDED GALLANTRY MEDALS FOR THEIR PART IN THE CAMP'S DEFENCE.

    IN MONDAY'S ATTACK THE VIET CONG - NUMBERING ABOUT TWO BATTALIONS - SUFFERED AN ESTIMATED 300 CASUALTIES IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO DISLODGE SOUTH VIETNAMESE MILITIA AND SPECIAL FORCES FORM THE CAMP.

    AT LEAST 100 VIET CONG DEAD WERE LEFT BEHIND, HANGING FROM BARBED WIRE EMPLACEMENTS IN THE CAMP'S OUTER POSITIONS WHICH THEY'D OCCUPIED. THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE LOST 33 KILLED AND 33 WOUNDED, INCLUDING THREE AMERICAN ADVISORS.

    VIET CONG GUERRILLAS FOUGHT TO WITHIN YARDS OF THE CAMP'S INNER DEFENCES AFTER OVER-RUNNING AND OCCUPYING TWO THIRDS OF IT.

    AT ONE POINT A "SUICIDE SQUAD" OF 23 MEN ARE SAID TO HAVE GOT TO WITHIN 10 YARDS OF A MACHINE GUN NEST BEFORE THEY FELL BEFORE A HAIL OF HAND GRENADES AND SMALL ARMS FIRE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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