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MAJOR OPERATIONS, 1968
173


MAP 4


border. Also, there would be a major diversionary attack in the vicinity of the DMZ on D-1. The initiative was ours.

At 0700 on 1 April 1968 the attack phase of Operation PEGASUS commenced as two battalions of the 1st Marine Regiment under Colonel Stanley S. Hughes attacked west from Ca Lu along Highway Nine. (Map 4) The 11th Marine Engineers followed right on their heels. At the same time, the 3d Brigade of the 1st Cavalry under Colonel Hubert (Bill) S. Campbell was airlifted by Chinooks and Hueys into landing zone STUD in preparation for an air assault into two objective areas further west. Weather delayed the attack until 1300, when the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Wasiak, air assaulted into landing zone MIKE located on prominent ground south of Highway Nine and well forward of the Marine attack. Lieutenant Colonel Roscoe Robinson, Jr., led the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry into the same landing zone to expand and develop the position. The 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James B. Vaught, air assaulted into an area north of Highway Nine approximately opposite landing zone MIKE.

These two objectives has been chosen after careful reconnaissance by the Cavalry Squadron indicated no major enemy defenses. Though almost halfway to Khe Sanh, they were within range of

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