Page:Airmobility 1961-1971.pdf/223
a cordon and search of the portion of Vinh Loc Island which comprised Vinh Loc District. Final coordination was completed on the 9th and 10th of September.
An Area Coordination Center was established under the overall direction of the Commanding Officer, 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. This center was staffed by the Deputy Province Chief, the U.S. Deputy Sector Adviser, the District Chief, and the Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry. The center also included an intelligence section comprised of representatives from the province and district intelligence staffs, the U.S. battalion S-2 section, Special Branch Police, National Police, and the Census Grievance Committee. The entire group would be moved to Vinh Loc District Headquarters after the combat assault.
On 9 September one Regional Force company withdrew from the island as planned. The next day Company D, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry moved from the northeastern end of the island to an area just north of the Vinh Loc-Phu Vang District boundary. The paratroopers had been operating in this area to provide security for the Col Co beach naval supply facility, so this maneuver did not arouse enemy suspicion. It was also designed to drive enemy forces southeast along the island into Vinh Loc District. The 54th Army of the Republic of Vietnam Regiment had been conducting operations in Phu Thu District. The 2d and 3d battalions of the regiment moved into blocking positions along the northeast coast of Phu Thu District to drive the enemy across the water into Vinh Loc. This maneuver was also an extension of normal operations and did not reveal to the enemy the impending move into Vinh Loc. The 3d Troop, 7th Army of the Republic of Vietnam Cavalry moved with its armored personnel carriers to the Hue Landing Craft, Utility, ramp, then down the Perfume River on medium landing craft to the Tan My LST ramp opposite Col Co beach. They remained in the Tan My area until the night of 10 September and, under the cover of darkness, crossed over to Vinh Loc to a position south of the Col Co beach facility.
During the night of 10-11 September, the U.S. and Vietnamese Navy converged around the island and at first light on 11 September the encirclement of the island was complete. At 0732 three companies of the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry conducted air assaults into three landing zones on the seaward side of the island and started reconnaissance in force to the south. Forty-five members of the National Police Field Forces had been evenly distributed between the three companies. The 1st Battalion of the 54th Army of the Republic of Vietnam Regiment conducted an air assault