page_title: 1969 in the Vietnam War
section_title: May
hierarchical_section_title: 1969 in the Vietnam War / May
caption_attribution_description: English: Impact of War! This image shows Troopers inspecting the damage in the surrounding area of Dong Ap Bia during Operation Apache Snow, May 1969. (Melvin Zais Photograph Collection). (Photo Credit: USAMHI)
context_page_description: 6 January
  The South Vietnamese Minister of Education, Dr. Le Minh Tri, was killed when two VC on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade through the window of the car in which he was riding.
  12 January to 7 February
  In Operation Bold Mariner the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines clear, search and depopulate the Batangan Peninsula a Viet Cong stronghold in Quảng Ngãi Province.
  18 January
  The parties to the Paris Peace Talks came to an agreement on the shape of the conference tables and the placement of the representatives who were negotiating an end to the war. After being delayed for nearly six weeks over procedural disagreements raised by South Vietnamese Vice President Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, the parties came to an accord that "The two sides would be 'clearly separated' by two rectangular tables with a round one in the middle" and that the tables would have "no nameplates, no flags and no written minutes of the understanding" on the setup.
  20 January
  Richard Nixon is inaugurated as 37th President of the United States.
  21 January
  The White House issues National Security Study Memorandum 1 to the U.S.
context_section_description: 2 May to 16 July
  The 3rd Marine Regiment launches Operation Virginia Ridge to engage the PAVN 27th and 36th Regiments near the central DMZ. The operation results in 560 PAVN killed and 17 captured, Marine losses were 16 killed.
  6 May
  A CH-47 carrying 83 persons crashed 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Phước Vĩnh Base Camp, killing 40 of those on board.
  10 May to 7 June
  The U.S. 101st Airborne Division and ARVN 1st Division launch Operation Apache Snow in the A Shau Valley. The operation results in 977 PAVN killed and five captured while U.S. losses were 113 killed and ARVN losses were 31 killed. Most of the U.S. casualties were in the Battle of Hamburger Hill from May 13-20 where U.S. forces attacked heavily fortified PAVN positions on Hill 937. 630 PAVN, 72 U.S. and 31 ARVN were killed in the fighting for Hill 937.
  11 May
  An estimated 600 PAVN troops attacked Landing Zone Oasis resulting in 11 U.S. killed and three captured and over 100 PAVN killed.
  12-15 May
  The PAVN V-16 Sapper Battalion attacked Landing Zone Professional occupied by elements of the 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 14th Artillery. The attack was repulsed but the PAVN continued to mortar the base and set up heavy machine guns to prevent helicopter resupply, shooting down a CH-47B on 15 May.
  13 May
  The PAVN 6th Regiment and K-12 Sapper Battalion attacked the 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 11th Artillery and 2nd Battalion, 319th Artillery on Firebase Airborne killing 22 U.S. for the loss of 40 PAVN killed.
  Units of the PAVN 7th Infantry Division attacked Firebase Gela, the assault was repulsed for the loss of three U.S. and an estimated 39 PAVN soldiers killed.
  15 May to 14 August
  The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division launches Operation Lamar Plain in Quảng Tín Province. The operation results in 524 PAVN/VC killed and 21 captured and U.S. losses were 116 killed and one missing.
  18 May
  Elements of the VC 5th Division attacked Xuân Lộc Base Camp which was defended by the 7th Battalion, 9th Artillery Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, 35th Artillery Regiment, 54th Artillery Group. The VC penetrated the perimeter but were eventually driven out airstrikes and a unit of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. The attack resulted in 24 VC and 14 U.S. killed.
  26 May to 7 November
  The 1st Marine Division, ARVN 51st Regiment and Republic of Korea Marine Corps 2nd Marine Brigade launch Operation Pipestone Canyon to pacify and clear Go Noi Island, Quảng Nam Province. The operation results in 852 PAVN/VC killed and 58 captured, U.S. Marine losses were 71 killed.
caption: 101st Airborne soldiers search near Hamburger Hill
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