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In South Vietnam, the men of Detachment A-502 were always prepared to carry out the mission implied by their Special Forces motto "De Oppresso Liber" . . . to free the oppressed. On one unique occasion they were, in fact, given the opportunity to live that motto. When it arose, they mounted their operation without hesitation and flew into enemy territory far west of Camp Trung Dung to rescue a group of mountain villagers. However, on a daily basis, their mission was more routine. Originally, A-502's mission was the defense of the 5th Special Forces Group Headquarters and the Nha Trang Air Installation. When it was determined that the defensive perimeter needed to include the greater Nha Trang City area, the responibility for that assignment was given to Detachment A-502. Officially, A-502's mission was as follows: General: (1) Advise, assist, train and support the VNSF in their CIDG program. (2) Conduct position defense, in order to defend the SFOB from enemy attack and be prepared to conduct counter attacks on order. Specific: (These specific missions required A-502 to produce an OPLAN, an Operational Plan describing exactly how they would carry out each mission.) (1) Prepare defense of A-502 and Outposts. (2) Prepare to assist in the defense of the Nha Trang area and occupy key terrain and blocking positions on order. (3) Provide early warning through Binh Tan and Thuy Tu outposts. (4) Provide supporting fires in sector. (5) Construct defensive positions to include overhead cover, when possible for all personnel in task force sector. (6) Develop defense plans and counterattack plans for assigned sector. Implied: (1) Maintain coordination among VN-ROK-US at this level in this area. This includes 3 districts: Cam Lam, Dien Khanh, Vinh Xuong. (2) Conduct and Coordinatae CA/PO Operations in TAOR aand TAOI. (3) Binh Tan is to conduct ambushes, patrols, and maneuver elements in the Dong Bo area. (4) Conduct extended operations in TAOR and TAOI. (5) Provide road security for QL1 (Main road from Nha Trang to Cam Ranh Bay) in TAOR. (6) Provide security for railroad in TAOR. (7) Cooperate with District Cheif on village and hamlet security as well as police operations. (8) Support Recondo School Operations. (9) Provide liason to Dien Khanh District Chief's artillery. (10) Provide security for ARVN Induction Center in Trung Dung. In addition to their own mission assignment, A-502 supported the Vietnamese Special Forces mission assignment. VNSF Mission: (1) Provide close in and long range security for the Western and Southwestern flanks of Nha Trang airfield and installation. (2) Provide for the Western and Southwestern defense of the Nha Trang vital area. (3) Provide, on request, military support to the R and D projects of Dien Khanh, Cam Lam, and, Vinh Xuong Districts. (4) To execute a sustained civic action - psychological operations program in Dien Khanh, Cam Lam, and Vinh Xuong Districts. This mission assignment was a huge responsibility for such a small group of men. However, it was one that the men of U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment A-502 eagerly accepted. |
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Special Forces - The Silent Professionals |
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