April 10 1970 – Mai Loc Special Forces Compound – Huong Hua District, Quang Tri Province, I Corps –

On this date the SF Compound was completely overrun by NVA Sappers. A Troop, 3rd/5th Cavalry came to the rescue and drove off the invading forces with no loss of life to the Cav. The CO, who tried to avert the catastrophe, was then-Captain Eric Shinseki, now Army Chief of Staff.

January 1971 – D Troop moves from IV Corps to I Corps to join the rest of the 3rd/5th Cavalry.

January 30 1971 –“OPERATION DEWEY CANYON II” – The Rockpile & Vandergrift Combat Base to Khe Sanh, Quang Tri Province, I Corps – OPCON to 5th Mech.

Dewey Canyon II was the first phase of LAM SON 719, a large offensive operation against NVA communications lines in Laos. (Dewey Canyon I was the USMC operation into the Khe Sanh area in 1969.) - The first few days of the operation the enemy reacted slowly and weakly. The roads were mined, resulting in a few wounded and the Cua Viet River was mined with floating mines. A few rockets were fired into rear support bases.

January 30 1971 –“OPERATION LAM SON 719”, Quang Tri Province, I Corps -

LAM SON was the birthplace of a famous Vietnamese patriot who defeated an invading Chinese army in 1427. The numerical designation of 719 came by combining the year [1971] and the main highway to be used, Route 9. The operation called for ARVN troops to drive west from Khe Sanh, cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail, seize Tchepone in Laos and, after destroying NVA forces and supplies, return to Vietnam. The ARVN would provide and command the ground forces that entered Laos, while U.S. Army and Air Force units would furnish aviation airlift and supporting firepower. The 101st Airborne Division commanded all U.S. Army aviation units in direct support of the operation.

Most of the first part of the operation (Phase 1), which began 0400 hours 29 January 1971, was conducted by U.S. ground forces, in large part made up of the 1st Brigade 5th Division (Mechanized). Their mission was to open Route 9 to the Laotian border. On 8 February Phase 2 began and ARVN started their push into Laos. The NVA reacted fiercely, but the ARVN continued its attack supported by U.S. air strikes and troop lifts by US Army helicopters. Once the units crossed into Laos they met enemy armored track vehicles, which were effectively dispatched by American gun-ships.

The last Phase started 16 March and was the withdrawal from Laos by all units. Two weeks of hard combat were necessary for the ARVN task force to fight its way back to Vietnam. Losses were heavy in Lam Son 719 both for the Army of Vietnam and the US Army supporting helicopter crews. The ARVN lost almost 50% of their force. U.S. aviation units lost 168 helicopters; another 618 were damaged. Fifty-five U.S. aircrew men were killed, 178 wounded, and 34 were missing in action as a result of the operation, which lasted until 6 April 1971.

D Troop was an integral part of this operation. Several helicopters and crew were lost during combat.

February 8 1966 – April 30 1971 -

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry awarded to 3rd/5th Cavalry for Operations and Activities in the Republic of South Vietnam.

April 8 – July 11 1971 “OPERATION MONTANA MUSTANG” - Area around Cam Lo, Charlie-2 and Alpha-4 Fire Support Bases, Quang Tri Province, I Corps – OPCON to 1st Brigade 5th Infantry Division (5th Mech) –

Search & Destroy, Pacification and Rice Denial Programs - The end of this operation marked the deployment of 5th Mech from Vietnam and relinquishing control to ARVN Forces. This time period was marked with NVA rockets and mortars being fired at firebases C-2 and A-4 with moderate to heavy American losses. Several land mines were exploded by 1st-61st Infantry (M) APCs with accompanying American WIAs. Many NVA arms caches were found and destroyed. D Troop reacted on several occasions and scored enemy kills from the air. Two Loaches (LOH) were shot down with no resulting American KIAs. The COAAR submitted by the 5th Mech. does not show any 3rd/5th Cavalry WIA nor KIAs during this reporting period.

October 9 1971 – Between Camp Evans and Camp Eagle, Quang Tri Province, I Corps –

Seven 3rd/5th Cavalry troopers are wounded, designating them as the last Bastard Cav members Wounded In Action in Vietnam.

November 8 1971 – The 3rd Squadron 5th Armored Cavalry de parts Vietnam.

3/5 Cav in OPERATION DESERT STORM &

Bosnia with U.N. Peace keeping Forces

The 3/5 Cav deployed with the READY FIRST COMBAT TEAM from Kirchgons, Germany with the

1st Brigade, 3rd Armored Division (Spearhead). The main body arrived in Saudi Arabia on 3 January

1991, and remained until 15 June 1991.

The 3/5 Cav while with the 3rd Armored Division was dismounted from 3rd Squadron, 5th U.S.

Cavalry to 3rd Battalion, 5th U.S. Cavalry and was equipped with M2A1 Bradley Fighting

Vehicles. The BLACK KNIGHT Battalion was the RFCT’s lead Battalion in the Brigade

movement into contact with the enemy Republican Guard. The BLACK KNIGHTS then

served during border/refugee operations in the vicinity of Safwan and Um Qaser, Iraq and in

the Camp Doha Garrison.

The 3/5 Cav returned to Germany with the 3rd Armored Division where the 3/5 Cav and 3rd AD were

deactivated in mid June 1991.During OPERATION DESERT STORM, one BLACK KNIGHT was

KIA on 20 February 1991, SPC. Peter L. Swano, and one wounded.

The 3/5 Cav was later reactivated for deployment to Bosnia as part of the U.N. Peace

Keeping Forces and spent 2 years before returning to Germany where they were deactivated.