The 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, 1966-68

VIDEO HERE (29 minutes)

This episode of "The Big Picture", the U.S. Army's long-running TV program, shows the exploits of the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam. It dates to 1968. The film shows military as well as civil work, including nation building programs which it was hoped would stabilize South Vietnamese support against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese. At 2:00, the 25th Infantry Division, also known as "Tropic Lightning" is seen being welcomed by South Vietnamese. The unit is shown deploying in Huey helicopters at 2:30, and engaging in combat. At 03:00, the unit's HQ at the famed Schofield Barracks in Hawaii is shown. At 3:10, jungle fighting exercises in Hawaii are shown. At 3:48, deployment in December of 1966 is seen from Hawaii and deployed aboard a ship to Vung Tau, where the 2nd Brigade deployed and were greeted by General William Westmoreland. At 4:50 the unit moves towards the Cu Chi village area. At 5:24, the 3rd Brigade deploys to Pleiku in the central highlands of Vietnam, which would operate as the forward base for the division. This airlift was of the 3rd Brigade, known as Operation Blue Light, was the largest attempted to that time. At 6:30, operations against Viet Cong begin in earnest at Ban Me Thout with a month long sweep of the province. In a frustrating precursor of what was to come during the war, the VC withdrew in front of the division and evaded capture or combat. At 7:40, a battle casualty is shown as a result of small arms fire. At 8:15, food caches and medical supplies are shown captured in the field. 

At 8:40, armor elements at Cu Chi approach a former Michelin Rubber Plantation. At 9:44, a wounded soldier receives field treatment. At 9:55, troops find underground fortifications and the Tunnels of Cu Chi. At 10:23, in April 1966, the 1st Brigade lands in Vietnam and arrives in Cu Chi. At 11:00, a resettlement camp for refugees is set up. At 12:00, Operation Paul Revere takes place with a sweep near Plei Ku. 44, mortars are flown into the Ya Drang Valley. At 13:00, assault troops move into action as artillery provides covering fire. At 13:20, a wrecked American helicopter is seen after being shot down by NVA or VC forces.  Operation Paul Revere concluded with a total of 66 U.S. KIA, while PAVN losses were 546 killed and a further 68 captured

At 14:00, claymore mines are shown being used. Special training is conducted in country to show how to operate a guerrilla attack and fight against the V.C. War dogs are shown being used for scouting. More caches of weapons are shown.  At 16:00, indoctrination of villagers is seen -- with the 25th's interrogation section speaking with villagers and trying to convince them of the fallacies of communism. 

At 18:00, the narrator speaks encouragingly about civil progress in Vietnam. At 18:20, syops leaflets are seen being dropped over Vietnam. These psychological operations are shown at 18:40, with the leaflets distributed by truck. At 20:00, medical service is provided near Cu Chi for locals. At 22:00, a construction program is shown at Dong Ying, to improve local conditions for 10,000 inhabitants. 

At 24:30, Operation Barking Sands is shown with the 25th attempting to locate and attack a hardcore V.C. unit. At 26:50, pinned down troops call in an air strike by Sabre jets. At 28:00, Barking Sands concludes with U.S. forces having little to show for their ground combat victory.  (19 American soldiers were killed in this battle, along with 304 enemy soldiers.)

The 25th division was heavily engaged from April 1966 until 1972 throughout the area of operations in Southeast Asia. During this period, Tropic Lightning soldiers fought in some of the toughest battles of the war including Operation Junction City.

During the Tet offensives of 1968 and 1969, Tropic Lightning soldiers were instrumental in defending the besieged city of Saigon. From May through June 1970, division soldiers participated in Allied thrusts deep into enemy sanctuaries located in Cambodia. In these Incursion operations, the division units confiscated thousands of tons of supplies and hundreds of weapons. This operation crippled the Cambodian-based efforts against American units. Following its return from Cambodia to South Vietnam, the division resumed its place in the Vietnamization Program. The war was winding down. By late December 1970, elements of the 25th Infantry Division were able to begin redeployment to Schofield Barracks.  During the war in Vietnam, 22 Medals of Honor were awarded to Tropic Lightning soldiers.