Marines Land in South Vietnam

Mar. 8, 1965 - The U.S. Marines landed by sea and air in South Vietnam today to strengthen the defense of the key Da Nang air base against attack by the Communist Viet Cong.

One battalion of 1,400 Marines came ashore from four 7th Fleet transport ships standing half a mile off the coast 380 miles north of Saigon. A second battalion began arriving without fanfare aboard C-130 Air Force transports from Okinawa at the air base. By early afternoon, an estimated 2,000 Marines were taking up positions at the base. About 3,500 in all were expected by tomorrow night, including a helicopter squadron. 

A detachment of 1,200 Marines is already at Da Nang manning Hawk antiaircraft missile batteries. At the beach 10 miles west of Da Nang, the Marines charged ashore in traditional fashion, some slipping and sliding on the wet sand. At the air base, the leathernecks walked calmly off their planes and stood in files while they were assigned to bivouac areas. After securing the beach, the seaborne Marines moved on to the air base. 

One of the C-130 transport planes was hit in the wing by a sniper’s bullet as it was making its landing approach beneath low clouds. No one was hurt, and the plane made a normal landing.

The role of the Marines has been described as a “limited one,” the main purpose being to free South Vietnamese troops from security roles. However, the stationing of the Marine units put them in a face-to-face position with strong Communist guerrilla forces who have made the vital Da Nang air installation a prime objective. 

The Marines are the first American ground troops to be ordered into potential direct combat positions against Viet Cong guerrillas and troops infiltrating from North Vietnam.

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