Key Facts
- Duration
- 16 May – 5 June 1966 (21 days)
- Target force
- VC 2nd Regiment (~2,000 men)
- Operation type
- Search and destroy
- Area of operations
- Two valleys, Bình Định Province
- Named after
- Lakota warrior Crazy Horse
Strategic Narrative Overview
Operation Crazy Horse was launched on 16 May 1966 as a coordinated search and destroy mission involving U.S., South Vietnamese, and South Korean military forces across two valleys in Bình Định Province. Forces swept the area seeking to locate and engage the VC 2nd Regiment, targeting its command structure and combat strength to prevent offensive action against allied installations and communication routes.
01 / The Origins
By mid-1966, the Viet Cong maintained a strong presence in Bình Định Province, South Vietnam. The VC 2nd Regiment, estimated at approximately 2,000 men, operated in valleys near Vinh Thanh and posed a direct threat to a Civilian Irregular Defense Group camp there. U.S. forces also needed to secure Highway 19 and the 1st Cavalry Division base at An Khe from continued guerrilla harassment.
03 / The Outcome
The operation concluded on 5 June 1966. It sought to degrade the VC 2nd Regiment's capacity to threaten the Vinh Thanh camp and disrupt operations along Highway 19. The immediate aftermath involved continued allied efforts to maintain security in Bình Định Province, which remained a contested region throughout the broader Vietnam War.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
3 belligerents
Side B
1 belligerent