We continue our BATTLEFIELD STUDIES segments devoted the “DMZ Battles” of 1967-1968 in Vietnam with an interview with a squad leader from India Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment — Jack Riley.

In this episode Jack recounts the events around 3/9’s “Sparrowhawk” mission (quick reaction force) to support the Marines and Sailors of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment after their movement to contact exploded inside the southern end of the DMZ in the vicinity of “The Market.”

These DMZ Battles would make household names of places like Con Thien, Gio Linn, Cam Lo and Dong Ha as well as an area that became known as Leatherneck Square.  These fights were, in my opinion, that last time that the United States Marine Corps when toe to toe with a “peer” — the lessons are many