Operation Harvest Moon

Operation Harvest Moon
Part of Vietnam War

2nd Battalion, 7th Marines move across paddy dikes during Operation Harvest Moon
Date8–20 December 1965
Location
Result Allied operational success
Belligerents
 United States
 South Vietnam
Viet Cong
Commanders and leaders
United States LG Lew Walt
BG Melvin D. Henderson
BG Jonas M. Platt
South Vietnam Gen. Nguyễn Chánh Thi
BG Hoàng Xuân Lãm
Unknown
Units involved
United States 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines
2nd Battalion, 7th Marines
2nd Battalion, 1st Marines
2nd Battalion, 9th Marines
South Vietnam 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment
1st Battalion, 5th Regiment
1st Battalion, 6th Regiment
11th Ranger Battalion
1st Regiment
Casualties and losses
South Vietnam 90 killed
91 missing
United States 45 killed
US/ARVN body count: 407 killed
33 captured

Operation Harvest Moon/Lien Ket 18 was a US Marine Corps and Army of the Republic of Vietnam search and destroy operation in the Quế Sơn Valley in western Quảng Tín Province, lasting from 8 to 20 December 1965.