PATCH - Marines, Major Ba Binhs SEAWOLVES - Vietnam War

RARE, RARE, RARE,

Major Le Ba Binh's Sea Wolves

Last RVN Fighting Unit of Vietnam War

Sea Wolves

Super Rare Patch of the RVN 3rd Marine Battalion.

• Measures, 3.5 x 3 inches ( 9 x 7.5 cms )

• Cheesecloth Backed

• Rare, Vietnam War, RVN Marine Piece

Considered to be the elite of the RVN Marines the 'Sea Wolves' were more commonly called 'Major Ba Binh's Sea Wolves'.

Major Le Ba Binh, Commander of the 3rd RVN Marine Battalion was a 'Lead from the front' Commander. Wounded more than 12 times and decorated for Valour seven times before the Easter Offensive of 1972 (Nguyen Hue Offensive), Binh was probably the most famous soldier of South Vietnam.

During the Easter Offensive of 1972 the Sea Wolves were located at Dong Ha (20 kms South of the DMZ) when the town came under attack by the NVA streaming across the Demiltarized Zone into South Vietnam. Dong Ha, on the main route road south was a vital passing point for any total invasion of South Vietnam.

20,000 Soldier's of the North Vietnamese Army supported by Tanks launched an all out attack on Dong Ha. The 3rd Marine Battalion defended the town long enough for US Marines (John Ripley) to blow up the main bridge linking the road and the NVA set about building a pontoon whilst under attack by the Sea Wolves.

Major Le Ba Binh defended the town for over a month against the force of 20,000 Communist Attackers. Starting the battle with 700 men the Sea Wolves eventually withdrew from the battle when they were entirely surrounded, 33 days into the Battle.

A month later Major Le Ba Binh, recovered from wounds sustained in the battle rejoined his unit at Hue.

What started out as a full Battalion of 700 men had been depleted to a force of just 52 survivors.

At a time when the Military of the Republic of Vietnam was withdrawing from battle and been over-run the defence of Dong Ha stood as a morale boost to all RVN Forces.

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Although the Battalion was effectively destroyed as a fighting unit in 1972, Major Le Ba Binh had rebuilt the Sea Wolves and they continued the fight against communism.

In April 1975, as Saigon fell and the military forces of South Vietnam surrendered, the Sea Wolves, as one of South Vietnam's most famous units and in protection of their famous Major continued the fight against communism well in June 1975, over a month after the surrender of the Republic of Vietnam.

With family members of the serving Sea Wolves interned, Major Le Ba Binh and the remaining combatants of the Sea Wolves surrendered in mid June 1975.

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Major Le Ba Binh was interned in various re-education camps throughout Vietnam after his surrender in June 1975.

Major Le Ba Binh was released from imprisonment in 1998, after 23 years in prison. He was immediately deported and welcomed by the United States.

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