Tay Ninh was the headquarters of the powerful anti communist Cao Dai sect and the location of their "Vatican" the Cao Dai temple complex. The Cao Dai adherents were virulently anti-NVA and the US had always gone out of its way to encourage their support of our efforts.

The temple complex area was composed of several large buildings in the middle of extensive grounds and surrounded by an impressive masonry wall. It was on the city's outskirts and immediately adjoined the built up area of one side the city. There were roads leading to it and homes surrounding that side.

The US had always been careful to avoid combat in the temple complex area. The rules of engagement (ROE) explicitly forbid the use of weapons of any kind on or near the temple grounds.

We entered the city close to the temple and at 1715 discovered the NVA had seized it along with probably 500 worshipers, monks, and townspeople. We were faced with a dilemma: obey the ROE and see the NVA occupy part of the capital of Tay Ninh Province or disobey the RoE, engage the NVA, and risk the deaths of hundreds of innocent Cao Dai civilians.

After we discovered the NVA entrenched in the temple and on its grounds, we began "self defense" fires (always allowed under RoE) while I sought permission to fully engage. Permission was granted to use only organic small arms and to absolutely minimize civilian casualties.

It was quite a sight seeing the Tomahawks on their bellies lined up along one side of the temple grounds firing while across the grounds and in the temple itself uniformed NVA jumped up and fired then dropping down. All the while terrified civilians milled around the areas controlled by the NVA.

It was getting to be a standoff when I asked for permission to use artillery and Gun ships under very controlled conditions; artillery was denied and we got a few gun ship runs.

As night fell, we saw the NVA slip away into the alleys behind the temple. No idea how many of them or the civilians were killed.

Butch Sincock was a platoon leader during this action; here are his recollections sent 13 April 2003.

"I recall well that day. Some of my recollections are at slight variance from yours. I thought we made contact earlier in the day, but you may be right that it was late in the afternoon.

I don't recall any Gun ships. Matter of fact, I recall the frustration of knowing where the NVA were and not having political clearance for artillery, TAC-air, Gun ships or even our own mortars.

We were not fighting in the main Cao Dai temple complex. That complex is about 3.5 KM NW of the small Cao Dai complex where we fought. We used to pass the larger complex (called the "holy sea" I think) on the way to and from Tay Ninh West & Rawlings.

The complex where we fought that day was in the southern most part of the city. I have been back to that site several times over the past few years and discussed that battle with several women who were in the crowd that day. For over 30 years I had questions about that day.

Two major questions were: 1) why were the civilians standing around in the open knowing there were warring forces to either side and 2) were any of the young men in robes really NVA (there was a rumor that when gunfire broke out some of the "monks" pulled AK-47s out from under their robes. Everyone could quote someone who heard this, but no one was an actual eyewitness).

Today that complex is a retirement facility for aging Cao Dai religious. The half-dozen or so women I have spoken with who were there then said 1) they took refuge in the complex because they thought that they would be safe in a holy site and 2) because the buildings in the complex were the only masonry ones (i.e. somewhat bullet resistant) in that part of town - all the other houses were essentially shacks.

Regarding the "monks", the ladies told me that they were DRAFT DODGERS! They said they had no problem recruiting would-be monks in the 60s because many young men saw it as a legitimate way to avoid both the ARVN and the NVA.

During the battle my platoon sergeant attempted to throw a grenade over the main temple building when NVA were spotted shooting around the corner of the building. The grenade did not clear the top of the roof and bounced back into the temple itself. We had seen women & children flee into the doorway where the grenade went just seconds before. According to the women I have spoke with in recent years about 14 were KIA - either immediately or died of wounds.

Incidentally, when the firing first started, my platoon was moving around one of the buildings close to the road. We were ordered back to the south end of the compound by the CO. We low crawled part way and ran into a barbed wire fence around a garden. I worked the wire with my hands until it broke and we opened a big hole in the fence for the men to crawl through. That hole is still there! I found it on my first return trip there about 5 years ago.

In 2002, I briefed MG Eric Olson on the Battle for Tay Ninh just after he took command of the 25th. He wanted to use a historic battle for a presentation to the officers and NCOs of the 25th on the Oct. 1st "birthday" of the 25th Division. He covered many of the battles in his presentation, including the Temple battle. He gave his briefing in the Conroy Bowl at Schofield Barracks. They had a huge map of Tay Ninh Prov. on the floor - probably 20 feel tall and 12 or 15 across. Very impressive!"

This message I received from Gary Bennett, Recon Platoon Leader: