Title

Shining Brass/ Prairie Fire/ Phu Dung

CTZ

Laos

TAO

cross-border operations into Laos along the Ho Chi Minh Trail

Objective

primary mission to locate targets for aerial bombing, but at times they had to fight; later operations were expanded to include emplacing antipersonnel devices, engaging PAVN or Pathet Lao personnel, assessing bomb damage, and controlling air strikes

Description

The operation began as merely locating targets for bombing and sporadic fighting, but expanded to include heavier fighting and much more involvement in the airstrikes. Eventually three Amreican-led Vietnamese battalions were used for larger missions in Laos. At first helicopters were only allowed if necessary to extricate troops by air. Later helicopter use became the norm to lift reconnaissance teams. SHINING BRASS became one of the largest and most important Special Forces operation. Its name was later changed to PRAIRIE FIRE in 1968 and PHU DUNG in 1971.