IN VIETNAM
Commencing on March 29, 1966, Operation ABILENE was a U.S. search and destroy mission through Phuoc Tuy Province, targeting the VC 274th and 275th Regiments of the 5th Division and their base areas in the May Tao Secret Zone. It involved two brigades of the US 1st Infantry Division, while the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 161st Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery were also attached. However, the VC largely avoided battle and contact with the sweeping US brigades was light.