Early in the wee hours of November 21, 1970, a bold and carefully thought out operation took place far in the North Vietnamese jungles. Operation Ivory Coast was an ambitious attempt at rescue of American prisoners of war (POWs) kept at the infamous Son Tay prison camp. Though finally not producing the rescue of any POWs, the mission is an amazing display of bravery, accuracy, and unwavering dedication of the American military to bring its men home.
American POWs in Vietnam: The Situation
The Vietnam War had been raging for years by 1970, and American POWs’ fate in North Vietnam was becoming increasingly of issue. Many of the hundreds of American personnel that had been taken prisoner suffered terrible treatment and torture. About twenty-three miles west of Hanoi, the Son Tay detention camp was among the most notorious locations thought to be holding American POWs.
The U.S. military started preparing a rescue mission after intelligence revealed that a sizable portion of American detainees were housed at Son Tay. Under the codenaming Operation Ivory Coast, the goal was obvious: get into the highly guarded camp, kill the guards, and return the POWs home.
Mission Planning: Secrecy and Precision
Among the Vietnam War’s most meticulously thought out missions was Operation Ivory Coast. Under direction of Army Colonel Arthur D. “Bull” Simons and Air Force Brigadier General LeRoy J. Manor, the planning started in the summer of 1970. Along with pilots with a lot of experience flying in the difficult terrain of Vietnam, they chose a team of the most outstanding Special Forces troops.
Success of the mission rested in speed, surprise, and accuracy. The designers understood they would have to land straight into the prison camp, fly far into hostile territory, evade North Vietnamese radar detection. Using a mock-up of the Son Tay camp constructed to exacting standards based on aerial reconnaissance and intelligence reports, the squad trained heavily. They refined their skills by repeatedly running the raid.
The goal remained under wraps. Only those personally engaged knew the specifics; President Richard Nixon among others approved the operation at the highest levels of the U.S. government. Though the stakes were very high, the planners were sure they would be successful.
The Raid: Confronting Fire with Courage
Carrying the Special Forces squad towards Son Tay, a fleet of helicopters and C-130 planes set out from Thai bases on the evening of November 20, 1970. The procedure was in progress. The helicopters skimming just above the treetops flew low and quickly as they neared the camp to evade identification.
Exactly as scheduled, the first helicopter—carrying the assault squad headed by Colonel Simons—crash-landed within the jail compound at precisely 2:19 a.m. on November 21. There was total element of surprise. Quickly disembarking, the men moved fast and precisely to attack the guards and structures.
Another helicopter landed close outside the camp, where a support team attacked North Vietnamese forces positioned nearby to stop any reinforcements from disrupting the raid. Seeking American POWs in the dormitories and cells, Simons and his men went quickly across the camp.
But it soon became clear from clearing the structures that the intelligence had been erroneous; the inmates were absent. The POWs had been relocated and the camp had been deserted some months previously. The squad kept checking every inch of the camp to make sure nobody was left behind despite this terrible knowledge.
Simons ordered to retreat after he verified the camp was empty. From landing to extraction, the whole operation barely lasted thirty minutes. Given the intricacy and risk of the task, the team withdrew without suffering any casualties—an amazing accomplishment.
The Aftermath: Legacy Learning
Although Operation Ivory Coast was deemed a tactical success even if its main goal was to save American POWs. The operation proved the remarkable skills of U.S. Special Forces as well as the value of careful preparation and execution under tremendous strain. The mission also delivered a strong message to the American public as well as the North Vietnamese people: the U.S. military would do all necessary to save its men.
The attack had other major effects as well. It forced the North Vietnamese to relocate their POW camps to more safe areas. Ironically, for many American POWs placed together in bigger camps where they could better support one another, this action helped their situation.
Operation Ivory Coast shaped later military operations as well. The preparation and execution of the raid became a template for later Special Forces operations, including the effective 1979 attack on the Iranian embassy in London by British SAS troops. Military academies all throughout the world still examine the legacy of the raid as a model of daring, accuracy, and the unrelenting pursuit of mission objectives—even in the face of unanticipated obstacles.
Remembering the Heroes
Heroes abound among the individuals who took part in Operation Ivory Coast. Displaying unmatched bravery and professionalism, they risked all to try to bring their fellow troops home. Although the operation did not proceed as expected, their behaviour is evidence of the military’s dedication and its will to never leave a soldier behind.
Among American military history, Operation Ivory Coast is still among the most audacious and effectively carried out operations today. It reminds us of the extent the military will go to save and defend its own as well as of the bravery of those who go on such operations knowing full well the hazards involved.