Vietnam: 1966 - 1972

In 1966, the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment (1-327) of the 101st Airborne Division continued its active involvement in the Vietnam War. The year began with Operation Seagull in Ninh Thuan Province, where the battalion conducted extensive sweeping and patrolling operations in jungle regions and treacherous mountains. During Operation Harrison, elements of 1-327 engaged in heavy combat with regulars of the 95th NVA Regiment near the hamlet of My Phu, southwest of Tuy Hoa. The battle demonstrated the battalion's professionalism and tactical prowess, resulting in 118 enemy dead.

In April 1966, 1-327 began Operation Austin VI, conducting spoiling attacks against North Vietnamese Army concentrations along the Cambodian border in Quang Duc Province. On May 10, 1966, the battalion overran and destroyed a large Viet Cong complex, including a provincial headquarters and a prisoner of war camp. This operation was part of a broader effort to blunt a major North Vietnamese offensive to seize the North Central Highlands.

The battalion's actions in 1966 set the stage for its continued involvement in the war. Throughout the conflict, 1-327 participated in numerous combat operations, including the defense against the enemy's Tet Offensive, which began on January 31, 1968[. From May 1968 through February 1969, the 101st Airborne Division, including 1-327, conducted Operation Nevada Eagle, successfully denying the rice crop of Thua Thien province to the enemy.

One of the most notable units within 1-327 was Tiger Force, a long-range reconnaissance patrol unit founded in November 1965. Tiger Force became a highly decorated and legendary unit in the battalion. The unit's parent battalion, including Tiger Force, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation by President Lyndon B. Johnson in October 1968, which included a mention of their service at Đắk Tô in June 1966.

As the war progressed, the focus of operations began to shift. At the end of 1969, activities turned towards civil affairs and a Pacification Program. This change in strategy reflected the evolving nature of the conflict and the U.S. military's efforts to win the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people.

The 101st Airborne Division, including 1-327, began its return home in the fall of 1971. The division's involvement in Vietnam officially concluded with a welcome ceremony at Fort Campbell on April 6, 1972. Throughout its time in Vietnam, the 101st Airborne Division, including 1-327, fought in 45 operations over nearly seven years, demonstrating extraordinary heroism and sacrifice. The experiences and lessons learned during this period would continue to shape the battalion and the division in the years to come. As a division, the 101st suffered 4,011 KIA and 18,259 WIA, which is over twice the number of soldiers the division lost in World War II.