Combat· Vietnam War
Op IMPERIAL LAKE
Operation Imperial Lake was a long-running Marine operation in the Que Son Mountains southwest of Da Nang, launched to clear the enemy from one of his most enduring mountain base areas as the Marine presence in Vietnam wound down.
The operation opened with a heavy preparatory bombardment of the rugged objective area before Marines were lifted in to search the caves, ridges, and jungle for the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong who had long sheltered there. It became a prolonged campaign of patrolling and small-unit actions across the difficult highlands, the Marines methodically hunting the enemy and destroying the base facilities, caches, and fortifications they uncovered. Imperial Lake stretched on for many months and was among the last major Marine operations of the war, continuing as the Corps progressively withdrew its forces. It reflected the persistent effort to deny the enemy his mountain sanctuaries even in the twilight of the Marine commitment.
Record no. 702