Allen took formal command on July 15, 1967, during Operation SAMURAI I, and held it until June 5, 1968. Nearly a full year. Jim Morris wrote that Delta "achieved its highest degree of perfection" under Allen. General Westmoreland called him "Big 'Un."
Allen had been shaping the unit as DCO and S-3 since March 1967, but his command period saw Delta operating at its absolute peak. He commanded through the SAMURAI series in Happy Valley, where his teams overran an NVA air station and captured documents and prisoners. He commanded Operation SULTAN in the Plei Trap Valley, putting recon teams in close proximity to massive NVA formations just weeks before the Tet Offensive.
Then came Tet. When the NVA and VC launched their nationwide offensive on January 30, 1968, the 81st Airborne Rangers were pulled from Delta to fight in Saigon and Cholon. Allen held the unit together through the crisis and continued operations with reduced forces. He also oversaw innovations including improvised rocket systems on C&C aircraft, CS gas dispensers fabricated from salvaged rocket pods, and a rapid aerial photo analysis capability that dramatically shortened the intelligence cycle.
Under Allen, Delta operated across all three corps tactical zones and was placed under operational control of commands ranging from the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force to multiple Army division and corps headquarters.
Delta returned to Happy Valley for the continuation of the SAMURAI series. During these operations, recon teams overran an NVA air station, capturing extensive documents and prisoners. The captured materials provided detailed intelligence about enemy logistics, unit identifications, and infiltration routes throughout I Corps. This was among the highest-value intelligence Delta ever produced.
The final named operation before Tet sent Delta to Kontum for deep reconnaissance in the Plei Trap Valley, a major NVA staging area near the tri-border region of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Running through Christmas Day 1967, Delta was operating just weeks before the Tet Offensive. The massive NVA buildup was already underway, and Delta's recon teams were in close proximity to large enemy formations.
When the NVA and VC launched the Tet Offensive on January 30, 1968, the 81st Airborne Ranger Battalion was pulled from Delta to fight in Saigon and Cholon. Allen held the unit together and continued reconnaissance operations with reduced forces. SP4 John F. Link, an S-4 Clerk who had volunteered for recon duty, was killed on March 30, 1968.
The Valorous Unit Award was given to Detachment B-52 for the period of March 4 to April 4, 1968, recognizing extraordinary heroism during operations conducted in the aftermath of Tet.
| Name | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| MSgt Edward A. Coffey | August 11, 1967 | Quang Tri Province. Panel 24E, Line 99. |
| SP4 John F. Link | March 30, 1968 | S-4 Clerk, volunteered for recon. Killed on strap mission. |
B-52 Personnel Database, compiled by Sherman (specialforcesbooks.com/B52.htm).
281st AHC I Corps Operations History, compiled by Bob Mitchell for the VHPA from official B-52 and 281st After Action Reports.
Jim Morris, "Project Delta" series, Special Forces Chapter 78 Sentinel.
VVMF Wall of Faces (vvmf.org).
USASOC, "USASOC honors clandestine SF unit from Vietnam War," army.mil, Oct 28, 2008.
Complete B-52 After Action Reports are declassified and held at NARA College Park, MD (Record Group 472).