Operation Starlite was a military operation conducted during the Vietnam War starting on August 21, 1965. It was the first major military action of the Vietnam War fought purely by American forces. During the operation, 5,500 Marines destroyed a Viet Cong base near Van Tuong. Preceded by a considerable air and artillery assault, the Marines successfully took control of the base. The U.S. took 45 casualties and claimed to have killed 668 Viet Cong.