U.S. forces aimed to interdict VC lines of communication and prevent Viet Cong personnel from establishing outposts in the region via the operation.

[5] A VC report estimated that the U.S. military killed at least 3,000 Vietnamese civilians and destroyed "thousands of houses, hundreds of hectares of fields and orchards" during the operation.

[9]: 17 On 2 February between 19:50 and 20:15, infantry from the 1st Brigade supported by helicopter gunships from the 12th Combat Aviation Group (12th CAG) engaged an unknown size enemy force in two contacts 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Cao Lanh.

[10]: 19 On 11 February at 14:30 helicopter gunships from the air cavalry squadron of the 164th Combat Aviation Group on a Delta Blackhawk mission observed an unknown size enemy force in sampans 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Cao Lanh.

[10]: 28 On 17 February at 15:15 reconnaissance aircraft sighted numerous sampans with an unknown number of enemy soldiers onboard 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Cao Lanh.

[10]: 46  On 27 February at 19:30 a unit of the 1st Brigade supported by the air cavalry squadron of the 164th CAG engaged a PAVN/VC force 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Cái Bè.

[11]: 53 On 4 March at approximately 20:45 1st Brigade infantry ambushed a PAVN/VC squad 9 miles (14 km) west-northwest of Cái Bè and helicopter gunships attacked an enemy force resulting in 15 PAVN/VC killed and one captured for no U.S.

[9]: 21  On 5/6 March in operations 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of Cái Bè 1st Brigade infantry and 164th CAG gunships engaged small groups of PAVN/VC killing 35 and destroying 12 sampans.

[9]: 23 On 11 March in scattered actions between midnight and 04:00 1st Brigade infantry and 164th CAG gunships killed 18 PAVN/VC 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Cai Lậy District.

[9]: 37  On 14 March at 16:00 helicopter gunships from the 164th CAG supporting ARVN troops engaged a PAVN/VC force 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Kiên Hưng killing 36.

[9]: 44 On 21 March at 19:25 a unit of the 2nd Brigade operating 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Bến Tre engaged a PAVN/VC force killing 40 for the loss of one U.S.

[12]: 53  On 22 March at 20:00 a unit from the 2nd Brigade supported by helicopter gunships engaged a PAVN/VC force 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Bến Tre killing 39.

[12]: 55 On 23 March during the early morning while operating 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Cao Lanh a 1st Brigade unit supported by helicopter gunships engaged two VC platoons.

At 15:00 in the same general area a 1st Brigade unit engaged two PAVN/VC companies, the action continued until 22:30 with helicopter gunships and tactical fighter providing support.

At 16:40 a unit of the 2nd Brigade freed ten South Vietnamese being held captive 11 miles (18 km) south-southwest of Bến Tre.

[12]: 62  On 27 March between 18:00 and 23:30 helicopter gunships from the 164th CAG attacked a PAVN/VC platoon 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Cai Lậy in three separate contacts killing 19 and destroying three sampans.

[12]: 65  On 28 March at 21:30 helicopter gunships from the 164th CAG engaged scattered PAVN/VC groups 9 miles (14 km) north of Cái Bè killing 26.

[12]: 67–8 On 30 March from 20:00 to midnight helicopter gunships from the 164th CAG engaged PAVN/VC forces 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Cai Lậy killing 39 and destroying 18 sampans.

[13]: 31  On 17 May at 19:45 a 2nd Brigade unit supported by helicopter gunships engaged a PAVN/VC force 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Bến Tre killing 14 and destroying six sampans.

[15] In December 1969 in the aftermath of the revelation of the My Lai massacre, stories began to appear in the press that atrocities by Americans and their allies were far more commonplace in South Vietnam than the U.S. government was willing to admit.

[16]: 237  Robert Kaylor of United Press International alleged that according to American pacification advisers in the Mekong Delta during the operation the division had indulged in the "wanton killing" of civilians through the "indiscriminate use of mass firepower.

[16]: 238  Ewell refuted the report, describing it to COMUSMACV General Creighton Abrams as "the biggest collection of malicious innuendo I have ever seen.

[19] David Hackworth was a battalion commander during Speedy Express; according to him, "a lot of innocent Vietnamese civilians got slaughtered because of the Ewell-Hunt drive to have the highest count in the land."

"[4]: 356–7 More recently, former Senator (and eventual Secretary of Defense) Charles Hagel of Nebraska, a veteran of the 9th Infantry, alleged that some U.S. commanders on the ground inflated the body count during the operation since this was how their success was judged.