From the 1/14th Daily Journal Summaries

December 1968

1 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons began implementation of restationing plans. The 1-14^th Inf is also participating in a joint US/ARVN operation north of the Oasis.

Plans: LZ Mary S will be evacuated tomorrow as part of current restationing plan. 1-14 Inf will continue to participate in the operation to the north of the Oasis. B/1-14 will conduct a combat patrol to vicinity of 127314 and then to 131319 and return. C/1-14 will conduct a patrol vicinity of 105311 then to 099316 and return. D/1-14 will conduct a patrol to vicinity 111317 then return by way of 115310.

2 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continued their participation in operations north of Oasis. 1-14 Inf continues restationing plans. The incoming CG of 4^th Div Major General Pepke paid a visit to LZ Karen and toured the firebase. Indication is that he was well pleased with the visit. Approval was received from 3^rd Bde for final extraction of LZ Mary S and it was accomplished.

Plans: Participating 1-14 units will be released from current operations and a portion of these elements will be restationed. Certain 1-14 elements will go OP/CON to 3-8 Inf.

3 December 1968

0925: To 1-14 from 2-8. D/1-35 at ZA 140327, B/1-35 at ZA 176353.

2015: Cmd "B" 63.20, A/L-45/45, Fire push 43.00, Alternate fire push is 44.20 (C). You should have at least 2 days rations and as much water as you can carry. The Cmd "B" push will be used for the CA. 2-8 CO will try to brief you in person tomorrow. Passed to C/1-14 and Bn CO at 2240.

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue participation in operation north of Oasis. Recon patrols were conducted by 1-14 Inf Recon Platoon.

Plans: 1-14 will furnish one element OP/CON to 2-8 Inf. Two additional elements will take part in operation east of LZ Karen. Tentatively scheduled for 5 Dec. SRP will continue on a limited basis due to other commitments.

4 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue with operation north of Oasis. SRP operations continue on a reduced basis. Improvements to bunkers and fortifications are continuing.

Plans: All 1-14 elements will continue participation in current operations. SRP operations will continue.

5 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue operations in AO north of Oasis. Units participating are B/1-14 and D/1-14. SRP activities in LZ Karen and Chara Maine AO continue on a limited scale due to absence of units currently in AO north of Oasis.

Plans: Restationing of selected 1-14 Inf elements will continue. A and D/1-14 will take part in upcoming operations. C/1-14 and B/1-14 will move to LZ Karen and LZ Chara Maine respectively. SRP operations will continue on a limited basis in assigned AO.

6 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons which have been operating north of Oasis under 3^rd Bde control are OP/CON to 3-8 Inf effective today. SRP operations continue in assigned AO’s. Cancellation, for an indefinite period, of the operation scheduled for east of LZ Karen has been received.

Plans: Restationing of selected 1-14 elements in proposed. SRP operations will continue within assigned AO.

7 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons began implementation of restationing plans. B/1-14 was lifted to LZ Chara Maine. Recon was lifted to LZ Wooley Booley. D/1-14 91 element went to the Oasis. Proposed move of C/1-14 has been cancelled for the time being. SRP operations continue within assigned AO.

Plans: C/1-14 and D/1-14 will remain OP/CON to 3-8. SRP operation will be continued.

8 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue to have two companies OP/CON north to 3-8 Inf.  SRP operations continue within all AO. Improvements to existing bunkers and fortifications continue.

Plans: SRP operations will continue throughout the assigned AO. General improvements to LZ’s will continue.

9 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons will participate in an operation north of Plei Mei. Planning for this operation is currently underway. SRP operations continue within assigned AO.

Plans: Participation in operation mentioned above. Recon Platoon will conduct a bushmaster operation. SRP operation will continue.

10 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue SRP operations in assigned AO. Bushmaster patrols from recon platoon have been added to SRP’s in both LZ Karen and Chara Maine areas. General improvement to fire bases continues.

Plans: Planning continues for operation Iron Fist, which has been postponed until 14 December.

11 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons OP/CON C/1-14 and D/1-14 minus their mortar element to 3/8. These two units are committed into the Plei Mei area under operatoinal control of 3/8, SRP operations continue within assigned AO. Bushmaster patrol from the recon platoon are operating in addition to SRP’s in LZ Karen and Chara Maine areas.

Plans: C/1-14 and D/1-14 minus mortar elements will remain OP/CON. Planning continues for operation tentatively scheduled for 17 Dec, to be conducted VIC Plei Deu Doath, SRP operations will continue within assigned AO.

12 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue field operations, D/1-14 and C/1-14 are OP/CON to 1/69 for an operation Vic Jackson Hole. Recon element conducted a recon patrol to area where Bushmaster sightings were made last night with negative findings. SRP operations continue throughout assigned AO.

Plans: Increased state of alert has been initiated because of recent intelligence which indicates possibility of increased activity. SRP operations will continue. C/1-14 and D/1-14 will continue to be OP/CON 1-69^th.

13 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue to have units OP/CON to 1-69 engaged in field operations. These units area C and D/1-14 minus their 94 elements. Bushmaster patrols from recon elements are still deployed in LZ Karen and Chara Maine areas. Significant enemy movement was reported by bushmaster located vic 806325. Other enemy activity reported by A SRP #7 and perimeter guards of A/1-14 SRP.

Plans: SRP operations will continue throughout assigned AO.

14 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue OP/CON of C and D/1-14 minus to 1-69. SRP operations continue. C/1-14 element minus LZ to Jackson Hole. At 1600. D/1-14 minus LZ at 1428. Reports of enemy movement continue in LZ Karen area. SRP operations continue within assigned AO.

Plans: Request for return of units OP/CON to 1-69 has been submitted to 3^rd Bde. SRP operations will continue. Word has been received from 3^rd Bde concerning possibility of major redeployment of 1/14 from present fire bases but nothing definite as yet.

15 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue SRP activities throughout assigned AO. Improvement of fire bases continue with emphasis on police and improvements to LZ’s. Use of bushmaster patrols is continued.

Plans: SRP operations will continue. General improvement to fire bases will continue.

16 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue SRP activities throughout assigned AO. Improvements to fire bases continue with emphasis on police and improvements to LZ’s. Use of bushmaster patrols is continued.

Plans: SRP operations will continue. General improvements to fire bases will continue, along with police of LZ’s.

17 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue SRP operations throughout assigned AO. Unit training in general infantry subjects given to all personnel not engaged in SRP operations or fatigue details. A unanimous resolution by the officers, NCOs and EMs of the 1/14 Infantry adopted giving the title of "Dragon Number One", to LTC Irving Monclova, departing Commanding Officer of the Golden Dragons. The resolution provided for making this document a permanent matter of official records of the Battalion and it is duly entered in this journal.

Plans: Unit relocations are eminent and planning for moves is in progress.

18 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue planning for proposed relocation of units. Purpose of relocation is to provide security for an operation involving relocation of civilian populace of selected villages within the 3^rd Brigade area of operations.

Plans: All units of the 1/14 Infantry will relocate commencing tomorrow.

19 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons direct a maximum effort toward construction of bunkers and general improvement to new fire bases. SRP operations are continued throughout assigned AO.

Plans: SRP operations will be directed toward a screening of the area where relocation of civilian populace is to take place. Construction of bunkers and fortifications will continue at fire bases.

20 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue construction of bunkers and fortifications and improvement to LZ’s at all fire bases. SRP operations continue.

Plans: Continued emphasis will be placed on bunker fortification construction. SRP operations will be continued.

21 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue to emphasize preparation of all fire bases to include fortifications and bunker construction. SRP operations were continued in all assigned AO.

Plans: Continue construction currently in progress. SRP operations will continue.

22 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons took part in reinforcement of LRRP in contact. The lead unit of reaction force was 2^nd platoon of B Company 1-14^th Infantry. No other elements were required to be committed. SRP operations continue and continued emphasis was placed on construction of fire bases.

Plans: Construction of fire bases will continue. SRP operations will be continued. 1/14 Infantry will continue to be responsible for furnishing a rapid reactionary force for the 3^rd Brigade.

23 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue present operation. SRP operations continue with a SRP screen oriented to the south and southwest of the area where the relocation of the inhabitants of villages is located. Improvements to bunkers and fortifications continue.

Plans: SRP operations in support of current operation will continue. Continue emphasis will be placed on improvement to bunkers and fortifications.

24 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue participation in current operations. SRP operations continue in support of this mission. Improvements to all fire bases continue.

Plans: Present operations concerning villages relocating will continue. The 1/14 Infantry will continue to furnish rapid reaction force for the 3^rd Brigade. Continue emphasis will be placed on improvements of bunkers and fortifications and our general improvement to fire bases.

25 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons completed restationing operation with the extraction of the Recon Platoon from LZ Karen to Oasis. SRP operations continue throughout assigned AO. Construction of bunkers and fortifications continues. Rapid reaction force from C Company 1/14^th Infantry conducted CA to reinforce LRRP in contact.

Plans: SRP operations will continue with screen oriented to south and southwest. Improvements to all fire bases will continue.

26 December 1968

1200-1201: To all units from S-2. The sign and countersign for period 26/1200 Dec to 27/1159 Dec will be LIVE - WIRE.

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue mission of screening area south and southwest of area where village relocation will occur with SRPs. A meeting took place today discussing actual relocation. Bunker and fortification improvement continues.

Plans: Ambush patrols in addition to SRPs will be sent out by every company beginning tomorrow. Improvement to fire bases will receive continued emphasis.

27 December 1968

1330-1331: To all units from S-2. Sign and countersign for period 271200 Dec to 281159 Dec is PAPER – BACK.

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue a posture oriented toward village evacuation operation. SRP operations continue throughout assigned AO. Emphasis is continued on construction of bunkers and fortifications and general improvement of fire bases.

28 December 1968

1220-1221: To NCS from S-2. The password will be DUTY – HONOR.

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue assigned mission to provide security for the village evacuation operation. The actual evacuation began today. SRP operations in all assigned AO continue to be oriented toward their mission. Construction of fire bases continues.

Plans: The present mission will be continued. Improvement of fire bases will continue. SRP operations will also continue.

29 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue to support village evacuation operation. SRP is oriented in that direction. Ambush patrols are being used in addition to SRPs. Improvement of fire bases continues.

Plans: 1/14 Infantry will continue present mission. SRPs and ambush patrols will be continued. Continued emphasis on bunker construction and landing pad police and general improvement.

30 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue to provide a security screen for the evacuation operation. SRP operations were continued in all assigned AO.

Plans: 1/14 Infantry will continue present mission of providing security to the south and southwest of current operation in the relocation of civilian populace present located in positions of the 3^rd Brigade AO. SRP operations will continue.

31 December 1968

Summary: The Golden Dragons continue to participate in current village relocation operation. SRP and ambush patrol operations were continued in all assigned areas of operation.

Plans: 1/14 will continue present mission. SRP and ambush patrol operations will continue.