Daily Staff Journal 27-Aug-66

Daily Staff Journals maintained by 1st Brigade
Thanks to Matt Vuolo for obtaining and sharing this report.

ITEM`	TIME	INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.
		Initial log entries contain hourly sit/rep, and reports of patrols leaving ambush sites and arriving back at base camp. All negative contact.
11	0744	Recon crossed SP at 0744
12	0745	A Co crossed SP at 0745
14	0812	Bn CO departed CP area enroute to airstrip to pick up C&C ship for today's operation. S3 also departed CP area at the same time.
18	0904	Co C crossed LD at 0907 hours negative enemy contact.
20	0915	Co C apprehended an ox cart vic coord XT181467. Ox cart was searched; nothing suspicious was found. Ox cart released.
21	0923	Bn CO to S3: Its getting foggy up here. Will probably have to set down.
26	1005	From Co C XO to 33: No one is manning Co C's defensive line this morning.
29	1009	Co A has arrived at Blocking Position DETROIT and is moving into position. Neg Enemy contact.
30	1020	Recon Plat closed OAHU Base Camp from route security for Co A & Co C to LD's.
31	1020	Recon Plat (-) was given mission of securing Co C's defensive perimeter at 1020 hrs by Bn TOC Duty Officer (Capt Murphy)
34	1053	From 3 to 33: Have made heavy contact inside of woods with group of three (3) enemy. Have Bn CO back up in helicopter ASAP. Contact vic coord XT 157468. Contact was initiated by friendly forces.
35	1055	From Bn CO to 33: Call Bde 14 and request airstrike on station.
36	1102	From 3 to 33: Have two (2) Rabbits (2 wounded) & require dustoff vic coord 158475.
37	1105	From 3 to 33: Have just made another contact. Have got a 50 caliber against us.
38	1112	From Bn CO to S3: Your position is approx 200 meters from opening of edge of woods to your north. If you have to move would suggest you move north. Bn 3 replied that he wouldn't move until 2 WIA's had been evacuated.
39	1122	From 33 (Capt Murphy) to 1st Sgt HHC: Gather up all available personnel in HHC area and be ready to man Co C bunker line area. Recon Plat (-) was withdrawn from Co C bunker line in order to secure convoy for reaction force if it was committed.
40	1055	Delayed Entry: From 33 to HHC: have your reaction force prepared to move on order.
41	1130	From Bn CO to 33: I'd like you to saddle up reaction force. Have it establish a blocking position facing south from vic coord XT 160482. Starting Point for the move will be vic coord XT 160507
42	1137	From Bn CO to 33: Alert dustoff and have it standing by. When LZ is secured will let you know. Capt Murphy informed Bn CO that dustoff is standing by waiting for instructions at this time.
43	1145	S3: Lead element is at clearing. Are preparing to secure LZ for dustoff.
45	1148	S3 informed Bn CO that he now has 3 friendly WIA. One with stomach wound, one wounded in left kikney and one wounded in head. (3 WIA instead of 2 previously reported.)
47	1156	Bn CO to 33: Have dustoff up in air and orbiting area LZ vic coord XT 158475.
48	1200	From FAC to 33: FAC will have VNAF flight in area shortly.
49	1115	Delayed Entry: From Gen Dessauer to Lt Gray (Recon Plat Ldr) Recon Plat Ldr was directed to capture Vietnamese children vic wire by main gate to OAHU Base Camp.
50	1159	Delayed Entry: From FAC 13 to 3: Do you have anyone in the wood line. Answer negative.
52	1200	Entac Plat security element for Philippines Engr Survey Party closed OAHU Base Camp 1200 hrs for lunch.
53	1202	S3: VC appear to be well dug in in bunkers & trenches. Recommend lots of ordnance in the area and more A/C if available.
54	1205	Entac Plat, at 1145 approx 10 rounds of AW fire received. No casualties. Entac was securing Philippines engr. Location of fire was vic coord 177546. Search of area revealed nothing. Entac back into Bn Area. Will depart again at 1300.
55	1205	From FAC to Bn CO: (Monitored) FAC has the fighters. ARty cut off. Permission granted to go ahead with air strike at 1205 hrs.
56	1210	From S3 to Bn CO: (Monitored) Dustoff completed at 1210 hrs for Co C 2/14 Inf WIA.
57	1210	From C Co XO & Recon to S3: C Co 2/1st has taken over C Co 2/14 Perimeter & Recon has taken over Co A 2/14.
58	1210	From D33 to Bde: (Monitored) 5 VC KIA by body count; 2 VC KIA (Poss)
59	1216	S3: VC in this area are hard core with green uniforms and red hats.
60	1220	S3: 5 BC KIA (Body Count) 3 VC KIA (Poss) is enemy casualty count at this time.
61	1225	Bn CO told S3 to establish blocking position across the rice paddies vic coord 154477 to 158475 and informed S3 that he was going to place reaction force where it was originally planned for.
62	1232	From FAC to Bn CO: Give me estimate of how many VC in the area. Bn CO asked S3. S3 estimates one VC Bn in the area. FAC notified. Maj Griffith estimated immediate contact was made with a platoon size element.
63	1236	Bn CO informed S3 that he is going down to refuel at 1236 hrs.
64	1245	S3: Call Arty and ask them what is wrong with the Arty? They have not fired a round in eight minutes. Arty was informed. The next round was on the way at 1247 hours.
66	1256	Entac element on security mission for the Philippines Engrs Survey party departed at 1256 hrs.
67	1258	Capt Mobley reports the reaction force is in position as of 1258 hrs.
68	1305	3: All VC casualties were inflicted by the infantry coord XT 157469.
69	1307	Correction on last transmission. We have 6 VC KIA (BC) and 3 VC KIA (Poss).
70	1320	From FAC to S3: (Monitored) Try to lift Arty in the next 5 min (Arty should be lifted by 1325 hrs) S3 acknowledged.
71	1325	S3: If nothing develops after airstrike is completed will move Co C through reaction force blocking position.
72	1325	S3: ARty rounds completed as of 1325 hrs.
73	1328	S3 to FAC: (Monitored) Hold the airstrike off. You are putting it on top of us (second air strike was started at 1327 hrs)
74	1330	S3: We have one man injured. FAC seems to have airstrike planes under control now.
75	1333	S3 to Bn CO: (Monitored) The one man was just slightly burned by fire from airstrike. No dustoff required.
76	1335	From Bn CO to CO A, CO HHC: (Monitored) Makr your positions with smoke.
78	1340	From CO to S3, C, A 34: (Monitored) C Co move to reaction Lance position. A Co return to SP. 34 permit C Co to pass through your position and follow in trail.
79	1342	From FAC to Bn CO: (Monitored) Have your units mark their positions. I have another FAC to take my place as I'm running low on fuel. Bn CO Instructed A Co and HHC to mark their position. Units acknowledged and marked position.
81	1400	From FAC to Bn CO: (Monitored) Fighters have 1000 lb bombs. Bn CO told FAC to hold off the fighters until all troops have moved out of the area at least one kilometer. Bn CO also instructed S3 to move the troops out of the area ASAP.
82	1400	From Bn CO to FAC: (Monitored) Bn CO gave permission to FAC to bring the fighters back in. Bn CO told FAC that Arty had been lifted.
83	1415	HHC CO: Located what seems to ba tunnel. S3 informed HHC CO that he will give him explosives if needed. HHC had it checked and it was an old well rather than a tunnel.
84	1420	FAC (Monitored) Third air strike ended at 1420 hrs. But FAC is going to stay on station in case he is needed again. FAC told Bn CO that he saw a cou0ple of houses destroyed and also a body.
85	1445	Bn CO instructed FAC to take another look at the target area. Arty has been lifted.
86	1450	FAC does not see any movement in the target area and there is no shooting going on. FAC left for Cu Chi.
87	1455	Bn CO instructed the reaction force Cmdr to pull out of the blocking position and move out.
88	1500	Recon Plat leaving to provide security for A Co on its way to OAHU Base from today's operation.
89	1507	S3: Have Arty fire 25 rds in the area where we had contact vic coord XT 157468, nd to the west at 1517 hrs. VC may be carrying off their wounded. Arty notified.
90	1515	S3: A Co is loading on trucks and heading to OAHU Base from today's operation.
92	1520	S3: Inform S4 to have ice for the units so that the troops can have something cold to drink when they get in. Also have S4 arrange for showers with C Co to have priority on showers followed by A Co.
93	1528	Co Co CO to Capt Murphy: C Co is on the road and walking to OAHU Base from today's Operation as of 1528 hrs.
94	1535	A Co closed OAHU Base as of 1535 hrs.
95	1540	S3 to HHC: (Monitored) HHC has to walk back to OAHU Base from today's operation.
96	1555	HHC Crossed SP at 1555 hrs on its way to OAHU Base from today's operation, moving on foot.
97	1607	HHC Reaction Force closed in OAHU Base as of 1607 hrs from today's operation. The 2 Plats of A Co 2/1st that were attached to HHC 2/1st Inf as part of reaction force were released to their parent unit upon arriving at OAHU
98	1610	C Co closed in OAHU Base
101	1620	C Co to S3: Man from Co C 2/14 who was burned by napalm was PFC Marvin Sturgill. 2d degree burn on the back. EM is presently in Co. and is for duty.
102	1625	Bn CO arrived at BTOC at 1625 hrs from today's operation.
104	1730	S3: Entac element on security mission with the Philippines Surveying Party closed in OAHU Base.
110	2045	C Co sighted one low silhouette through Starlite moving in front of the bunker line. Fired upon with small arms. Results unknown at this time.
111	2105	S3 to Bde: Two-three personnel probing C Co wire line, we are firing M-79 unknown results and will keep them informed
112	2115	S3 to Patrol 1: Patrol 1 has been instructed to hold in position until further notified.
113	2120	C Co 2/1st Inf spotted movement to their front vic coord XT175523, engaged it with 1 round of M-79 grenade launcher. Results unknown. Later an object was seen in the same place. This object was not seen before it was engaged with 3 M-79 grenade launcher rounds. The object disappeared. Results unk.
114	2200	S3: Sitrep to Bde Patrol 1, remains held until 2230 hrs. C Co is sending a patrol from each of the platoons to search their front for possible claymore weapons and possible bodies.
115	2210	From S3 to Bde: Patrol 1 had been cancelled as of 2110 hrs.
116	2330	S3: Patrols searching area near the wire in front of C Co 2/14th Inf perimeter vic coord XT173515 returned at 2330 hrs. negative contact. Nothing found.

ITEM`	TIME	INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.
		Initial log entries contain hourly sit/rep, and reports of patrols leaving ambush sites and arriving back at base camp. All negative contact.
19	0745	2/14 Entac plat for security of Philippine Survey Party departed BC 0730.
20	0745	A/2/14 departed BC at 0745.
24	0905	C/2/14 at SP at 0838.
33	1050	C/2/14 receiving fire from 157468
34	1105	C/2/14 loc vic XT157468 have 3 WIA. Caliber of wpn estimated 50. Will call additional info needed for dustoff.
36	1140	2/14 committed reaction force. SP will be XT160507. Will set up clocking psn at XT160482.
37	1153	2/14 request dustoff for three personnel; 2 litter, 1 walking at XT158475. Dustoff complete at 1210 hrs.
39	1145	Entac plat 2/14 securing Philippine work party received approx 10 rds AW fire from 177526. Search area locate nothing. No cas.
40	1230	VC that are in vic 157468 are wearing green uniforms and red hat.
42	1310	2/14 reported 6 VC KIA (BC) and 3 VC (Poss) unable to determine number killed by ground unit and number killed by Arty.
44	1335	2/14 reported airstrike, planes came in from wrong direction: 1 cas. Dustoff not required.
45	1350	2/14 elements moving. C Co 2/14 moving to XT160482; A/2/14 moving back to QUEBEC. Air strike called off temporary until troops can get out of area.
47	1505	2/14 dispatched Recon platoon and 4 2 1/2 ton veh to pick up A Co.
48	1517	A/2/14 starting back to BC by truck
49	1531	C/2/14 enroute to base camp
51	1558	2/14 reaction crossed SP at 1555.
53	1615	A 2/1 released to 196th.
54	1615	1/5 Mech requested one dozer and one grader to work on the French development at Go Dau Ha. Unable to fill because of deadlined veh.
66	2050	C/2/14 bunker line obs two VC approx 200 m out. Taken under fire with S/A, AW and M-79.
69	2100	Rec some rds S/A 4 rds rifle grenade into laterite pit. Work stopped for 20 min. Resumed work 2120.
70	2125	1/5 Mech confirmed locating 3 VC near bunker. 1 VC KIA (Poss) area under bos with starlight. No further activity at this time.
72	2131	C/2/1 detected movement on bunker. Fired one M-79. Results unk.
74	2203	C/2/14 is reconning by fire with M-79 prior to sending out 3 patrols to check wire in front of bunker line.
75	2210	2/14 patrol from C/2/1 will not be sent out. LP will not be sent out.
79	2335	2/14 patrol that went out on wire did not find anything.
83	2400	SUMMARY: 1st Bde continued with operation OHAU. A two company operation was conducted by 2/14 Inf; 1/5 Mech had no contact. 1st Bde will continue operation OAHU with the 1/5 Mech conducting a two company operation.

1st Brigade S-1	Casualty Reports, Officer Transfers
1st Brigade S2-S3	Daily Action reported to Brigade HQ
2/14 Bn S-3	Unit Action reported to 2/14 Battalion HQ

ITEM`	TIME	INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.
2	1915	Rec Cas Rept Battle WIA. C 2/14 Parker, Lloyd SP4 1130 27 Aug 66. XT157468. GSW Abdomen. S&D msn hit by hostile small arms fire.
3	1915	Rec Cas Rept Battle WIA. C 2/14 Marshall, Robert PFC 271130 Aug 66. XT157468. GSW hand, partial amputation of digit finger. S&D msn hit by hostile small arms fire.
4	1915	Rec Cas Rept Battle WIA. C 2/14 Wall, Peter PFC 271130 Aug 66. XT157468. GSW penis and right flank. S&D msn hit by hostile small arms sniper fire.
5	1915	Rec Cas Rept Battle WIA. C 2/14 Foxworth, Gilbert B 271130 Aug 66. XT157468. GSW right foot. S&D msn hit by hostile small arms fire.
6	1915	Rec Cas Rept Battle WIA. C 2/14 McClain, John C. Jr. 271130 Aug 66. XT157468. GSW left hand. S&D msn hit by hostile small arms sniper fire.
7	1915	Rec Cas Rept Battle WIA. C 2/14 Sturgill, Melvin L. 271130 Aug 66. XT157468. Burns on back and arm by napalm.