Daily Staff Journal 20-Nov-66

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

ITEM`	TIME	INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.
3	0115	Msg from Div G-2: A VC force battalion-size or larger, reported location vic Ho Bo Woods. Coord unknown. Has moved south, distance not known. Still believe to be near Ho Bo Woods. Info from normally reliable source.
4	0125	Patrol of C/4/23 reports movement to their front vic XT661182, continuing to observe. 81mm mortar section standing by for fire mission.
5	0150	C/4/23 patrol sprung ambush against 5 VC at coord XT661182. Engaged VC with SA, M-79 and 81mm mortar fire. Upon initial contact patrol members fired 1 magazine each. Patrol pulled back to ditch and detonated claymore mine. Called for mortar fires. No friendly casualties. Will check area when fire mission is completed.
7	0210	Msg from G-3: At 0102 B/3/4 Cav tank hit mine at XT600142. Blew off track, no casualties.
8	0225	Ref Log 5: Patrol moved to check out area. Received more fire from right flank, approx 5 VC, calling mortar fire, will attempt to check area, then move back to base camp upon completion of mortar fire.
11	0303	Ref Item 5: C/4/23 patrol closed Ann Margaret, starting arty fire vic XT661181.
12	0310	From G-3: Trung Lap (XT596221) had been receiving 81mm mortar fire since 0245. 13th Arty firing illumination flares in support.
15	0402	0311 hrs 1/27 spotted 2 VC vic XT635155. Fired 6 rds M-79, neg results. VC fled into weeds.
34	1035	A&B 4/23 on LZ XS687713, neg contact. One gunship rec'd 5 rds SA fire from vic XS688709.
35	1055	A/4/23 located freshly dug-in firing position vic XS680710. Destroyed.
36	1115	A/4/23 picked up 3 detainees vix XS688707. Will be turned over to District Chief at Ben Luc. Also found signs stating "Fight and kill all Americans".
37	1130	B/4/23 picked up 1 detainee vic XS687707, will be turned over to District Chief at Ben Luc.
39	1207	A/4/23 received SA fire from XS681701, returned fire, called in Arty, firing ceased. No casualties.
40	1214	A/4/23 received .50 cal. fire from XS700703, called arty fire, results unk. 1 WIA (US).
41	1240	Capt Fleming passed requirement to 4/9 for one fire team (1 NCO, 5 EM) with 3/4 ton vehicle to support S-5 MEDCAP mission in Vinh Cu XT665145.
48	1530	B/4/23 rec'd (2) WIA from S/A fire vic XS692703. Number of VC undetermined. Dustoff requested to evac casualties.
51	1625	4/23 reports dustoff ship rec'd 10 rds A/W fire from vic XS692703 from unknown nbr VC. Aircraft had to return to base for extensive repair. Second dustoff aircraft was accompanied by (2) gunships, it did not receive fire.
52	1645	B/4/23 reports rec'd (1) WIA from S/A fire from XS692703. Returned fire, requested dustoff for evac.
64	2005	Delayed Entry 1214: 4/23 reported four VC KIA (BC) at XS693707, also (1) additional US WIA. One Vietnamese civilian was injured in firefight. District Chief's son injured earlier in the day, type of accident unknown. Was evac by dustoff with US WIA and RVN civilian.
67	2025	Delayed Entry 1955: C/4/9 patrol in Laterite Pit spotted 2 VC at XT668145 engaged with SA fire, results unk.
76	2215	4/9 S-2 at Binh Chanh reports bridge at An Loc XS760862 is under attack by 57mm recoilless rifle fire.
80	2300	65th Engr requested permission to fire illumination vic XT662151. Spotted 2 men moving toward bunker. 4/9 informed to alert ambush patrol at XT665141. Permission granted.
83	2400	SUMMARY: 1st Bde continued Opn LANIKAI with 4/23 conduction airmobile assault on LZ's vic XS649715 and XS690716 with 2 companies at 1030 hrs, extracted at 1900 hrs. Local security opn conducted in the 1st and 2nd Bde area of Cu Chi base camp. 1 CAS mission was flown in support of LANIKAI, resulting in 3 VC structures destroyed. PLANS SUMMARY: (1) 4/9 Inf Bn will continue to conduct base security op, ambushes, provide a base reaction force until 0630 hrs and provide 2 ptl OPCON 3/4 Cav. Bn will conduct a S&D BUDDY Opn in Gia Dinh Province with A Co moving by convoy. Co A will conduct S&D in objective area vic XS734815, XS742812 and XS443820. The 30th ARVN Ranger Bn will block vic XS737824. (2) 2/14 Inf: The Bn will remain attached to the 2nd Bde. (3) 4/23 Inf: The Bn will conduct a MEDCAP vic XS642743 and a S&D BUDDY Opn and stay-behind ambush vic XS658790 with Co C and elements of 3/50 ARVN.