Daily Staff Journal 21-Dec-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, no change.
8	0700	B/2/14 first lift departed Cu Chi for Rach Kien XS740698.
10	0704	B/2/14 first lift on ground Rach Kien. Neg contact.
11	0712	b/2/14 second lift on ground at Rach Kien. Neg contact.
12	0723	C/2/14 first lift departed Ben Luc for Rach Kien at 0720 hrs.
13	0730	C/2/14 on ground at Rach Kien at 0730 hrs, neg contact.
17	1000	All 2/14 troops are on the ground at Rach Kien.
24	1450	Patrol SANTA B/4/9 spotted 10 VC vic XS776754. At 1420 hrs a fire mission was called in on the VC. At 1450 patrol reports neg surveillance on the fire. The patrol loc has not been compromised and remains in position vic XS794753 and is keeping the area under observation.
25	1510	2/14 CP loc vic XS743698.
27	1535	B/3/22: At 1520 hrs an assault boat overturned vic XS895793. Three men missing, one evac to Saigon in dustoff. One man drowned but was revived by 3/22 medic.
28	1536	Maj Newton, Div Avn, given request to furnish fire team for B/4/9 BUSHMASTER in contact with est VC platoon vic XS794753. 4/9 primary freq. Arty being used on VC, sporadic SA fire being exchanged.
29	1525	Delayed Entry: 2/14 rec'd 3 rifle grenades vic XS743693. No casualties.
30	1625	BUSHMASTER 4/9 VC contact has ceased. Moving to link up with another 4/9 platoon.
31	1640	B/3/22 reports Assault boat swamped. 4 WIA. 1 Evac by dustoff. Salvage opn underway to recover boat and supplies.
32	1645	C/4/9 shot one VC with weapon who was wading in river XS765758. Claim 1 VC KIA (BC) 2 VC KIA (Poss). Present loc of Co C XS765758, returning to Base Camp.
34	1700	B/2/14 rec'd sniper fire from XS740695. Returning fire with SA and AW.
37	1840	B/2/14 rec'd 2 rds sniper fire from XS746700. Returned fire, results unk.
40	2140	C/2/14 patrol at XS745694 reports 1 squad VC 30-40 meters from ambush position. Patrol is preparing to spring ambush.
41	2145	C/2/14 patrol sprung ambush, returning to B/C. Calling Arty on posn XS745694.
43	2225	Ref Item 40 & 41: 3 VC KIA (BC), 2 VC KIA (Poss). No weapons recovered because action took place in rice paddy.
46	2400	SUMMARY: 1st Bde continues Opn FAIRFAX and LANIKAI. 2/14 Inf was deployed by airlift from Ben Luc and Cu Chi to Rach Kien. A/2/14 Inf remained at Ben Luc securing the Bde base. 4/9 Inf continued contruction of RF/PF outposts, and conducted S&D opns. B/4/9 continued BUSHMASTER opn vic XS795753 and made contact with an estimated 30-40 VC. 3/22 Inf continued opns with the 50th ARVN Airborne Bn. A joint US/ARVN team continued to seal off and search the village of Phuoc Lo. 5 CAS sorties were flown in support of Bde opns. PLANS SUMMARY: 4/9 Inf will conduct Eagle flight (Co A). Co B will continue with BUSHMASTER. Co C will continue S&D opns and construction of RF/PF outposts. 2/14 Co A will remain at Ben Luc as security for Bde fwd CP. Co B & C will continue to establish fwd base camp at Rach Kien. 3/22 Inf will continue mission of searching the village of Phuoc Lo. Co B will continue ambush patrols in AO HORSE. Co C will continue ambush patrols in AO BEAR.

1st Brigade S2-S3	Daily Action reported to Brigade HQ
1st Brigade S3 (rear)	Daily Action reported to Brigade HQ (Cu Chi)

ITEM`	TIME	INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.
11	1200	2/14 will be relieved of the air field bunker at 1200 hrs 22 Dec 66.
12	1205	Effective 221200 the 4/9 will assume responsibility for the air field bunkers.