Daily Staff Journal 14-Jan-67

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.
22	0705	From Capt Cecchine to S3: The choppers were hit by AW when they were over the LZ, this is what downed the 2 choppers. Medics report one of the pilots had one slight wound. Treated at Bn aid station and released. [This is the time and verbatim log entry, but it is obviously out of place and out of context - the choppers aren't down until Item 24! Must have goofed when they typed it up from the handwritten original]
24	0821	Capt Cecchine to S3: First lift on today's Eagle flight departed 0821 hrs on the ground at 0826 hrs and have (2) ships down and forces on ground are moving to a position 200 meters north of LZ and reaction force is being made ready to deploy.
25	0830	S3 to Bde: Recon reports having contact with est 6 VC, returning fire with SA. Also believe to have 3 VC KIA (Poss) vic XS 724706.
26	0830	Capt Cecchine to S3: Two ships of reaction force from C Co on way to secure downed aircraft.
28	0849	S3 to Bde: C Co reports all of reaction force has been lifted enroute to downed aircraft. Location XS 745708.
29	0855	S3 to Bde: Recon element is calling Arty on area where the VC fire came from and are preparing to assault the area.
31	0905	From 2/14 dispensary to 33: One of the two downed helicopter pilots, WO-1 Bias, James, was slightly wounded on the forearm. He was treated at 2/14 Inf dispensary and released. Incident took place vic XS 745708.
33	0910	S3 to Bde: Sit/Rep - all patrols in position, Recon element assaulting enemy position with no casualties, with 3 VC KIA (Poss) as of 0900 hrs.
34	0910	C Co 2nd platoon to S3: Ref 2 downed ships, maintenance personnel say they cannot be repaired on the spot and must be lifted out by CH-47, ETA 90 min.
35	0950	Capt Cecchine to S3: Questioning the pilots and crew of the gunship: State that one door gunner claims 1 VC KIA (Poss) on or near the LZ vic XS 725714.
37	1000	From S3 to Bde: Recon still searching area. Sporadic sniper fire. No casualties and can not pinpoint location from where SA came from.
38	1000	C Co 2nd platoon to 33: Reaction force which secured 2 downed helicopters closed Rach Kien. (Extraction of helicopters completed 1045.)
42	1115	From blocking force to S3: Reports hearing sniper fire going toward Recon, 100 meters to their front. Moving forward to investigate.
43	1130	From 1/46 ARVN Advisor to 33: At approx 140130 elements of the 1/46 in an ambush site vic XS 742727, sighted 3 VC near their location and took them under SA fire, one VC fell and the other two moved into the woods. The ARVN claimed 1 VC WIA (Poss). An investigation of the area disclosed that the VC had placed (2) 15 Kilo made claymore weapons in the path where the ARVN's would go through in the morning. The wires leading from the claymore weapon were traced to a house approx 300 meters away from where the weapon site was located.
44	1135	From blocking force to 33: Located XS 728702 moved and checked the stream that runs morth-south at approx 100 meters from their position and were unable to find a bridge or anything that the VC could use to get across.
45	1155	Recon platoon is checking area near hut where his element received three M-79 rounds. They have returned fire with SA and M-79 and are going to call Arty on teh enemy XS 725709. 4-5 men believed to be in hut.
46	1210	Recon platoon has linked up as of 1210 hrs. Receiving sporadic sniper fire.
50	1410	Recon platoon reports receiving 5 rds SA fire from XS 725710, fire was returned with SA and Arty, enemy fire ceased. A FAC is overhead and will try to pinpoint the enemy location, no friendly casualties.
54	1520	Recon Sgt to platoon leader: Am receiving several rounds of sniper fire vic XS 713719. Fire returned, results unk.
62	1615	Delayed Entry 1130 hrs: At XS 726715 Recon platoon located and destroyed 2 bunkers and one structure.
70	1815	From S3 to Dustoff control: (1) patient, ambulatory, high fever, US patient, priority routine, LZ coord XS 743699, radio freq and call sign, current SOI in effect, area is secured, base camp.
81	2000	A Co patrol 4 reports that the dog they have with them has picked up some scents and said they seem to be moving toward A Co 2nd Platoon element.

ITEM`	TIME	INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.
		Initial log entries contain hourly sit/rep, no change.
10	0815	The Secretary of the Army visited the 4/9 Inf Bn at Binh Chanh.
12	0835	2/14 has 2 lift ships down at XS745708. Downed due to ground fire. Hit by AW fire over LZ, tried to return to Rach Kien.
13	0840	2/14 Recon platoon was fired upon by 5-6 VC vic XS743711. Returned fire with SA. 3 VC KIA (Poss).
14	0850	C/2/14 is reaction force for todays opn, and on way to secure downed aircraft at XS745708.
15	0900	C/2/14 1 platoon arrived to secure downed aircraft at 0846 hrs.
16	0925	Ref Item 12: One pilot slight WIA. Treated and released.
19	1006	Reported by 2/14: 118th Avn Co, one door gunner claims 1 VC KIA (Poss).
21	1100	2/14: Two downed aircraft were extracted at 1045 hrs. Security element is returning to base camp by foot.
25	1205	2/14 Recon platoon at XS725707 received 3 M-79 rounds from a house at XS725709. Returned fire with SA and calling Arty on the house, no US casualties.
27	1420	2/14 Recon received 5 rds sniper fire vic XS725710. Returned fire with SA and engaging with Arty, no casualties.
29	1540	2/14 Recon received 6 rounds sniper fire vic XS733719. Fire was returned with SA, results unk.
39	1850	S3 2/14 requested dustoff at 141800 for a routine patient of a high fever.
47	2340	B/4/9 sprung ambush at XS826763, results 4 VC KIA (BC), 1 sampan destroyed. Will relocate patrol as soon as area complete checked.
48	2358	Ref Item 47: The patrol reported having held a woman and child, that were walking through the ambush area. They are holding them until tomorrow for interrogation.
49	2400	SUMMARY: The 1st Bde continued opns FAIRFAX and LANIKAI with BUDDY opns. ASCC's continue at Tan An, Ben Luc, Rach Kien, Binh Chanh and Gia Dinh. The 4/9 Inf continued FAIRFAX with local security opns. 2/14 Inf continued FAIRFAX with an airmobile S&D opn. The Recon platoon conducted an airmobile assault on LZ vic XS733711. SA and AW fire was received in the LZ. The fire was suppressed with SA and Arty. The action resulted in 2 UH-1D aircraft being forced down by fire vic XS745708. The aircraft were secured by elements of Co C and extracted at 1045 hrs. 4 VC KIA (Poss) resulted from the action. The Recon platoon continued S&D opns in the area and returned to Rach Kien on foot at 1605 hrs. One USAF CAS mission was flown in support of 1st Bde opns resulting in 2 VC structures destroyed, 3 bunkers destroyed and 1 secondary fire. PLANS SUMMARY: 1. 4/9 Inf: B Co conducts BUSHMASTER in AO center of mass XS8275. Bn (-) stands down, conducts local security and ambush opns. 2. 2/14 Inf Bn (-) conducts air assault in opn area center of mass XS6967 bounded by the Sonh Vam Co Doung river on the south, the Rach Doi Van tributary on the west and north, and the Rach Basieu tributary on the east. 24th RAG (ARVN) will block on the south along the Song Vam Doung river. Bn will conduct a series of seal and search opns and night ambush opns working from the eastern portion of the area to the west. Co A is the Bn reaction force and secures the Bn base.

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	0845	Received 1 lieutenant replacement. 1LT Lusenhop, assigned to 2/14.
6	1025	Rec'd call from Lightning 102 for names of officers for Board for Elimination.
8	1130	Ref Item 6: Following names submitted: ...Cpt Moore (2/14)...