Daily Staff Journal  26-Mar-69

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

1

0001

LOG OPENED by Sgt. Bradley D. Keele, Duty NCO

2

0002

Supporting information for todays journal of events.  Bn. CO (LTC Blastos), Bn. XO (MAJ Thomas Ashley), Bn. S-3 (Maj. Richard Gaffney), Bn. S-1 (Cpt. John Mader), Bn. S-2 (1Lt. Donald Johnson), Bn. S-3 Air (Cpt. Wilbur Corbitt), Bn. S-4 (Cpt. James Rackstraw), Points of origin for area of operations PO55 XT 5010 PO54 XT 5000 PO48 XT 6000 PO49 XT 6010, FSB Keene is located at XT 604017, FSB Ayers is located at XT 533035, Objective check points for convoy from Cu Chi to Duc Lap CPY XT 629126, CPO XT 605110, CPT XT 555035, CPN XT 526044, CPH XT 598066, CPC XT 569042, CPB XT 605033, Operations planned for today, A Co. 1) continue bridge security mission, 2) RIF depart 0800 hrs S to 800125, W to 795128, NE to Phu Cuong Bridge,  A Co. (-)  2/34  1) continue sweep and security mission on roads, 2) RIF LD 596145 1000 hrs to obj. 11-612156 12-608169 13-620160 14-608154 15-615140, CRIP 2/34 depart 0730 RIF through grids 687146 690150 700150 700140 690140 687146  B Co. 1) Sweep and secure MSR from FSB Ayers to Bao Trai, 2) Co. (-) close out NDP and extract nite kit, conduct ground RIF from NDP to 494015, sweep and clear stream west to 481014, link up with D Co. vic. 484016, 3) IAP C Co. OPCON to 2/34,  D Co. 1) Sweep and secure MSR from Keene to Tram Lac, 2) Co (-) conduct ground RIF from NDP to 485020 and sweep and clear to west to 480019, link up with B Co. (-) and clear Obj. center of mass 485018, 3) 2 AP's,  CRIP 1) conduct joint VCI operations, 2) provide 2 gun jeeps for convoy security

3

0100

S/R to Bde N/C all units  [*Situation Report to Brigade, for all units, No Change]

4

0110

Req. air strikes for foloowing grids: 480019, 483017, 485015.  Also req. gun ships for 1100 hrs.

5

0200

S/R to Bde N/C all units

6

0300

S/R to Bde N/C all units

7

0400

S/R to Bde N/C all units

8

0500

S/R to Bde N/C all units

9

0642

D Co. AP closed

10

0712

2/34 road sweeps have completed TL15, 8A sweep is at Muleskinner gate.

11

0720

Col. Blastos reports D Co. did get one body count last night on the claymore they blew.  The body count was NVA from D2642.  Also 1 AK47 weapon

12

0752

13

0800

From Bde: air assets tomorrow 0900 hrs to 1500 hrs.

14

0805

From 2/34, Hgwy 1 complete to CP11.  8A at CP305

15

0806

Issue 26 will be on station this morning.  He cannot work for us unless we have contact.

16

0820

From Bde: There will be a meeting at 1600 hrs. for Maj. Gaffney, transportation will be provided by Bde.

17

0830

2/34 A Co. has departed for RIF

18

0832

2/34 8A clear to CP307

19

0859

2/34 sweep of 8A at CP308

20

0905

D Co. reports one of the 3 men left behind has wandered into the NDP location.  He is alive and has requested an urgent ambulatory dustoff.

21

0915

Nite kits are extracted

22

0920

Dustoff 163 is on station

23

0928

Dustoff complete

24

0930

B Co. and D Co. moving out at this time

25

0940

Requested from Bde any type of aircraft to fly a VR over yesterdays contact area

26

0945

D Co. road sweep departed 20 min. ago.  Now at CP N

27

1000

D Co. road sweep located an RPG-2 launcher w/round burried halfway into the ground at XT 615017.  Will destroy.

28

1010

Location of B Co. and D Co. 495030

29

1012

2/34 reports he has a road sweep coming down 249 to Keene, contacting Bde.

30

1020

2/34 A Co. closed

31

1025

B Co. AP A XT518030 (tonight)

32

1035

Received word from Bde (Lt. Thomas) that Sebre(?) does not clear 249.

33

1036

B Co. location 488025; D Co. loc. 483023

34

1037

Ballgame for tomorrow passed to Bde

35

1050

Road security D Co. at CPO

36

1115

Issue 21 on station

37

1125

D Co. MSR secured

38

1130

B Co. MSR departed Ayres

39

1136

D Co. now has their 2 KIA's.  No weapons, just some web gear

40

1200

B Co. MSR secure

41

1201

CRIP departing for convoy pickup

42

1215

Requested from Lt. Stone; AO Swamp 5014, 5010, 5306, 5607, 6012, 5913, 5514, 5014 also AO Jane 5903, 6203, 635010, 617990, 5999.  Both for 270600 to 271800

43

1220

Convoy departing Cu Chi

44

1222

D Co. 2nd Plt. departing Meade for Ballgame

45

1225

Convoy at CPW

46

1230

B Co. reports they have found approx. 20 bunkers, some sleeping psns.  4'x2' with 2ft. overhead, recent use.

47

1232

Convoy at CP1

48

1235

From Bde:  warning order - we will receive C 2/14 back on the 27th.  They will move by trucks.  A Co. will stay on the Phu Coung and Ba Bep Bridges, but will be under our direct control.  We will release A Co. 2/34 (-) back to their parent unit.  Be prepared to close FSB Ayers on the 29th of March.

49

1250

Ayres convoy closed FSB Ayres

50

1255

Convoy at CPR

51

1257

D Co. 2nd Plt. at CP1

52

1300

Convoy at CPA

53

1303

CRIP has their convoy and enroute to Duc Hoa

54

1305

Convoy at CPG

55

1310

Convoy at CPO

56

1313

B Co. 3rd Plt. has departed Ayres to search for the portion of the Nite Kit that was lost last night.

57

1316

B Co. reports blowing 32 bunkers and D Co. has blown 20 bunkers.  All approx. same info as item 46.

58

1320

Convoy at CPN

59

1325

Hornet 5 on station

60

1328

Convoy closed Keene

61

1350

CRIP has departed for Ballgame

62

1407

Ayres convoy departing for Cu Chi

63

1420

B Co. MSR closed Ayres

64

1423

D Co. 9 ships airborne PZ 483023

65

1426

Convoy departed Keene

66

1430

D Co. 9 ships down green at Keene

67

1432

B Co. 9 ships airborne PZ 483023

68

1437

B Co. 9 ships down green at FSB Ayres

69

1440

CRIP closed Duc Hoa

70

1445

Convoy at CPA

71

1456

AMC released

72

1457

Convoy at CPR

73

1505

Convoy at CPK

74

1508

D Co. 2nd Plt. closed Meade

75

1510

Convoy at CPH

76

1525

Changes in Ballgame sent to Bde.  Also AO Jane disregarded and AO Swamp approved, but changed to the following:  5014, 5012, 5112, 510087, 6012, 5913, 5514, 5014, 5306, 5607 

77

1540

AP's for tonight:  B Co. APA 518030, D Co. APA 599009

78

1541

Convoy at FSB Meade

79

1545

Convoy closed Cu Chi

80

1555

D Co. MSR closed Keene

81

1558

CRIP location on Ballgame 652007

82

1600

Ballgame for tomorrow passed to B Co.

83

Late

Change in air assets time for tomorrow: 1030-1500

84

1630

Ballgame and tonights AP's passed to CRIP

85

1700

Ballgame for tomorrow passed to Lt. Miller along with AP's

86

1702

CRIP closed - Ballgame terminated, results 12 male detainees

87

1720

ARVN AP's from CRIP:  647027, 632032, 634030, 602947, 585985, 588981, 593953, 639009, 626000, 601981, 610950

88

1925

D Co. AP A Departed

89

2000

S/R to Bde N/C all units

90

2140

B Co. AP A AZ 3300 mills Neg distance spotted 8-10 VC open upon them.  AP was just setting up.

91

2150

AP A (B Co.) received fire from ARVN outpost Req. 1 urgent litter dustoff, neg. return fire from VC

92

2159

Distance from AP to VC 100-150m's employing arty. at this time

93

2200

Dustoff C/S 163 ETA 10-15

94

2211

AP A had received fire from 330°, not receiving fire at this time.

95

2213

Dustoff 165 on station

96

2219

Dustoff complete

97

2307

From ARVN LNO: AO Jane and AO Swamp are approved

98

2320

B Co. AP A closed FSB Ayers

99

2335

AP A (B Co.) was moving along right hand side of 8A approx. 1 k. from Ayers grid 515031, VC appeared to think AP was part of VC element - yelled at AP several times.  VC were moving in groups of 2-3, all around AP.  Could not determine direction of movement.  When AP fired, VC moved out in all directions.  AP was fired on by VC, result 1 KIA.  [Sgt. Robert Venard Shrack Jr.]

100

2350

(Late entry) From Bde CO to all units:  Too many weapons have been lost.  This must cease immediately.
During next 10 days 2nd Bde. will concentrate on 3 main areas:  1: Vam Co Dong, 2: Swamp which bisects the TAOI, 3: Citadel and HoBo.  Prior to firing 500 meters of a boundary of 2nd Bde and other 25th Div boundarys, direct coordination must be made by Bde.  Notify Bde if this is necessary.  When operating on Div. boundaries as 1st Div. and 1st Cav., fires 1000m. of boundaries must be coordinated.

101

Summary as follows:  A Co. continues bridge security.  B Co. moved back in to contact area after closing NDP - blew 32 bunkers, also found some sleeping positions.  Sent element from Ayers to look for equip. lost from Nite Kit, neg. findings except for broken cases and some broken claymores.  B Co. AP made contact with approx. 20 VC, result 1 KIA, neg. body count at this time.  C Co. OPCON to 2/34 armor.  D Co. got 1 body count from claymores that injured 2 US personnel, also 1 AK.  One of men believed killed and left in contact area made his way n to NDP, was dusted off.  In contact area recovered 2 KIAs, neg. weapons.  Destroyed 20 bunkers.  MSR found RPG-2 launcher with round, destroyed round, brought in launcher.  CRIP got 12 male detainees on operations.