Daily Staff Journal  31-Jul-69

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

01

0001

LOG OPENED by SP/5 John D Haas, Duty NCO

02

0002

Supporting information for todays.  Bn. CO (LTC Constantine Blastos), Bn. XO (MAJ Robert Chadrue), Bn. S-3 (Maj Dexter Branscomb), Bn S-3 Air (Capt Robert Schiefield), Bn. S-1 (Cpt. Anthony Baron), Bn. S-2 (Capt Francis Abreu), Bn. S-4 (Cpt. James Rackstraw), Bn. S-5 (Capt Gary Roth).  Location of FSB Emory XT 702145:  Points of origin 49-6010 50-6020 51-6030 44-7010 45-7020 47-8010:  Ballgames for today: A Co opcon 1/5:  B Co (1) released from opcon 1/5 at 1400 hrs and move by Chinook form P.B. Hunsley to FSB Emory (2) one platoon conduct night operation:  C Co (1) returns to Emory from 82nd Airborne at 0900 hrs (2) rest and maintenance (3) one platoon night operation:  D Co (1) returns to Emory from 82nd Airborne at 0900 hrs (2) opcon to 1/5 at 1400 hrs, move from Emory to P.B. Hunsley by Chinook:  CRIP opcon 1/5:  CRIP 2/34 (1) conducts joint VCI operations w/district forces: Mortar platoon (1) platoon(-) located at Ba Bep Bridge (2) one tube located at FSB Emory:  A Co 1/5 (1) platoon departs FSB Emory at 0800 hrs and proceeds east on TL8A, then north on TL15; effect link-up with 11th CO.  3/7 ARVNs at 712184.  Conduct recon mission in AO JUNCTION in the direction of 693170-688170 683185-708192-712184 and return to FSB Emory (2) one platoon at 0600 hrs will depart Phu Coung Bridge and sweep Hwy 8A to the Bde boundary and Hwy 1 from CP150 to the CMAC boundary.

03

0100

S/R Neg

04

0200

S/R Neg

05

0230

LOH approved for 1030 to 1130 and 1500 to 1600

06

0300

S/R Neg

07

0400

S/R Neg to Bde

08

0450

A Co 1/5 LP closed

09

0500

S/R Neg

10

0550

A Co 1/5 3rd platoon departed for road sweep

11

0638

Hwy 8A open at this time

12

0650

13

0705

A Co 1/5 3rd platoon closed

14

0725

A Co 1/5 AP closed at 0635

15

0800

From Bde S-3 Air - AMC for 1 Aug 0730 to 0900 and 1430 to 1630

16

0830

A Co 1/5 2nd platoon departing for ballgame

17

0915

AO STEP 3/1800 Jul to 010800 Aug 7416-7516-7515-7715-7713-7413-7416

18

0930

A Co 1/5 2nd platoon linked up with ARVNs.  Beginning ballgame

19

1020

Menehune 5 on station for VR

20

1025

AO PIPE 010600-011800 Aug 7121-7119-6819-6821

21

1030

AO SMOKEY 010600-011800 aUG 6614-6914-7013-7011=6811-6613-6614

22

1031

C Co & D Co 2/14 closed FSB Emory

23

1032

Request for 14 RF's for tonights AP's out of Emory; 30 RF's to AP w/B Co tonight.  One platoon of ARVN's for tomorrow's Opn to accompany A Co 1/5(m)

24

1120

Centaur 47 LST on station on check vic 7014 (area of radar sightings)

25

1120

Spot report: Centaur 11 spotted what appeared to be a dud 155mm round at 696137

26

1129

Centaur 47 finished checking area, departing station

27

1130

Ballgame for tomorrow passed to Bde and LNO's

28

1155

A Co 1/5 2nd platoon w/ARVNs located at 688180

29

1240

From Bde:  AO SMOKEY approved

30

1244

A Co 1/5 2nd platoon put with ARVN's at 688180

31

1310

Hornet 6, C&C on station

32

1337

D Co 9 ships airborne PZ Emory

33

1351

D Co 9 ships down green LZ PB Hunsley

31

1353

[Clerk made numbering error, repeated 31,32,33]  B Co 9 ships airborne PZ P.B. Hunsley

32

1355

From Bde S-3: Riverine operation has been cancelled.  Be prepared to complete move to FSB Patton by 1200 hrs on 5 Aug 69

33

1358

B Co 9 ships down green LZ Emory

34

1400

D Co 9 ships airborne PZ Emory

35

1401

A Co 1/5 2nd platoon located at 712184, will drop off ARVN's, then return

36

1410

D Co 9 ships down green LZ Hunsley

37

1411

B Co 9 ships airborne PZ Hunsley

38

1418

B Co 9 ships down LZ Emory

39

1419

D Co 4 ships airborne PZ Emory

40

1428

D Co 4 ships down green LZ Hunsley

41

1429

B Co 5 ships airborne PZ Hunsley

41

1435

[clerk made numbering error, repeated 41] B Co 5 ships down green LZ Emory, changeover complete

42

1438

Hornet 6, C&C, released

43

1500

A Co 1/5 2nd platoon closed Emory

44

1535

Change C Co ballgame to B Co for tomorrow.  C Co will have AP's in AO STEP tonight.  Troop rest and maintenance tomorrow

45

1548

B Co 2/14 AP 693148, LP 345 AZ 50 to 100m.  A Co 1/5(m) AP 695142 LP 40 AZ - 50 to 100m

46

1623

From Lt Phenix: Will have 14 RFs for tonight's local AP's, will not have 30 for C Co AP's

47

1650

The FSB was visited by the 2nd Bde 1st Div CO (LTC Pattillo), his XO (LTC Ochis), and his S-3 (Maj Voohis)

48

1707

From Bde S-3 Air:  AMC for tomorrow has been changed to 0830 to 1000.  Afternoon time same

49

1717

C Co AP (B) 751144 w/CP, AP (T) 751148 AP, (m) 755145

50

1718

From Bde:  AO CONNIE request for 2/49th ARVN's; DTG 010600 on 021800 558228-590257-633220-583199

51

1721

From Bde: The commanding general of the 82nd Airborne extends his thanks and compliments to companies C and D for their participation in recent operation.  They performed their job commendably

52

1729

From Bde:  AO MUTT has been extended to 042400 Aug 69

53

1758

A Co 1/5 (1st platoon) departing for Ba Bep Bridge

54

1759

From Bde:  AO STEP approved until 0600 hrs 1 Aug 69

55

1800

(Late) AMC will be on station from 0830 to 1000; afternoon time remains same

56

1800

C Co depart for AP locations on APC's for Trung An

57

1855

A Co 1/5 AP1 is now departed

58

1900

C Co down at Trung An at 1845 hrs

59

1915

Pickup point for ARVN's by the mech at 710195 at intersection of TL15

60

1930

AO for 10th CO 8/7 expires at 010900 hrs

61

2020

A Co 1/5 LP is departed

62

2022

C Co AP 1,2,3 are in position

63

2025

Received report from C Co that one man believed to have been bitten by a snake.  Man WIAP #1, CO does not request dustoff at this time

64

2030

A Co 1/5 AP in position

65

2055

C Co AP1 in correct position, AP2 loc 752147, AP3 loc 755145, LZ3 for B Co changed to 656191

66

2130

C Co AP #3 reports receiving incoming mortars vic AP site.  Neg AZ or Distance, are connecting with Arty 747137

67

2135

Further report - believed to be 60mm rounds, landed in vicinity of AP site

68

2145

B Co LP is departed

69

2150

Request time extension on AO STEP for until 0800 hrs 01 Aug

70

2215

Final report - one round landed inside AP #3 w/neg casualties.  One round landed 10 meters away, remaining rounds landed outside AP site

71

2240

Received word from Bde to be prepared to react to secure downed Cobra (nighthawk) just outside main gate of Cu Chi.  Will receive further instructions

72

2300

In reference to downed aircraft, aircraft found, pilots evacuated, 1/5 back to normal status

73

2302

Bde: stand down reaction force, other unit will assume mission

74

2307

Received from Paris-Tan-Qui (District) following information:  VN S-2 at 1500 hrs 31 July - picked up a female, agent stated she is a VC, name of suspected VC is Tran Thi Gai.  Picked her up at Tan-Thanh-Dong (743120).  District states that if 2nd Bde so desires they may send an IEW team to District in early afternoon of 1 August to interrogate suspect

75

2320

Radar sighting - 740 meters 1570 mils - personnel moving to north, 2-3 people.  Employ arty - notify 1/5 to check out all potholes and shoulders of road.

76

2330

Received word from Bde that time extension for AO STEP has been disapproved

77

2400

S/R N/C all units
LOG CLOSED
SUMMARY:  A Co 1/5 Mech had joint ARVN operations, results neg.  B Co return to Emory from PB Hunsley.  C Co took place t Trung An for night offensive PSN's.  AP #3 received 10-11 incoming mortar rounds with negative casualties.  Return fire w/arty.  D Co took B Co place at PB Hunsley.  2/14 Informed they will complete move to FSB Patton on 1200 hrs 5 Aug.