Daily Staff Journal  2-Aug-69

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

01

0001

LOG OPENED by SP/4 Une Grund, 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 Yamada), 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:  
B Co(-) 9 ship lift PZ Emory at 1030 hours and C/A into LZ1 639216 and conduct recon mission in direction of 636220-639228 and PZ at 1300 hours and C/A into LZ2 713163 (5 ships) and LA3 (4 ships), conduct recon mission to 707150 and 701151 respectively.  Return to FSB Emory by land.  B. Platoon(-) conducts Eagle Eye operations in AO RED from 1045 to 1214 hours.  C. Reinforced squad conduct night operations in AO EMORY Loc. TBD
S2 Conducts glowworm operations at 0700 to 1630 hours vic 712176.
C Co rest and maintenance and training till 1600 hours.  Conduct night combat operations, details to be submitted later.
D Co OpCon to 1/5th Mech
A Co 1/5 - Co(-) depart Emory at 0800 hours and proceed East on 8A then southeast on TL15 into AO MARY and conduct recon mission - 740128-747128-756126-758123-745116-740128 and return to Emory.  B. One platoon depart Ba Bep Bridge at 0600 and proceed East to He P?? Cuong and conduct sweep west of TL8A to Brigade boundary, then sweep Hwy 1 from CP150 to CMAC Boundary.  C. One 15 man patrol conduct night operations at Emory, seven RF's to accompany.
CRIP - opcon to 1/5th Mech
CRIP 2/34 - conduct VCI operations with district
Heavy mortar platoon - A. plate 1 loc at Ba Bep Bridge.  B. 1 tube at Emory

03

0100

S/R Neg all units

04

0200

S/R Neg all units

05

0300

S/R Neg all units

06

0400

S/R Neg all units

07

0500

S/R to Bde N/C all units

08

0503

A Co 1/5(Mech) LP closed

09

0610

A 1/5 road sweep departs, C Co AP's depart AP sites

10

0636

C Co closing Emory

11

0720

Highway 8 open to Bde boundary, Highway 1 opened to CMAC boundary

12

0725

13

0800

Re-requested AO BLACK for DTG 021630 to 030800 coord 7216-7516-7512-7212

14

0815

From Lt. Phenix:  We will have the 774 RF Company for the operation with A 1/4(M) today.  Ready for pickup at 0830 at 748119

15

0825

Requested 14 RF's for local AP's from Emory for tonight, also 30 RF's for C Co night operations tonight in AO BLACK.  One company of 3/7 for operation tomorrow

16

0836

A Co 1/5(M) departing for ballgame

17

0840

From Capt Abreu:  At checkpoint have one male detainee aprox. 40 years old with traces of glow worm chemical on legs and finger tips

18

0841

From Bde:  25th Avn dump zone effective form 020830 to 021800 coord 6124-6424-6126-6426.  People Sniffer mission TOT 021330 to 021530 coord 6224-6424-6428-6128.

19

0955

From Bde:  AMC for 03 Aug 630730-031130/031530-031630

20

0956

To Bde:  C Co night operation for 2 Aug 69.  Co(-) departs Emory at 1700 hours and proceeds east into AO BLACK to coord 739145 and conducts clover leaf recon mission.  To the NW, N and NE of AO BLACK until 1945 hours.  Then proceed to holding area coord 740139 and send out three (3) platoon size ambush patrols to coord (1) 722133 w/CP group, (2) 733129, and (3) 746135.  Part 2 - Co(-) rest and maintenance and conduct one class on arm and hand signals

21

0908

A Co 1/5 picked up ARVNs continuing on ballgame (774th RF Co)

22

0920

Due to coordination problems A Co did not take RF's with them on ballgame.  PF's cancelled

23

0940

Menehune 2 on station for VR

24

0941

A Co 1/5 located at 751112 as of 0930

25

1005

Crusader 3A C&C on station

26

1020

Menehune 2 released.  Has picked up the detainee at glow worm location and will drop off at Warrior pad

27

1031

B Co 9 ships airborne PZ Emory

28

1050

A Co 1/5 at location 756126 found 5 old tunnels 2x2x6 long overgrown with grass.  Neg recent, neg findings, blown.  Also abandoned hootches in area have drawings of helicopters, aircraft and weapons drawn on the walls

29

1053

B Co 9 ships down green LZ1 639215

30

1050

B Co 3rd airborne 3 ships

31

1057

4.2 platoon at Ba Bep needs dustoff for 2 US urgent litterl.  Wounded by an exploding trash in burning trash barrel

32

1100

Cancel dustoff (Item #31), will have slick from AMC pick up the casualty

33

1107

Dustoff complete

34

1112

B Co 3rd platoon 3 ships down green at LZ 710128 (civilians to East 100m

35

1117

AO PLANE DTG 030630 to 031720 coord 735185-745185-749178-751176-768173-768161-735161

36

1126

B Co 3rd platoon 3 ships airborne from PZ 710128

37

1130

B Co 3rd platoon 3 ships down green at LZ 693111.  Check out oxcart

38

1138

A Co 1/5 one platoon at 754114, other platoon 759116

39

1139

B Co at 639217 received 3 incoming rounds of mortar from 100 at 500m.

40

1140

From Bn CO:  Calling off Eagle Eye mission, taking gunships up to area of interest

41

1142

B Co 3rd platoon 3 ships airborne from 693111 vic

42

1145

B Co 3rd platoon 3 ships down green at Emory.  Will stand by to continue mission

43

1146

From Bde:  Chieu Hoi at Trung Lap says 4 to 5 of his VC buddies are located at 625206.  May have to react using B Co.  Awaiting further information from Bde

44

1159

From Bde S-3 Air:  We are to release AMC immediately to the 2/12 at Pershing.  Slicks will be on 5 min alert at Cu Chi

45

1200

From Bn CO:  Request LST for B Co to scout area of contact

46

1205

Crusader 3A C&C released

47

1206

From Bde:  Will have LST in approx 05 ETA, no call sign at this time

48

1207

Bn CO says to have the 3rd platoon of B Co close inside to the FSB

49

1211

Request LOH for Bn CO to return to B Co area of operation

50

1215

Have B Co start employing arty fire into grid 632216 (reported 40 VC at that location).  Use LST as they start to move towards the area

51

1227

Centaur 49 on station for B Co

52

1229

A Co 1/5 one platoon at 756117, other platoon at 757114.  B Co located at 640218.  Employing LST to VR area of suspected VC platoon

53

1242

Menehune 2 on station

54

1302

Centaur Spot Report:  A. Centaur 17  B. Recent trail activity  C. 630200.  D. Trail leads away from area of interest towards village to southwest.  Used within last 3 hours.

55

1304

Centaur 49 departing station for fuel.  Went through Bde to have them return

56

1324

Centaur 49 back on station

57

1327

IPW team, Chieu Hoi, and ARVN S-2 and RTO from Trung Lap, has arrived at B Co's location.  Chieu Hoi says that the area of interest is approx 1.5K south along the stream towards grid 6220

58

1331

From Bde:  AO BLACK approved

59

1335

Centaur 49 has to depart station due to weather.  Asled him to be on 15 min strip alert

60

1338

Bn CO requested air strike for grid 640216, the area where B Co received mortar fire.

61

1339

B Co says that Chieu Hoi has directed that the area of interest is in grid 6220.  Also there is supposed to be 5 VC in a tunnel armed with light weapons

62

1345

A Co 1/5 closed Emory

63

1345

Bde says release the LOH, has to be released to the 2/12th

64

1346

B Co located at 635214.  Chieu Hoi says not the right area, checking out trail at this location

65

1350

Menehune 2 released

66

1400

B Co presently located at the end of the stream (vic 634210) approx. 500 m. SW form objective area.  Weather has lifted, would like the LST to return to cover them as they enter the area

67

1429

Centaur 49 back on station

68

1430

B Co directs Centaur 49 to check area 624206, the area of suspected 5 armed VC.  B Co is proceeding west towards the area from grid 630208

69

1431

Ballgame passed to Bde for tomorrow

70

1432

AO PLANE DTG 030630 to 031730 coord 735185-745185-749178-751176-768173-768161-735161.  AO REBEL DTG 030600 to 031200 coord 7420-743202-749211-754205-7520.  AO DELTA DTG 030600 to 031200 coord 718204-718212-722219-7321-730204.  AO YORK DTG 030600 to 031700 coord 730163-760163-7614-7314

71

1443

Centaur 49 reports that his LOH has spotted what he thinks to ba a gook hiding in a bush.  Will drop a HF on bush.  Location 630209

72

1447

Centaur says that (ref item #71) the area appears to be a sleeping or living area.  Recent activity.  No results form HF

73

1454

Centaur 49 departing station due to weather.  Also, Centaur has a Yellow Jacket mission set for 1500 hours.

74

1500

Requested one company RF's to work with A Co 1/5 in AO YORK tomorrow

75

1503

B Co is at tunnel entrance located at 625206

76

1517

Dimensions of tunnel 3x3x5 long with 3' overhead cover.  Appears to be more of a bunker that a tunnel.  It is the same tunnel that the Chieu Hoi was in last night (so he says).  Does show signs of recent use.  However no signs of the 5 VC in the area.  B Co will proceed to the village located at 624205 and check it out.  Destroyed tunnel with H.F.

77

1532

B Co ready for PZ at this time form 624205.  No ETA on extraction

78

1545

Request AO WASHINGTON 030600 to 031200 coord 661245-668245-668242-679225-670225-661241-661245

79

1547

Sniper report - C Co at 712152, neg sightings and neg results

80

1555

From Bde:  AO REBEL and DELTA were disapproved

81

1558

B Co down green at Emory 9 ships

82

1600

A Co 1/5 AP 698149; LP 270 50 to 100m.  B Co AP 691151; LP 10 - 50 to 100m.  C Co AP's passed (Ref. item #20)

83

1610

AO WASHINGTON disapproved by 5th ARVN and 1st Inf Divisions.  Bde says not to attempt to get an AO within 500m of the Saigon River until after 7 Aug 69.  The 1st Div and 5th ARVN Divs are working this area very extensively

84

1616

Request AO RED again tomorrow DTG 030600 to 031800 coord 640177-640164-666163-674155-675110-7311-730125-720135-710177-640177

85

1618

Will have 14 RFs for AP's out of Emory.  Will not have 30 RF's for C Co AP's

86

1620

From Bde:  AO PLANE approved

87

1648

Change in C Co APs.  AP 2 is now 734127, and AP3 is now 743130

88

1706

C Co departing for night ballgame

89

1730

Menehune 2 on station to extract IPW team to Cu Chi

90

1731

From Bde:  Heavy arty warning (B-52 strike) TOT 031125 coord of drop zone 682253-687261-713245-707237.  At 1110 hours tomorrow all aircraft will be warned to stay 10 nautical miles away from center of mass grid 7025 from 1110 hours to 1210 hours. (Tet No. 33119)

91

1750

Change C Co AP 3 to 740133

92

1753

From Bde C-5 Drop scheduled for 030800 TOT has been cancelled indefinitely

93

1801

A Co 1/5 3rd platoon departing for Bridge

94

1820

C Co request dustoff for 1 US unknown illness, just passed out cold and is coming around now.  736147 priority

95

1822

Bulldog 650 - carrying 2nd Bde Inf Div people at Emory

96

1830

Bulldog 650 has picked up dustoff for U.S., will take him to Cu Chi

97

1840

From Bde:  AO YORK disapproved

98

1900

Passed to Bde, LNO's all changes in ballgames for B Co, 2 A Co 1/5th

99

1940

A Co 1/5 AP1 depart Emory

100

2005

B Co AP departed

101

2010

LP1 A Co 1/5 touchdown

102

2028

Notified by Bde AO RED approved except for portion that falls below the 12 E-W  grid line

103

2047

A Co 1/5 AP in position

102

2058

[Lines 102 and 103 repeated on original page]  A Co 1/5 AP in position

103

2107

CO's FA 3/7 ARVN working with us tomorrow (B Co) will be 9th, 10th and HQ

104

2108

Changes in ballgames passed

105

2120

Co C AP's #1 in position, #2 new location 733127, #3 739134

106

2130

B Co AP in position 692151 and LP in position

107

2135

People sniffer mission - 030800-030930 with free fire with Arty cutoff, 6128-6428-6124-6524 - Gave clearance

108

2208

Cancellation of C Co night activities in Phu Hoa Dong area passed to Bde

109

2255

AO Request:  AO GINA 0301800 to 040800 coord 6918-725183-725170-6417

108

2300

[Lines 108 and 109 repeated on original page]  S/R to Bde N/C all units

109

2400

S/R to Bde N/C all units

110

Summary of today's events:  A Co opcon to 1/5th (Mech).  B Co conducted AMO in AO DREADNAUGHT and AO SMOKEY.  B Co at 639217 received 3 incoming rounds of mortar 100 az 500 meters out.  Received a report through Trung Lap from Chieu Hoi that 5 VC were in a tunnel at grid 625206 and 40 VC at 624215.  B Co checked out area and found 1 bunker at 625206 - 3x3x5 with 3' overhead cover, with recent use.  Neg findings.  B Co also conducted Eagle Eye operations with neg. results.  C Co conducting night operations in AO BLACK.  D Co opcon to 1/5 (Mech).  A Co 1/5(M) opcon to 2/14th Inf conducted ground operation in AO MARY.  This was a joint operation with 774 RF.  Co A 1/5(M) at 756126 destroyed 5 old tunnels 2x2x6 overgrown with grass, also abandoned hootches in area had drawings of aircraft, weapons and helicopters on walls.  4.2 mortar platoon at Ba Bep Bridge had 2 men dusted off - urgent litter.  Injured by grenade exploding in burning trash barrel.