Daily Staff Journal  9-Aug-69

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

01

0001

LOG OPENED by SP/4 Raymond A. Davis, duty RTO

02

0002

Supporting information for today's events:  Bn. CO (LTC Constantine Blastos), Bn. XO (MAJ Robert Chadrue), Bn. S-3 (Maj Dexter Branscomb), Bn. S-1 (Cpt. Anthony Baron), Bn. S-2 (Capt Francis Abreu), Bn S-3 Air (Capt. Earl Yamada), Bn. S-4 (Capt Robert Scheifele).  Location of FSB Patton XT 583194:  Points of origin 50-6020 45-7020 51-6030:  Ballgames for today: A Co: PZ FSB Patton at 0800.  CA (9 ships) LZ2 (562339) following air strikes and arty prep.  Recon west to 547337 then south to first suitable PZ for extraction.  CA LZ4 (618303), recon SSW along stream and out to 607827 for extraction.  CA LZ6 (639249) and recon to PZ 635240, extract to Patton.  One platoon occupy Venice East and the tower at Bau Dieu.  Sweep Highway 7A from Patton to Highway 1 and from Patton to Trung Lap.  B Co:  Conduct platoon-sized recon mission from PB Hunsley to 594263 to 588267 to 588271 and return to Hunsley.  Conduct platoon-sized recon mission from Hunsley to 590274 to 587265 to 595265 to Hunsley.  Establish 3 platoon-size NOP's vic 588268.  C Co:  PZ FSB Patton at 0815 (9 ships), CA LZ3 (562339), recon west to 557336 and south to first suitable PZ for extraction.  CA LZ5 (628300), recon SSW along stream and out to 616279 for extraction.  CA LZ7 (651253), recon to 655250 to 654243 to 650240 to 647243, PZ and extract to Patton.  2 NOP's (squad) and vic Patton.  D Co:  PZ PB Hunsley (9 ships) at 0730, CA LZ1 (588303), recon south along stream to 580285 to Hunsley.  Secure PB Hunsley during hours of darkness.  4.2:  Platoon (-) at Patton, 1 tube at Hunsley.  Radar:  PPS-5 at Hunsley, PPS-4 at Trung Lap.  CRIP:  Conduct Eagle Eye operation in TAO HERCULES

03

0015

From Bde:  As today.  LZ prep to be completed 0800.  FAC (Issue 26 0715) 8-750 lb on each LZ

04

0030

Sighting from tower by starlight scope.  3 gooks with weapons at 574218.  Engage with 8 HE arty.  Night Hawk checked area.  Neg findings

05

0040

Little Bear 256 (Night Hawk) off station

06

0100

S/R neg all stations  (Situation report)

07

0115

Duffel bag reading:  Chan 16 Tone 17 CZ 1130, Med to Hwy neg clearance to fire (Venice East)

08

0200

S/R neg all stations

09

0230

Little Bear 256 (Night Hawk) on station

10

0300

S/R neg all stations

11

0330

Little Bear 256 off station

12

0400

13

0500

S/R neg all stations

14

0530

B Co and D Co LP's closed Hunsley

15

0600

S/R neg all stations

16

0650

Issue 26 (FAC) on station

17

0655

Hornet 26 (C&C) on station

18

0705

C Co NOP's closed Patton

19

0735

D Co 8 ships airborne from Hunsley

20

0750

D Co 8 ships down green at LZ1 590303

21

0755

Requested LOH from 1700 to 1800

22

0800

Centaur 41 on station to check radar and duffel bag

23

0802

A Co 8 ships airborne PZ Patton

24

0804

Ballgame for 10 Aug for 2/14 and 2/49 (joint operations) passed to Bde

25

0805

B Co 3rd platoon departing for ballgame

26

0810

One slick from AMC developed mechanical trouble after picking up A Co, returned to Patton

27

0813

A Co 8 ships down green LZ2 562339

28

0824

C Co 7 ships airborne PZ Patton.  8th ship from A Co airborne also

29

0825

A Co 3rd platoon has 7A sweep and outpost from Trung Lap to Hwy 1

30

0838

C Co 7 ships down green at LZ3 562339.  8th ship A Co re-joined company

31

0843

From Bde:  AMC for 10 Aug 69 0930 to 1430

32

0850

From Bde:  25th Aviation free fire zone from 0945 to 1800 coord 6420-6720-6722-6422

In the collection donated for this date, page 6, line items 33-43, was missing

44

0955

From Bde: Break one slick away from AMC to go to FSB Devin to pick up a scout dog team and take them to Warrior Pad.

45

0956

CRIP 3 ships airborne from 590260

46

1003

CRIP 3 ships down green at 621212

47

1005

Stingers have one body count at 625213.  Individual was hiding in a hole.  Body Count

48

1010

C Co found 105mm dud, loc XT557336, will blow in place

49

1016

Stingers at location 626217 have taken 6 individuals under fire in the open

50

1018

CRIP at location 621212 has several individuals in a hole who won't come out.  Engaging with H/F and M-79

51

1020

From Trung Lap:  Have a male Chieu Hoi at 0730 hours this morning.  Knows names of 7 other VC that he knows.

52

1025

D Co at location 580285 found 16 CS grenades without pins, will blow

53

1041

Menehune 3 on station with PsyOps ship.  Work for ARVN's at Trung Lap

54

1042

CRIP at 621212 has got a man out of the hole, questioning him at this time.  Found with 2 H/F

55

1055

From Bde S-3 Air:  Possibility that we will not have air tomorrow.  Will find out for sure between 1400 and 1500 hours

56

1100

D Co located at 584283

57

1108

C Co 9 ships airborne from 554337

58

1110

Centaur 45 on station

59

1111

CRIP says that the detainee they have is a member of the rice collectors in the area; says he can lead them to a rice cache not far away

60

1122

Stingers at 643233 took under fire one individual taking evasive action in the open.  Neg weapon, one body count

61

1123

Stingers have flushed 4 individuals in blue NVA uniforms, neg weapons.  Spotted after engaging the one earlier (ref item #60)  D Co will react

62

1126

C Co down green 9 ships at 630218

63

1127

D Co at location 581276 found a dud 155mm round and some medical supplies in a bomb crater - old and partially destroyed

64

1150

Stingers report in grid 6423 have NVA in bunkers with weapons, 4 body count, did receive some fire when they engaged.  Unknown number of enemy

65

1155

Stingers have a total of 6 body count split between coord 627218 and 643233

66

1200

A Co 9 ships airborne from 552335

67

1205

B Co 1st platoon departing for ballgame

68

1211

A Co 9 ships down green at 620211

69

1212

Centaur 45 bingo on fuel; returning to Cu Chi, will return

70

1220

Note:  Stingers say 2 body count at 627218 with a possibility of 4 (does not affect total, still 7)

71

1225

A Co and CRIP linked up.  Will exploit information gained from detainee

72

1227

Ref item #63:  Also found a decayed female body approx 30 days old;  also unknown amount of documents

73

1234

C Co at location 627218 has found one of the body counts by Stingers in a destroyed bunker dressed in blue uniform

74

1250

C Co has got a wallet and some documents off the body, also some North Vietnamese and South Vietnamese piasters

75

1258

D Co closed PB Hunsley, A Co and CRIP located at 615217

76

1305

C Co claims body count (Item #73) killed by H/F (hand fragmentation grenade) thrown into the hole by C Co

77

1306

CRIP with A Co at location 615217 exploiting detainee, found 40-50 sacks of rice, each sack weighing between 75 to 90 lbs.  Will evacuate to Trung Lap

78

1307

From Bde:  Mission for one slick form AMC to report to Warrior Pad for instructions.  Mission time 25 min

79

1324

D Co 7 ships airborne from PB Hunsley

80

1325

B Co 1st platoon location 603268

81

1326

C Co 1st platoon location 603218 found a NVA harness for 3 AK-47 magazines, harness came complete with 3 magazines loaded with ammo

82

1334

C Co at 627218 has disarmed a Chicom booby trap hand grenade with trip wire.  Will destroy later

83

1340

C Co at 627218 has also found one US web belt with 2 US baseball grenades attached.  Also one NVA poncho attached

84

1345

D Co 9 ships down green at 638237

85

1400

B Co 1st platoon closed PB Hunsley

86

1401

Centaur 45 back on station

87

1406

C Co at location vic 627218 found a bunker 4x4x8 long with 4' overhead cover, will destroy

88

1425

C Co location 621218

89

1430

Centaur 45 departing station

90

1440

CRIP needs an urgent ambulatory dustoff for their POW.  Injuries sustained while trying to get him out of hole earlier.  Dustoff will be handled by Hornets

91

1445

A Co with CRIP location 609213

92

1455

S-3 says to request a 5 blade hour extension

93

1500

C Co request urgent litter dustoff for one US at 622218.  Man hit a tripwire booby-trap, US hand grenade

94

1505

Will have dustoff 154 ETA 10-15

95

1510

Dustoff 154 on station

96

1514

Dustoff complete to 12th EVAC

97

1527

Rice haul (approx 5000 lbs) completed to Trung Lap; CRIP airborne 3 ships from 609213

98

1531

CRIP 3 ships down green at Trung Lap

99

1554

A Co 9 ships airborne from PZ 614215

100

1556

A Co 9 ships down green at Patton

101

1600

Stingers engaging 2 individuals at coord 624209 who were taking evasive action into a bunker.  2 body count.  1 AK-47 destroyed

102

1602

Bunkers destroyed by Stingers (Item #101) neg sighting of two individuals at this time.  Yellow smoke coming form one bunker indicating burning rice

103

1604

C Co 9 ships airborne from PZ 620216

104

1605

Stinger 86 uncovered approx. 10 meters of trench line during engagement.  Claim two body count

105

1606

C Co 9 ships down green at Patton

106

1611

D Co 9 ships airborne form 640234

107

1618

D Co 9 ships down green at PB Hunsley

108

1620

From Bde:  AO's 25G and 25H will belong to 1st Cav Div for DTG 100800 to 110800

109

1622

AMC released

110

1630

AMC cancelled for 10 August

111

1631

AP's for tonight:  B Co AP-K 590270, AP-N 588268, AP-I 589274, C Co AP-1 575190, AP-2 590188

112

1700

Requested priority litter dustoff for a Kit Carson in C Co with suspected appendicitis

113

1715

Will have dustoff 154 in 10-15 mins

114

1720

Dustoff 154 on station

115

1725

Dustoff complete to 25th Med

116

1745

Received from 1/5th:  AP's for tonight:  557171, 578147, 531182, 511153, 518147

117

1750

Menehune 3 on station to take Bn CO to PB Hunsley

118

1815

Ballgame (new) passed to Bde, PB Hunsley, LNO and CRIP

119

1825

Received from Lt. Wood:  AP for 2/49:  588217, 588222, 587210, 596218, 602217, 595208, 583205, 590202, 598203

120

1850

Menehune 3 on station to bring Bn CO to Patton from Hunsley

121

1900

Test fire - FSB Patton

122

1905

Passed to Bde 2/49 AP for tonight, received AO for ARVN AP's south of Patton:  5616, 5618, 5918, 5910, 091930 to 100430

123

1910

Request from Bde:  LOH 1300 to 1400 hours, 1500 to 1600 hours, 1800 to 1900 hours (10 Aug)

124

1940

C Co NOP 2 KO

125

1945

C Co NOP 1 KO

126

2000

AO request for tomorrow's ballgame.  AO KACIE 100900 to 101500, grid 548190, 571198, 560176.  Submitted to 1/5th Mech and to Bde.  1/5th approved (RY)

127

2040

B Co AP departed PB Hunsley

128

2045

Little Bear 153 (Night Hawk) on station

129

2045

C Co AP TD, new location 574190, 588187. Passed to Bde

130

2115

Passed to Hunsley, B Co AO for 10 Aug

131

2116

Duffel bag:  Chanel 16, Tone code 03, CZ1123, Mth Act.engaged with M-16, M-79 fire from Venice East (starlight scope), no-fire for arty

132

2120

(Late)  D Co LP's at Hunsley 45 degrees 50 to 100m, 280 degrees, 50 to 100m (2100)

133

2140

B Co AP's in position

134

2145

Little Bear 153 off station

135

2159

D Co and B Co ballgames to be Co (-) size operations

136

2200

S/R neg all stations

137

2215

AO requested from 2/12, AO SYBIL 110200 to 111630 grid 550235, 594260, 609222, 579205, waiting approval

138

2350

Little Bear 153 on station

139

2310

AO SYBIL approved by 2/12 (JW)

140

2325

Request AO SYBIL from Bde

141

2359

S/R neg all stations

142

Summary:  A Co CA Eagle flights, neg finding.  B Co 2 platoon-size recons vic Hunsley.  C Co CA Eagle flights 1) at 557336 found trail with recent use by 30-40 persons, north to south.  Ho Chi Minh sandal and NVA boot tracks.  2) at 557336 found dud 105mm round (blown).  3) at 627218 found one body (scout) in blue uniform with documents and NVN and SVN money.  4) at 627218 found NVA harness with 3 loaded AK magazines, disarmed a booby-trap Chicom grenade with trip wire, found one US web belt with 3 US type baseball grenades and NVA poncho.  5) at 627218 found bunker 4x4x8 with 4' overhead cover, destroyed.  6) at 1500 had one urgent litter WIA at 622218, US hand grenade with trip wire.  7) at 1700 C Co Kit Carson dusted off to 25th Med (possible appendicitis).  D Co at location 580285 found 16 CS grenades without pins, were blown.  2) at 581276 found a dud 105mm round, medical supplies, and 30-day-old decayed female body with unknown amount of documents.  CRIP:  1) at 592233 detainee on rear service black list.  2) at 621212 several individuals in hole, engaged with hand grenade, 1 POW out of hole with two hand grenades in his possession, he is member of rice collectors in that area, led them to 615217 and found 40-50 sacks of rice (5000 lbs).  Stinger (support gunships) got body count at following grids:  625213 (1), 643233 (1), 6423 grid (4), 627218 (2), 624209 (2) and 1 AK-47