Daily Staff Journal 17-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 todays operations: 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), Bn S-5 (Capt Gary Roth). Location of FSB Patton XT 583194, location of PB Hunsley XT 597270: Points of origin 50-6020 45-7020 51-6030: Ballgames for today: A Co: One platoon depart Hunsley at 1200 hours and conducts 360 recon 500 meters from PB. Company departs PB Hunsley at 1700 and recons to 604261, to 600252, to 603247, to 605244; to 613245 and holds until dark. Move to vic 599244-603247 and establish 3 platoon-size AP. B Co: Co (-) departs PB Hunsley at 0800 and conducts recon to obj-1 (590265), to obj-2 (588259); to obj-3 (582262); to obj-4 (579265); to obj-5 (576266); to obj-6 (575270); to obj-7 (575277); to obj-8 (578283); to obj-9 (588279); to obj-10 (591271) and return to Hunsley. C Co: Co (-) depart Patton at 0800 hours by truck to Trung Lap. Detruck and move to 599221 (L.D.). Recon to obj-1 (607222); to obj-2 (607231); to obj-3 (608240); to obj-4 (600250); to obj-5 (599243); to obj-6 (599236); to obj-7 (598227); to starting point. Return to Patton by truck on or about 1530 hours. One platoon occupy Venice East and tower at Bau Dieu. One platoon conducts road sweep from Patton to Hwy 1 and Patton to Trung Lap at 0615 hours. D Co: Co (-) departs FSB Patton at 0730 hours by truck to Trung Lap. Move to 599221. Recon to obj-1 (609222); to obj-2 (617221); to obj-3 (623223); to obj-4 (620230); to obj-5 (618240); to obj-6 (612238); to obj-7 (612232); to obj-8 (615226); to obj-9 (612225); to Trung Lap. Return to Patton by truck on or about 1500 hours. At night two reinforced squad APs at 568182 and 594184. CRIP: Conduct VCI operation at Xom Lao Tao at 1000, Bau Dieu at 1300 hours and return to Trung Lap. 4.2in. Mortars: Platoon (-) at Patton; one tube at Hunsley Radar: PPS-5 at Hunsley, PPS-4 at Venice East 2/49th ARVN: Depart Trung Lap 0830, move to LD (594218), recon to obj-1 (587224); to obj-2 (588233); to obj-3 (581228); to obj-4 (575230); to obj-5 (569236); to obj-6 (566234); return to obj-4 then recon to obj-7 (581222); to obj-8 (584217). Return to Trung Lap
03	0003	S/R neg all stations
04	0100	S/R neg all stations
05	0200	S/R neg all stations
06	0300	S/R neg all stations
07	0400	S/R neg all stations
08	0416	Duffel bag CZ 1127, Channel 16, Code 09, heavy activity. Contacted Venice East, told them to fire a burst of M-60 down the road (grid 576183)
09	0425	Duffel bag Channel 12, Code 19, (CZ1148), medium to heavy direction of travel SW, grid 632230. Will engage with arty (2 rounds of 155mm)
10	0500	C Co APs closed Emory
11	0615	A Co LPs closed Hunsley (all night activities now inside wire)
12	0619	D Co AP's now inside Patton
13	0704	C Co road sweep departing
14	0743	Requested from Bde AO LOBO DTG 180630 to 181700 (25th Aviation AO). AO JACKSON DTG 180630 to 181700 coord 6326-6826-6821-6321
15	0745	From Bde: AO LOBO 25th Avn. free-fire zone 17 Aug now to 1800
16	0812	B Co departing for ballgame
17	0813	7A open to Trung Lap
18	0825	D Co departing for ballgame
19	0827	2nd Co 2/49th ARVN departing Trung Lap
20	0830	7A sweep and cleared to Hwy 1
21	0838	D Co dismounted, crossing LD 599221
22	0839	2nd Co 2/49 location 586223
23	0904	C Co departing for ballgame
24	0910	Locations: B Co 587260, D Co 604220
25	0914	C Co dismounted, crossing at LD 599221
26	0916	D Co at same location, need dustoff for two US, one urgent litter, one priority ambulatory. Booby-trapped H/F (hand fragmentation grenade) with trip wire
27	0923	Location: 2nd Co 2/49 587223
28	0926	Dustoff 154 on station
29	0931	Dustoff complete, going to 12th Evac
30	0934	From Lt. Wood: Will have only one company of ARVN's tomorrow. Also approx. 85 men participating in today's ballgame
31	0950	C Co road sweep closed Patton
32	0951	D Co at loc 604220 found a booby-trapped 105mm round with trip wire, 12 ft long
33	0955	C Co at location 606222 has tripped a hand grenade booby-trap with trip wire resulting in one US urgent litter dustoff request
34	1007	Location: B Co 582265
35	1010	Will have dustoff 154 in 10 to 15 min
36	1011	2nd Co 2/49 at obj-2 587232, has one male detainee who did not stop when challenged
37	1014	Dustoff 154 on station
38	1015	D Co reports finding within a 75 meter radius of 604220 4-5 additional 105mm rounds booby-trapped with trip wires
39	1016	C Co reports one additional casualty from booby-trap. Routine ambulatory. Will dustoff also
40	1019	Dustoff 154 complete. Going to 12th Evac and 25th Med
41	1018	ARVN's say detainee is 50 years old, ID card OK, cannot hear too well, will release
42	1034	2nd Co 2/49 ARVN located 582228
43	1035	Ballgame passed to Bde for tomorrow
44	1050	D Co reports (ref item #32 & 38) all rounds form a pattern that leads up to the next hedgerow. All rounds marked with 4 ft high bamboo poles stuck into the ground, some with cans on top - will blow all
45	1051	Location C Co 607228
46	1105	CRIP departing Trung Lap for LD
47	1112	Location B Co 577273
48	1128	C Co at loc 607235 detonated an unknown type booby-trap resulting in one urgent litter dustoff request
49	1134	Ref item #48, booby trap believed to be trip wire detonated Chicom grenade
50	1135	B Co location 575275
51	1138	Dustoff 154 on station
52	1143	Dustoff 154 complete, going to 12th Evac
53	1144	D Co at location 608219 has found 2 dud 155mm rounds, old and rusted, no fuse visible. Need more time fuse from Patton in order to blow. Transportation request
54	1200	Location: 2nd Co 2/49 575229
55	1206	A Co 2nd platoon departing for ballgame
56	1207	C Co at location 608235 found 2 US booby-trapped hand grenades with pressure detonating devices; also one 82mm mortar round with smoke grenade detonator with trip wire. Will destroy
57	1210	CRIP at location 578208 have spotted one male running north. Fired warning shot, did not stop. Pursuing at this time
58	1233	A Co 2nd platoon has found at loc 596273 a booby-trapped 82mm mortar round with trip wire. Been there quite a while
59	1240	Received APs for 17 Aug from Cu Chi Subsector; 552168, 570168, 567164, 545160, 583159, 584149, 605135
60	1245	Locations: B Co 588275, C Co 608238, D Co 614219
61	1250	B Co closing PB Hunsley
62	1255	A Co 2nd platoon at 596273 found another 82mm mortar round with Chicom grenade, booby-trapped with trip wire on top of it, will blow
63	1257	A Co 2nd platoon same location found another 82mm mortar round, booby-trapped with trip wire, will blow
64	1259	CRIP location 579207 ref item #57, male turned out to be a female who was afraid, so she ran. Released
65	1315	D Co at location 614219 found a 2.75in rocket warhead with grenade fuse and trip wire, will destroy
66	1330	2nd Co 2/49 located at 582226
67	1335	C Co found an anti-tank mine 605245, will blow. MT-41, 12 lb Soviet type. In remains of a rubber plantation, tank tracks approx 100 meters away
68	1405	CRIP returned to Trung Lap with neg findings
69	1425	2nd Co 2/49 at location 582220 has detained 18-yr-old male as a draft dodger suspect, will hold
70	1430	D Co at location 622224 has found a dud 155mm round not booby-trapped, no fuse or lot number visible. Also one tunnel 2x3x10 ft long with a trap door inside in the tunnel. Signs of use within 24 hours. Checking further
71	1434	D Co same location has found a bunker 3x3 with 2 ft overhead cover used within last 24 hours
72	1438	C Co at location 598245 found an abandoned hootch with 2 81mm illumination canisters
73	1446	A Co 2nd platoon closing Hunsley
74	1540	D Co at same location has found another tunnel entrance 3x3 with 3 ft overhead cover that branches into two tunnels. The left one is 15 ft long, have not found the end of the one to the right. Tunnel shows signs of very recent use, very fresh foot prints
75	1455	C Co at location 598243 has found a dud 105mm round not booby-trapped with fuse, lot number not visible. Has been there approximately two weeks
76	1505	Ref item #74: Right branch of tunnel was searched for 250 ft, still did not reach the end. CO pulled tunnel rats as he could not keep communications with them if they went further. Will blow. Had neg findings
77	1525	2nd Co 2/49 ARVN closed Trung Lap
78	1535	Lt. Wood reports a Chieu Hoi at Trung Lap who turned himself in approx. 20 min. ago. No other information available at this time
79	1545	Locations: C co 599227; D Co 622228 where they found an old RPG-2 round buried in a hedgerow. Not booby-trapped. Will destroy
80	1547	Requested urgent litter dustoff for one US at FSB Patton. Asphyxiation, passed out. From commo
81	1530	Dustoff 154 on station
82	1550	Dustoff cancelled, man is alright at this time
83	1629	D Co at loc 618227 has found a booby-trapped 60mm Chicom mortar round with trip wire, will destroy
84	1630	Operation Look tonight: 2 LOH's, 1-LST, and one slick. On station 1800, release time 1915 to 1930
85	1632	Locations: C Co at pickup point 599212, D Co obj-8 (615226)
86	1643	Location: C Co same, D Co 612225
87	1657	D Co at loc 612225 found one booby-trapped 82mm mortar round with trip wire; one 57mm recoilless rifle round with friction type detonating device with trip wire; one plastic bag full of various shrapnel-type items with explosion provided by a coke can filled with explosives with smoke grenade fuse; also equipped with trip wire
88	1658	C Co closed Patton
89	1707	D Co same location found one 81mm HE round booby-trapped with trip wire
90	1715	Note: Will be employing snipers tonight at locations and times following: Loc-1 578191 at 2015 hours, loc-2 575181 at 2015 hours, loc-3 Venice East 577183 at dusk, loc-4 Bau Dieu tower 571172 at dusk
91	1730	D Co at loc 605222 found a dud 105mm round, booby-trapped with trip wire. No fuse or lot number visible, too old
92	1735	D Co same loc found 3 60mm round booby-trapped with trip wire, rounds were in a hole so when you step in the hole the trip wire detonates the rounds. The rounds looked new, will blow
93	1726	(Late) A Co departed Hunsley at 1700
94	1745	D Co at same loc, has found a tilt rod mine
95	1746	A Co location 604257
96	1759	Passed our APs to Cu Chi, S/S
97	1803	Menehune 3 on station for Operation Look
98	1805	Menehune 2 on station for Operation Look
99	1809	Centaur 50, LST on station for Operation Look
100	1810	Ref Item #94: Mine appeared to be made out of a large ammo can (50 cal. type) filled with a high explosive. Plunger-type detonator made out of a 7.62 cartridge
101	1820	From 1/5th Mech: 18 Aug at 1400 an element from 1/5th will LD at 571175 (on 7A), then move directly east out of our AO
102	1830	Received form Lt. Wood: 2/49 AP's 587215, 588220, 583210, 596222, 600211, 599206, 581204, 590200, 597200
103	1841	D Co closed Patton
104	1845	Centaur 50 LST departs station due to radio problems
105	1855	Form Bn CO to Hunsley - Pull A Co in off of night operations area, then ready for a ballgame tomorrow morning. Have 4 LP at Hunsley tonight
106	1900	AO JACKSON approved by Bde
107	1901	S-3 down green Patton
108	1925	Received from 2/12th their A Co AP at 562224
109	1941	Hunsley observing rounds landing around them (82mm), firing counter mortar, no further info at this time
110	1946	Further info from Hunsley - A Co located at 150 degrees about 500 meters out, four or five 82mm round landed short, one round landed within 20 meters of A Co
111	1956	A Co closed Hunsley. S/R - 82mm rounds landed NE of tower outside berm. The one round that landed near A Co appears to have been a long round (only round to land in that direction). Hunsley fired counter-mortar grid 601291
112	1957	Duffel bag CZ1149 grid 626223 Channel 12 Code 21 medium to heavy activity (fired 18 HE 155mm from Patton)
113	1958	AP2 from D Co grid 594184 cancelled by Bn CO
114	2014	Trung Lap reports 3 82mm rounds impacted outside of compound towards NW. No casualties. Employing pre-planned counter-mortar fire (597227, 606220, 606215, 575236, 587231)
115	2023	CRIP reports neg S/R. Reports rounds must have come from north
116	2025	Hunsley reports moving lights at 240 degrees, 500 to 600 meters outside the wire. Are engaging with 81mm mortars
117	2026	Lt. Woods reports ARVNs had spotted tube flashes grid 575230. Are firing counter-mortar in that location
118	2030	Duffel bag CZ channel 12 Code 23 grid 579229, medium to heavy activity, engaged 25 rounds 155mm from Patton
119	2110	D Co NCP in position
120	2200	Bau Dieu reports 15 rounds 60mm landing in village to south of tower. Also receiving AK fire. Returning fire at this time
121	2201	Tower now reports 60mm mortar rounds impacting at their location. Requests that we be prepared with illumination. Will call us when they want it
122	2210	Duffel bag grid 574146 Channel 27 Code 24 medium to heavy
123	2213	Bde approved people sniffer requests at grids 560260 to 575265 to 583228 to 565225 and at grids 590265 to 605270 to 612250 to 597245. Both operations form DTG 180900 to 181000
124	2214	Bau Dieu reports ARVN AP on way back to their location
125	2220	Cu Chi Substation reports Bau Dieu received 30 rounds 82mm mortar (total?) ref #120. Requests we fire illumination, Bau Dieu also receiving AK fire at this time
126	2230	Air strikes for tomorrow tentatively approved for 1045 hrs. Awaiting final approval
127	2240	Tower at Bau Dieu reports that a total of 10 mortar round (60 or 82?) landed at compound. ARVN's at compound have 2 minor casualties. ARVN AP is back inside compound believe they killed 4 or 5 VC. AP had spotted "many" VC in the area on the way back to compound
128	2251	4.2 in mortar reports they are still receiving sporadic fire at Bau Dieu. Unconfirmed reports of 2 dead VC in village
129	2252	Duffel bag CZ1123 Channel 16 Code 03 (South of Venice East on road) medium activity
130	2303	Bau Dieu requests that we continue illumination, have spotted one individual moving north and are engaging with small arms
131	2309	Cu Chi Substation reports that ARVN are going to sweep village. Troops leaving compound will require illumination at grid 564165. Tower at Bau Dieu reports that the wounded are very slight and do not need to be dusted off tonight
132	2324	Tower at Bau Dieu reports ARVN sweep of village completed. ARVN unit encountered a platoon of VC in the village and engaged with small arms with a result of 3 dead VC, no ARVN casualties. ARVN commander confirmed that 2 VC were killed by the ARVN AP which returned to the compound. Total of 5 body count. Appears at this time that the ARVN AP was sprung and this body count resulted from claymores. Informed that we can cease illumination
133	2336	Tower at Hunsley spots moving lights at approx AZ 240 degrees at 2.5 kilometers, grid 575256, are engaging with 20 rounds 4.2 in mortars
134	2343	Radar at Hunsley spotted 5 or 6 individuals at grid 597230, will engage with 155mm from Patton (neg clearance)
135	2345	(Late) Ballgame for B Co form 2/12th received, also C Co 2/12th ballgame for tomorrow
137	2350	[Line 136 is missing from the original page] (Late) Ballgames for A Co and B Co (2/12th Inf) passed to Hunsley
138	2355	S/R neg all stations
139		Summary: D Co conducted 1 NCP out of Patton with neg results. B Co conducted 3 NCPs from Hunsley with neg results. 7A was swept by a platoon from C Co with neg findings. A Co 2nd platoon while on 360 recon around Hunsley found 3 booby-trapped 60mm mortar rounds with trip wires. They destroyed them. C Co on an afternoon recon northeast of Trung Lap found the following booby-traps: 1 grenade with trip wire, detonated by US personnel resulting in 1 US urgent litter, dusted off. 1 Chicom grenade with trip wire, tripped resulting in 1 urgent litter, dusted off. 2 US grenades with pressure type detonation with trip wires in 3 60mm rounds with trip wire over a hole. 1 50 cal can filled with explosive with 7.62 cartridge detonator. 2nd Co 2/49th ARVNs on joint operation with 2/14th East of Trung Lap took one detainee 18 years of age, held for draft evasion. Patton had 1 US heat casualty, neg dustoff. Hunsley reported at 1941 observing 4 82mm rounds landing outside their location to the NE and 1 round to the SW near A Co AP site. Counter-mortar targets fired. Results unknown. Neg casualties. CRIP at Trung Lap at 2014 hours reports 3 82mm rounds impacting northwest of compound. Counter-mortar fire fired with results unknown. Neg casualties. Believe tube to be in 5723 grid. 1 82mm round smoke type detonator and trip wire. 1 MT-41 (12#) anti-tank mine. Also found 1 dud 105mm round with fuse, not booby-trapped. D Co while on recon mission East of Trung Lap found the following booby-traps: grenade with trip wire resulting in 1 US litter and 1 ambulatory casualty, dusted off. 6 105mm with 12 ft trip wires marked by a bamboo pole and tin cans. 2 dud 155mm rounds (not booby-trapped). 1 2.75in rocket warhead with grenade fuse and trip wire. 1 60mm Chicom mortar with trip wire, 1 82mm mortar round with trip wire, 1 57mm recoilless rifle round with friction type detonator, 1 code can filled full of explosive in a bag with shrapnel with smoke grenade detonator with trip wire, 1 81mm mortar round with trip wire, 1 105mm booby-trapped. Our personnel in tower at Bau Dieu reported at 2200 15 mortar rounds landing in the village south of their location. Also taking 10 60mm rounds and AK fire at their location. ARVNs at their location report 2 VC killed by an AP, also 3 more body count when sweep element from Bau Dieu encountered 1 platoon VC in village. Towers at Hunsley and Patton had radar and duffel bag sightings. Where possible were engaged with arty. Where not, observed by starlight and/or engaged with small arms.