Daily Staff Journal 23-Aug-69

ITEM	TIME	INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.
01	0001	LOG OPENED by PFC Thomas H Barbera, duty RTO
02	0002	Supporting information for todays 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), Bn. S-5 (Capt. Gary Roth). Acting Bn CO while LTC Blastos is on R&R is LTC Crutchley. Location of FSB Patton 583194. Location of PB Hunsley XT 597270. Location of Venice East XT 577184. Location of Bau Dieu Tower XT 571072?: Points of origin 50-6020 45-7020 51-6030: Ballgames for today: D Co PZ Patton at 0830 hours 5 ships, CA. Following arty prep LZ XT 565255, recon to 567254, to 569255, to 572256, to 574257. PZ. 4 ships. CA following arty prep LZ-5, recon to 567256, 568260, 570258, 574257 and PZ. Five ship lift. CA LZ-8 (622207). Recon to 625209, 626210, 626207, 625205; PZ. Four ship lift CA LZ-9 (621212), recon 621214, 625215, 623212. PZ Five ship lift CA LZ-12 (581204), recon 585198, move to FSB. Four ship lift CA LZ-13 (585205). Recon to 586200, Move to FSB. B Co: Five ship lift PZ Patton 0800 CA following arty prep (LZ-2 565247). Recon to 571249,575251, 576255 and PZ. Four ship lift CA following arty prep LZ-3 (565251). Recon to 569253, 573254, 576255. PZ five ship lift CA LZ-6 (625184). Recon to 627182, 628185. PZ at 623187. Four ship lift CA LZ-7 (622189). Recon to 628191, 628187, 623187 and PZ. Five ship lift CA LZ-10 (592189). Recon to 585196, move to FSB. Four ship lift CA LZ-11 (595191). Recon to 587198. Move to FSB A Co: Co (-) PZ PB Hunsley at 0730 hours. CA LZ-1 (601299) 5 ship lift, and LZ-1A (603303) 4 ship lift following arty prep. Recon to obj-1 601303, to obj-2 595303, to obj-3 589303, to obj-4 584298, to obj-5 592298, to obj-6 586284. Return to Hunsley. One platoon conduct 360 degree security mission at 1200 hours, 500 meters from Hunsley. C Co: Conduct 3 platoon NCP's in vic of Hunsley CRIP: VCI operation vix Trung Lap 4.2" mortar: One platoon (-) at Patton, one tube at Hunsley. Radar: PPS-4 at Hunsley, PPS-5 at Venice East and TPS-25 at Patton Snipers: One man at Hunsley, one at Bau Dieu, one at Trung Lap. One platoon (D Co) occupying Venice East and tower at Bau Dieu.
03	0015	Duffel bag CZ 1258 grid 579228 medium to heavy activity
04	0030	Centaur 30 on station at Hunsley
05	0100	Centaur 30 departs station for fuel
06	0200	S/R neg all stations
07	0245	Duffel Bag CZ 1122 (grid 573178) Bau Dieu tower observing (heavy activity)
08	0355	Centaur 30 on station
09	0400	S/R neg all stations
10	0541	B Co 1st platoon leaving AP site
11	0550	B Co AP-1 breakdown
12	0557	Venice East road sweep team at Patton
13	0610	B Co AP-K and AP-I at Patton
14	0632	D Co 7A sweep team 1 towards Bau Dieu departing
15	0634	C Co breaking positions
16	0646	Hornet 3 C&C on station, 5 min. from Patton
17	0647	D Co sweep team 2 towards Trung Lap departing
18	0755	Hornet 3 C&C airborne with Bde XO (acting Bn CO), S-3, CSM and Signal officer
19	0719	7A open from Patton to Trung Lap
20	0720	(Late) C Co closed Hunsley at 0645 hours
21	0733	A Co 9 ships airborne form Hunsley
22	0749	A Co 5 ships down green at LZ-1A (608303) and 4 ships down green at LZ-1 (607301)
23	0804	Centaur 46 on station on A Co freq
24	0813	7A open from Hwy 1 to Trung Lap
25	0814	(Late) B Co 9 ships airborne from Patton at 0810
26	0817	B Co 5 ships down green at LZ-2 (565249) and 4 ships down green at LZ-3 (565253)
27	0818	A Co location 608303 found a Chicom hand grenade in some brush, booby-trapped with trip wire
28	0829	A Co at location 599302 found 2 butterfly bombs not booby-trapped
29	0846	D Co 9 ships airborne from Patton
30	0851	D Co 5 ships down green at LZ-5 (565258) and 4 ships down green at LZ-4 (565255)
31	0900	From Bde: Release Centaur 46 to 2/12th ASAP
32	0901	(Late) AMC released at 0859
33	0905	Stingers at location 574250 engaging 2 individuals who climbed down out of a tree and ran into a bunker entrance
34	0910	Ref item #33 - Stingers destroyed bunker with 2 body count (unconfirmed). Note - also approx 5 bunkers in the area where Stingers engaged the bunker
35	0915	Locations: A Co 586300, requesting flame bath for known booby-trapped area. B Co 574248. D Co 567258 where they are destroying old abandoned hootches with bomb shelter bunkers underneath the hootches, 5 all together
36	0936	D Co 2nd platoon at location 567254 found a white phosphorous hand grenade with pin pulled, braced between two bamboo poles. Will destroy
37	0942	B Co at location 574250 requests a dustoff, priority ambulatory for Kit Carson Scout who was checking out a bunker when someone threw a hand grenade into the bunker resulting in multiple fragmentation wounds in the arm
38	0946	D Co 2nd platoon at loc 567253 has a 63-year-old male detainee who tried to evade into a hedgerow
39	0950	Will have Dustoff 154 ETA 10 mins
40	0958	Ballgame for tomorrow and C Co AP's for tonight passed to Lt. Harrison
41	1005	Dustoff 154 on station
42	1009	Dustoff 154 complete, going to 25th Med
43	1010	A Co wants to cancel flame baths
44	1018	B Co at loc 574250 has found a tunnel that leads to 3 bunkers 5x4x4 with 1 1/2 ft overhead cover. Tunnel is approx 50 meters long, recently used within two days
45	1020	D Co 2nd platoon located at obj-3 and 3rd platoon located obj-3
46	1026	Little Bear 153 flame bath on station for A Co
47	1035	Locations: B Co 2nd platoon 575254, 1st platoon 574250, D Co 1st platoon 572256
48	1030	Ref item #37: Kit Carson casualty caused by a Chicom grenade booby-trap with trip wire across the entrance to the bunker
49	1045	Little Bear 153 flame bath compete, no more needed
50	1105	Hornet 35, general support slick, on station to take Demo. to B Co
51	1106	A Co at loc 586286 found a bunker 4x8 with 1 1/2 ft overhead cover, new, recent use
52	1111	Hornet 35 completed Demo drop off
53	1114	Results of flame bath employed at grid 586284, has neg secondary
54	1125	D Co 2nd platoon location 573256 and 3rd platoon with CP located at 570258
55	1145	Hornet 3, C&C, on station, 5 min out
56	1146	B Co on PZ (576255) lined up N to S, S/L (staggered left)
57	1147	A Co at location 597270 found an empty 2.75 in. rocket canister. Destroyed
58	1154	A Co closed Hunsley
59	1155	A Co 3rd platoon departing Hunsley for security recon
60	1156	Hornet 3, C&C, airborne, C&C party same as item #18
61	1215	Stingers at 628198 have 1 body count wearing blue NVA-type shirt. Was taking evasive action
62	1225	B Co 9 ships airborne from 576255
63	1234	B co 5 ships down green at 623197 and 4 ships down green at 624197
64	1249	D Co 9 ships airborne from 574257
65	1251	B Co at location 628198 have confirmed 2 body count by stingers: one wearing green shirt and shorts, other wearing blue shirt and black pants
66	1255	A Co 3rd platoon at location 593270 found a trip-wired booby-trapped 81mm high explosive round and 2 punji pits 4x3x3, recently made. Will destroy
67	1300	D Co 5 ships down green at 622209 and 4 ships down green at 620205
68	1308	B Co at loc 623197 found, at the entrance to a shrub area, partially exposed, an anti-personnel mine with pressure detonating device, will blow
69	1325	D Co at loc 620205, moving east, questioned a mama san who says that the area to the immediate front of the company is heavily booby-trapped
70	1344	Menehune 6 on station for C Co CO VR
71	1350	Locations: A Co 2nd platoon same as last. B Co both elements 624197. D Co 2nd platoon 622213, 3rd platoon 622207
72	1354	Centaur 46 on station for B Co and D Co
73	1419	A Co 3rd platoon closed Hunsley
74	1431	B Co 9 ships airborne from 624197
75	1432	Centaur 46, LST, departing station at this time due to mechanical problems
76	1439	B Co 5 ships down green at LZ-10 (592189) and 4 ships at LZ-11 (595191)
77	1445	D Co 9 ships airborne from 620208
78	1450	D Co 5 ships down green at LZ-12 (581204) and 4 ships at LZ-13 (583205)
79	1500	B Co 2nd platoon closed Patton
80	1510	AMC with the exception of C&C, released at 1551 hours. Hornet 3, C&C, released at this time
81	1519	Centaur 46, LST, on station to work in the upper Filhol area (Rocket Belt)
82	1520	(Late) B Co 1st platoon at location 590195 found a dud 155mm, neg fuse or lot no visible. Old. Blown in place
83	1525	D Co 2nd platoon location 584202, 3rd platoon with CP 583201
84	1527	Centaur 46 spot report: Line A: 15. Line B: Trail activity. Line C: XT633202. Line D: Fresh trail activity in area of bomb strike. Trail recently used by 4-6 persons moving NW to SE
85	1520	B Co 1st platoon closed Patton. B Co completely closed
86	1543	Centaur 46 spot report: A) Centaur 15, B) 3 bunkers without tops, C) 644198, D) Bunkers are still fairly new (sides still square) 4x8x4 deep. Appear to be clean and well-kept. Also a hole or tunnel entrance in some bushes in the area. Probably used within last 48 hours.
87	1546	Centaur 46, LST, departing station, bingo on fuel
88	1558	D Co closing Patton at this time
89	1600	From 2/12th, following AO request: 597327, 608318, 610203, 589275, 575280 DTG 250600 to 251800. Approved.
90	1610	D Co closed Hunsley, all closed
91	1700	C Co departing for night operations
92	1705	Menehune 2 on station for S-2 and arty VR. Drop off Bn XO at Patton
93	1708	From Cu Chi Subsector - following AP sites: 555167, 585156, 585149, 580148, 590162
94	1810	Neg as for LZ preps on 24 Aug
95	1824	Centaur 46 on station. Received form Lt. Wood 2/49 AP sites: 587216, 588220, 583210, 595220, 600208, 597214, 581203, 590200, 597202
96	1830	From 1/5th (Mech), APs at 558177 and 590162
97	1903	Centaur 46 departs station
98	1925	Received from 2/12th, AP at 562230
99	1930	Received intel report from Bde. Between hours of 1900-2100 NVA and VC troops moving on Bau Soi road, grid 5728 to 5823. Will engage with arty form Hunsley. 2/12th Night Hawk will be diverted to our AO to patrol road
100	2006	Bau Dieu tower reports movement, firing illumination
101	2014	B Co APs departed
102	2015	Little Bear 757 on station
103	2030	Bau Dieu tower reports sniper (A-1) has 1 body count, engaged while crossing road (573174)
104	2033	C Co AP's in position
105	2104	B Co APs in position (all night activities in position)
106	2110	Duffel bag: CZ1123 medium activity (note: activated for about 15 minutes)
107	2122	Little Bear 757 departs station
108	2125	B Co AP now in new location 591189, B Co AP India in primary position
109	2145	Passed to Bde and Hunsley, Change in tomorrow ballgame
110	2155	Little Bear 757 on station
111	2158	Radar from Hunsley: 550275 20-30 moving north, will engage with arty
112	2235	Little Bear 757 diverted to Fangs
113	2320	Star Light sighting from Hunsley grid 577265. Engaged with 81mm and 4.2in CS and HE. On item (111) the group fired upon split with the largest portion moving south
114	2325	Radar at Hunsley reports at 551275 approx. 50 individuals, are engaging with arty, requesting Night Hawk
115	2345	Little Bear 757 on station
116	2400	S/R neg all stations
117		Summary: A Co on airmobile mission north of Hunsley found one booby-trapped Chicom grenade with trip wire, also one booby-trapped 81mm round with trip wire. Destroyed 2 punji pits 4x3x3. B Co destroyed one 50ft long tunnel and adjoining bunkers. Found and destroyed one dud 155mm round and one Chicom anti-personnel mine with pressure-type detonator. B Co Kit Carson was hurt (Priority Ambulatory) by one Chicom grenade booby-trapped with trip wire across bunker entrance. C Co conducted 3 NCP vicinity of Hunsley with neg results. D Co found and destroyed one WP (white phosphorous) grenade without pin, wedged between two poles. Stingers (116th Assault Helicopter gunships) obtained 3 body count and 2 possible body count while flying support for our units today. Sniper (A-1) at Bau Dieu tower successfully engaged and killed one individual on 7A, reacted to Duffel bag pickup. Radar at Hunsley picked up estimated 50 individuals at 551277. Arty and Night Hawk were employed with results unknown.