Daily Staff Journal  5-Sep-69

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

01

0001

LOG OPENED
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 Scheiffe), Bn. S-5 (Capt Gary Roth), Acting S-2 while S-2 is on R&R (Lt. David Wood).  Location of FSB Patton XT583194, Locatiion of PB Hunsley XT596270, Location of Venice East XT577183, Location of Bau Dieu Tower XT571172, Location of Co D Night Defensive Position (NDP) XT615225.

Ballgame:
   Co A - OpCon to 1/5th (Mech)
   Co B - 4 and 5 ship lift, PZ from FSB Patton at 0900.  After arty prep, 4 ships CA LZ 624198, recon to obj-21 627197, obj-22 627201, obj-23 627203, obj-24 625205, to 9 ship PZ 622204, 1430, return to FSB.  5 ships lift CA LZ-2 624195 after arty prep, recon to obj-10 626195, obj-11 629196, obj-12 632196, obj-13 632198, obj-14 631201, obj-15 629205, obj-16 626206, obj-17 623207, to 9 ship PZ 622204 on or about 1430, return to FSB.  One platoon occupy Bau Dieu tower and Venice East.
   C Co (-) PZ PB Hunsley 0930.  After arty prep 4 ships CA LZ-4 620271, recon to 617265, 614258, 612256, 607257, return to PB.  5 ships CA LZ-5 615271, recon to 613265, 610260, 606260, return to PB.  At 1500 one platoon conduct 360 degree recon 200-600 meters.
   D Co (-) PZ Night Defensive Position 0945, 5 ships CA LZ-6 597231, recon to 598231 to 601231, 603230, 605230, rejoin 4 ship lift, move to 606227, 609225, return to NDP.  4 ships CA LZ-7 597235, recon to 599235, 601234, 604233, rejoin 5 ship lift, recon to 606227, 609225, return to NDP.  Conduct joint AP's with 2 Co, 2/49 ARVN
   2 Co 2/49 - Move from NDP to establish blocking position at 607232 to 603236 by 1030 hours.  Return NDP after Co D reaches blocking position.  Conduct joint AP's with Co D.
   3 Co 2/49 ARVN - PZ Trung Lap 0915 hours CA LZ-3 622193 after arty prep.  Recon to obj-1 627192, obj-2 629192, obj-3 631194, obj-4 636195, obj-5 635199, obj-6 634202, obj-7 632205, obj-8 628208, obj-9 624208, 9 ship PZ 622208 on or about 1400.  Return to Trung Lap.
   1 Co, HQ Co, 10h Recon on reserve.
   CRIP - Conduct VCI operations vic Trung Lap.
   4.2 Platoon - Platoon (-) FSB Patton, 1 tube Trung Lap, 1 tube PB Hunsley

02

0001

S/R neg all stations

03

0040

Little Bear dropped off radar equipment

04

0045

S/R negative

05

0106

Little Bear 070 off station

06

0136

Notified Hunsley of change of air time for 05 Sep.  BG

07

0145

S/R negative

08

0245

S/R negative

09

0320

Little Bear 070 on station

10

0331

Shut down H&I on west side 7A for radar stations in 62R, 5720

11

0344

62R - Resume firing, has left area

12

0345

13

0445

S/R negative

14

0459

Little Bear 070 off station

15

0515

Message - 0419152 Subject: Plans summary for 05 Sept 69

16

0545

S/R negative

17

0551

AP Romeo breaking position

18

0610

D Co 2nd platoon AP closed night laager site

19

0700

CRIP notified no Eagle Eye, will conduct VCI operations

20

0701

(Late) Road sweep today departed (0650)

21

0717

D Co AP-B (2nd platoon) closed

22

0731

Ballgame passed to D & C Co

23

0740

D Co reports AP (610231 ARVN control) negative findings on gooks in tree line, ref item #98.  AP (US control) found 2 booby-traps vic where we were spotted.  1 was homemade mackeral can, other was 105mm round with trip wire and could not blow due to lack of equipment - dismantled as best they could (607226)

25

0757

[Line 24 missing on original page]  Ballgame: CRIP - recon mission from Trung Lap 592206, check ID cards 0900-1200.  1200 hours, maintenance of vehicles and perimeter defense

26

0802

Road clear from Trung Lap to Highway 1

27

0803

Requested PsyOps mission for 0900-1000

28

0830

Ref item #27, Psyops aircraft confirmed for 1000-1100

29

0837

From Bde:  AMC now scheduled for 1015-1500 5 Sep.  AMC 06 Sep 0730-0900 & 1400-1500

30

0843

B Co, LNO, C and D Co informed of change in AMC

31

0909

Requested change in PsyOps mission from 1000-1100 to 1045-1145

32

0915

Road sweep teams closed Patton

33

1000

From Bde: No ETA on AMC

34

1017

PsyOps mission cancelled - lack of available aircraft

35

1020

Ballgame passed to Bde (1000)

36

1040

ETA AMC 30 min

37

1105

Crusader 5 C&C on station

38

1116

AMC has 49 blade hours

39

1120

Informed by Bde 49 blade hours to be used by 2/14th

40

1124

B Co airborne from FSB Patton

41

1135

B Co down green LZ-1 and 624194

42

1140

AO request:  AO MAC DTG 060600-061800 grid 596280, 582277, 585269, 583266, 590253, 590246, 586248, 565249

43

1141

2/49 ARVN airborne from Trung Lap

44

1149

2/49 down green LZ-3

45

1200

C Co airborne from Hunsley

46

1207

C Co down green 4 ship 620271, 5 ship 651271

47

1217

3rd Co 2/49 ARVN at obj-1 627192

48

1220

B Co 1st platoon obj-10, 4 ship at obj-22

49

1225

(Late) D Co airborne from night laager site 1217

50

1228

From Bde: Plan on releasing AMC at 1600, will know definitely by 1400 hours

51

1230

D Co down green 597229 and 597233

52

1236

B Co vic 626197 found old rusty 155mm dud, will blow

53

1238

Issue 23 on station, wants clearance for A/S 648198.  Clearance given

54

1245

Locations:  B Co 4-ship 626202, 5-ship 629196, C Co 5-ship 617270, 4-ship 618263, D Co 5-ship 598231, 4-ship 598235, 2/49 ARVN 631194

55

1305

AMC release time confirm 1600 hours

55

1306

[Original page contains two line 55 items] CRIP airborne from Trung Lap (3 ship)

56

1308

CRIP down green 3-ship 603168

57

1317

3 Co 2/49 at 634195

58

1318

CRIP airborne from 603168

59

1327

D Co vic obj-1 598231 1 US hit booby-trap, request 1 urgent litter dustoff.  Booby-trap 82mm with trip wire

60

1329

C Co vic 615260 found one dud 155mm, will blow

61

1330

CRIP down green 572182

62

1331

Dustoff 153 ETA 15 min

63

1339

A Co reports at obj-14 627203 they have 3 individuals in tunnel.  Kit Carson is trying to persuade them to come out, LST request

64

1340

CRIP airborne from 572182

65

1341

Dustoff complete

66

1347

CRIP down green 566196

67

1345

Locations:  B Co obj-15 & 23, C Co at 605262, D Co at 598231 and 599235.  3rd Co 2/49 633204

68

1357

CRIP airborne 566196

69

1410

CRIP down green 594216

70

1419

CRIP airborne 594216

71

1420

Locations: D Co 5-ship 598231, 4-ship 601234

72

1425

Centaur 48 on station

73

1427

D Co 5-ship lift obj-2

74

1514

(Late) CRIP down green 1428 hours 582248.  CRIP airborne 1433 582248

75

1515

(Late) 1500 Centaur 48 released.  Locations: 1445 hours D 5-ship 602231, 4-ship 604233, B Co 5-ship 629205, 4-ship 627203, 3rd Co ARVN 632205.  D Co found one Chieu Hoi located 602230, 23 years old, says he escaped from the VC, had very few paper ??? to be a medic 1 oz. of medical supplies.  Possibly works in PsyWar

76

1516

CRIP down green 610213

77

1517

AP sites D Co, ARVN control 624224, US control 621230

78

1525

3rd Co 2/49 obj-9

79

1531

CRIP picked up one detainee at 610213

80

1535

CRIP airborne 610213

81

1540

CRIP down green Trung Lap

82

1545

(Late) D Co located 605232 found one 105mm dud, negative booby-trap, no lot number, will blow

83

1553

3rd Co 2/49 airborne PZ 622208

84

1555

3rd Co down green at Trung Lap

85

1558

B Co airborne from 623203

86

1600

B Co down green Patton

87

1605

D Co obj-4 605229

88

1609

(Late) C Co 1st platoon departed at 1448 on ballgame

89

1610

C Co 1st platoon found punji pit 600270 3x3x3, will blow

90

1618

C Co 1st platoon closed Hunsley

91

1620

APs Cu Chi Subsector 1-553168, 2-568169, 3-567165

92

1629

D Co obj-5 605227

93

1658

D Co closed

94

1725

AO request by 2/49 ARVN DTG 060600-061800 grids 5921, 5923, 6323, 6321.  ARVNs plan to recon to night laager site, replace 2nd ARVN company with 1st ARVN company.  2nd ARVN Co will recon to east, then south, and return to Trung Lap

95

1935

From Bde:  Request troop opt DTG 051800-060600 grid 6131 north 1000 meters west side of river to grid 4751:  approved

96

1936

Approved AO MOE for 2/12

97

1810

Menehune 3 on station VR

98

1815

From 2/12 AO request 060600-061800 from 575285. 575255, west to 2/12 new AO

99

1915

Sniff mission time group 6 Sept 0800 hours to 1030 hours, 6420, 6726, 6627, 6126, like to have cleared ASAP

100

1906

AP 05 Sep: 587216, 585208, 600210, 595220, 591208, 582200, 590202, 597200

101

1919

D Co AP Victor Romeo and AP Victor both kick off

102

1920

All river AO's; eastern boundary special AO's; ordinance expend done AO's, these AO's will still remain in effect.  Only Battalion and Western Brigade boundary AO was changed

103

1931

D Co AP Victor Romeo on azimuth 120 degrees 850 to 900 meters, spotted 4-6 VC running, opened fire on VC.  Are checking out, will give complete sit/rep ASAP

104

1945

Dustoff, routine, for 2 US with 104 degree temperatures, ambulatory

105

1950

AO request for 6 Sept 0400 hours to 1800 hours, 5924, 635270, 5920, 635255

106

2013

Dustoff 153 10 minutes ETA

107

2015

Sweep by AP Victor Romeo finds 1 VC, 1 AK-47, 1 rifle grenade, 2 small Chicom grenades, 1 bag tobacco, 1 bag AK ammo, fish, 2 ponchos, some wood for probable bunker building, NVA web gear

108

2016

AP Victor Romeo heading back to hard spot for resupply, ARVNs are are carrying Chicom grenades - leave outside the wire

109

2023

Dustoff 153 on station; dustoff complete, going to 25th Med

110

2024

Night Hawk 153 on station on D Co push

111

2025

AP Victor Romeo inside wire

112

2030

Received 2/49 ballgame from Lt Harrison

113

2046

D Co AP Victor TD

114

2130

D Co AP Victor Romeo KO

115

2145

Mesage X-09-014C Subject:  Fall Campaign High Point

116

2146

To Co C CO: R.N. 24 Int. Ral. required as ??? have E.M. standby at location for LOH at 0730 06 Sep

117

2147

S/R neg all stations

118

2214

Passed to Bde:  Approved AO for People Sniffers 630266, 630220, 6420, 6721, 6427.  DTG 60800 to 61030 hours

119

2221

D Co AP Victor Romeo touch down

120

2222

Radar pick up Hunsley grid 586245, approx. 12 personnel moving south

121

2110

(Late) Little Bear 153 Night Hawk off station

122

2101

(Late) Radar shows 4-5 moving west 596262, expended 36 HE (high explosive artillery rounds) from Pershing

123

2025

(Late) Radar (Patton) 610184 shows 7-8 persons moving east, fired 4 FC and 30 HE.  Radar (Patton) 554223 54 rounds 105mm (FSB Devins).  8 body count checked by Night Hawk

124

2245

D Co received 2 rounds RPG from north (200 meters) inside the wire, neg casualties.  81mm and arty (105mm Cu Chi) returned fire

125

2250

Little Bear 153 on station

126

2255

S/R #125 to bde

127

2315

Little Bear 153 off station

128

2330

Ballgame 06 Sept passed to all interested parties

129

2350

S/R negative

130

2351

C Co ballgame modified to Bde S-3

131

2354

CLOSED  05 Sep S/R negative all stations

SUMMARY:  During their operations today B Co vic 626197 found and destroyed 155mm dud round.  C Co also found and destroyed a 155mm dud vic 615260.
   D Co at 598231 detonated a 82mm mortar booby-trap resulting in 1 US urgent dustoff.  The company took into custody one Chieu Hoi at 602230.  Also found and destroyed one dud 105mm round.  As D Co and 2/49 joint AP were moving to their AP site a platoon of VC was spotted to their front.  They engaged with small arms fire which was not returned.  Sweep of area found one body count, 1 AK-47, 1 rifle grenade, 2 small Chicom grenades, 1 bag AK ammo and misc. items.  Also 4 more possible body count.  It appears that VC were carrying wood (bunker building?).