Daily Staff Journal  7-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 Night Defensive Position XT615225.

Ballgame: 
   Co A (-) 1000 hours after arty prep (9 ships) CA LZ-1 (653256).  2 platoon to obj-1 650254 to obj-2 645255, obj-5 639255, obj-7633250, obj 624248.  One platoon from LZ-1 to obj-2 652250, obj-4 645252, to obj-6 639250, obj-8 635248, to PZ.
   Co B (-) 1015 hours after arty prep (9 ships) CA LZ-2 642247, to obj-9 646246, obj-10 645240, obj-11 644236, to obj-12 646235, obj-13 651235, obj-14 650237, PZ 649239 at 1330 hours.  One platoon occupy Venice East, tower at Bau Dieu and Patton.  Conduct road sweep from FSB to Highway 1 and FSB to Trung Lap.
   C Co (-) 0730 hours RIF from PB Hunsley toward obj-1 610272, to obj-2 612283, to obj-3 617290, to obj-4 614284, to obj-5 613274, to obj-6 612267, return to PB.  One platoon, 1400 hours, conduct 360 degree RIF at 200-600 meters.
   D Co (-) 0730 hours one platoon and one platoon from 1 Co 2/49 ARVN recon from NDP toward obj-A 625223, to obj-B 633217, to obj-C 638216, to obj-D 637222, to obj-E 633227, to obj-F 632229, to obj-G 623227, return to NDP.  Conduct joint AP with 1 Co 2/49 ARVN.
   1 Co 2/49 ARVN (-) 0730 one platoon 1 Co and one platoon Co D recon from NDP to obj-1 6`6228, to obj-2 619243, to obj-3 626243, to obj-4 624236, to obj-5 623234, to obj-6 624232, return to NDP.  Conduct joint AP's with Co D.
   CRIP 1030 hours )PZ from Trung Lap, Eagle Eye operations
   4.2 Mortars, Platoon (-) FSB Patton, 1 tube PB Hunsley, 1 tube Trung Lap
   Radar - PPS-5 at PB Hunsley, PPS-4 at Venice East

02

0001

S/R neg all stations  (Situation Report)

03

0045

S/R neg

04

0115

X007-018C-Ballgame 07 Sept

05

0116

Passed Ballgame change to A & B Co

06

0145

S/R neg

07

0147

Called Bde about Night Hawk - no fuel - fire

08

0245

S/R neg

09

0335

Centaur 23 on station

10

0345

S/R neg

11

0445

Centaur 23 reports 2 vehicles on road parallel to Highway 1, SE of intersection of 7A, close to ARVN compound.  Checking with CCSS to see if vehicles belong to ARVN

12

0445

13

0510

Centaur 23 off station

14

0525

Centaur 23 on station

15

0545

S/R neg

16

0550

Centaur 23 off station

17

0615

AP Papa Romeo broke site

18

0635

AP Papa Romeo closed

19

0636

AO from ATOM approved

20

0645

AP Papa closed

21

0652

AO LOG free-fire zone 07 Sep

22

0657

(Late) Road sweep departs Patton 0645

23

0701

B Co AP closed

24

0728

C Co depart on ballgame

25

0729

Highway 7A clear to Trung Lap

26

0743

30 minutes delay on AMC.  Now scheduled for 1030 to 1430 hours

27

0758

7A clear from Highway 1 to Trung Lap

28

0826

D Co (-) and 1st Co 2/49 depart on their ballgames

29

0827

C Co vic 611277 found one 105mm dud, neg booby-trap, rusty, neg lot number, will blow

30

0845

From Bde:  AO for Provincial RF force approved by Bde.  DTG 100700 to 101800 grid 489194, east to Highway 1, 463167, north to 7A, 595220, west to 590230, 542230, 540240, 497240, 6A, south along 6A, 489194, overlay will follow today

31

0905

D Co 1st platoon with 2/49 ARVN found one 81mm round, very old, neg booby-trap, neg lot number, will blow vic 616234

32

0909

D Co (-) located 622222

33

0910

(Late) 0907 Menehune 5 on station

34

0912

AMC schedule for 08 Sep 1730-1930 hours

35

0925

From Capt Corbitt, Bde will have bulldozer for relocation 9 Sep

36

0927

D Co (-) obj-A 625223 neg sitrep

37

0941

AMC time 1100-1500 for 7 Sep

38

0945

Locations:  C Co 614272, D Co (-) 625223, 1st platoon 619244

39

0950

C Co vic 613282 found 2 fresh spider holes 2x4x4, will destroy.  Dug within week

40

1015

From 2/49 ARVN AO request DTG 080600 to 081800 grid 540200, 540220, 595238, 595223, 574180 Disapproved

41

1025

Hornet 6 off station, will refuel

42

1043

Hornet 6 on station

43

1045

Locations:  C Co 614280, D Co (-) 630217, 1st platoon 624243 (1027)

45

1050

[Line 44 missing from original page]  D Co 1st platoon obj-3 627223

46

1051

D Co (-) obj-B 633217

47

1054

Request routine dustoff, one Vietnamese child (10 years) from PB Hunsley.  Supposedly hit by arty.  Extent of injuries minor

48

1109

A Co 9 ship lift airborne from Patton

49

1117

From Bde:  Air strike grid clearance XT 628278 to 625300 until 1900 - approved

50

1125

Dustoff complete from PB Hunsley

51

1126

A Co down green 657258, adjusted LZ

52

1130

Issue 23 on station grid clearance 624238

53

1139

D Co (-) chow break at obj-C 638215

54

1140

A Co when approaching LZ saw one individual digging in westerly direction, plus at present location fresh footprints of two individuals

55

1150

B Co down green 641247.  (Late) B Co airborne from Patton 1133 hours

56

1154

Locations:  D Co (-) obj-C and 1st platoon obj-3 on lunch break.  C Co at 605268.  B Co at 641247

57

1155

Ref item #40:  Passed to Bde initials PW

58

1156

Dragon 37 LFT on station

59

1206

Request for AMC 090730 to 090900, 091400 to 091500, 091700 to 091900 (PW)

60

1210

(Late) 1201 hours B Co found rocket vic 641247, fairly old

61

1215

C Co found one Chicom potato masher grenade, neg booby-trap, old, will blow at 603270

62

1217

From C&C ship 44 blade hours left, plans on using 30 hours of them

63

1220

Locations:  C Co 603270, D Co (-) 638224, D 1st platoon 628243

64

1222

D Co 1st platoon vic 628243 found many spider holes (uncovered), also 3 VC rat traps (old), one pack Cambodian cigarettes (opened within last week), all found within bamboo hedgerows

65

1228

C Co closed

66

1229

A Co found old tunnel at 645253, will destroy

67

1232

A Co vic 643255 reported taking approx 12 sporadic rounds from south 300-1000 meters

68

1237

From Bde:  AO for 2/49 ARVN for 08 Dep approved, passed to Mat Keller SA 2/49

69

1245

From Bde:  LST should be on station in 20 min

70

1251

(Late) 1241 passed to Hunsley, have C Co commander put more rattlers on the wire

71

1252

D Co 1st platoon:  Found one tunnel complex 626337, 3 ft overhead cover, 3 ft deep, 10 ft long, to a room 6x6.  Found assorted cloths with scrap metal holes, tunnel showed signs of recent use.  Also in general vicinity of tunnel, found one skeleton.  Also in another tunnel found one RPG booby-trap with trip wire and grenade fuse, also one Chicom potato masher grenade, neg booby-trap.  Will blow.  Also at 1251 found two skeletons in tunnel

72

1257

D Co (-) obj-E 633227

73

1309

Ref item #62 passed to Bde

74

1310

D Co 1st platoon found five more bodies in same tunnel, also three Chicom grenades, will blow

75

1320

From Bde S-3:  Want to know if 2/14 can use AMC until 1630 hours.  Negative use (1375)

76

1321

D Co (-) at obj-F 632229

77

1330

(Late) Locations 1317:  A Co 640250, B Co 644244, D Co 1st platoon 626237, D Co (-) 632229

78

1334

(Late) From Bde air strike grid clearance 608287 Approved (1325)

79

1350

A Co vic 640250 found two 155mm duds, neg booby-trap, will destroy

80

1356

Locations:  D Co 1st platoon 625232, Co (-) 627228

81

1401

Corrected report:  12 bodies that 1st platoon D Co found were 36-48 hours old (BW)

82

1410

D Co (-) located 624227

83

1428

C Co 3rd platoon departing Hunsley for ballgame

84

1430

D Co (-) and 1st platoon closed

85

1446

(Late) A Co vic 640253 found one dead body.  1330 hours

86

1455

C Co 3rd platoon closed

87

1500

(late) Requested new release time of all due to bad weather delayed extraction

88

1530

A Co airborne 639247; down green FSB Patton 1534

89

1539

From Bde:  Air strike clearance for grid 575250 approved

90

1540

B Co airborne 651240

91

1541

(Late) AO request from 1/5th (Mech) 630240, southward to 660248, for buffer zone

92

1542

(Late) FAC reports thatch cutting and trail of dust at grid 619302, activity last 24 hours

93

1544

B Co down green Patton

94

1620

(Late) 1510 Requested AO from 1/5th (Mech) DTG 080800 to 081800 grid 520163, 570160, 600160, 600180.

95

1630

(Late) 2/49 ARVN range open at 1500 - cease fire at 1630

96

1702

AO requested by 1/5th (Mech) item #91 approved

97

1710

Requested from 1/5th (Mech) an extension of AO south to the 154 grid and east to the 605 for 080800 to 081800.  Approved by S-3 1/5th (Mech)

98

1800

Received AP's for 2/49th ARVN (Lt. Harrison) 588217, 598208, 585210, 595220, 591207, 582202, 598200, 590200

99

1830

Cancelled B Co AP for tonight (Bn CO)

100

1845

Ballgame C Co change to 19:30

101

1849

Menehune 1 released

102

1900

2/49 ARVN Ballgame

103

1910

FR Venice East personnel outside an abandoned hootch, will engage with sniper

104

1925

Request for LOH for 8 Sep

105

1929

Passed ?? C Co change Ballgame to 1700

106

1927

Radar:  Patton sighting 58781558 5 to 6 individuals moving west, neg OK for DivArty to fire

107

1939

AP Sierra Romeo spotted one VC, little people opened up, US opened up on little people, 60mm illumination until arty, one confirmed body count vic AP site, one pistol XT 618217, one map, one compass

108

2024

61 radar out of order (Venice East)

109

2046

Tanks 62:  AMC 1130 to 1330, 1730 to 1900, 1900 released

110

2110

AP's in position 5-150 meters SE of original location, SR 150 west of original location

111

2145

S/R neg

112

2146

Hunsley radar picked up 4-5 individuals moving south to north, fired 30 HE

113

2245

S/R neg

114

2345

S/R neg

115

2349

S/R neg all stations

116

2359

LOG CLOSED

SUMMARY:  Continuation of Operation Brimstone with Co A (-) returning to Battalion control from 1/5th Infantry (Mech).  Airmobile operations were conducted by Companies A and B.  CRIP conducted Eagle Eye operation.  Co's C and D conducted local RIF from their positions.  Co D conducted a joint daylight and night operations with the 1st company, 2/49th ARVN.
   At 0445 hours, Night Hawk on station spotted 2 vehicles moving from East to West on road parallel to Highway 1.  Vehicles stopped at vicinity of intersection of Highway 1 and 7A, next to gasoline station.  Was not able to check vehicles during daylight hours.
   Company A received sporadic small arms fire at 1282.  Negative contact after initial attacks.  During the afternoon, located one VC/NVA body.  Company B found an old rocket at grids 6424.
   Company C located one round 155mm, not booby-trapped, a Chicom grenade.
   Company D also located spider holes, rat traps in bamboo hedgerow, tunnel complex with rooms, located 12 bodies of VC/NVA, 1 RPG round, booby-trapped Chicom grenade. 
   At night a joint ARVN/US AP spotted one VC/NVA, opened fire and confirmed one body count, and captured one pistol, map and compass.