Daily Staff Journal  23-Sep-69

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

01

0001

LOG OPENED:
Supporting information for today's events:  Bn. Cmdr LTC Donald O. Crutchley, XO Maj Robert Chadrue, S3 Maj. Dexter Branscome, S1 Cpt Anthony Barone, S2 Cpt Joseph Murphy, S3 Air Cpt Thomas Waldera, S4 Cpt Robert Scheifele, S5 Cpt Gary Roth (hospital)
Location:  FSB Patton XT583194, PB Hunsley XT596270, Venice East XT577183, Bau Dieu Tower XT569171, Night Defensive Position (NDP) XT615225, Trung Lap XT593214.

Ballgame:
   Co A (-) After being replaced by Co C at NDP recon to obj-14 (609224), obj-15 (600224), obj-16 (596220) to Trung Lap, truck to Fire Support Base.  1 platoon occupy Venice East, towers at Bau Dieu and Fire Support Base.
   Co B (-) 0730 hours 4 & 5 ship lift from Patrol Base after artillery prep, 5 ship CA Landing Zone-1 (561263), recon to obj-1 (561267), obj-3 (562272), obj-5 (563275), obj-7 (566278), obj-8 (567282), obj-9 (569279), obj-10 (575277), join with 4 ship lift and recon to obj-11 (575273), obj-12 (585271), return to Patrol Base.  4 ship CA Landing Zone-2 (564264), recon to obj-2 (563267), obj-4 (564275), obj-6 (568278), join 5 ship lift at obj-10, recon to obj-11 and 12, return to Patrol Base.  Be prepared to react to sniffer mission.
   Co C (-) Conduct road sweep 0645 from Fire Support Base to Trung Lap and Fire Support Base to Highway 1 on 7A.  Deaprt Fire Support Base 0900 by truck to Trung Lap, recon to obj-A (597218), obj-B (613219), to Night Defensive Position, replace Co A, conduct joint Ambush Patrols.
   Co D - Stand Down
   CRIP 0800 occupy Venice East and Tower at Bau Dieu until relieved by Co A at 1500 hours.  Be prepared for Eagle Eye 1500.
   4.2 platoon (-) Fire Support Base, 1 tube at Patrol Base, 1 tube at Trung Lap
   Radar PP-5 Patrol Base, PPS-4 Venice East.

02

0003

Artillery taxi run - Little Bear 356 dusted off man from Co B with broken ankle from Patrol Base to 12th Evac

03

0040

Radar at Hunsley pick up at 60052408, 4-5 individuals moving SW, engaged with 81mm high explosive rounds

04

0045

Sitrep - negative

05

0145

Sitrep - negative

06

0245

Sitrep - negative

07

0306

Patton radar 59261802, 2-3 individuals stationary, fired 14 105mm high explosive

08

0345

Sitrep - negative

Continued from page 1:
Ballgame (continued)
   C Co (-) 1/5 (Mech) depart Trung Lap, recon to obj-11 (625236), to obj-12 (635243), 1 platoon to obj-13 (642249), and Co (-) to obj-14 (642247), Co rejoining at obj-15 (649257) and forming blocking position from (650261) to (654255).
   1st Troop 10th ARVN Cav and 1st Co 2/49 ARVN depart Trung Lap 0900 hours to obj-1 (633234), to obj-2 (645236), to obj-3 (655240), unit splits at obj-3 with 1 element reconing to obj-4 (655250), the other element reconing to obj-5 (660247), both elements joining again at obj-6 (665255), to obj-7 (660264).
   2nd Troop and HQ 10th ARVN Cav in reserve moving along center of axis of advance.  Night Laager will be in vic of 1/5th blocking position.  Reference points:  GINA 6032, ANNA 6631, LAURA 6027, LOLITA 6426, JULIA 6623

09

0445

Sitrep - negative

10

0634

A Co kicking off to check out contact area

11

0646

Road sweeps departed

12

0648

13

0658

A Co 3rd platoon at 610234 found hand guard to an M-16.  Still searching area where artillery was fired

14

0723

Centaur 3 LST came on station but released because gorund fog prevented visual contact with contact area

15

0740

105 round - negative booby-trap - negative lot number - destroyed

16

0746

Road clear from Highway 1 to Trung Lap

17

0754

People sniffer

18

0758

Clearance requested for (655265), (650280), (655300), (620295), (606294) - (655265) negative clearance.  Rest approved.

19

0800

AO request 5629 to 5829 to 5628 to 5828 approved

20

0812

1 105mm round lying on top of booby-trapped hand grenade with trip wire - destroyed 608236

21

0820

Menehune 3 on station taking IPW team to Trung Lap

22

0830

2/14th has AMC from 1130-1300, at 1300 release 5 ships to 1/5th (Mech).  Eagle Eye 1330 until 1630

23

0840

A Co closed Night Laager after sweeping contact area

24

0920

Co B (-) depart on alternate ballgame

25

0930

CRIP departed Trung Lap on Ballgame

26

0932

AMC has been cancelled for today

27

0940

2/12th spotted 2 VC with weapons vicinity 574281, requesting permission to send element of Co A into area.  Need 1000 meter radius buffer zone around grid.  Disapproved.  CRIP 2/14th VCI is 586227

28

1002

Co C depart on ballgame

29

1020

Co B new ballgame for today.  Recon to obj-1 (594264), obj-2 (596260), obj-3 (597254), obj-4 (596259), obj-5 (544264), return to Patrol Base.  Present location is obj-2

30

1026

From Jump TOC (Tactical Operations Center), locations:  1/5th (Mech) at obj-11 (625236), 1/10th Cav (633234), obj-1

31

1028

Co B vicinity 596258 found M-26 hand grenade booby-trap with trip wire, will destroy

32

1020

[Late Entry] Menehune 6 on station for PsyOps mission

33

1035

CRIP location vicinity 540220 0930-1200

34

1050

Locations Co B 596258, Co C 608218, 1/5th (Mech) Task Force 625234, 1/10th Cav, 2/49th 635235

35

1051

Co B destroying vacated hootch with bunker underneath at location vicinity 596258

36

1110

Co B vicinity 597254 located bunker with trap door.  Inside found 1 SKS carbine, one 5 gal. can of motor oil, pamphlets, flashlight and civilian radio.  SKS is old, rusty, inoperable.

37

1124

Arrived at Night Defensive Position of Co C

38

1126

Co A departed Night Defensive Position

39

1128

Co B vicinity 596258 found 2.75 rocket booby-trap with trip wire, will destroy

40

1132

CRIP vicinity 589222 will destroy hootch

41

1133

From Jump TOC, locations:  1/5th (Mech) obj-12 (635243), 1/10th Cav obj-2 (645236)

42

1139

Menehune 2 on station for battalion XO and Cav advisor

43

1140

Co A will return same route to Trung Lap

44

1145

Co B location 596258, Cav obj-2, 1/5th (Mech) obj-12

45

1158

CRIP closed Trung Lap with 5 detainees, 1 on black list and 4 will be turned over to village chief

46

1227

Co B requested dustoff vicinity 596258, hand grenade booby-trap with trip wire, 1 ambulatory, 1 litter head/shoulder #164 and arm/legs #29.  Dustoff 153, ETA 10-15, to 12th Evac

47

1231

Menehune 2 inbound to Cu Chi with approximately 200 lbs of equipment (ref #36) from Co B

48

1250

Co B found booby-trap C-ration can with pressure type device vicinity 596258

49

1300

Locations:  Co B (-) 596258, TF 647238

50

1300

Request FAC to adjust artillery vicinity 597254

51

1350

Jump Command Post location vicinity 638243 found a dud 105mm and 8-inch round, not booby-trapped, negative lot number, will destroy

52

1355

Co B (-) closed Patrol Base

53

1405

Requested LST for use by Night Defensive Position 1800-1900 (Capt Wellington)

54

1445

Jump CP located vicinity 639245

55

1500

Location:  Co C 1/5th (Mech) obj-13 (642249)

56

1501

1st platoon Co B depart on 360-degree recon

57

1508

To Bde:  AP:Joint, US located 621218, US 606238; Sniper report, neg; Tug: neg; Eagle Eye; neg

58

1523

Location: 1/5th (Mech) obj-15 (649257)

59

1525

Location: 1/10 obj-3 (655240)

60

1544

Issue 26 on station to adjust artillery on booby-trap area, destroy 1 bunker, 1 fighting position, 2 secondary explosions (small), one possibly a booby-trap

61

1600

B Co 1st platoon closed

62

1640

Night Hawk 2100 to 2300, 0100 to 0300, 0400 to 0600

63

1645

Jump CP needs following LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) for 24 Sep: 1030-1100 VR (Visual Recon) and 1730-1800 VR

64

1645

From Bde:  1st Div Troop Support request 231800-240600, 6131, 1000 meters west side of river to 4751

65

1648

From LNO (Lt. Wood) AO request 3 to 2/49th, 240600-241800 hours, 540250-610245-610215-590215.  Ballgame depart Trung Lap 0730 LD 595218 recon to obj-1 (597227), obj-2 (598235), obj-3 (598244), obj-4 (605239), obj-5 (606231), obj-6 (605221), return to Trung Lap

66

1727

Menehune 2 on station for VR

67

1750

Centaur 53 LST on station and diverted to 1/5th (Mech)

68

1756

Centaur 53 departed station

69

1820

C Co AP1 & AP2 kicked off

70

1850

Hunsley radar 59952675 3-4 individuals moving SE, fired 2 105mm High Explosive rounds, movement ceased

71

1920

2/49 ARVN AP's 588210, 600207, 587218, 595219, 582202, 590203, 597200

72

1951

Patton radar 58262510, 4-5 individuals moving S, fired 30 105mm High Explosive rounds

73

1952

AP-1 return to Night Defensive Position to avoid possible contact with C Co 1/5th (Mech) Night Laager site

74

2030

Request priority dustoff, 1 US ambulatory, cook-off on M-60, to come up on C Co 1/5th (Mech) frequency.  Dustoff 153 ETA 2100

75

2038

AP2 in position

76

2220

Hunsley radar 587256, 3-4 individuals moving SW, fired 3 105mm High Explosive rounds, movement stopped

77

2200

Hunsley radar 613254, 2-4 individuals moving SE, too close to 1/5th (Mech) Night Laager to fire

78

2252

Radar Patton 592246, 4-5 individuals moving S, engaged with 36 105mm High Explosive rounds

79

2230

Passed ballgame for C/1/5 (Mech), 1 troop 10th ARVN Cav, 1st Co 2/49, & 3 Company 2/49 passed to Bde

80

2230

Hunsley radar 593257, 4 individuals moving SW, fired 14 105mm rounds

81

1930

Notified Bde that 3 Chieu Hoi's turned themselves in at Trung Lap.  Local guerrillas, 1 is booby-trap expert, info that high ranking VC are on verge of Chieu Hoi-ing.

82

2230

Received conf. msg. #X-09-62C, Subject: Intelligence Target

83

2230

From Bde: C Co 65th Engineers will have 2 bulldozers working area between Fire Support Base and Trung Lap.  Request security element on 25 Sep.  ARVN's can be used.  2/14th will coordinate.

84

2400

Summary:  During the early morning hours, Co B had 1 man medevaced to Cu Chi with a broken ankle.  Patton & Hunsley each had 1 radar sighting, engaged with artillery and 81mm mortar respectively.  Co A and Co C exchanged locations with A Co coming to Patton, after being relieved by C Co at the Night Defensive Position and after sweeping last night's contact area.  Co B's heliborne was cancelled due to weather conditions and they conducted a recon mission out of Hunsley.  They found and destroyed 3 booby-traps, 1 hootch with bunker, and 1 tunnel containing an old SKS and miscellaneous equipment.  2 men were wounded by a booby-trap hand grenade, and were dusted off.  Task Force Chaudrue (combined C Co 1/5th (Mech), 1 & 2 10th ARVN Cavalry, 1 Co 2/49th ARVN, moved to Night Laager site vicinity 654262.  C Co 1/5 (Mech) was forced to set up Night Laager vicinity 614247 when vehicles became stuck.  CRIP conducted VCI activities around Trung Lap and took 1 detainee.  Radar pickups from Hunsley & Patton were engaged with artillery - targets appeared to be concentrated on a NE-SW line south of Hunsley.  1 man from C/1/5 (Mech) was dusted off from Night Laager site with injuries received when a round in an M-60 cooked off.  Three Hoi Chanh turned themselves in at Trung Lap - state that several high ranking VC are considering turning themselves in.