Daily Staff Journal  16-Nov-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 Courtney Rittgers, S3 Maj. Dexter Branscome, S3 Air Cpt Thomas Waldera, S1 Cpt Anthony Barone, S2 Cpt William Branch, S4 Cpt Robert Scheifele, S5 Michael Collier

Locations:  FSB Patton XT583194, PB Hunsley XT596270, Venice East XT577183, Trung Lap XT593214.

Ballgame:
   A Co (-) depart Hunsley 0800 hours, recon to obj-A (588266), obj-B (582261), search area (580247-580249-585249-585247), recon to obj-C (586254), obj-D (587259), return to PB.  Conduct 1 NCP vic Hunsley.
   B Co (-) continues Bushmaster operations in area of grid 5929
   C Co conduct base camp defense operations at Patton.  One platoon occupy Venice East and tower at Patton, conduct road sweep on 7A from Trung Lap to Highway 1 at 0645 hours.
   D Co (-) depart Patton 0800 hours, recon to obj-1 (592203), recon to and search area (601197-602200-606199-605196), return to Patton.  Conduct 1 NCP vic. FSB.
   2 Co 2/49 LD 0800 hours (587205), recon to obj-11 (581211), obj-12 (576220), obj-14 (580228), obj-15 (587232), obj-16 (587223), return to Trung Lap.
   1 Co 2/49 LD 0800 hours (593219), recon to obj-A (598227), obj-8 (609229), obj-C (614220), obj-D (606215), return to Trung Lap.

02

0035

Trung Lap radar at 2100 hours picked up (549277) 5-6 individuals moving north, fired 12 high explosive 105mm rounds;  at 2115 hours picked up (549279) 4-5 individuals moving north, fired 6 high explosive 105mm rounds;  at 2215 hours picked up (600240) 3-4 individuals moving north, fired 12 high explosive 105mm rounds;  at 2232 hours picked up (621230) 2-3 individuals moving east, fired 12 high explosive 105mm rounds;

03

0035

QSL for ballgame 17 Nov & airmobile requests 18-24 Nov, QSL 1355 & 1345

04

0056

Trung Lap radar (623217) picked up 4-5 individuals moving northwest, fired 12 high explosive 105mm rounds

05

0100

Sitrep - negative

06

0120

CRIP will send one platoon at 0600 hours to grid (591227) to search area of last night's contact.

07

0200

Sitrep - negative

08

0205

Red Haze pickup (642297), time 0135 hours, artillery would not fire.

09

0210

AO request for 2/12 17/0600-17/1800 (PEGGY) north of 21, south of 227, west of 58, and east to the AO boundary

10

0300

Sitrep - negative

11

0340

Mas Keller:  Trung Lap compound at 0315 hours received 6 82mm rounds, came from grid (608191).  Counter-mortar employed.  One female wounded slightly, will be evacuated tomorrow.

12

0400

Sitrep - negative

13

0500

Sitrep - negative

14

0510

Fence off (JW)

15

0530

CRIP will scratch obj-3 (587227) form their ballgame

16

0622

CRIP returning to contact area to sweep again

17

0633

CRIP:  1 squad kicked off on ballgame

18

0639

CRIP:  1 squad kicked off on ballgame

19

0700

CRIP:  1 squad in position (597197)

20

0700

A Co NCP closed Hunsley

21

0700

C Co road sweeps to Highway 1 and Trung Lap kicked off

22

0716

CRIP:  1 squad CP in loc (588212)

23

0726

B Co has 1 body count, had grenade in hand, 2 shoulder straps with poncho, 2 pair shower shoes, found in area of contact

24

0729

CRIP in sweep area found one AK vest containing full magazines covered with blood

25

0730

D Co NCP-1 & 2 closed 0615 hours

26

0740

CRIP found 3 VC in a hedgerow, are engaging.  1 had AK, waived to Chieu Hoi, then engaged.  1 body count, 1 AK-47 (593230)

27

0800

D Co kicked off on ballgame

28

0812

C Co reports Highway 7A cleared from Highway 1 to Trung Lap

29

0812

Brigade:  AO Lobo given to 25th Avn as free fire zone

30

0825

Brigade:  Sniff Box 0900-1200 (6125-6425-6129-6429)

31

0827

LNO:  1st Co 2/49 (593219), 2nd Co 2/49 (587205)

32

0828

CRIP requests urgent Medevac, snake bite, have snake

33

0840

A Co departing on ballgame

34

0845

Medevac 156 on station 0845 hours, complete to 25th Med 0848 hours

35

0910

Brigade requested clearance for FAC to expend ordnance (630300), cleared

36

0910

Locations:  A Co (592267), B Co (583287), D Co (592203), others same location

37

0925

Brigade requested air strike clearance in (625825) at 1100 hours

38

0930

D Co now in search area

39

0938

A Co destroyed a bunker 4x6 with 1 1/2 ft overhead cover at (589267)

40

0943

41

0944

Menehune 5 on station for taxi to Hunsley

42

0955

Locations:  A Co (588266), B Co (585285), D Co (602193 & 602196), CRIP same, 1 Co 2/49 (613227), 2 Co 2/49 (576220)

43

0958

CRIP ballgame:  Roving patrol 1830-2130, 12 men including 2 snipers, from Trung Lap to (594225).  2 CP's 0600-1100, (587204 & 594203)

44

1002

A Co destroyed 4 relatively new bunkers 4x6 with 1 1/2 ft overhead cover (588266)

45

1007

From LNO:  1 Co 2/49 at (614220)

46

1010

Brigade requested clearance for air strike (630300), approved

47

1025

Brigade requested clearance for air strike (645285), approved

48

1045

B Co NCP locations 16 Nov 69, J (579281), L & CP (577282), B (577285)

49

1100

D Co found rags, trousers, under shorts, ammo can, 15 lbs polished rice, 1 pair Ho Chi Minh sandals at (602193)

50

1113

From Brigade:  At (624306, 651275, 666282) aircraft reported receiving ground fire, now employing artillery, cleared for air strike

51

1114

C Co NCP location (571198) 12 men, AP-1

52

1117

CRIP:  All elements closed, 65 flags and leaflets at (588213) and 57 at (598203) were passed out

53

1135

Locations:  A Co (584855), 1 Co 2/49 (614220), 2nd Co 2/49 (580228), others same locations

54

1145

2nd Brigade Avn 5 on station

55

1150

Brigade requested clearance for air strikes at 1300 hours (666252 & 650260), approved

56

1155

Commo:  CRIP ballgame 0345Z, Ready Reaction Force Report 0234Z, ARVN Report 0345Z

57

1214

2nd Brigade Avn 5 returned to Patton with flame thrower & 2 operators returning to Cu Chi

58

1219

D Co found one dud 105mm round, negative booby-trap or lot number, will blow

59

1224

Brigade requested clearance for air strikes at (660250 & 650260), 1300 hours, approved

60

1225

Locations:  1 Co 2/49 Same, 2 Co 2/49 Same, CRIP closed, A Co (585254-583248), D Co (602196)

61

1234

D Co found 1 AK in hedgerow, old, rusty, shrapnel hole in barrel (603272)

62

1235

LNO:  Departing station for 10 minutes

63

1240

S-3:  S-3 & Battalion CO going to Cu Chi, S-2 will be dropped at Patton

64

1320

Commo:  Daily Sniper Report 0440Z hours, NCP Report 0440Z hours, Eagle Eye Report 0525Z hours, Daily Sniper Activities Report 0520Z hours.  QSL's

65

1320

LNO:  2nd Co 2/49 (587223), 1st Co 2/49 closed

66

1325

Brigade S-3:  Defoliation operation vic. Sa Nho (1) CM575275 0730-0930 will operate on command frequency

67

1350

Locations:  D Co (602193), B Co same

68

1415

2nd Brigade Avn 6 on station

69

1432

A Co NCP-1 at (590265), 15 men

70

1431

D Co closed Patton

71

1446

Brigade requested (645285) for 25th Avn Bn to expend ordnance, approved

72

1500

C Co will supply security for Engineers to blow some munitions

73

1510

2nd Brigade Avn 6 on station to pick up Super Sapper (?), off station 1519 hours

74

1520

D Co NCP-2 at (588185), 12 men tonight

75

1540

2nd Brigade Avn 6 on station for VR

76

1645

LNO:  AO 17/0600-17/1800 (587200-610183-625195-603222)

77

1650

LNO:  Ballgame 2nd Co 2/49 LD 0730 hours (596204), recon to obj-11 (603200), obj-12 (601194), obj-14 (608190), obj-15 (610191), obj-17 (610206), obj-19 (604211), return to Trung Lap.  [Unit not identified, probably 1st Co 2/49] obj-16 (616199), obj-18 (613206), obj-20 (606214), return to Trung Lap.

78

1700

B Co in preplanned locations

79

1737

Air Strike request from Brigade at 2015 hours (664250, 661255)

80

1810

AO request 1HR north of 270 east, west grid line and AO 1GR south of 295 east-west grid line, 17/0600-17/1800

81

1817

A Co NCP kickoff

82

1816

D Co NCPs kickoff

83

1830

LNO:  ARVN APs (585215) roving APs 1830-0600.  AO (593206-590204-598204-597199), AO (583207-587200-580204-587210), AO (587210-590204-593706-593212)

84

1825

[Late Entry] CRIP NCP departed

85

1835

AO Lobo test fire aircraft clear (RRB)

86

1900

C Co NCP kickoff

87

1900

CRIP NCP in location

88

1910

A Co NCP in position

89

1925

Hunsley radar (582272) picked up 4-5 individuals stationary, fired 6 high explosive 105mm rounds

90

1930

Trung Lap radar (595254) picked up 5-7 individuals moving north, fired 18 high explosive 105mm rounds

91

1955

Trung Lap radar (595251) picked up 4-5 individuals moving south, fired 6 high explosive 105mm rounds

92

2005

CRIP NCP closed

93

2015

Brigade requested air strikes (640290 & 640250) at 2015 hours, 2045 hours, 2100 hours, cleared

94

2035

Movement has been spotted to the east of Patton (589195), engaged

95

2045

D Co NCP-2 spotted 1-2 individuals 155 azimuth 300 meters, engaged with 81mm mortar

96

2120

Trung Lap radar (598197) picked up 2-3 stationary individuals, requested clearance to fire

97

2120

Incoming at Patton, 12 rounds, all outside the wire, negative casualties

98

2122

Rounds came within 100 meters of wire, impacted on 6100 azimuth

99

2145

Brigade Duffel Bag activation at 2028 hours (656241) CZ 1419 heavy, fired 4 fire cracker rounds, 8 high explosive 105mm rounds

100

2235

Bunker 9 spotted 8-9 individuals inside 1st wire, Night Hawk and light fire team on the way

101

2235

Duffle Bag time of pickup 2215 CZ 1570 heavy, fired 18 high explosive 105mm rounds

102

2240

Light fire team on station with flare ship

103

2242

Tower sighting at Patton confirmed by radar 3-4 individuals (591193)

104

2300

CRIP:  Radar (575185) picked up 4-5 individuals moving south , negative clearance

105

2300

Message regarding A Co stand down change

106

2300

Trung Lap radar (598197) picked up 3-4 stationary individuals at 2125 hours, negative clearance

107

2315

D Co sweep departed, received fire from their right flank, light fire team engaged

108

2350

Shadow 76 on station

109

2400

Summary:
   At 0315 hours Trung Lap received 6 82mm rounds slightly wounding one female who did not require evacuation.  At 0726 hours vic of their ambush of last night CRIP found one dead VC with a grenade in his hand.  At 0729 hours CRIP found one AK vest full of AK magazines in their area of contact last night.  At 0740 hours CRIP killed one enemy at (593230), had an AK.
   D Co at (603292) found an AK at 1234 hours, it was unserviceable.
   Patton received 12 incoming rounds at 2120.  They impacted from 300 to 100 meters outside the wire.  There were no casualties.  At 2135 hours bunker number 9 spotted 8-9 individuals 300 to 250 meters, they were engaged.  A light fire team and flare ship came on station at 2240 hours.  They engaged reported enemy position.  3rd platoon D Co swept the area and was fired upon.  The fire team engaged the enemy position.  D Co completed the sweep of the defenses with negative findings.  A shadow aircraft remained on station to complete firing on the suspected route of enemy withdrawal to the northeast along the stream.