Daily Staff Journal 25-Dec-66

Daily Staff Journals maintained by 1st Brigade
Thanks to Matt Vuolo for obtaining and sharing this report.

ITEM`	TIME	INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.
		Initial log entries contain hourly sit/rep, no change.
11	0815	Bde ALO sighted 5 boatloads of VC vic XS683852 moving north.
12	0830	At 0800 hrs 2/14 dispatched 2 recon patrols from base at Rach Kien on local recon missions.
13	0900	At 0840 patrol from C/2/14 rec'd sniper fire from estimated 2-3 VC loc vic XS744690. A dud rifle grenade was also received. The patrol returned fire. VC fire silenced. Patrol returning to base, no casualties.
16	1115	B/2/14 patrol 1 reports hearing AW fire approx 600 meters from their position, fire was not directed at US patrol. Firing vic XS741698.
17	1130	4/9 S-2 reported that at 240115 to 240215 misc. broadcasts were made on Bn command frequency as follows: "Manchu 65 turn your radio off", "Manchu patrols this is Manchu 65 - turn your radios off and go to sleep", "Manchu C 6 XRay to Manchu 65 - I am receiving heavy sniper fire, think we are surrounded." All transmissions were in good English until transmitter became excited, then English became broken.
24	1445	1435 hrs Moon River - Naval element requested security for Falcon (3/22) for an aircraft of theirs that is down vic XS965745. Recon platoon 3/22 has been alerted for this mission.
26	1735	Recon platoon 3/22 closed Base Camp from "downed aircraft" security mission.
29	1945	B/2/14 outpost 4 spotted a boat in the river with someone in it vic XS738676, and keeping it under observation.
31	2030	Ref Item 29: OP spotted one more man vic XS748935. Keeping under observation.
32	2030	C/2/14 OP 2 reported 3 personnel, about 250 meters in front of position, XS746704, came out of rice paddies and into graveyard. Keeping under observation.
37	2400	SUMMARY: 1st Bde continues Opn FAIRFAX (4/9 Inf and 3/22 Inf) and LANIKAI (2/14 Inf). ASCC's are established at Ben Luc, Binh Chanh, Tan An, Rach Kien, Nha Be and Gia Dinh. All bns stood down for Christmas. Local security and surveillance opns. PLANS SUMMARY: 1. 4/9 Inf: Each company will conduct platoon size saturation patrols about their respective base camps. Unit will dispatch ambushes during evening. 2. 2/14 Inf: Co A will be helilifted from Ben Luc to Rach Kien where Co will become part of the Bn fwd base. Co B will conduct S&C opns to obj JACK XS738710. There a company will be established. Squad size recon patrols will be dispatched from that location. One platoon size stay-behind ambush will be left vic of obj JACK. Co C will dispatch two platoon size recon patrols to the east of base camp to XS746706 and XS753704. 3. 3/22 Inf: All companies will conduct saturation patrols during the day and ambush patrols during the evening about their respective base camps.