Daily Staff Journal 28-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.
3	0101	3/22 S-2 elements departed for village at XS906828.
6	0305	3/22 S-2 and element returned to Bn base with 1 male detainee.
7	0310	4/9 reports LRRP reports a motorized sampan moving southeast from XS683853.
10	0505	LRRP reports motorized sampan on canal moving southeast along canal.
17	0835	3rd Airborne Bn ARVN element picked up 5 detainees vic XS776834.
18	0910	1st Bde LNO at Tan An reported VC ambush sprung on platoon of ARVN troops vic XS565711. 5 ARVN WIA's. VC fled to the north with ARVN troops in pursuit.
22	1000	C/4/9 patrol DEEP closed base at 0950. Ref the ambush that was sprung on 5 VC vic XS757773 at 272050 hrs. The patrol conducted a search of the area before returning to base, but found nothing but a dead water buffalo.
23	1005	B/2/14 apprehended one male suspect who had medicine and medical instruments and claimed to be a doctor. He was returned to Bn base. He was questioned by MI and found to be a doctor. This was verified by village Chief (Rach Kien). At 0945 hrs another male suspect was apprehended. He had on his person a letter on Popular Control and also VC literature. Being sent to Bn base for interrogation.
25	1100	B/2/14 loc vic XS742694 at 1035 hrs. The 3rd platoon B/2/14 was approached by a wounded Vietnamese (wound was sustained by VC booby trap), he was sent to village where MEDCAP is being conducted.
26	1200	Ref Item 25: Wounded man was Buddhist Priest and was treated at 2/14 aid station and evac to Tan An by C&C shop. Entac and Recon platoons providing security for Engr element for road work closed at 2/14 base with Engr element at 1110 hrs.
29	1303	LRRP patrol spotted 1 sampan moving south vic XS691862 with 3 personnel with AW and two bags of rice aboard.
31	1320	LRRP reports 1 sampan with 5 personnel aboard armed with rifles, hand grenades and American pistols loc vic XS682853. Requested gunships be sent to engage. Also 1 sampan with 2 personnel aboard same time same loc. Sampans moving southeast on canal.
33	1420	At 1400 hrs C/3/22 picked up 9 detainees vic XS867757 and 6 camouflaged positions and unknown nbr of expended ammo rounds, caliber unk., discovered at same location. The company was airlifted into LZ vic 866756 at 1300 hrs.
36	1455	C/3/22 reports that the 9 detainees that were picked up (Ref Item 33) stated that the village vic XS867758 hd 25 VC in it last night and all but 3 left last night. The three that remained fled when C/3/22 was airlifted in.
38	1610	C/3/22 at 1600 prep for extraction, started receiving 60mm mortar fire and SA (carbine type) from northwest of their position. Still in contact.
39	1640	S-2 2/14 received info from a teenage boy of 13 years old that 2 VC Company size elements at following loc XS725689 and XS729695. Request visual recon of area. Recon made, neg sightings.
44	1825	Ref Item 38: C/3/22 started extraction, the remainder of element started receiving sniper fire.
45	1905	Delayed Entry: A/4/9 picked up 1 detainee who is a confirmed VC. Patrol making arrangements to try to have person evacuated back to B/C for further interrogation and evac.
51	2045	2/14 PRU 3 and 4 at 2025 heard VC movement and also seen giving signals with red flashlight at vic XS737693. Called Arty fire, results unk.
55	2345	LRRP spotted a platoon of VC at vic 680852. Bringing in Arty fire, results unk.
57	2400	SUMMARY: 1st Bde continues opn FAIRFAX (4/9 Inf and 3/22 Inf) and LANIKAI (2/14 Inf). ASCC's remain established at Ben Luc, Binh Chanh, Tan An, Rach Kien, Nha Be, and Gia Dinh. 4/9 Inf stood down and completed plan for a joint BUDDY opn on 29 Dec 66. C & B Co continue construction on RF/PF outposts. 2/14 Inf continued construction of base camp and improvement of the road between Binh Chanh and Rach Kien. 3/22 Inf A Co continues the village search opn vic XS683800. C Co conducted Eagle flight into vic XS867757. PLANS SUMMARY: 4/9 Inf Co A conduct airmobile assault into LZ 1, XS810736 at H-hour conduct river CHECKMATE. Co B occupies ambush pos CAT XS773758. During evening of 28 Dec 66 H-hour companies will occupy ambush position DOG, XS776765, RAT XS778769, PIG XS780770 and HEN XS793770. Co C and 2 Co's 3rd Airborne conduct airmobile into LZ 2,3,4, at H-hour conduct search in zone. 2/46th occupies blocking position from XS775756 to XS800745. 131st RF Co occupies blocking position XS800770 and XS804768. Scout Co 46th ARVN searches XS818724 and XS810730. 2/14 Co A conduct combat assault on LZ XS729678, dispatch platoon size patrol to block at site Nbr 1 XS729676 while company conducts sweep to PF BLUE XS725672 and return to base camp along assigned route. Co B will assume responsibility for B/C defense. Co C will conduct combat assault on LZ XS729678, send out platoon size patrol to block at site 2 XS723679 while Co (-) conducts sweep to PL BLUE and return to B/C on order. 3/22 Inf: Co A will continue Eagle flights into AO RAT vic XS8875. Co B DS of 5th Airborne Co, Co C on standby reaction force for Co A. 51st Co will conduct saturation patrols and night ambushes in AO HORSE.