Daily Staff Journal 31-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	0055	B/4/9 patrol JEFFERSON found 7 sleeping mats in vic XS772803.
4	0055	B/4/9 reaction force for patrol LINCOLN in searching area found 1 M-1 rifle vic XS 799769, continuing to search.
6	0130	B/4/9 patrol LINCOLN received 1 slight WIA due to own hand grenade vic XS802769. Heard some VC to the south and sounded like they ran into one of their own booby-traps.
8	0230	B/4/9 patrol has lost all contact with VC, and reaction force is returning to base camp, the patrol is in the process of relocating.
21	0910	C/2/14 patrol 1 received SA fire from unknown size VC force vic XS745692 which resulted in 1 US KIA, 2 US WIA. C/2/14 plus patrol 5 employed as reaction force for patrol 1. Reaction force sustained 1 US WIA.
25	1100	Dustoff for 3 WIA's and 1 KIA (2/14) complete at 1040 hrs. VC force broke contact at 1030 hrs. Patrol #5 that was being used as reaction force for patrol #1 from C/2/14 is continuing original mission 1050 hrs.
26	1120	Ref Item 21: A total of 4 WIA's were sustained, 3 were evacuated, 1 was slight and did not require evac. Patrol #1 from C/2/14 relocated to XS745695 at 1100 hrs.
30	1155	At 1115 hrs an Engr attached to 2/14 at Rach Kien accidentally discharged his weapon and seriously injured himself. There were no other casualties and a dustoff has been requested. The incident occurred at the 2/14 chopper pad at Rach Kien. Individual was shot through the leg with a .45 Cal. pistol.
39	1835	3rd Airborne through 4/9: Contact 1 VC platoon engaged with fire at XS715830. VC retreated to north XS714853 into fairly well populated village. Returned fire with 57mm and requested fire team, request was approved.
46	2200	B/2/14 patrol #2 XS744692 heard some movement about its location. Request for illumination fire granted. Neg contact.
47	2205	A/4/9 platoon that was securing bridge at An Loc XS759859 detained a suspect. The National Police claim he is a VC. Holding him there until morning for further interrogation.
49	2310	Ref Item 39: 3rd Airborne reported 6 VC KIA (Poss), found blood trail on the obj area. No friendly casualties.
51	2400	SUMMARY: 1st Bde continues opns 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. No combat opns were conducted during the period except for local B/C security and surveillance opns. 4/9 Inf did not conduct combat ops in observance of New Year truce. 2/14 Inf: Same as above. 3/22 Inf: Same as above. PLANS SUMMARY: 4/9 Inf continues standdown with each company dispatching local security patrols during the day and ambushes during the evening. 2/14 Inf: Same as above. 3/22 Inf: Same as above.

1st Brigade S-1	Casualty Reports, Officer Transfers
1st Brigade S2-S3	Daily Action reported to Brigade HQ (Ben Luc)

ITEM`	TIME	INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.
4	1055	Rec 2 Cas Repts from 2/14 WIA McDOUGAL, Larry SP4 Co C 2/14 NAMAUU, Rodney K. SSG Co A 2/14
7	1505	Rec Cas Rept 1 KIA Co C 2/14 CABRERA, Rodriguez M. SP4
8	1505	Rec Cas Rept 4 WIA Co C 2/14 GRAFF, Ralph M. SSG MORTON, Robert K. SSG PALMENTIERI, John A. PFC JUSINO, Samuel PFC