Daily Staff Journal  11-Aug-69

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

01

0001

LOG OPENED by SP/4 Raymond A Davis, duty RTO

02

0002

Supporting information for todays events:  Bn. CO (LTC Constantine Blastos), Bn. XO (MAJ Robert Chadrue), Bn. S-3 (Maj Dexter Branscomb), Bn. S-1 (Cpt. Anthony Baron), Bn. S-2 (Capt Francis Abreu), Bn S-3 Air (Capt. Earl Yamada), Bn. S-4 (Capt Robert Scheifele), Bn S-5(Capt Gary Roth).  Location of FSB Patton  XT 583194.  Location of PB Hunsley XT 597270:  Points of origin 50-6020 45-7020 51-6030:  Ballgames for today: A Co PZ FSB Patton at 0730.  CA (9 ships) LZ1 554326 following air strikes and arty prep.  Secure LZ for C Co and then conduct recon to 550329 to 554339, move to suitable PZ.  CA following arty prep into LZ4 628300, recon to 623304 to 618202, along stream and out to 607287 for PZ, CA LZ5 643250, recon to 629249 to 626246 to PZ at 624235.  Extract to Patton.  1 platoon occupy Venice East and tower at Bau Dieu.  Sweep Hwy 7A from Patton to Hwy 1 and Trung Lap.  B Co conduct 3 platoon-size APs vic PB Hunsley (597255 to 604248).  C Co PZ Patton at 0745.  CA (9 ships) LZ1 554326, recon to 560339 and establish PZ.  CA LZ? 628300, recon SSW along stream and out to 616279, PZ and CA LZ5 643250, recon to 655250 to 654242 to 650240 and 646244.  PZ and extract to Patton.  Establish 2 NOP (squad) vic FSB Patton.  D Co PZ Hunsley 0800, CA LZ3 5902?6, recon to objective A 586232 to obj B 578238 to joint PZ CA LZ6 566245, recon to 571241 to 572246 to 572257.  PZ extract to Hunsley.  2/49 ARVN 1 company PZ Trung Lap 0815, CA LZ3 (no prep) 588240, recon to 580237 to 574233 to joint PZ 576226.  CA LZ6, recon to 566245 to 568252 to 568259 to 568264, PZ to Trung Lap.  4.2 platoon (-) at Patton, 1 tube at Hunsley.  Radar:  PPS-5 Hunsley, PPS-4 Trung Lap.  CRIP:  Conduct Eagle Eye in JAO HERCULES (0915-1100).

03

0014

Centaur 24 (Night Hawk) on station

04

0100

S/R Neg all stations

05

0110

Heavy duffel bag reading at 632230.  Arty engaged, Night Hawk checking out

06

0200

Centaur 24 departing station, neg S/R on duffel bag site

07

0300

S/R neg all stations

08

0400

S/R neg all stations

09

0415

Centaur 24 on station

10

0500

S/R neg all stations

11

0530

Centaur 24 released

12

0605

13

0628

D Co LPs closed PB Hunsley

14

0635

B Co AP's K, N, I, closing PB Hunsley

15

0638

A Co 3rd platoon departing for road sweep

16

0645

C Co APs closed FSB Patton

17

0654

Crusader 3 C&C on station

18

0720

Centaur 51 reports bad commo, be back in 30 min

19

0725

Bn CO reports troops working in grid 571345.  Cannot tell if friendly.  Check with Bde

20

0730

Lt. Wood reports that they received another Chieu Hoi at an outpost just outside Trung Lap.  Sending 1 PF platoon to pick him up and take him to the main compound

21

0731

A Co 3rd platoon reports that the people in Bau Dieu say that VC shot a person in the village.  Populace says VC still in area.  (Report came from Venice East)

22

0735

Bde says 3rd Bde 1st Division has troops in the area mentioned by Bn CO; also says they are aware of

23

0745

A Co 3rd platoon reports that ARVN's are entering village of Bau Dieu form north and south

24

0754

A Co airborne 9 ships PZ Patton

25

0805

Centaur 51 spot report:  Trail and bunker activity at loc 635228.  Fresh trails of 20 to 30 people east and south.  Some trails lead into a hedgerow and do not reappear on other side

26

0807

A Co 9 ships down green at LZ 555333

27

0810

From Bn CO:  A Co ballgame changed, from LZ 555333 recon to 570335 to 553527, then back to LZ for PZ

28

0816

Centaur 51 released back to Cu Chi due to weather

29

0819

C Co 9 ships airborne from PZ Patton

30

0828

C Co 9 ships down green LZ 555333

31

0840

D Co 9 ships airborne PZ Hunsley

32

0848

D Co 9 ships down green at LZ2 (590236)

33

0849

2/49 ARVN Co, 9 ships airborne PZ Trung Lap

34

0850

From Bn CO:  C Co ballgame change form LZ at 555333 recon to 554330 to 556324, 557326 to 556330, then return to LZ for PZ

35

0855

2/49th ARVN Co down green 9 ships at LZ3 (588240)

36

0856

Passed mission from Bde concerning one slick report to Warrior pad to take 1 POW to someplace to Bn CO

37

0920

D Co at loc 586233 found a booby-trapped 75mm recoilless rifle round with trip wire in brush.  Will destroy

38

0928

Ballgame passed to Bde

39

0930

A Co location 549325; C Co 556324

40

0935

2/49th ARVN Co location 580237

41

0950

Sweep on 7A complete

42

0958

A Co at 549325 has found a foot trail used by approx 20 personnel:  movement is to the south; used very recently

43

1014

A Co reports movement at vic grid 548317.  Will employ arty, then move into the area to check it out

44

1030

A Co location 549323; C Co 556322; D Co 583229; 2/49th ARVN 580237

45

1040

AP's for tonight passed to Bde:  B Co 585285; 586281; 588284;  C Co 592188; 581199

46

1043

C Co at loc 556322 has uncovered some holes they think are tunnel entrances to a tunnel complex.  Checking out

47

1059

Per item #46:  Tunnels are old, neg recent use.  Tunnels were destroyed by air strikes and arty

48

1100

Note:  LTC Gibson, 65th Engineers Bn CO, has arrived at FSB Patton to pay a visit

49

1105

D Co location 578228; A Co 548318.  From Bde:  AMC for 12 Aug 0730 to 1630

50

1145

C Co moving back towards PZ to await arrival of A Co.  A Co still has some areas to check before returning to PZ

51

1154

Water resupply to D Co complete

52

1200

C Co at PZ location setting up security

53

1215

A Co at location 552328 found in a bomb crater one bunker 2x3x2 with 1 ft overhead cover, with 4-5 spider holes around it.  Both very old, neg recent use

54

1220

From Bde:  Break one slick away from AMC upon completion of insertions to go to FSB Pershing, pick up LPW team and drop them off in grid 5221, then rejoin AMC

55

1243

D Co 9 ships airborne from PZ 576226

55

1256

[Clerical error - line number 55 repeated on original page]  D Co 9 ships down green LZ6 566245

56

1300

2/49 ARVN Co 9 ships airborne from PZ 567226

57

1305

2/49 ARVN Co 9 ships down green at LZ6 566245

58

1320

D Co located at Objective 1 (571241)

59

1321

C Co 9 ships airborne from PZ 555333 at 1310 hours

60

1325

D Co at Objective 1 (571241) has found 6 60mm mortar rounds and 30 AK rounds, will destroy

61

1326

C Co 9 ships down green at LZ5 643250

62

1333

A Co 9 ships airborne from PZ 555333

63

1338

D Co at Objective 1 571241 has found approximately 5 lbs of documents

64

1342

A Co 9 ships down green at LZ5 643250

65

1354

AMC has 34 blade hours remaining

66

1410

From Bde:  AO LORD 25th Avn. free-fire zone today until 1800 hours

67

1415

D Co at location 572245 found in heavy brush one Chicom anti-tank mine without any type of detonating device weighing approx. 20 lbs

68

1417

Passed to Bde AMC times for 13 Aug 0730 to 1630 and 14 Aug 1100 to 1700.  LOH request for 17 Aug 0800 to take Bn CO to Bde; 1400 to 1600 VR for Night Hawk Aerial Observer; 1830 to 1930 for Bn CO VR

69

1430

C Co at loc 644234 has found a dud 155mm round, not booby-trapped, old

70

1433

Centaur 51 on station.  Sent ??? to A & C company's area

71

1440

D Co 2nd platoon departed PB Hunsley for security mission at 1430 hours.  400 meters SW from wire found a 500 lb active bomb, requesting EOD team

72

1444

CRIP 3 ships airborne from PZ Trung Lap

73

1450

CRIP 3 ships down green at LZ 580254 to check out ID individual

74

1454

Ref Item #73:  Individual checked out OK

75

1455

CRIP 3 ships airborne from 580254

76

1457

2/49 ARVN company reports 2 VC suspects fleeing to north, too far away to engage.  S-3 will check area with gunships

77

1500

D Co 2nd platoon at location 598267 found an anti-tank mine, 25 lbs, Chicom.  Will not blow as it is too close to the 500 lb bomb

78

1502

A Co location 647243; D Co is at objective 2 (572248).  At this location have one old dud 155mm round not booby-trapped, will blow

79

1503

EOD team ETA 20 min

80

1504

2/49th ARVN company loc at objective 2 (568252)

81

1507

CRIP 3 ships down green at LZ 561262, will check out some farmers

82

1513

Sergeant Major of Army departed Hunsley

83

1514

2/49 ARVN company location 567258

84

1516

CRIP 3 ships airborne from 561262 at 1512

85

1517

CRIP 3 ships down green at LZ 562264

86

1518

CRIP after setting down received AK fire from NE, neg danger or hits.  Put out suppressive fire.  Will bring in gunship

87

1530

Menehune 6 on station with EOD

88

1531

Ref item #86:  Negative results, going back to PZ

89

1538

CRIP 3 ships airborne from 562264

90

1541

Centaur 51 departing station for 1/5th Mech

91

1548

A Co ready to PZ at 637233, set up on 330 degree azimuth, stagger trail left

92

1555

CRIP 3 ships down green at Trung Lap at 1445

93

1606

C Co ready to PZ at 641241, set up NE to SW stagger trail left

94

1607

2/49 ARVN company 9 ships airborne from PZ 568264

95

1611

2/49 ARVN company 9 ships down green at Trung Lap

96

1618

C Co 9 ships airborne from PZ 641241

97

1621

C Co 9 ships down green LZ Patton

98

1622

Menehune 6 going back to Cu Chi with EOD team

99

1625

A Co 9 ships airborne from PZ 637238

100

1629

A Co 9 ships down green at Patton

101

1633

D Co 9 ships airborne from PZ 637233

102

1638

D Co 9 ships down green LZ Hunsley

103

1639

AMC released

104

1642

B Co new AP sites AP-K 597258, AP-N 599252, AP-Z 597255

105

1647

Requested urgent litter dustoff for one US and one VN child.  Do not know circumstances of casualties at this time
[Cpl Bernard Lee Holzknecht, Charlie Company was killed in this incident]

106

1651

D Co 2nd platoon closed PB Hunsley

107

1654

Dustoff 154 on station

108

1657

Bn CO wants a CID agent sent out here ASAP

109

1658

Menehune 2 on station for S-2/Arty VR

110

1700

Dustoff complete

111

1710

From Bde:  Night Hawk tonight normal requirements.  Briefing 2130

112

1736

Menehune 6 on station with CID team

113

1737

Received following AP sites from 2/12th Inf:  553238; and from 1/5th Mech 562169

114

1744

Received following AO request from 2/12th:  575250 to 575225 then back to AO COMANCHE

115

1809

Ref item #114:  Approved by S-3

116

1815

Received 2/49th ARVN APs;  587214, 588220, 586208, 595220, 601208, 597214, 583202, 590202, 599202

117

1825

Passed to Bde ARVN APs

118

1840

Ballgame for tomorrow passed to CRIP (will send a copy to Lt. Wood) and to Hunsley

119

1841

From Hunsley:  D Co will have 2 LP's, one at 90 degrees 50 to 100 meters, and 270 degrees 50 to 100 meters

120

1843

Menehune 3 on station to pick up script exchanges at Hunsley

121

1912

Menehune 3 on station to pick up CID men at Patton

122

1940

C Co NCP and NCP2 have departed

123

2010

C Co NCP1 in position 260 degrees 350 meters from original site - location 591187

124

2030

Received from A Co tower at Bau Dieu, taking AK rounds from village.  At Venice East spotted gooks in village, duffel bag reading of 577187, Night Hawk check on area, 81 cranking up

125

2030

Little Bear 86 on station (Night Hawk light ship)

126

2035

A Co spotted 8 gooks at 573180, appears they have weapons

127

2050

81mm illuminating area

128

2055

Venice East spots one gook running into hootch at 572174

129

2100

B Co AP departing Hunsley

130

2110

D Co LP has departed Hunsley

131

2113

A Co spots movement at 571176, edge of village West of 7A

132

2120

Radar sighting 595253 4-5 people

133

2122

Duffel bag light to median 573177

134

2128

Night Hawk departing station due to weather, will return when storm over

135

2135

C Co AP's touchdown 1) 260 degrees 350 meters, 2) 190 degrees SW of primary at 581197

136

2140

Bunker #19 spots one gook in tree at 280 degrees 250 meters, Venice East spots same gook at 15 degrees 1100 meters.  Engage with M-79 from bunker #19

137

2150

S/R from bunker #19, fired 10 rounds, visibility neg due to weather, will keep area under surveillance

138

2151

Call from A Co:  OP1 tower at Bau Dieu is swaying heavily.  Bn S-3 advises get off until weather clears

139

2210

B Co AP in position

140

2215

(Late)  Received from Bde:  Air strikes for tomorrow at 0715 and 0730, LZ prep

141

2225

(Late) From Bde S-2 Chieu Hoi says Med. supply cache and ammo cache at 618212.  Tomorrow ball game will cover this area

142

2255

Change in tomorrow's ballgame passed to Bde, LNO, D Co

143

2300

S/R neg all stations

144

2310

Little Bear 86 on station

145

2345

Duffel bag:  Channel 16, tone code 09, C2 1127.  H to Med, advise Venice East (576184)

146

2350

Passed to 4.2 at Hunsley to fire minimum of 30 rounds CS per night

147

2350

C Co reports neg contact at NCP1

148

2355

C Co contact with NCP1 again S/R neg

149

2400

S/R neg all stations

150

Summary:  A Co 549325 trail with recent activity; 552328 one bunker 2x3x2 with 1 ft overhead cover, old.  B Co secure Hunsley.  C Co 556322, few tunnels, old.  644234 found dud 155mm round, blew it.  D Co 586233 found booby-trapped 75mm recoilless round, blew it.  571241 found 6 60mm rounds, 30 AK rounds, destroyed them.  572245 one 20 lb Chicom anti-tank mine, 400 meters SW of Hunsley one 500lb bomb, 25lb Chicom anti-tank mine.  EOD team was called and blew them.  572248 found 155mm round.  CRIP at 562264 received AK fire, returned fire with neg results.  At FSB Patton at 1647 one US (C Co) and one VN child injured by shots from US personnel (intentional?).  CID and dustoff requested.  CID investigated, results unknown.