Daily Staff Journal  4-Sep-69

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

01

0001

LOG OPENED

02

001

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 Scheiffe), Bn. S-5 (Capt Gary Roth), Acting S-2 while S-2 is on R&R (Lt. David Wood).  Location of FSB Patton XT583194, Locatiion of PB Hunsley XT596270, Location of Venice East XT577183, Location of Bau Dieu Tower XT571172, Location of Co D Night Defensive Position XT615225.

Ballgame:  Co A OpCon to 1/5th (Mech)
   B Co (-) PZ FSB Patton at 0730 (5 & 4 ships lift).  5 ships CA LZ 598193, recon to obj-1 604193 to PZ 606195.  4 ships CA LZ-2 611189, recon to obj-2 606191 to PZ 606195.  4 ships 0845 hours CA PZ-3 557202, reocn to obj-1 560203 to obj-2 562207 to obj-3 564211 to obj-4 568208 to obj-5 570206 to obj-6 572200 to obj-7 576198, return to FSB Patton.  5 ships 0845 hours CA LZ-4 568220, recon to obj-A 568216 to obj-B 566214 to obj-C 570213 to obj-D 573209 to obj-E 578205 to obj-F 579199, return to FSB Patton.
   C Co (-) 0700 depart PB Hunsley, recon toward obj-1 586270 to obj-2 577268 to obj-3 574273 to obj-4 575276 to obj-5 567277 to obj-6 563274 to obj-7 561269 to obj-8 561265 to PZ 561263 at 1200 hours.  One platoon conduct 360 degree RIF for 200 to 600 meters from PB Hunsley.
   Co D (-) one platoon Company D and one platoon 2 Co 2/49th ARVN depart Night Defensive Position 0830 hours, recon toward obj-1 611216 to obj-2 607210 to obj-3 612206 to obj-4 612203 to obj-5 622213, return to Night Defensive Position.
   2 Co 2/49 ARVN (-) depart Night Defensive Position 0830 hours, one platoon Co D, one platoon ARVNs for blocking positions at 625225 to 628216
   2/49 ARVN (-) depart 0700 from Trung Lap to obj-1 598229, one company recon to obj-2 600237 to obj-4 613241 to obj-5 627243 to obj-7 633233 to obj-8 644233, return to obj-7.  Return to Trung Lap along 7A.  3 Co depart for obj-1 598229 to obj-3 607234 to obj-4 613241 to obj-6 625235 to obj-7 633233, rejoin rest of 2/49, return to Trung Lap along 7A
   CRIP:  VCI at 594214 from 0800-1000 and 1600-1800 hours
   4.2 Mortar Platoon:  Platoon (-) FSB Patton, 1 tube PB Hunsley, 1 tube Trung Lap
   Radar:  PPS-5 PB Hunsley, PPS-4 Venice East: Foliage penetration radar
   Training:  Co B, C, D 1500-1600 Character Guidance;  4.2 1400-1500 Care and Cleaning of Mortars;  Radar, Search and Monitor Techniques

03

0100

S/R negative

04

0130

NH Centaur 62 on station

05

0200

S/R negative

06

0233

NH Centaur 62 reported what appears as a campfire, checked, saw individuals run at XT643303.  Requested clearance to fire arty

07

0255

Ref item #6 Clearance obtained, will fire 155mm 5 point swept

08

0300

S/R negative

09

0305

Centaur 62 departing station

10

0350

Message from Bde:  Info from reliable source of a possible attack at Tay Ninh, this morning or tomorrow morning during hours of 0400-0500.  Possibility exists that our area would be included in the same attack.  Alert all FSB, NDP and PB.  Called Hunsley, D Co, could not contact CRIP, called Bau Dieu

11

0400

S/R negative

12

0500

13

0515

Centaur 62 on station

14

0555

AP SR break down

15

0600

S/R negative

16

0605

AP S break down

17

0615

Centaur 62 departed station

18

0625

D Co AP (ARVN control) closed

19

0628

D Co AP (US control) closed

20

0650

Crusader 3 (C&C) on station

21

0654

C Co departs on ballgame

22

0715

C Co vic 591270 found 155mm booby-trap with pressure-type detonator, neg lot number, will destroy.  Old, rusty, buried

23

0716

PsyOps mission for 0730 postponed until 0800 hours

24

0736

B Co 5 ship lift airborne

25

0737

B Co 4 ship lift airborne

26

0741

B Co down green 5 ships (598193), 4 ships (611189)

27

0745

From S-3 Air Bde:  Has open time on AMC 04 Sep from 1200-1500, 2/14th accepted AMC

28

0800

C Co located at (didn't include location on original page)

29

0806

(Late) Road sweep 7A departed (0635), road open to Trung Lap

30

0815

Request routine dustoff for civilian, arm, leg, foot injured last night.  Change to urgent

31

0816

25th Aviation free-fire zone effective immediately - 1800 grid 6230-6228-6428-6430

32

0823

B Co vic 600192 found one US-type claymore, neg booby-trap, neg wire, cap or detonator

33

0827

Request by SA 2/49 to evacuate 3 KIA (ARVN) at 598227.  Detonated 105mm round booby-trapped

34

0843

Dustoff of civilian complete

35

0846

Road clear to Highway 1

36

0848

C Co 1st platoon 578270, 2nd platoon 574270

37

0850

Menehune 1 on station (PsyOps mission)

38

0855

B Co 9 ship lift airborne

39

0900

B Co down green LZ 3 & 4

40

0901

C Co found 1 dud 105mm round at 555273, will blow

41

0903

AMC released with 70 blade hours

42

0910

D Co night laager site reports AK fire from 600-700 meters out at 2100 mils.  Request LST

43

0915

D Co (-) departed on ballgame, D Co 3rd platoon departed on ballgame with ARVNs

44

0935

D Co reports fire, came from 266 degrees azimuth

45

0943

Checked with SA 2/49 ARVN on possibility whether fire received by night laager site was friendly.  SA 2/49 stated it was a good possibility since the ARVNs were reconning by fire at that time although direction was not certain

46

1000

Locations:  B Co obj-1 & B (560203 & 566214), C Co 1st platoon 571276 & 2nd platoon 575277.  2/49 ARVN obj-2 & 3 (600237 & 607234).  D Co (-) obj-1 (611216)

47

1020

Intel report:  From 1st Div. thru Bde, Evaluation of C-3 one battalion QTR located in the vicinity of 610247, strength 275 men

48

1021

Chieu Hoi from 3rd Bn 268 reported into Pershing, stated that his platoon was in location 570255 last night.  Could possibly still be there.  Will insert C Co in area at 1200

49

1050

B Co at obj-C found one US M-26 hand grenade booby-trapped - pressure-type

50

1055

B Co 1st platoon vic obj-4

51

1100

D Co obj-2 607210, sub element in blocking position, 2/49 vic 607239 & 610236, C Co 566276

52

1102

Issue 21 on station

53

1116

(Late) Dustoff requested for one Vietnamese female, routine

54

1125

Dustoff for VN female complete

55

1155

D Co lead element (ARVN) spotted 3 individuals running to the SW, LST requested

56

1208

B Co closed

57

1218

2/49 located at obj-5 & 6 (628242 & 625235)

58

1221

2/49 checked out suspected location of battalion QTR (601247), no evidence of unit or anyone being in the area for at least two weeks or more

59

1230

Ref item #48 - Chieu Hoi indicates 35 men of VC LST Co 3/268, four days ago located at 574252 now located 568253-569258.  35 men killed by arty four days ago vic 574252

60

1235

Cancelled LST

61

1241

B Co 9 ship lift airborne 563264

62

1242

Locations:  C Co 559270, D Co 612202, 2/49 633232

63

1245

Change in 2/49 ballgame:  Obj-8 at 640240, obj-8 now obj-9

64

1249

D Co (Night Laager site), ARVNs captured a Captain of the 8th VC battalion 500 meters south of night laager site at 615220

65

1251

B Co down green

66

1252

LST requested to cap B Co

67

1305

D Co receiving some stray fire.  Informed it could possibly be ARVNs reacting to POW.  POW is leading an element of ARVNs to possible cache site

68

1325

LST ETA 10 min for B Co

69

1335

Centaur 50 on station on C Co frequency

70

1345

Locations:  C Co 571225, D Co 621213, 2/49 633232

71

1355

Bde Commander wants IPW team at night laager site

72

1445

IPW team at night laager site

73

1429

D Co closed, also 3rd platoon

74

1440

(Late) C Co vic 569258 found two 82mm mortar rounds booby-trapped, neither hooked up, one with trip wire, both with smoke grenade fuses (1416)

75

1505

C Co 3rd platoon started 360 degree security sweep at Hunsley

76

1506

(Late) Centaur 50 has spotted a hootch with an NVA claymore mine.  Area around hootch is booby-trapped.  Centaur will engage target vic 566256 (1441)

77

1507

(Late) 1450 Menehune 3 enroute to C Co with source & IPW team.  Menehune 1 released

78

1515

C Co in general location of where Chieu Hoi said his unit was.  Area destroyed by bombs.  Found 2 NVA helmets, 2 AP mines, homemade (will blow).  Chieu Hoi said they are in the location of his headquarters

79

1520

(Late) Centaur 50 departed station (1510)

80

1530

(Late) 1350  2/49 vic 637235 found one tunnel, one bolt action Russian rifle, 300 rounds AK ammo, AK-54 pistol, small amount of documents by captured Captain.  Request chopper to pick up Captain (VC) and Chieu Hoi

81

1531

C Co 3rd platoon closed Hunsley

82

1600

C Co located 567256

83

1615

APs from Cu Chi Subsector - 555173, 565169, 569167

84

1620

2/49 ARVN closed Trung Lap

85

1626

AO request submitted to 2/12th; AO VENUS DTG 051100-051600 grid boundary JAO HERCULES, west along 28 grid - 5528 - 5525, then east to JAO HERCULES

86

1633

Ref item #85, disapproved

87

Night Hawk mission briefing 1930 hours, 1st mission 2000-2200, 2nd mission 2200-0100; 3rd mission 0300-0500

88

1641

Crusader 3 (C&C) on station

89

1657

AO request from 2/12:  DTG 050600-051800 grid 576280, 582278, 585269, 583266, 589246, 568249 to AO boundary

90

1707

C Co 9 ship lift airborne 565255

91

1710

C Co down green PB Hunsley, AMC released; one slick broken away with IPW team and source to Cu Chi

92

1740

Request 1st Div 041800-050600 XT6131 north, 1000 meters, west side of river to XT4751

91

1745

[Line numbers 92 & 93 repeated on original page]  AO request for 2/12 approved by Maj. Branscomb?

92

1806

Menehune 3 on station

93

1828

Centaur 51 on station

94

1844

D Co & 2/49 ARVN AP's departed Night Defensive Position

95

1855

Centaur 51 departed station

96

1909

Menehune 3 departed station

97

1912

Radar at Patton spotted 3-4 individuals moving SW at 59882511.  80 rounds FSB Devin arty

98

1918

D Co AP Papa Romeo spotted 3-5 VC at 604233, engaged with 81mm mortar.  AP Papa 607227 not yet in position, spotted 3 VC moving out of Trung Lap, setting up hasty ambush

99

1931

AP Papa Romeo lost sight of VC, AP Papa is now engaging with 81mm mortar at grid 601222

100

1933

Bau Dieu tower reports spotting 3-4 individuals 200 meters NE from tower, east side of road.  Snipers will fire on them (did not fire), lost sight, will fire illumination

101

1955

Duffel bag picked up 57651852

102

2017

AP Papa 100 meters south of AP site spotted 2 VC at their site, calling 81mm

103

2033

Hunsley reports radar pickup at 573265 2-3 individuals, will engage with arty.  30 HE from FSB Devin

104

2047

ARVNs will fire on grid 6220.  Intel from POW captured today says most of his company is in this grid

105

2050

Duffel bag at 573180, medium activity, notified Bau Dieu and Venice East

106

2105

Duffel Bag pickup at 626223 medium, arty is firing on it, passed on to Night Laager

107

2123

AP touchdown, Papa in preplanned location (607227), Papa Romeo 100 meters east of preplanned site (611231)

108

2125

Received confidential message 09-010C, Subject: Increased Awareness

109

2135

Radar from Hunsley reports 3-5 individuals at 573265 (same grid and distance of movement as earlier), SE to NW.  Fired 30 rounds HE 105mm from Devin

110

2145

S/R negative

111

2202

Bde reports air times have changed, 0900-1100 and 1400-1500

112

2205

(Late) At 2100 hours AO request from 2/12 passed to Lt. Harrison.  AO boundary to 5928 to 5924 to AO boundary DTG 050800 to 051800

113

2215

Have battalion commander airborne, sent to check AO.  Lt. Harrison stated cannot guarantee his presence, but have advised him

114

2258

Radar pickup grid 590255 at Hunsley, moving south to north, fired 30 HE 105mm (FSB Pershing)

115

2315

Little Bear 070 on station

116

2330

Change to ballgame submitted to Bde, 2/49

117

2359

S/R Neg all stations

SUMMARY:  B Co found 1 US claymore, neg booby-trap, wire, cap or detonator.  Also found one M-26 booby-trap pressure-type on the operation.  C Co found and destroyed a 155mm booby-trap pressure-type, one dud 105mm round, two 82mm mortar rounds, booby-trapped.  C Co swept area indicated by a Hoi Chanh, found 2 NVA helmets and 2 anti-personnel handmade mines.  First Co 2/49 had 3 KIAs from booby-trapped 105mm round at 598227.  The second company captured a Captain of the 8th VC battalion 500 meters south of D Co night laager.  The POW led them to a tunnel at 637235 where 300 rounds AK ammo, AK-54 pistol and some documents were found.  A Hoi Chanh turned up at FSB Pershing reporting arty killed 35 men in his company 4 days ago at 574252.  Both of the joint APs of D Co & 2/49th ARVN spotted movement on way to AP sites.  Targets were engaged by 81mm mortars.  Results unknown.  There were numerous radar and duffel bag pickups during the night.  All were fired on by arty except for those close to Bau Dieu and Venice East.  In these cases the two locations were reconned by fire.  All sightings and radar pickups were checked out by Night Hawk when he came on station