Daily Staff Journal  6-Sep-69

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

01

0001

LOG OPENED
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:
A Co OpCon 1/5th (Mech)
   B Co (-) 4 and 5 ship lift 0715 PZ FSB Patton 4 ships CA LZ-1 606192 5 ships CA LZ-2 599194, search area in 600195, 602195, 603193, 605192, 605191, 600192.  Recon to 594195, 591193, split one group to 587198, 595195.  4 ships 589191 rejoin first group 595195, return to FSB.  One platoon occupy tower at Bau Dieu and Venice East.  Conduct road sweep on 7A to FSB to Highway 1 and FSB to Trung Lap at 0630.
   C Co (-) depart PB Hunsley 0800 on parallel axes; one unit recon to obj-1 592262, obj-3 595255, obj-5 598250, obj-7 598245, obj-9 598239, to PZ 594237 at 1400.  Other unit recon to obj-2 594263, obj-4 598256, to obj-6 601251, obj-8 602245, obj-10 602239 to PZ 594237, 1400 return to PB.  Conduct 360 degree RIF, 200-600 meters from PB.
   D Co (-) provide one platoon to 2 Co 2/49 ARVN for combined RIF.  Care & maintenance and improvement of NDP.  Conduct joint AP's iwth 1 Co 2/49 ARVN
   2 Co 2/49 ARVN one platoon for Co D and one platoon 2 Co depart NDP to LD 614230 at 0600.  Recon to obj-A 617240, obj-B 625240, obj-C 625234, return to NDP.  Upon return of 1 Co 2/49 and HQ company 2/49 at NDP depart to LD 609229 to obj-6 604234, obj-7 598238, obj-8 597227 return to Trung Lap
   1 Co and HQ Co 2/49 ARVN depart Trung Lap at 0500 hours to LD 595220 to obj-1 601222, obj-2 606215, obj-3 613218, obj-4 626216, obj-5 623225, move to NDP.  1 Co 2/49 ARVN remains in NDP.  HQ company 2/49 ARVN departs to Trung Lap with 2 Company, 1 Co 2/49 ARVN conducts joint AP's with Co Dl
   CRIP:  3 ship DZ for Trung Lap 0735 for Eagle Operation
   4.2 Mortar:  Platoon (-) FSB Patton, 1 tube PB Hunsley, 1 tube Trung Lap
   Radar:  PPS-5 PB Hunsley, PPS-4 Venice East

02

0001

S/R neg all stations

03

0045

S/R neg

04

0145

S/R neg

05

0245

S/R neg

06

0345

S/R neg

07

0445

S/R neg

08

0545

S/R neg

09

0549

Informed C Co of change in ballgame

10

0645

AP D Co (US control) sweeping through area of contact found 200 rounds AK, 1 cooking pot, 3 VC ponchos, 2 hammocks, 1 book and a few papers (1/4 lbs documents), one more body count.  AP closed

11

0700

B Co road sweep departs Patton

12

0702

13

0703

D Co 3rd departing night laager site for ballgame with 2/49 ARVN

14

0710

AP D Co (ARVN control) closed

15

0717

Menehune 1 on station

16

0726

2/49 ARVN (1st Co) LD 614230

17

0728

Menehune 1 departing station

18

0729

B Co 9 ship lift airborne FSB Patton

19

0730

From Bde:  Release AMC immediately.  Will have air later on

20

0734

A Co (-) will return to 2/14 between 1100-13--

21

0735

B Co 5 and 4 ship lifts down green LZ-2 599194 and LZ-1 606192, AMC released

22

0739

D Co 3rd platoon with ARVN at obj-A 617240

23

0740

25th Aviation free-fire zone 6230, 6430, 6428, 6228 DTG - effective immediately to 061800

24

0742

Road to Trung Lap clear

25

0745

Locations:  B Co vic LZ-1 & 2, D Co 3rd platoon obj-A 617240, 1st Company 2/49 on obj-1 & 2 601222 & 606215

26

0800

C Co departed on ballgame

27

0801

From Bde:  Request clearance for air strike at 642298 & 620298 DTG effective immediately to 061900

28

0805

Ref item #27 approved 2/49 and 2/14th

29

0808

From Bde:  AMC 06 Sep 1000-1200 and 1630-1730.  C&C on station 0930.  25 blade hours

30

0835

Centaur 50 on station

31

0843

Road clear from Highway 1 to Trung Lap

32

0845

Locations:  B Co located 601191, C Co 592262, D Co 3rd platoon with 2/49 ARVN 625233, 2/49 ARVN 1st company 611217

33

0909

Spot Report:  Centaur 15 Line A) Centaur 51, B) trail activity, C) XT576242, D) old village heavy oxcart traffic.  2 booby-trap signs.  At 585243 single hootch with eligible male

33

0915

[Line 33 appears twice on original page] D Co 3rd platoon closed night laager site

34

0919

Issue 25 on station requested clearance for grid 642298 for air strike.  Grid cleared, ref item #28

35

0923

Crusader 34 C&C on station

36

0930

Spot Report: Centaur 51:  A) Centaur 15, B) thin wire, C) 619181, D) trail to west where possible body was dragged.  150 meters north of thin wire 20 ft long, possibly booby-trap, also 20 meters away 30 ft thin wire, possible booby-trap

37

0935

From Bde:  AMC laid on for 1000-1400, not confirmed

38

0935

C Co vic 592261 has in custody an old woman, request slick to transport her to Trung Lap

39

0945

C Co location 592261 will blow hootch

40

0955

B Co found old rusty 155mm dud vic 602192, neg markings, blew at 0945

41

1000

From Bde:  Sniffer reports linear-type holding points at 640268, 660242 and XT637218, 645210.  Centaur 51 told to check it out when he gets his radio fixed

42

1006

CRIP airborne from Trung Lap (3 ships)

43

1009

CRIP down green 586253

44

1020

ARVNs at obj 3,4,5 613217, 625215, 612224

45

1022

CRIP airborne 3 ships 586213

46

1025

AO Request form 2/12 DTG 070200-071800 grid 560257, 570257, 570225

47

1026

Issue 26 requests clearance for grid 642215.  Approved

48

1027

CRIP down green 597236

49

1030

CRIP vic 597236 has detainee (woman) with 3500 ?VN (maybe money?)

50

1039

CRIP airborne LZ 597236

51

1045

CRIP down green 577276

52

1050

1st Company 2/49 ARVN round typewriter unserviceable, 1/4 lb documents, among them tax records that were captured from Trung Lap May 69 in tunnel vic 613221

53

1052

CRIP airborne 577276

54

1054

CRIP down green 583276

55

1055

B Co found one 155mm round, neg booby-trap, neg lot number, will blow 594195

56

1100

Location B Co 594195, C Co 592261

57

1101

Centaur 51 on station

58

1103

CRIP airborne 583276

59

1108

CRIP down green 581263

60

1118

C Co located vic 596257

61

1121

Locations:  B Co 1st platoon with CP 587198, 3rd platoon 591193, C Co 596257

62

1143

CRIP position 581263

63

1147

CRIP down green 581263

64

1150

Spot Report form Centaur 51:  Line A) Centaur 15, B) Bunker and recent trail activity, C) 645213 found 2 tunnels, destroyed one and one bunker destroyed.  Also trail activity, D) 651258 found trail to SE, signs of 4-5 personnel using it within last 4 hours

65

1152

CRIP airborne 581263

66

1154

CRIP down green Trung Lap

67

1155

AMC released with 54 blade hours

68

1200

B Co closed Patton

69

1215

C Co ballgame changed, will recon back to Hunsley.  CRIP will Eagle Eye 1630-1730

70

1223

2/49 ARVN will have 2 companies available for ballgame 07 Sep

71

1245

C Co location 597250 will blow one more hootch

72

1307

Ref item #46 approved

73

1308

Menehune 5 on station (PsyOps)

74

1311

A Co (-) departing 1/5th (Mech) FSB Devins enroute to FSB Patton

75

1312

A Co (-) enters 2/14th net

76

1314

(Late) 1215 AMC confirmed by Bde 011000-071400

77

1318

1st ARVN Company closed night laager site, 2nd ARVN Co departed night laager site for ballgame and return to Trung Lap

78

1330

A Co closed

79

1340

B-52 over-fly Brigade AO 090700-090900.  Visit Patton and observe 155mm fire mission, PB Hunsley, observe killer junior, 4.2 mortar & 81mm fire mission

80

1345

C Co will blow 4 hootches grid 598249

81

1350

1/5th (Mech) requested permission to conduct Eagle Eye south of grid 21 from 1430 to 1600, approved

82

1305

Bde request grid clearance for 652283 for air strike at 1445:  approved

83

1421

2nd Company 2/49 ARVN obj-7 598237

84

1451

From Bde:  Request air strike grid clearance 626302?:  approved

85

1452

C Co 3rd platoon closed Hunsley

86

1510

C Co 1st platoon closed Hunsley

87

1535

From Bde S-3:  Target hootches were not all destroyed by C Co

88

1548

2nd Co 2/49 loc obj-7 548238

89

1607

C Co 2nd platoon depart for ballgame

90

1612

Crusader 3A on station (C&C)

91

1628

Due to bad weather Eagle Eye operation cancelled, releasing AMC

92

1645

2nd Co 2/49 ARVN closed Trung Lap at 1620 hours

93

1646

C Co 2nd platoon vic 597273 found one 155mm round with fuse, will destroy

94

1706

C Co 2nd platoon vic 592268 found one 4.2 with fuse, 1 M-79 round, one RPG-7 round, will blow, neg booby-trap

95

1720

Night Hawk mission 1900 briefing time.  7 blade hours, 2200 to 2400.  0100 to 0300, 0430 to 0600

96

1723

1st Div Troop spt request 1800-070600 grid 6131 north 1000 meters west side of river 4751:  approved

97

1730

2nd platoon Co C found one 82mm round booby-trapped with trip wire, also smoke grenade detonator, loc 598269, will blow (old)

98

1755

C Co CO wants following individuals on first available ship in morning:  2, 19, 24, 143, 102 & 42.  96

99

1800

Individual bitten by rat last night (Co D) sent to Cu Chi by Menehune 3 for rabies shots (James Bell)

100

1820

AP's for 2/49:  585218, 598210, 586212, 595219, 595207, 588200, 594200, 598203

101

1822

C Co 360 degree RIF closed Hunsley

102

1826

Centaur 48 on station (Hunter-Killer team)

103

1832

Centaur 48 depart

104

1840

Menehune 5 in and out, Doc (Omlay?) to Trung Lap, will go to Trung Lap location

105

1834

D Co AP kills officer

106

1845

B Co AP depart Patton

107

1845

Conference message 09-017C, subject:  Red Haze Mission

108

1852

D Co reports anti-intrusion device reports activity AZ between 65 degrees and 110 degrees, 100-300 meters from the wire.  Firing M-79, 81mm mortars, 105mm (Cu Chi)

109

1907

Negative itinerary for B-52 visit

110

1923

D Co night laager ?????, radar has movement at 110 degrees, 200 meters moving away from position

111

1930

D Co AP Papa Romeo 250 meters SE of original position 610224

112

1940

AO request from 2/49 5819, 605220, 585245, 565245, 550213.  Passed to 2/12th

113

1941

AP Papa 100 meters east of preplanned site

114

2005

D Co reports sensing devices have activity 110 degrees and 200 meters - closing

115

2008

Centaur 00 on station sent to D Co night laager

116

2010

B Co reports AP kicked off 25 minutes ago

117

2133

D Co reports no further use for Centaur 00, sent to Hunsley to check out Sa Nho (2)

118

2135

Radar 581265 from Hunsley, 3 personnel west to east, engaging with 155mm

119

2139

Little Bear 129 inbound with passengers.  Inbound Cu Chi 2146

120

2152

Hunsley radar 591251 shows 4-6 individuals, engaged with 30 155mm rounds from FSB Patton

121

2228

Called 2/12 AO (ARVN) cancelled

122

2228

Centaur 50 on station

123

2300

Radar picked up 5-6 individuals moving east at 624205

124

2345

S/R negative

125

2359

Centaur 50 departs station

126

2359

S/R negative all stations

127

2359

LOG CLOSED:

Summary:  Road sweep conducted without findings.  D Co AP swept area of contact (Sep 05), found one more body count (total 2) and 200 rounds AK ammo and assorted other material.  B Co on it's operation found one dud 155mm round and blew in place (594195).  C Co at 592261 took one detainee into custody and destroyed one hootch.  Destroyed nine more hootches during the day's operations.  C Co 2nd platoon during 360 RIF of Hunsley found and destroyed a booby-trap 82mm round and one 155mm dud.  D Co night laager picked up activity on sensing devices, fired 81mm and M-79.  Area checked by Night Hawk.  There were various radar sightings during the night.  All were fired on by arty, in most cases a 5-point 155mm range and swap, and all were checked out by Night Hawk

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

01

0001

LOG OPENED Robert C. Millet, Duty RTO

02

0100

All Co's S/N (situation normal)

03

0200

All Co's S/N

04

0300

All Co's S/N

05

0400

All Co's S/N

06

0500

All Co's S/N

07

0600

All Co's S/N

08

0757

C Co departing

09

1457

C Co closing

10

2133

Radar pickup 581265 3-4 individuals east to west, fired 30 HE (high explosive) arty

11

2155

Radar pickup 591251 4-6 individuals, fired 28 HE arty

12

2200

13

2300

All Co's S/N

14

2400

All Co's S/N

LOG CLOSED by PFC Millet, Duty RTO