Daily Staff Journal  8-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 (-) 0900 hours truck platoon to LD 573176, recon to obj-A 577169, obj-B 586169, obj-C 595171, obj-D 586174, obj-E 580192, return to FSB.  One platoon depart 1100 hours form FSB recon to obj-F 587183, to obj-G 595183, to obj-H ???188, to obj-I 586196, return to FSB Patton.
   B Co (-) 0800 hours one platoon depart FSB, recon to obj-1 596187, obj-2 601388?, to obj-3 602197, to obj-4 595195, to obj-5 589201, return to FSB.  1300 hours one platoon truck to LD 579176, recon to obj-6 576164, to obj-7 ??????, to obj-8 592174, to obj-9 584180, to obj-10 588190, return to FSB.  One platoon occupy Venice East, tower at Bau Dieu and FSB, conduct sweep from FSB to Highway 1 and FSB to Trung Lap on 7A at 0630.
   C Co (-) 1700 hours (5 & 4 ship lifts) conduct snatch mission (5 ships) CA LZ-1 596249 (4 ships) CA LZ-2 597247.  Snatch area from 598250, 602250, 598246, 602247.  9 ships PZ 596249.
   D Co (-) 0900 hours one platoon Co D and 1 platoon 1 Co 2/49 ARVN depart NDP recon to obj-10 610234, to obj-11 599234, to obj-12 599227, to obj-13 605229, to obj-14 608224, return to NDP conduct joint AP's with 1 Co 2/49 ARVN.
   1 Co 2/49 ARVN 0900 1 platoon and 1 platoon D Co depart from NDP to obj-J 613217, to obj-K 618218, to obj-L 623213, to obj-M 625215, to obj-N 623223, return to NDP.  Conduct joint AP with Co D.
   CRIP conduct VCI activities at 575175 0800 to 1100 and 1500 to 1800.
   4.2 Platoon (-) FSB Patton, 1 tube Trung Lap, 1 tube PB Hunsley.
   Radar PPS-5 PB Hunsley, PPS-4 Venice East

02

0001

S/R neg

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

0630

Weather report:  generally cloudy, low clouds, becoming cloudy with rain, good visibility, winds 5-10 knots, thunder showers early this evening.

10

0645

Road sweep departed

11

0700

Received secret message from Bde, subject: [Can't decipher the text]

12

0710

13

0716

25th Aviation free-fire zone AO LORD 0700 to 1800

14

0719

From Menehune 3:  Highway 1 to 7A to Patton clear of mounds of dirt and brush

15

0729

Road clear form Patton to Trung Lap

16

0808

Centaur 46 on station - check out radar sighting 59952455

17

0815

Road clear form Highway 1 to Trung Lap

18

0816

B Co 1st platoon departed obj-J

19

0835

B Co 1st platoon loc 597187, sitrep negative

20

0840

Spot report:  Centaur 46 Line A) Centaur 16, B) oxcart trails 599245, C) 599245, D) oxcart trails appear to be from last night

21

0845

Spot report:  Centaur 46:  A) Centaur 16, B) recent trail activity, C) 622222, D) trail activity NE-SW within past 6 hours by 4-6 individuals, trail runs SW-NE into a hedgerow

22

0852

From Bde:  Will have 1 Crusader slick from 1030-1930 hours, 6 blade hours, not to be used for resupply, shuttle, snatch or Eagle Eye missions.  Suspected individuals will be engaged by door gunner only.

23

0855

Spot report:  Centaur 46:  A) Centaur 16, B) 60mm tube without base plate, C)623235, D) tube is by itself in either bomb or arty crater 35 meters to south, spotted some OD clothing.  D Co to react

24

0556

2/49 ARVN requests 1 urgent  litter dustoff, loc 572200.  One booby-trap hand grenade with trip wire

25

0912

B Co 1st platoon obj-2 601188

26

0917

C Co departed for ballgame

27

0920

2/49 located obj-B 571201, dustoff complete

28

0950

D Co 1st platoon obj-J 613217

29

0950

A Co 1st platoon departing Patton

30

0954

D Co 2nd platoon departing night laager

31

0956

Centaur 40 on station to work with D Co to find 60mm mortar

32

0958

2/49 obj-C 556198

36

1006

[Lines 33,34,35 missing in original document]  Centaur 49 released due to bad weather over target area

37

1018

C Co vic 602274 found one firecracker, two 20mm rounds, one 2.75 rocket, neg booby-trap, will blow

38

1022

Crusader 033 on station for aerial recon

39

1027

B Co 1st platoon vic 595196, neg sitrep

38

1035

[Original page has repeated lines 38 and 39]  Co A 1st platoon obj-A 577169

39

1034

Co B recon unit airborne FSB Patton

40

1043

B Co ??? closed

41

1053

Locations:  A Co 1st platoon 577169, C Co 2nd platoon 601277, D Co 1st platoon 618218, D Co 2nd platoon vic 621230

42

1100

(Late) Change in C Co ballgame 0840:  0900 one platoon depart Hunsley, recon obj-1 605271, obj-2 601277, obj-3 596286, obj-4 593280, obj-5 585270, return to Hunsley. 1300 one platoon depart Hunsley to obj-A 589268, obj-B 590264, obj-C 598260, obj-D 604265, return to Hunsley

43

1101

A Co 2nd platoon departed on ballgame

44

1105

2/49 ARVN located obj-C & D 556198 and 560206

45

1110

C Co vic 595281 found one "L" shaped bunker 3 1/2 x 4 x 4 with 3 1/2 ft overhead cover, recent use, sleeping quarters, destroyed

46

1125

C Co recon unit down green

47

1130

2/49 ARVN at obj-E 553212

48

1131

A Co 2nd platoon loc vic 587183

49

1134

C Co recon element airborne from Hunsley

50

1125

(Late) 1127 request urgent dustoff 2 litter vic 587165, one US hand grenade booby-trap with trip wire.  Correction, one litter, one ambulatory, Co A

51

1147

D Co vic location of suspected 60mm mortar, found remains of one US LAW (light anti-tank weapon), will break for chow

52

1148

From Bde:  Request grid clearance for people sniffer mission 6422, 6624, 6428, 6125.  DTG 081200 to 081700.  Approved

53

1154

Dustoff 152 on station

54

1200

C Co 2nd platoon closed

55

1204

Locations:  A Co 1st platoon 587165, 2nd platoon 594188, D Co (-) 622235, 1st platoon 623213, 2/49 obj-E & F 553212 & 564214

56

1206

(Late) Dustoff complete

57

1235

D Co (-) vic 623235 found one tunnel collapsed

58

1243

A Co 2nd platoon closed Patton 1st platoon at 595172

59

1257

C Co 3rd platoon departing on ballgame

60

1311

Locations:  A Co 1st platoon 591173, D Co 1st platoon 623213, 1 Co 2/49 obj 553212 & 564214

61

1320

A Co 1st platoon obj-D 586174

62

1324

D Co (-) vic 624235 in bamboo hedgerow found well-concealed bunker complex.  Showed signs of recent use.  4 bunkers 4x6x4 with 2 ft overhead cover, one with tunnel 3xz3x15 long, end of tunnel showed two branches running off end.  Recently dug one bunker had footprints, probably used this morning

63

1338

A Co recon team airborne Patton

64

1340

D Co (-) 622235 found trail made this morning by 4-5 individuals heading toward tunnels in item #62

65

1348

Locations:  C Co 3rd platoon 600267, D Co 1st platoon 621219, 2/49 564214, 560218, A Co 1st platoon 586174

66

1400

D Co 1st platoon vic 621219 reports one person from 2/49 tripped a US hand grenade with delay and trip wire.  Dove toward the booby-trap.  Requested casualties

67

1410

Cancelled B Co afternoon ballgame

68

1425

C Co 3rd platoon closed

69

1442

A Co recon team down, B airborne

70

1445

Request from D Co CO, delete obj-11,12,14 from ballgame due to rain and condition of troops.  Approved

71

1446

D Co obj-10 610235

72

1455

D Co 1st platoon closed

73

1456

A Co 1st platoon obj-E 580174

74

1500

AP's passed to Bde, LNO, D Co

75

1503

2/49 ARVN located obj-H & I 583214 & 575221

76

1507

D Co vic 608232 found one  Chicom Anti-tank mine with tilt rod, will blow

77

1520

A Co 1st platoon closed Patton

78

1530

B Co recon element down green

79

1540

AO request from 2/49 DTG 090500 to 091800 grid 550230, 615255, 638214, 610172

80

1600

2/49 ARVN closed Trung Lap

81

1609

D Co located 607230

82

1611

Ordered 9 barrels from S-4 (Sgt. Humphrey) for Trung Lap Range

83

1617

D Co obj-13 605229

84

1629

Centaur 49 on station

85

1635

Spot Report Centaur 49:  A) Centaur 15, B) trail activity, C) 634196, D) trail activity 10 individuals within 24 hours, North to Southeast.  Continuing mission

86

1638

A Co recon mission airborne

87

1655

D Co closed night laager site

87

1656

[Line 87 appears twice on original page]  From Cu Chi Subsector AP's 552169, 566170, 570166

88

1658

Spot report Centaur 49:  A) Centaur 15, B) fighting positions and bunkers, C) XT699172, D) 6-7 fighting positions and bunkers, used within last 3 days

89

1704

Spot report Centaur 49:  A) Centaur 15, B) tunnel entrance and bunkers, C) 685175, D) 2 bunkers 4x4 with 6 in overhead cover, used in last 24 hours, E) continue mission

89

1708

[Line 89 appears twice on original page]  Ref item #52:  Bde request grid for 091200 to 091700.  People sniffer scheduled for today was cancelled.  Also request daily 1st Div troop report.  Approved

90

1223

Centaur 49 released

91

1842

Crusader 033 released at this time

92

1849

73 NCPS kicked off.  Victor (US), Victor Romeo (ARVN)

93

1915

73 supply 10 men OpCon ARVN AP 125215

94

1942

22 NCP kicked off

95

2005

Sgt. Henley will be out in morning, held up at JAG, passed to C Co

96

2007

All personnel not in field today when should have been 260 Article 15 then Article 15+ individuals in field tomorrow past to ??? Special Court Martial for Charles E. Adam 464823257, rear wants papers to field tomorrow [text hard to read, doesn't all make sense]

97

2020

Request for LOH/Taxi for 9Sgt

98

2040

Radar (Hunsley) 1-3 individuals SW 581207 fired 30 HE, neg movement

99

1800

(Late) 2/14 CRIP neg off. ops. VN (Bde) ??? Tango

100

2045

S/R neg

101

2057

3/2/49 0800 LD 589213 (A) 583216 (B) 575220 (C) 575230 (D) 586234 (E) 583224 right to left
2/2/49 0700 LD 594194 (1) 597197 (2) 602194 (3) 606192 (4) 614185 (5) 615193 (6) 613197 (7) Meet at obj07 610206 (8) 603200, return to Trung Lap

102

2105

22 AP touchdown

103

2120

AO request 1/5th (Mech) (1) 562185, 555173, 557168, (2) 574164, 590177, (3) 633204, 638214, 633223

104

2124

Request AO (1) from boundary along grid 57 (2) 5619, 567190, 562183 (2/12)

105

2145

S/R neg

106

2152

Change ballgame to 73 about 2/49

107

2205

AO request approved

108

2236

AO request approved Bobcat (1/5th (Mech))

109

2245

S/R neg

110

2345

S/R neg

111

2359

S/R neg all stations

LOG CLOSED
SUMMARY:
Effective 0100 hours, a three-day cease fire will be observed by US Armed Forces.  Continued Operation Brimstone.
   During morning recon by Centaur, spotted a) oxcart trails, b) fresh trails by individuals, c) object that appeared to be a 60mm mortar tube but was a LAW, partially damaged.  In the afternoon, spotted fighting positions with bunkers and a tunnel entrance and bunkers.  During today's operation, Co C located two 20mm rounds, one 2.75 rocket, negative booby-trap, and one "L"-shaped bunker.  Co D with one platoon of 1 Co 2/49 ARVN found near a bamboo hedgerow a well-concealed bunker complex with tunnels.  An ARVN soldier working with D Co set off a hand grenade booby-trap, negative casualties.  They also found and destroyed one Chicom AT mine with tilt rod.  Co A had two casualties (1 litter, 1 ambulatory) caused by a booby-trapped hand grenade