Daily Staff Journal 9-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 (-) 1100 hours one platoon recon from FSB to obj-A 583188, obj-B 584177, obj-C 573169, obj-D 562170, obj-E 567181, obj-F 577184, truck in from Venice East to FSB. Continue FSB improvement. B Co (-) 0900 hours one platoon recon from FSB to obj-1 580200, obj-2 584203, obj-3 579209, obj-4 587211, obj-5 592197, obj-6 590186, return to FSB. One platoon occupy Venice East, Bau Dieu tower, tower at Patton. Conduct road sweep at 0630 from FSB to Highway 1 and FSB to Trung Lap. Continue FSB improvement. D Co (-) provide one platoon to recon with 1 Co 2/49 ARVN. Continue improvement of Night Defensive Position. Conduct joint AP's with ARVN. C Co (-) 0800 one platoon recon from PB to obj-1 592260, obj-2 600257, obj-3 608264, obj-4 609272, obj-5 605278, obj-6 600280, return to PB. 1400 hours conduct 360 degree RIF at 400 to 1000 meters. Continue PB improvement. 1st Company 2/49 ARVN one platoon Co D and Co (-) depart at 0800 from NDP (LD) to obj-12 605234, obj-14 599239, obj-15 598226, obj-16 606224, obj-17 606215, obj-18 612220, obj-19 623224, obj-20 618236, return to NDP. Continue improvement of NDP. Conduct joint APs. 2nd Company 2/49 ARVN. Depart Trung Lap 0700 LD 594194, obj-1 597194, obj-2 602194, obj-3 606192, obj-4 614185, obj-5 615193, obj-6 613197, obj-8 603200, return to Trung Lap. 495th RF Co conduct recon with 2nd Co to obj's 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and split, recon to obj-7 610206, obj-8, return to Trung Lap. 3rd Company 2/49 ARVN depart Trung Lap 0800 LD 589213 to obj-A 583216, obj-B 575220, obj-C 575230, obj-D 586234, obj-E 583224, return to Trung Lap. CRIP - Improvement of positions 4.2 platoon (-) FSB Patton, 1 tube PB Hunsley, 1 tube Trung Lap Radar - PPS-5 PB Hunsley, PPS-4 Venice East Training: Co A 0800-0900 Mine & BBT (Booby-Trap) 0900-1000 Night Combat Operations Co B 1400-1500 Mine & BBT 1500-1600 Night Combat Operations Co C & D 1600-1700 Mine & BBT 4.2 Platoon 1500-1600 Crew Drill Radar 1400-1600 Plotting
02	0001	S/R neg all stations
03	0045	S/R neg all stations
04	0100	Radar (Hunsley) reports 5-6 individuals 581264 moving SW, fired 60 HE 105mm (FSB Pershing). Movement ceased
05	0105	081530Z Message, Subject: Control of Illumination (2-72)
06	0145	S/R neg
07	0245	S/R neg
08	0345	S/R neg
09	0445	S/R neg
10	0545	S/R neg
11	0546	Light scout team 1st light
12	0549	B Co NCP coming in
13	0627	B Co NCP closed
14	0630	Co D AP's coming in
15	0646	D Co AP's closed night laager site
16	0653	B Co road sweep teams departed
17	0706	(Late) 0645 Centaur 44 on station
18	0708	Spot Report: Centaur 44: A) Centaur 15, B) hootch, C) 573264, D) persons living in it, activity in last 24 hours. Request permission to destroy. Negative permission
19	0709	Spot Report: Centaur 44; A) Centaur 15, B) trail activity, C) 586255, D) Last 2-4 hours recent oxcart activity, 200 meters to west 584255) bunker activity within past 24 hours, no sign of anyone in area at this time
20	0718	Centaur 44 off station, will return for firepower demonstration
21	0735	B-52 crew arrive Patton
22	0745	Road clear to Trung Lap
23	0805	From Bde: May fire arty during cease fire in booby-trap areas if areas are not populated
24	0806	Road clear from Trung Lap to Highway 1
25	0823	Road sweep team to Trung Lap, closed Patton
26	0830	Centaur 44 on station for fire power demonstration
27	0834	(Late) 2/49 ARVN departed Trung Lap for ballgame 0800
28	0826	From Bde: Effective immediately, during cease fire only, no further response to Yellow Jackets except under unusual circumstances. Div will determine the unusual circumstance.
29	0838	D Co 3rd platoon depart for ballgame
30	0848	(Late) 2nd Co 2/49 departed for ballgame at 0700 and hit obj-1 at 0805. 3rd Co 2/49 departed 0800
31	0851	Road sweep to Highway 1 closed Patton
32	0903	Centaur 44 departing station
33	0904	2nd Co 2/49 obj-2 at 0845 602194
34	0909	D Co 3rd platoon obj-12 605234
35	0915	B Co 2nd platoon departed for ballgame
36	0924	Air Force B-52 crew departed Hunsley
37	0928	B Co 2nd platoon located obj-2 580200
38	0929	3rd Co 2/49 located obj-A 0845
39	0930	From Bde: G-5 Slick for aerial recon mission 1030-1930 6 blade hours
40	0948	C Co 1st platoon departing for ballgame
41	0949	Received message Conference site X09-026 C
42	1009	D Co 3rd platoon obj-14 599339
43	1014	B Co obj-2 584203
44	1019	(Late) AO LOBO in effect 0830 to 1900
45	1020	From 1/5th (Mech) AO request AO GLORIA 110700 to 111800 grid East of 63, grid south of 24, grid buffer zone
46	1021	B Co 2nd platoon obj-3 579209
47	1024	2nd Co 2/49 obj-3 606192, 3rd Co at B 575220
48	1033	C Co 1st platoon vic 590262 found one 155mm dud, neg booby-trap, no fuse or lot number, fairly new, will blow
49	1045	B Co recon team airborne at Patton, Crusader 16
50	1059	Ref item #45 AO approved
51	1105	Locations: B Co 2nd platoon 587203, C Co 1st platoon 592262, D Co 3rd platoon obj-14 (no change), A Co 2nd platoon departing for ballgame, 2nd & 3rd ARVN obj-3 & 6
52	1121	(Late) Passed ballgame to Bde 1000
53	1143	Locations: A Co 584177, B Co 590192, C Co 600262, D Co 598228, 2 & 3 ARVN obj-3 & B
54	1157	C Co vic 600262: In tunnel 2x2x4x10 found one Chicom grenade neg booby-trap, two 82mm rounds neg fuse, one AK-47 cleaning rod, one US butterfly bomb, 30 smoke grenade firing devices, one saw, two 75mm AT rounds, one booby-trap with trip wire, will blow
55	1201	D Co 3rd platoon obj-15 598226
56	1206	(Late) Received message, Subject: Movement Cite #X-09-027C
57	1246	(Late) B Co recon mission down green Patton, A Co airborne 1142
58	1247	(Late) 1235 C Co 1st platoon ref item #54 also found 27 AK-47 rounds, one potato masher without handle, one pull-type detonator 600262. 3rd Co 1237 located obj-C
59	1250	Locations: A Co obj-D 562170, B Co 581192, C Co 600262, D Co 606224, 2nd Co 2/49 606192, 3rd Co 2/49 575230
60	1255	D Co 3rd platoon found booby-trap with trip wire, smoke grenade type, filled with explosives 606224
61	1259	From Bde: Request grid clearance for people sniffer 091330 to 091630 grid 630236, 663238, 619270, 640240. Avn aware of 2/14th ballgame, will be for return fire for fire only. Approved
62	1308	C Co 1st platoon found one dud 105mm round in same tunnel 600262, one firing mechanism of AK-47, one bottle NVA penicillin, will blow 105mm and AK firing mechanism. Will bring back penicillin
63	1320	3rd platoon D Co vic 604224 found butterfly bomb with pressure-type buried into ground, will destroy
64	1327	Locations: 2nd 2/49 obj-4 614185, 3rd 2/49 still at 575230
65	1330	From Bde: Can 2/14 use LST? Yes
66	1335	ETA LST 10-15 min
67	1336	D Co recon element airborne night laager site
68	1345	A Co platoon at Venice East waiting for pickup. B platoon closed, C platoon 605274, D platoon 609219
69	1400	C Co 3rd platoon departing on ballgame
70	1405	A Co platoon closed
71	1415	Centaur 53 on station
72	1420	C Co 1st platoon closed Hunsley
73	1421	From Bde: AO MARCIE in effect 10 Sep from 0700 to 1800 for Bao Tri forces. Grid 589193 along Highway 1 to 595220 to 589220 to 543280 to 540240 to 598240. Centaur 56 departing station due to radio problem. Will be back later
74	1440	C Co found one potato masher at location 600262 with other weapons reported
75	1450	C Co 3rd platoon 592265 found one dud 105mm round, neg booby-trap, neg lot number, will blow
76	1457	D Co 3rd platoon obj-18 612220
77	1507	Locations: C Co 3rd platoon 592265, D Co 3rd platoon 612220, 2nd Co 2/49 obj-5 615193m 3rd Co obj-D 586234
78	1508	C Co 3rd platoon closed Hunsley
79	1530	Centaur 44 on station
80	1538	D Co 3rd platoon vic 618223 found two bunkers, will blow, neg use recently 4x4x3
81	1540	2/49 ARVNs want to add obj-H 610205 and I (608215) between obj-D & E on tomorrow's ballgame. 2/49 requested AO 6024 to 6020 to 583200 to 560225 to 5624 DTG 100600-101800
82	1552	Spot Report - Centaur 44: A) Centaur 15, B) NVA clothing, C) 554231, D) clothing shirt, pants, poncho liner, been there one week
83	1604	Spot Report - Centaur 44: A) Centaur 15, B) BBT area, C) 542226, D) Marks center 200 meter radius last 72 hours most recent activity. Trails and hootches booby-trapped
84	1608	Spot Report - Centaur 44: A) Centaur 15, B) bunker, C) 542231, D) old recent activity 24 hours
85	1610	From LNO 2/49: ARVN's do not want AO ref item #81
86	1611	From Bde: One bulldozer to stay at Patton and return to Trung Lap tomorrow, one will return to Cu Chi
87	1615	D Co 3rd platoon located obj-19 623224
88	1613	2/49 2nd & 3rd Co closed Trung Lap
89	1614	Centaur 44 released due to weather
90	1620	From Bde: Earliest date A Company's element will return to 2/14 is 11 Sep. District Chief has not received approval form Province to operate in area of AP Fernandoe
91	1640	Ref item #81 obj H & I approved
92	1642	(Late) 1635 Night Hawk mission briefing 1900, mission times 2200 to 2400, 0100 to 0300, 0430 to 0630
93	1645	D Co 3rd platoon closed night laager site
94	1646	AP's from Cu Chi Subsector: 542158, 548155, 560170, roving patrols from Phu Kiep, patrol-1 573167-566161, patrol-2 572173-570175, patrol-3 554175-553167-558168
95	1710	From Bde: People sniffer request DTG 100800 to 101100 grid 6128, 6428, 6524, 6124 fire for fire. Approved
96	1730	1st Div troop SPT DTG 091800 to 100600 grid 6131 north 1000 meters, west side of river to grid 4751. Approved
97	1805	Menehune 1 on station
98	1818	From Bde: Call sign & frequency for ARVN operation 10 Sep in AO MARCIE: Ragged Steps 30 on 33.95. Op Look aircraft report on station at 0730 hours and release at 1630 with total of 6 blade hours
99	1837	Crusader 16 released
100	1840	Menehune 1 released
101	1930	AP's for 2/49 (Lt. Harrison) 587220, 598208, 587207, 595218, 586214, 582200, 590203, 598200
102	1930	LOH/Taxi request to Bde
103	1933	Co B AP depart FSB
104	1955	Co D AP "PR" in position 100 meters north of location
105	2000	Engineer element return to FSB Patton
106	2010	GS request to Bde
107	2010	B Co AP "PH" left the wire
108	2050	Item #102 confirmed
109	2055	S/R negative
110	2143	Centaur 29 on station
111	2145	S/R negative
112	2150	B Co AP "PH" in position
113	2150	Received ballgame for ARVNs
114	2208	Night Hawk leaving station, going to ??. From Bde
115	2220	Night Hawk back on station, area of Hunsley. Negative readings
116	2223	D Co AP "P" in position
117	2225	Night Hawk leaving station, going to steps (Cu Chi 55)
118	2230	From Hunsley - radar pickup, one individual, light seen in the same place. Grid 55352795
119	2240	From Venice East - heard two mortar tubes pop and two explosions 250 degrees azimuth, 2500 meters from Venice East
120	2245	Requested AO's 100800 to 101200 Sep 69 grids 580173 to 600175, 633210 - 638210, 633210 - 638230. Buffer zones. Approved by 1/5th (Mech)
121	2255	S/R negative
122	2300	Radar pickup from Hunsley, 3 individuals moving same location as item 118. Arty will fire on it
123	2315	Night Hawk to Cu Chi for rearmament, then back on station
124	2332	From D Co, radar pickup 100 meters from wire on azimuth 140 degrees, 2 minutes later anti-intrusion device activated steadily. Engaged target with M-79. 2 minutes later radar pickup 15-25 personnel 200 meters form wire on 140 degree azimuth, 81mm engaging target. Enemy moved south-southwest
125	2340	From D Co, negative movement, ceased fire
126	2340	Radar from Dees (?), 569199, 2-3 individuals, will engage with 81mm
127	2350	S/R negative
128	2355	15 rounds 81mm fired on radar target item #126
129	2350	(Late) NH reported on station
		SUMMARY Continuation of cease fire and Operation Brimstone. Centaur 44 (LST) reported on station at 0706 hours for recon of area. Reported a hootch that is supposed to be vacant, with indication of activity during last 24 hours. Also spotted trail activity, possible oxcart, near bunker. B-52 crew arrived at FSB Patton for orientation, also visited PB Hunsley. Co C found one 155mm round, neg BBT, one round 105mm, neg BBT, and assorted Chicom ammo. Co D found BBT grenade filled with explosives, BBT butterfly bomb and two bunkers. Neg casualties. During the night radar at PB Hunsley reported sighting, engaged with Arty. The NDP also spotted an individual with their radar, engaged with M-79. Anti-intrusion devices were also activated during that time. The Night Hawk checked the area, neg findings.