Daily Staff Journal  10-Oct-69

ITEM

TIME

INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.

01

0001

LOG OPENED:
Supporting information for today's events:  Bn. Cmdr LTC Donald O. Crutchley, XO Maj Robert Chaudrue, S3 Maj. Dexter Branscome, S3 Air Cpt Thomas Waldera, S2 Cpt Joseph Murphy, S1 Cpt Anthony Barone, S4 Cpt Robert Scheifele, S5 Lt Andrew Moyer
Location:  FSB Patton XT583194, PB Hunsley XT596270, Venice East XT577183, Bau Dieu Tower XT569171, PB Dong Tien XT615225, Trung Lap XT593214.

Ballgames: 
   Co A (-) departs 1000 hours by CH-47 for stand down
   Co B (-) 9 ships after air strikes and artillery prep 0815 hours C/A LZ-2 (565231) search area bounded by (566230-572236-568241-562234) PZ (566241) 1515 hours.  Conduct joint AP with 1 Co 2/49th ARVN
   1 Co 2/49th ARVN (-) 9 ships after air strike and artillery prep 0830 hours C/A LZ-3 (568229) search area bounded by (566230-572236-577233-573227) PZ (578234) at 1630 hours.  Conduct joint AP with B Co and one all ARVN AP
   Co C (-) 9 ships after artillery prep 0845 hours C/A LZ 4 (639244) recon to obj-1 (642242) and assist in putting in Duffle Bags, recon to obj-2 (641233) and assist in putting in Duffle Bag, recon to obj-3 (645234) and assist in putting in Duffle Bag, recon to obj-4 (658245) and assist in putting in Duffle Bag, recon to PZ (651250) at 1545 hours
   Co D depart PB Hunsley 0800 hours, search area (5926-5928-5728-5726) joint operation with 3 Co 2/49th.  Be prepared to be airlifted from search area
   CRIP conduct VCI operations
   RF Co (-) 0730 hours 9 ship lift from Lam Sahn 0800 hours C/A LZ-1 (596249) search area CN 598250, 500 meters radius, PZ (597246) 1430 hours return to Lam Sahn
   3 Co (-) 9 ship lift from Trung Lap 0900 hours, C/A LZ-5 (590263), search area (5926-5928-5728-5726), joint operation with D Co.  PZ (585263) 1600 hours return to Trung Lap
   4.2 Mortars (-) FSB Patton, one tube at PB Hunsley, one tube at Trung Lap
   Radar PPS-5 at Hunsley, PPS-4 at Venice East
   Training 0730-0930 hours Co's A, B, C, D weapons maintenance and safety, daylight and night tactical operations.  Radar 1400-1600 hours Search and Monitor
   Air strike LZ prep at 565231 and 568229 at 0700 hours for 30 minutes

02

0050

Sitrep - Negative

03

0107

B-52 Heavy artillery warning BD 33135-G279 (XT555423-559414-583434-587425) Time On Target 10/2215

04

0145

Sitrep - Negative

05

0245

Sitrep - Negative

06

0340

Nighthawk 03 on station at 0335.  Request permission to fire at VC squad in the open.  XT659251.  Clearance coordinated with 1st Inf Div.  Movement ceased.  LST will check area at first light.  Released Nighthawk at 0415

07

0445

Sitrep - Negative

08

0620

D Co AP Charlie closed Hunsley

09

0625

B Co 3rd platoon departing to check contact area

10

0635

B Co AP-1 and AP-2 closed Night Laager

11

0653

B Co found 1 Chinese claymore, Ho Chi Minh sandals, 1 hat with holes and blood stains in sweep of contact area

12

0652

Hornet 5 C&C ship on station

13

0706

Issue 27 on station for LZ prep

14

0720

A Co CP closed Hunsley

15

0738

C Co road sweeps departed 0700 hours

16

0745

[Late Entry] Centaur 53 on station 0728

17

0745

CRIP alerted to have 3 ship lift ready

18

0755

Inform TOC 2/14th that Sniffers will be in area anytime after 0900 hours.  Grids 6423-6449, 6719-6723

19

0758

7A cleared to Trung Lap and 7A cleared to Highway 1

20

0800

D Co ballgame kicked off

21

0803

RF Co (-) airborne from Tam Lanh at 0755, down green at 596249

22

0815

B Co airborne from night laager at 0815

23

0830

Menehune 6 on station to pick up IPW

24

0833

1st Co 2/49th airborne from night laager at 0833, down green at 568229 at 0840

25

0835

AO request 110800-111800, 633210 to 6723 to AO boundary

26

0843

B Co found cooking utensils used last night at 565231

27

0844

C Co airborne from Patton at 0846 hours, down green at 640244 at 0900 hours

28

0845

From Capt. Willingham, time adjustment for 11 Oct 69 1000-1230 (instead of 1000-1200).  Must coordinate with 2/12th Inf for a 15 ship lift from Pershing to Lorence at 1000 hours.  Air strike at 607312 approved

29

0854

Psyops cancelled because of speakers, rescheduled for afternoon

30

0905

Request air strike clearance for 616306 (cleared)

31

0910

3rd Co 2/49th airborne from Trung Lap at 0910, down green at 590263 at 0913

32

0922

CRIP airborne from Trung Lap at 0922, down green at 604177 at 0925 hours

33

0915

Blade hours report 20 hours, 15 min. at 0900

34

0930

1st Co 4/49th will be leaving regular ballgame to check grid 5822 where 4 individuals were shot while trying to Chieu Hoi last night

35

0931

Have found 1 additional body, ammo vest, bag of articles and AK-47 I590263)

36

0935

AMC released

37

0935

D Co informed by Chieu Hoi that area to be searched is now 595260, closer to 74-I, wants us to coordinate

38

0945

Our AO request for 110800-111800 has been approved

39

0951

C Co found dud 155mm round at 642242, not booby-trapped, no lot number

40

[This line missing from original page]

41

1000

RF Co found tunnel with 1 VC, 1 body count, M-16 with 10 magazines at 601250

42

1012

D Co found 105mm round, not booby-trapped, no lot number

43

1014

B Co found tunnel, gook came out with hand grenade.  One body count.  Kit Carson tripped booby-trap on trap door to tunnel, hand grenade type, no casualties.  566223.  Request LST

44

1035

Sniff readings "A" 642219, 644205, 650200, 651195, 654191

45

1042

LST on station

46

1050

C Company found 2 155mm rounds, not booby-trapped, no lot number, at 642233

47

1105

RF platoon says a company-sized element moved through area and could now be located at 620260

48

1115

Air strike request 11 October, target one bunker complex at 636223, time 0800 plus/minus 30 minutes, flame bath request 11 Oct, booby-trap area vicinity 6322 grid 0900; B Co will mark area of target on location

49

1115

D Co found 2 bunkers 6x4x5 with 1 foot overhead cover, one bunker 1 1/2x2x5 with 2 feet overhead cover, no recent use.  Will destroy

50

1142

B Co 564233, C Co 646234, D Co 596258, 1st Co 2/49th 575223, RF Co 599238, 3rd Co 2/49th 586265

51

1155

C Co found 1 155mm round, not booby-trapped, no lot number, will destroy

52

1157

RF Co got 3 wounded by hand grenade thrown in tunnel.  Dustoff by Brigade C&C.  Possibly 4 body count at 596238

53

1200

LST Centaur 3 found 4 bunkers, destroyed 2 bunkers 6x8, 2 still in same area damaged.  Bunker has clothes, etc.  Trail 3-4 hours old

54

1200

3rd Co (585266), 1st Co 2/49th (576233)

55

1225

Centaur 3 found 2 Chi Com smoke grenades in bush after engaging.  Area shows signs of 50 individuals moving within last 24 hours

56

1232

B Co located at 566246

57

1240

Centaur 3 at 613276 found tunnel entrance 4x4, looks like it may have RPG round in tunnel, and fresh trails

58

1250

3rd Co 2/49th (585265) found bipod and tube of 120mm mortar away from bipod

59

1250

D Co had individual step into punji pit, requests routine dustoff.  Has been requested

60

1302

B Co (566247) found 1 AK-47 laying in some thick bamboo

61

1310

Issue request clearance to shoot ordnance at 575297.  Cleared.

62

1317

C Co (645235) found tunnel with trap door 2x3, goes back 10 feet with air hole at end

63

1326

B Co push will change to 52.15, log will change to 47.45, both at 2400 hours

64

1330

A Co up from Hunsley 1104, down at Cu Chi 1107.  2nd lift up at 1142, down at Cu Chi at 1145, 3rd lift up 1200, down at Cu Chi at 1204, 4th lift up at 1219, down at Cu Chi 1223

65

1320

[Late Entry] CRIP ballgame for afternoon cancelled, will conduct 3 hours classes on radio procedure

66

1340

Locations:  C Co 656240, B Co 566248, D Co 579264, 3rd Co 2/49th 585265, RF's 599238, 1st Co 2/49 576233

67

1343

B Co 566248 found 3 books containing names, latest was Sept 24, 1968.  Also found 2 U.S. hand grenades laying in grass

68

1345

C Co 656240 2nd platoon found 5 tunnels recently dug, negative findings, will blow

69

1400

RF's have checked tunnel out, 4 body count confirmed, 2 AK-47, one VC was village chief of An Nhon Tay

70

1422

Hornet 5 C&C ship on station

71

1425

3rd Co 2/49th have found base plate to the 120mm mortar, are searching the same area 585265

72

1433

Dustoff on station, dustoff complete 1438

73

1440

Stinger took fire in 6230 on 6331 (634298), C&C is going to the location

74

1445

Air strike in grid 623283, approved

75

1455

Stinger received fire from 634298, Brigade will put air strike on this grid at 1500 hours

76

1459

C Co airborne from 648242 at 1459 hours, down green Patton 1303

77

1509

General Hollis arrived at Patton

78

1511

Clearance for air strike within the hour at 640295, cleared

79

1522

B Co airborne form 566251 at 1514 hours, down green at Dong Tien at 1518 hours

80

1525

1st Co 2/49th airborne from 578234 at 1521 hours, down green at Dong Tien 1524 hours

81

1530

General Hollis spent 10 minutes here on a "drop in" visit.  Had favorable comments

82

1533

3rd Co 2/49th airborne from 585263, down green at Trung Lap at 1538 hours

83

1545

RF Co airborne 1545 from 585263, down green at 1550

84

1550

D Co closed Hunsley

85

1625

Have consumed 85 blade hours, 4 left

86

1635

Dustoff - 1 Vietnamese civilian, litter, urgent - mine on 7A, extensive leg damage

87

1705

D Co kicked off on 360-degree RIF

88

1725

Dustoff 154 on station, complete 1727

89

1730

1st Div troop support 1800 to 0600, grid 4751 to 6530 with 1000 meter buffer zone along river

90

1730

D Co completed 360-degree RIF, closed

91

1807

D Co AP-1 kicked off

92

1810

ARVN AP's:  595218, 585210, 598210, 585218, 591207, 587206, 590202, 583203, 598202.  From Dong Tien US/ARVN 614234, ARVN only 617218

93

1815

From CNO:  AO request 1 Co 4/49th, 11/0700 to 11/1600 hours, 586216-577209-587198-596207

94

1825

B Co AP W-2 departed

95

1935

D Co NCP-I in position at 605274

96

1951

1st Inf Div requests 1000 meter clearance around 593301 for DT until 0600 tomorrow

97

2005

B Co/ARVN AP's in position

98

2105

TPS-25 Radar (Trung Lap) 60292343 spotted 4-5 individuals moving south, fired 36 105mm high explosive

99

Rec Conf Msg X-10--2-C OTG 2831430H, Subject: Mortar Training Evaluation

100

2115

Capt. Saunders, 2nd Brigade took message requesting air strike for 0815 and flame bath for 0900, 11 Oct.  This eliminates 2nd air strike scheduled for 0930

101

2247

TPS-25 Radar (Trung Lap) 61342258 radar pickup, 4-5 moving northeast, too close to Dong Tien to employ artillery.  ARVN's fired 60mm mortar and M-79

102

2350

Hawk 01 on station

103

2354

Dong Tien reported possible 1 round incoming from 1200 meters to west, landed approximately 200 meters outside the wire.  Negative knowledge of type.  ARVNs returned fire with 60mm mortars but ceased when Nighthawk came on station

104

Summary:  B Co swept area of last night's ambush site and found blood stains, Chinese claymore, sandals and a hat with holes in it.  Co A departed Hunsley for 2-day stand down in Cu Chi.  Co's B & D, 1st & 3rd Co of 2/49th ARVN and RF Co from Lam Sahn conducted heliborne operations today.  B Co in the vicinity of Xa Rang (2) got 2 body count, documents and 1 AK-47.  C Co worked in AO Branch reconning and putting in Duffle Bag apparatus - found 3 dud 155mm rounds and 6 recently constructed tunnels.  D Co conducted a recon mission out of Hunsley and found 1 105mm dud, 2 bunkers and had 1 man injured when he stepped into a punji pit near Sa Nho (1).  RF's accounted for 1 body count, recovered an M-16, found a tunnel northeast of Ba Song, and found evidence of a company-size force recently in the area, had 3 men wounded by booby-traps.  3 Co 2/49th recovered a complete 120mm mortar at XT585265 southwest of Hunsley at approximately 1500 meters.  1st Co 4/49th ARVN investigated the area where 4 VC attempting to Chieu Hoi were killed last night.  CRIP was lifted into an area where gunships killed armed VC last night and found 2 bodies and weapons.  D Co sent 1 NCP northeast of Hunsley.  A joint US/ARVN NCP north of Dong Tien and 1 all ARVN NCP south of Dong Tien reported 1 incoming round of undetermined caliber impacting 200 meters from the wire just before midnight.  A Nighthawk checked the area but found nothing.