Daily Staff Journal 15-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, S1 Cpt Anthony Barone, S2 Cpt Joseph Murphy, S3 Air Cpt Thomas Waldera, S4 Cpt Robert Scheifele, S5 2Lt Andrew Moyer Location: FSB Patton XT583194, PB Hunsley XT596270, Venice East XT577183, Bau Dieu Tower XT569171, PB Dong Tien XT615225, Trung Lap XT593214. Ballgames: A Co (-) One platoon and one platoon 1 Co 2/49th ARVN departs PB Dong Tien 0730 hours, recon to obj-A (626235), obj-B (633232), obj-C (632238), obj-D (627242), obj-E (620245), obj-F (618237), return to PB. Conduct joint NCP B Co (-) departs FSB Patton 0900 hours by truck to RP (570173), move to search area (565177-563179-561184-563187-568187), to PZ vicinity (563187) at 1430 hours, return to FSB. Conduct 2 NCPs vicinity FSB. C Co (-) departs FSB Patton 0830 hours, truck to RP (570173), move to search area (577172-576169-582169-583174-578175), recon to obj-1 (587172), obj-2 (593171), to PZ (600169) at 1445 hours. Return to FSB. One platoon occupy Venice East, towers at Bau Dieu and FSB, conduct road sweep on 7A Trung Lap to Highway 1 at 0645 hours. D Co (-) departs PB Hunsley 0730 hours, recon to obj-A (612270), move to search area (614283-613283-616291-620289) to PZ (622289) 1415 hours, return to PB. Conduct one NCP vicinity PB CRIP Eagle Eye operations 1200-1415 hours 1 Co 2/49th ARVN One platoon and one platoon Co A departs PB Dong Tien 0730 hours, recon to obj-1 (625225), obj-2 (627217), obj-3 (629210), obj-4 (632205), return to PB. Conduct joint NCP 2 Co (-) depart Trung Lap 0500 hours, recon to obj-21 (612205), to obj-22 (624189), set up blocking position from 626192 to 635199, return to Trung Lap. 3 Co (-) departs Trung Lap 0700 hours, recon to obj-11 (607215), obj-12 (615220), obj-13 (622219), obj-14 (622209), obj-15 (628201), return to Trung Lap.
02	0030	Hunsley radar 579266 picked up 2-3 individuals too close to NCP, will not engage, NCP advised
03	0032	Sniper patrol closed Trung Lap
04	0033	Hunsley reports 3 rounds, estimated 82mm, outside wire. Suspect grid 580256. Counter-mortar 4.2 and artillery. NCP reported seeing tube flash at 180 degrees at 1 kilometer.
05	0053	Nighthawk 02 on station, moving to Hunsley
06	0105	Nighthawk departing station
07	0117	Nighthawk 01 on station, moving to Hunsley to check grid 584256
08	0130	Hunsley radar 588263 picked up 2-3 individuals moving southeast, fired 12 rounds 155mm high explosive. Nighthawk will check
09	0146	Hunsley radar 585273 picked up 3-4 individuals stationary, fired 20 155mm high explosive rounds. Nighthawk checked area
10	0229	Hawk 01 returned to Cu Chi - bad weather
11	0350	Sitrep - negative
12	0511	Nighthawk 01 on station
13	0600	Little Bear 11 departed station
14	0615	Co B NCP depart, closed 0634
15	0635	Co A NCP-2 departed position
16	0635	CRIP NCP departed position and began sweep of area
17	0644	Co D NCP swept area of suspected activity
18	0650	Road sweep teams kicked off
19	0654	D Co AP closed
20	0655	A Co AP-2 closed
21	0655	CRIP swept area of suspected mortar, negative findings
22	0715	CRIP closed Patton
23	0717	Co A NCP closed
24	0735	Co D departed on ballgame
25	0741	Sniff Box 6422-6723-6526-6426 150741 to 151100
26	0745	Menehune 3 on station for taxi
27	0750	3rd Co 2/49th reached obj-11
28	0758	Co D trail activity at 603268
29	0800	CRIP closed Trung Lap
30	0820	2nd Co 2/49th in blocking position from 626192-635199
31	0821	A Co reached obj-A
32	0825	D co at obj-C
33	0826	Road to Trung Lap open
34	0837	Road to Highway 1 open
35	0730	[Late Entry] D Co received incoming from azimuth 170 degrees, taken from shell up, negative estimated distance
36	0836	A Co found one 90mm anti-tank round at 627236, negative lot number, will blow
37	0836	Menehune 3 on station for taxi
38	0855	D Co found one 2.75 rocket in FFAR at 612270, negative booby-trap, will blow
39	0910	C Co kicked off on ballgame
40	0915	S-2 Brigade - 2/12th POW is squad leader of 2nd squad, 4th platoon, 3rd company, 3rd battalion, 268th Regiment. Mission was to counter US/ARVN operations. No know location of unit. Got rice from Sa Nho 2. No location for storage of rice. Another POW, Phuc Loi, 14, VC, located in the vicinity of Phuc Loi (629308), mission to counter US/ARVN operations
41	0920	Menehune 3 on station for Psyops
42	0928	A Co obj-B (633232)
43	0935	B Co departing for ballgame
44	0945	A Co (632238) found 155mm round, negative booby-trap or lot number. Will blow
45	0953	Stinger took fire (632180) from 2 individuals with weapons, engaged, possible 1 body count
46	0958	1st Div requests troop support clearance 0930 to 1800, 15 Oct Grid 650300, 1 kilometer radius around grid
47	1000	A Co (632238) found trail of 1 individual running north on 7A, NVA boots, last night
48	1005	Request clearance for 1st Div, target from 1000 to 1200 grid 637307, 1000 meter radius.
49	1012	D Co located 615283
50	1027	A Co obj-D (627242)
51	1027	C Co 2nd platoon (576173) found 105mm dud, negative booby-trap or lot number. Too many civilians around to blow it
52	1028	2/49th Bn (-) (625215) found 2 bodies, VC, died of bullet wounds, 10 days old, in shallow half-filled graves
53	1028	C Co 2nd platoon found AP mine, will blow (577174)
54	1028	2/49 Bn (-) (625215) found 105mm round, booby-trap, in entrance of abandoned hooch. Will blow
55	1030	B Co reached AO beginning to search
56	1035	D Co requested dustoff. 1 US litter, urgent (614285). Believed to be 60mm mortar round, booby-trapped. Requested at 1036
57	1040	C Co 2nd platoon (577173) found Chicom grenade booby-trapped with trip wire. New, will blow
58	1040	1st Co 2/49th located obj-2 (627217)
59	1048	D Co (614285) found 2 anti-personnel mine type, booby-trapped, hand grenades, also hand grenade booby-trapped with tilt rod and 3 BF bombs. Will blow
60	1108	A Co located obj-E (620245)
61	1058	[Late Entry] Unit locations: A Co (627242), B Co (565177), C Co (577173), D Co (614285), 1st Co 2/49th (627217), 2/49 Bn (-) (625215)
62	1050	[Late Entry] Dustoff 152 on station, complete at 1058 to 12th Evac
63	1104	AMC request for 19-25 Oct has been passed
64	1117	B Co (566179) found 155mm round, negative booby-trap or lot number, will blow
65	1120	Centaur 48 on station
66	1055	[Late Entry] AMC times: 170900 to 171000, Insert Co's B, D & ARVN, 1100-1300 Eagle Eye operations. 1500-1600 Extract Co's B, D, & ARVN. 180800 to 180900 Extract Co C to FSB, Co's B, D, ARVN. 1400-1500 Extract B, D, ARVN. 1700-1900 Eagle Eye operations. 191100 to 191300 & 1700 to 1800 C/A Co's B, D, ARVN
67	1145	Little Bear 537 on station with Flame Bath
68	1152	C Co 3rd platoon (571170) found tunnel 3 ft down, 6 ft back, 2 doors (1 trapdoor), negative findings, will blow
69	1153	Hornet 3 C&C ship on station
70	1200	Locations: A Co (618237), B Co (567184), C Co (579170), D Co (612270), 1st Co 2/49th (629210), 2/49th Bn (-) (622209). A Co closed
71	1204	Spot report: A) Centaur 48 B) Cache C) 622291 D) 1 AK-47, misc. ordinance, 3 ammo cans, 4 sets clothes, poncho, 100 ? bag, 5 tunnel entrances, fresh activity in last 12 hours, 1 VC body count by grenade
72	1218	2nd Flame Bath complete by Little Bear 537
73	1224	CRIP airborne form Trung Lap at 1224
74	1227	CRIP down green at 1227 hours (582248)
75		Little Bear 537 completed 3rd Flame Bath, also was final one
76	1240	CRIP has either POW or Hoi Chanh. He came out on his own, haven't decided which he is yet. Have him as Hoi Chanh from Saigon.
77	1253	D Co airborne from 612270 at 1253 hours, down green at (Hunsley) at 1312 hours. (D Co was extracted for the purpose of re-inserting into an area where Centaur 48 saw activity. Artillery prep was very poor. While waiting for the adjustment of artillery, Brigade recalled AMC before D Co could be inserted. D Co was returned to Hunsley)
78	1258	B Co (564182) found 20 lb anti-tank mine with tilt rod, will blow
79	1315	CRIP got 1 Hoi Chanh, 3 detainees, 25 ID cards, individuals report to Trung Lap to determine if they had wrong papers
80	1317	CRIP airborne from 582248 at 1317 hours, down green at Trung Lap at 1320 hours.
81	1320	Blade hours report 51 hours and 30 minutes
82	1420	Unit locations: 1st Co 2/49th closed night laager, 2/49 Bn (-) 628201, B Co (568187), C Co (592185)
83	1432	C Co 3rd platoon (592185) found dud 105mm round, negative booby-trap or lot number. Will blow
84	1440	Air strike vicinity 622242, approved
85	1442	C Co closing Patton
86	1445	B Co located Lift 2.8, Down 1.0 (572190)
87	1450	AO request fro Bushmaster operations 161200 to 181200 Oct 69, north of 20, west of 64 to AO boundary
88	1450	2/49th Bn (-) closed Patton
89	1510	1/5th (Mech) approved AO request (TW)
90	1530	B Co closed Patton
91	1530	AO request to 2/12th DTG 160600 to 161800 hours North of 20 to 565200 to 565230, passed at 1605
92	1600	A Co's CP's 609231 (ARVN), 609218 (combined)
93	1605	CRIP CP site changed to 589230
94	1640	D Co CP site for tonight 585289
95	1715	CRIP kicked off on night operations
96	1715	Clearance for air strike 644245, cleared
97	1720	D Co 3rd platoon departing for 360 degree RIF of Hunsley
98	1739	LOH on station to take batteries to Dong Tien, then run VR (visual recon)
99	1800	NCP group for CRIP spotted 2 individuals 600 meters south of their objective moving toward their objective (CP site). Negative weapons visible. Patrol will continue toward site.
100	1805	VR LOH departed station
101	1807	A Co NCP-2 kicked off
102	1808	D Co 360-degree RIF returned to PB Hunsley
103	1812	CRIP NCP has sent in 2 detainees (Ref Item 99), one has incorrect paper. Will continue to question them on way to Trung Lap and village chief
104	1817	NCP-Mike has kicked off with 24 personnel
105	1822	2/49th NCPs: 588218, 587213, 597212, 598222, 592207, 588206, 590203, 582200, 597204
106	1827	A Co NCP-1 kicked off
107	1830	From LNO: AO request, AO DTG 16/0600 to 16/1800, 1 Co 4/49th & 3 Co 2/49th 563216-563180-615180-615216, 2 Co 2/49th 580247-580216-610216-610247
108	1830	1st Inf Div troop support for 6530 to 4751, 1000 meters buffer zone, from 15/1000 to 16/0600. Approved by 2/14th
109	1836	CRIP NCP spotted 2 VC in NCP area 580230, searched area and pulled back to wait until dark to set up. Dressed in black with pistol (K-54). At 583225 picked up 2 detainees dressed in black, no weapons. Village chief vouched for them.
110	1918	D Co NCP-3 setting up in position at 617284
111	1942	A Co NCP-1 (609231) and NCP-2 (609216) in position
112	1945	FSE request 1st Inf Div troop support at 6629 from 15/1900 to 16/0600. Approved. 1st Div Artillery request clearance center mass 566305 for 1000 meters radius 15/1900 to 16/0600. Approved
113	1948	C Co CP-4 new location will be 596180
114	1957	CRIP NCP will kick off from Trung Lap at 0330. Set up at 587227. Trail suspected to be supply route
115	2015	C Co NCP-4 kicked off
116	2020	1/5th (Mech) NCPs near our AO 558199, 599159
117	2023	A Co NCP-1 reports one sick ARVN, CP returning to Dau Tieng
118	2055	A Co NCP-1 has brought in sick ARVN and now departing again for CP site
119	2115	C Co NCP-4 in position 594185
120	2200	Request from 1/5th (Mech) AO DTG 16/1200 to 18/1200 north of 20, west of 65 to AO boundary. Approved (RB)
121	2212	A Co NCP-1 in position (609231)
122	2213	A Co NCP-2 popped ambush on 2 VC 300 degrees 100 meters, negative friendly casualties. ARVN initiated action, US did not see VC, employing 81mm and artillery
123	2222	Hawk 01 on station to work with A Co
124	2305	ARVN ballgames for tomorrow from LNO: 2 Co 2/49th LD 0600 hours (596221), to obj-7 (600229), obj-8 (605236), obj-9 (599243), obj-10 (587234), obj-11 (585224), return to Trung Lap. 3 Co 2/49th LD 0700 hours (590198), obj-1 (590185), obj-2 (600183), obj-3 (613185), obj-4 (608190), obj-5 (602194), obj-6 (603200), return to Trung Lap. 1 Co 4/49th search in AO (577207-585212-591205-585199) all day
125	2307	A Co NCP-2 has negative findings, are moving to an alternate site at this time
126	2319	Hawk 01 released
127	2326	A Co NCP-2 in new position 608219
128		Summary: At 0033 this morning Hunsley reported 3 incoming mortar rounds impacting outside their wire. Artillery and counter-mortar fire was employed. Nighthawk checked the area but had negative findings. Hunsley had 2 radar sightings later, engaged them with artillery and Nighthawk checked the area with negative findings. CRIP checked suspected location of 60mm mortar which fired 3 rounds at Venice East last night but had negative findings. A Co reconned area northeast of Dong Tien and found recent trail activity and destroyed dud 90mm round, dud 155mm round. B Co conducted search to Mit Nai Peninsula northwest of Bau Dieu and found area marked as booby-trap area, found and destroyed 20 lb anti-tank mine and 155mm round (possibly booby-trapped). C Co conducted a search of Bau Dieu finger east of Highway 7A and found 2 105mm dud rounds, 1 Chicom grenade booby-trap, anti-personnel mine, a tunnel with 2 trap doors. D Co reconned northeast of Hunsley to search area in Ho Bo Woods, found 2 grenade booby-traps and had 1 WIA from booby-trap 60mm round. CRIP took one Hoi Chanh and 3 detainees, checked 25 IDs during Eagle Eye operation. CRIP conducted NCP in Go Noi area tonight, picked up 2 detainees and took them to Trung Lap. Spotted 2 VC and engaged them with small arms. Joint AP form Dong Tien fired on 2 VC but sweep of area revealed negative body count. C Co sent 1 NCP from Patton and D Co sent 1 NCP from Hunsley. ARVNs sent 1 NCP from Dong Tien in addition to a joint NCP. This morning 2/49th ARVNs found bodies of 2 VC killed by bullet wounds approximately 10 days ago. Bodies were in shallow grave. They also found a booby-trapped 105mm round in a hooch and destroyed it.
129	2400	Log closed