Daily Staff Journal  12-Nov-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 Courtney Rittgers, S3 Maj. Dexter Branscome, S3 Air Cpt Thomas Waldera, S1 Cpt Anthony Barone, S2 Cpt William Branch, S4 Cpt Robert Scheifele, S5 Michael Collier

Locations:  FSB Patton XT583194, PB Hunsley XT596270, Venice East XT577183, Trung Lap XT593214.

Ballgame:
   A Co airlift to PB Hunsley O/A 0900 hours, care and maintenance of equipment and conduct one platoon 360-degree recon 300-500 meters out around PB Hunsley.  Conduct 1 NCP vicinity PB.  Assigned as Ready Reaction Force 111700-121700 hours for 82nd Airborne & 3rd Brigade)
   B Co airlift from PB Hunsley to Cu Chi O/A 0900 hours for stand down.
   C Co (-) depart Patton 0730 hours, recon to obj-A (586199), obj-B (580208), conduct detailed search of populated area with National Field Police and interpreters of area 577214 along stream to 574216-575217-578215, return to FSB along western side of stream, making detailed search of banks.  One platoon occupy Venice East and tower at FSB, conduct road sweep on 7A from Trung Lap to Highway 1 0645 hours.  Assigned as Division RRF 110600-120600 hours.
   D Co OpCon 3/4 Cav
   CRIP departs Trung Lap 0600 hours, set up check points at 587220-598203-595225, return to Trung Lap at 1100 hours
   3rd Co 2/49 LD 0800 hours, recon to obj-1 (586224), obj-2 (587232), obj-3 (599242), and split, one element to obj-4 (601235), one element to obj-5 (605237), join at obj-6 (608229), to obj-7 (615220), split, one element to obj-8 (602221), one element to obj-9 (606214), return to Trung Lap
   495 RF LD 0800 hours, recon to obj-A (601194), obj-B (607191), obj-C (611205), obj-D (605201), return to Trung Lap

02

0100

Sitrep - negative

03

0200

Sitrep - negative

04

0135

[Late Entry] C Co reported a fire in their conex, unknown how it started, will give a complete report in the morning

05

0300

Sitrep - negative

06

0255

[Late Entry] Trung Lap radar 584191 picked up 3-4 individuals moving north, fired 9 81mm high explosive rounds

07

0307

Trung Lap radar 587242 picked up 4-5 individuals moving north, fired 30 105mm high explosive rounds

08

0330

C Co NCP-1 spotted movement to their west.  Bunker 9 observed movement to south of Patton

09

0358

Hawk 02 on station

10

0400

Sitrep - negative

11

0500

Sitrep - negative

12

0625

CRIP kicked off CP's for this morning

13

0655

C Co NCP-1 closed Patton

14

0656

C Co road sweeps to Highway 1 and Trung Lap kicked off

15

0707

C Co both NCP's have closed Patton

16

0710

Brigade:  Clearance requested for air strikes at 612292, 605298, 649270, Approved.  2/14 requests one air strike be changed to 595295 to destroy anti-aircraft site, air strikes between 0710 & 0810 hours

17

0730

C Co departing on ballgame

18

0730

CRIP CPs in position at 0650 hours

19

0810

Brigade:  Requests clearance for Forward Air Controller to expend ordnance (640300).  Cleared

20

0813

C Co:  Highway 7A open from Trung Lap to Highway 1

21

0815

3rd Co 2/49 at LD moving toward obj-1

22

0820

Brigade:  FAC put in air strike on grid (615295) yesterday, 2 body count.  Air strike put in at grid (605298) at 0730 hours 12 Nov

23

0840

C Co location (576214)

24

0852

CRIP locations (597604), (587217), (587222)

25

0905

Brigade:  Sniff Box 0930-1130 12 Nov (5628-560325-5928-590305)

26

0910

LNO:  3 Co 2/49 (589232), 495 RFs (603193)

27

0925

Brigade:  Requested clearance for Forward Air Controller to expend his own ordnance at (650240).  Cleared

28

0931

C Co requested to have scout dog lifted out because it is sick

29

0940

Brigade:  Clearance requested for air strike at 635303, 615294, 625285.  Cleared

30

0955

Locations:  C Co (573220), CRIP (597208, 587217, 587222), 3rd Co 2/49 (593235), 495 RD (607191)

31

1013

2nd Brigade Avn 6 on station with VR

32

1020

2nd Brigade Avn 6 picked up scout dog that was sick.  Cancel Medevac from Brigade

33

1024

LNO:  3rd Co 2/49 (599242)

34

1032

3/4 Cav 52 (6421, 6521, 6621, 6821, 6522, 6622, west 1/2 of 6722, all had Alpha holding readings.  Negative recent activity or spot reports.  Possible readings were effected by FAC's white phosphorous rounds to the north

35

1103

3rd Co 2/49 location (601235)

36

1109

25th Div Avn:  1st lift airborne B Co Hunsley 1000 hours, down green Patton 1005 hours, 1st lift airborne A Co from Patton 1007 hours, down green Hunsley 1013 hours.  2nd lift B Co airborne Hunsley 1016 hours, down Patton 1022 hours.  2nd lift A Co airborne Patton 1025 hours, down green Hunsley 1030 hours.  3rd list B Co airborne Hunsley 1035 hours, down green Patton 1039 hours.  3rd lift A Co airborne Patton 1042 hours, down green Hunsley 1047 hours.  4th lift B Co airborne Hunsley 1049 hours, down Cu Chi 1055 hours.  4th lift A Co airborne Patton at 1059 hours, down Hunsley 1104 hours.  5th lift B Co airborne Hunsley 1104 hours, down Cu Chi 1109 hours.

37

1110

C Co checked out village, found 11 destroyed hooches, 1 bag of rags, 2 females and cows (legal), location (573218).

38

1113

2nd Brigade Avn 6 off station

39

1125

Brigade:  AO Lobo given to 25th Avn for free fire zone

40

1130

Locations:  C Co (575215), CRIP closed, 3rd Co 2/49 (605237), 495 RF (607191)

41

1211

C Co location (585200)

42

1213

CRIP occupied 3 checkpoints (595220), (601214), (594226) from 0600 to 1100 hours

43

1213

CRIP roving patrol 1900-2100 hours 594218 to 590231, cross stream to 595233 to 596221, 12 men US

44

1219

CRIP passed out 31 flags, also ARVN PFs found 150 lb of rice and 3 lb documents

45

1225

C Co closed Patton

46

1242

LNO:  3rd Co 2/49 (608229), 495 RF (611205)

47

1245

C Co NCP location 588180, call sign AP-1, 12 men US

48

1301

LNO:  Locations:  3 Co 2/49 (615220), 495 RF (611205)

49

1315

A Co will be RRF for the 25th Div from 0600 12 Nov to 0600 15 Nov

50

1344

A Co NCP site (591265), AP-2 15 individuals

51

1400

LNO:  3 Co 2/49 (602221), (606214)

52

1408

LNO:  495 RF (605201)

53

1405

Commo 2/14:  QSL Eagle Eye report 1405 hours, RRF report 1405 hours, 2 sniper reports, 1345 hours

54

1425

Commo 2/14:  QSL NCP report 1420 hours, CRIP Ballgame 1425 hours

55

1432

2nd Brigade Avn 6 on station for VR

56

1515

C Co informed of being RRF for 82nd Airborne & 3rd Brigade until 152400 Nov

57

1528

LNO:  3rd Co 2/49 closed, 495 RF (599206)

58

1536

Brigade:  Requested clearance for 25th Avn Bn to expend ordnance (635230).  Cleared

59

1545

LNO:  495 RF closed

60

1555

Brigade:  AO request 130600-131800 Nov, 1HR from 265 grid line, north to 285 grid line, 1GR from 285 grid line, north to 295 grid line

61

1555

A Co kicked off on 360-degree recon

62

1600

NCP and roving patrol positions passed to all units

63

1600

Brigade:  Requested clearance for air strike (623298).  Cleared

64

1618

2nd Brigade Avn 6 off station

65

1550

[Not marked as a late entry, so might be 1650]  LNO:  AO request 13/0600 to 13/1800 (570240-570208-600240-600208) 2nd Co 2/49 LD 0730 593220, recon to obj-1 (587232), obj-2 (580227), obj-3 (583225), obj-4 (576220), obj-5 (582213), return to Trung Lap.  1st Co to go on heliborne (QSL 1930)

66

1552

[Not marked as a late entry, so might be 1652]  LNO:  AO request and ballgame 495 RF 13/0600-13/1800 592205-585199-593190-599197, search area.  (QSL 1935)

67

1724

A Co closed

68

1750

C Co AP kickoff

69

1809

Brigade:  Grid 6525 cleared for fire by FAC (RRB)

70

1844

LNO:  2/49th AP's 587215, 598202, 598216, 598210, 590208, 590202, 587206, 595206, 595201

71

1850

A Co AP-2 departed

72

1905

Air for 14 Nov 0730-0800 hours

73

1906

CRIP CP has departed

74

1907

Tower at Trung Lap spotted 2 individuals grid 593231, employed 4.2 mortar

75

1935

Trung Lap radar 1910 hours 592239 picked up 6-8 individuals moving north, fired 9 4.2 rounds high explosive at 1915 hours.  592233 picked up 2-3 individuals moving south, fired 9 4.2 rounds high explosive

76

1945

C Co CP-1 in position 589179

77

1945

CRIP:  Tower sighting 591233, confirmed by radar, fired 7 rounds high explosive, 1 white phosphorous 4.2 mortars

78

1951

Hunsley taking incoming, 3 rounds believed to be 82mm, no casualties, all rounds impacted outside the wire, came from 100 degrees, 1000 meters out.  Counter-mortar fire employed

79

2000

Hawk 01 on station, off at 2130

80

2005

Trung Lap radar 1920 hours 590232 picked up 2-3 individuals moving north, fired 4.2 mortar 4 rounds high explosive

81

2029

CRIP CP closed

82

2030

Trung Lap radar 595246 picked up 5-6 individuals moving north, fired 30 rounds high explosive 105mm

83

2040

Trung Lap radar 2005 hours 537275 picked up 4-5 individuals moving northwest, fired 36 high explosive 105mm

84

2053

Trung Lap radar 543278 picked up 3-4 individuals moving north, fired 30 rounds 105mm high explosive

85

2110

Little Bear 14 on station to pick up CRIP's female detainee at Trung Lap

86

2130

ARVN AP's spotted movement vicinity 601205.  One AP captured a female, she was carrying rice and food, heading west

87

2200

AO request 130600 to 131800, all area north of 24 to 28 and east of the 65 line to the river.  Approved

88

2200

Sitrep - negative

89

2205

A Co AP at 591267

90

2300

Sitrep - negative

91

2310

ARVN AP at 595201 received small arms fire and either hand grenades or RPG.  They returned fire, size of force estimated to be platoon.  Negative casualties.  Possible 3 VC body count.  81mm illumination and 4.2 is also firing

92

2335

LNO:  Requested LFT and Flare ship or Nighthawk

93

2335

Hawk 01 on station

94

2335

Q-4 sighted tube flares at grid 603219 during initial contact

95

2358

Patton received 2 rounds incoming inside the wire, 75mm.  C Co has one man wounded, dustoff is priority ambulatory.  Dustoff complete at 0050

96

2400

Summary:  At 0307 radar sighted 3-4 individuals about 300 meters south of Patton.  They were engaged with 81mm mortars.  0300 hours bunker 9 and C Co NCP-1 spotted movement south of Patton.  A Nighthawk checked the area and found nothing.  A Co moved to PB Hunsley and B Co went to Cu Chi for stand down.  At 1219 ARVN PF's found 150 lbs rice and 3 lbs documents.  A Co took 3 rounds believed to be 82mm at Hunsley at 1951 hours.  All impacted outside the wire, came from the east about 1000 meters out.  At 2130 an ARVN AP captured a female at 601205.  She was carrying food and rice.  An ARVN AP at 595201 ambushed an estimated platoon-sized element at 2310 hours.  They killed 4 and captured documents and weapons.  At 2358 Patton took 2 75mm recoilless rifle rounds.  They landed around bunker 23.  They were fired from the northwest.  One man was slightly wounded and taken to the 12th Evac.  Counter-mortar tangents were fired.

97

2400

Log closed