Daily Staff Journal  13-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 (-) PZ 0850 hours C/A LZ-3 (615284) with 2 4-ship lifts and search area (610300) to (625300) to (625280).  Be prepared to receive and assist team to put in Duffle Bags at (615288)(616286)(614284).  Special instructions:  Take ropes and be prepared to cross stream in AO, be prepared to recon to PB Hunsley or for extraction from AO.  Conduct one NCP vicinity PB
   B Co Stand down in Cu Chi
   C Co (-) PZ 0800 hours C/A LZ-1 (654255) with 2 4-ship lifts, move with source to vicinity (661248) and search area for 2 cache sites.  Be prepared for extraction and re-insertion in LZ-4 (625198) and LZ-5 (625203) with 4 ships in each LZ, recon to PZ (634203), conduct one NCP vicinity Patton, one platoon occupy Venice East and Patton tower, conduct road sweep on 7A from Trung Lap to Highway 1 0645 hours
   D Co OpCon to 3/4 Cav
   1st Co 2/49 (-) PZ 0830 hours, C/A LZ-2 (656260), recon to and search area (658258) to (653273) to (657274) to (664259).  Be prepared for extraction and re-insertion into LZ-6 (622208), LZ-7 (622210).  4 ships in each LZ, recon to PZ (630213)
   2 Co 2/49 LD 0730 hours (593220), recon to obj-1 (587232), split, one element to obj-2 (580227), one to obj-3 (583225), join at obj-4 (576220) to obj-5 (582213), to Trung Lap.
   495 RF search the following area (592205-585199-593190-599197)

02

0050

Dustoff to take WIA C Co suffered during 75mm attack, was taken to 12th Evac.  Rounds came from 6000 mils

03

0105

LNO:  Results of RF AP at 599202, had 3 VC body count, they did not have weapons, 595201.  1 VC body count with one M-79 and a small amount of documents.  At 599202 two ?? were also captured.  The VC bodies will be in Trung Lap tomorrow

04

0111

Brigade S-2:  CRIP female detainee readout: Trinh Thi Mang, VC suspected, knows of 11 VC living in Tam Dinh jungle 5424.  She cooks rice in the Tam Dinh hamlet for VC

05

0200

Sitrep - negative

06

0300

Sitrep - negative

07

0400

Sitrep - negative

08

0500

Sitrep - negative

09

0510

Fence turned off (G.S)

10

0620

CRIP departed on ballgame

11

0645

Brigade:  Requested clearance for air strike (613290), TOT (time on target) within 1 hour

12

0650

C Co road sweep to Trung Lap departed

13

0657

C Co NCP closed

14

0707

A Co NCP closed

15

0712

C Co NCP location (574210), call sign AP-1, 12 men

16

0719

CRIP in position at CP's (601214, 595220, 595225)

17

0727

A Co NCP location (601272) call sign AP-2, 15 men

18

0730

2nd Brigade Avn 2 C&C on station

19

0753

C Co road open Patton to Trung Lap

20

0823

C Co 1st lift airborne Patton 0806 hours, down green 654254 0812 hours.  2nd lift airborne Patton 0818 hours, down green 654254 0823 hours

21

0824

2nd Brigade Avn 1 on station with source

22

0840

Brigade:  Sniff Box from 130915-131200.  1st (6127, 6427, 6124, 6424)  2nd (568287, 600287, 560310, 600310)

23

0845

1st Co 2/49 airborne Trung Lap 0831, down green (656260) at 0835 hours.  2nd lift airborne Trung Lap 0841 hours, down green (656260) at 0845 hours

24

0857

LNO:  Locations:  2nd Co 2/49 (587232) 495 RF (search area)

25

0900

A Co 1st lift airborne Hunsley 0852 hours, down green (613281) 0853 hours.  2nd lift airborne Hunsley 0859 hours, down green 613281 at 0900 hours

26

0902

C Co reports road clear to Highway 1 from Trung Lap

27

0911

S-3:  8 blade hours at 0900 hours, AMC released

28

0915

Brigade:  Requested LST for C Co

29

0925

Commo 2/14:  QSL 0925 hours on ballgame

30

0929

2nd Brigade Avn 5 on station to go to Hunsley

31

0929

3/4 Cav 45 LST on station

32

0931

Brigade:  32 blade hours available 13 Nov

33

0931

Locations:  A Co (614282), C Co (658250), 1st Co 2/49 (659265), 2nd Co (587232), 495 (search area)

34

0945

Unclassified message, Subject:  Use of Teletype - CITE 11-013

35

0950

S-3:  Brigade commander at Patton

36

1003

2nd Brigade Avn 5 on station for VR

37

1008

Brigade requests clearance for air strike (625233).  Cleared

38

1029

Locations:  A Co (615585), C Co (661248), CRIP (Same), 1st Co 2/49 (659265), 495 RF in search area, 2nd Co 2/49 (584228 & 586227)

39

1038

Brigade:  Sniff mission cancelled

40

1047

3/4 Cav 48 LST on station

41

1103

3/4 Cav 48 found 4 bunkers located (664254) 4x4 activity last 24 hours

42

1105

116th Avn on station for C&C

43

1108

CRIP all elements closed

44

1114

3/4 Cav 48 spotted tunnel activity, 2 entrances, 14x4 sleeping spot used overnight (655239)

45

1015

[Late Entry] S-3:  Col. Whitehead departing Patton

46

1115

3/4 Cav 48 released

47

1120

2nd Brigade Avn 5 released

48

1130

Locations:  A Co, C Co same, CRIP closed, 1st Co 2/49 (658268), 2nd Co 2/49 (580227 & 583225), 495 same

49

1139

Battalion Commander:  Searched planned area, negative weapon findings, moving to search area where 3/4 Cav 48 requesting findings

50

1159

C Co at (661248) found 1 VC skeleton

51

1200

A Co all Duffle Bag sensors in, returning to PB

52

1230

CRIP:  Ballgames 13 Nov 1800-2100, NCP (594225), 14 Nov 69 0600-1100 CP's 588220 & 598202

53

1230

Commo 2/14:  Message QSL Sniper report 1115 hours, Training report 1110 hours, NCP report 1155 hours, ARVN report 1210 hours, RRF report 1220 hours

54

1232

Locations:  A Co (614276), C Co (661249), all others same as last

55

1232

C Co found 4 tunnels, 1 Chicom grenade, 2 tunnels, 1 155mm dud, 4 tunnels were 2x10x5, 2 tunnels 2x4 1/2x5 location (661248)

56

1239

CRIP:  12 Nov 69 at location (587217) 41 flags & pamphlets, (587222) 16 flags & pamphlets, (595208) 32 flags & pamphlets, 1600 hours 1 POW in Trung Lap turned in to Brigade 13 Nov 69, location (595222) 4 flags & pamphlets, (601214) 2 flags & pamphlets

57

1248

A Co found 1 Chicom grenade booby-trap with trip wire (612276) at side of trail

58

1320

A Co closed Hunsley

59

1330

A Co found dud 155mm round at (602272) at 1310 hours, will blow

60

1337

1st Co 2/49 1st lift airborne (655267), 1320 hours, down green (622208) 1327 hours, 2nd lift airborne 1331 hours (655267), down green 1337 hours

61

1342

LNO:  2nd Co 2/49 (576220)

62

1345

2nd Brigade Avn 6 on station for taxi

63

1401

C Co 1st lift airborne (661249) at 1341 hours, down green (625198) at 1346 hours.  2nd lift airborne (661249) 1351 hours, down green (625203) at 1401 hours

64

1406

Brigade:  Mobile dentist to be here at 1300 14 Nov 69

65

1409

LNO:  2nd Co 2/49 (582213)

66

1410

S-3:  Blade hours 28.20 at this time

67

1413

A Co new NCP location (601271)

68

1428

25th Avn Bn 22 defoliation ship on station to work around Hunsley

69

1430

Commo 2/14:  QSL on messages 1430 hours for Eagle Eye, 1400 hours CRIP ballgame, 1405 hours Sniper report for tonight's activities

70

1430

C Co location (630200) found 3 animal traps, will destroy

71

1439

LNO:  2nd Co 2/49 closed

72

1510

2nd Brigade Avn on station for Duffle Bag taxi

73

1515

Brigade requested clearance for 25th Avn Bn to expend ordnance in (637232).  Cleared

74

1605

Brigade:  AO Lobo given to 25th Avn until 131800

75

1619

C Co 1st lift airborne (634203) at 1608 hours, down green Patton 1611, 2nd lift airborne (634203) 1616 hours, down green Patton 1619 hours

76

1620

S-3 C&C ship saw and engaged 1 individual in the open, 1 body count (607215)

77

1623

1st Co 2/49 1st lift airborne (630213) 1623 hours, down green Trung Lap 1625 hours, 2nd lift airborne (630213) 1630 hours, down green Trung Lap 1632 hours.

78

1630

S-3:  38 blade hours at 1630 hours

79

1630

116th Avn 2 released AMC

80

1634

Brigade:  Requested clearance for FAC to expend ordnance in (655265).  Cleared

81

1635

LNO:  AO request 140600-141800 (620210-620180-586180-585199), 1st Co 2/49 LD 0700 (599205), recon obj-11 (604200), obj-12 (602194), obj-13 (609189), obj-14 (613196), obj-15 (613205), return Trung Lap.  495 RF 0700 LD (594200), recon obj-21 (595195), obj-22 (598184), obj-23 (590185), return to Trung Lap

82

1635

LNO:  AO request 140600-141800 (577185-550200-550222-570222-585199).  2nd Co 2/49 0700 LD (579195), obj-A (565197), obj-B (560200), obj-C (555212), obj-D (560219), split obj-E (567217), obj-F (565212), obj-H (575210), obj-G (570208), RP (583197), return to Trung Lap

83

1645

2/12th:  AO (Dragon) requested (567265-560265-567280-574284) all East to AO boundary.  Approved

84

1700

495 RF closed

85

1700

AO request from 2/12 for 2/49th ARVN disapproved because of ballgame of 2/12 at 1740 in that area requested

86

1700

AO request from 1/5th (Mech) 140600-141800 (560195 to 550200), all north to AO boundary.  Cancelled

87

1715

Stinger: 1 body count at (608227)

88

1745

2/49 ARVN NCPs 588217, 595218, 599204, 588212, 599212, 585207, 588207, 590201, 591204, 594201

89

1755

C Co NCP departed.  Venice East reports Vietnamese child tripped a booby-trap to the south of their position about 300 meters, child was killed and the body was returned by a Vietnamese male at 1730 hours

90

1808

CRIP AP VH kicked off

91

1830

A Co AP-2 kicked off

92

1910

C Co AP-1 in position at (573209)

93

1917

CRIP location (594225) returning to Trung Lap at this time

94

1940

CRIP AP closed Trung Lap

95

2015

CRIP:  Change in ballgame for 14th 0600-1100 hours CPs 588220 & 586228

96

2020

Cancel 495 RF ballgame for 14 Nov

97

2025

A Co AP in position (598266)

98

2028

CRIP spotted lights at (599237), expended 13 rounds 155mm high explosive, 1 white phosphorous

99

2015

[Late Entry] S-3:  Advise all units that sappers entered the wire at Cu Chi and Hampton and ???

100

2100

Sitrep - negative

101

2116

LNO:  2nd Co 2/49 ARVNs will not have a ballgame tomorrow.  1st Co 2/49 & 495 RF AO change:  from 610180 to 620190 (app)

102

2125

Brigade:  AO request from 1/5th (Mech) DTG 150600 to 171200 (665235-635220-632230-660245)  Approved by Maj. Branscome

103

2140

AO request from Brigade commander, from 570210 west to 560213, from 570210 all down to AO boundary

104

2157

Hunsley radar 611273 picked up 2-3 individuals stationary, fired 6 rounds 105mm high explosive

105

2200

Sitrep - negative

106

2300

Sitrep - negative

107

2255

[Late Entry] LOH:  Requests approved

108

2400

Sitrep - negative

109

2400

Summary:  At 2358 on 12 Nov FSB Patton received two 75mm recoilless rifle rounds believed to have been fired from the northwest.  One man was slightly wounded and dusted off to the 12th Evac at 0050.
   C Co heliborned from Patton to 654254 at 0806 hours.  1st Co 2/49 ARVN was heliborned in at 0830 hours vic. 650260.  A Co was heliborned from Hunsley to 613281 at 0852 hours to place Duffle Bags.
   The Brigade commander arrived at Patton at 0950 hours.  Col Whitehead departed at 1015 hours.
   3/4 Cav 48 at 1101 hours spotted bunkers in vicinity of 664254 and 655239 that showed recent activity.
   C Co found a shelter vic. 661248 at 1159 hours.  At 1232 hours 4 tunnels, a Chicom grenade and a 155 dud were found at 661248.
   A Co while moving towards Hunsley at 1320 found a Chicom booby-trap with trip wire at 612276.
   The C&C ship killed 1 VC at 1620 hours at 607215.  The gunships killed 1 VC at 1715 hours at 608227.

110

2400

Log closed