Daily Staff Journal  19-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 1Lt Anthony York, 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 (-) Prepare for Bushmaster operations, 3 4-ship lifts PZ Hunsley, 1st lift 1450 hours, 2nd lift 1505 hours, 3rd lift 1520 hours.  LZ (641250).  Conduct Bushmaster operations in area (6224-6226-6526-6524)
   B Co (-) 2 4-ship lifts PZ Hunsley, 1st lift 0800 hours, 2nd lift 0815 hours, 1st lift C/A LZ-3 (596242), search area (597240, 598243, 604243, 606240), end lift C/A LZ-3B (596238), search area (597238, 607239, 606237, 598234), PZ vic of search areas.  1st lift 1200 hours, 2nd lift 1215 hours, 1st lift C/A LZ-6A (641250), search area (640250, 640255, 646256, 647251), 2nd lift C/A LZ-6A (641250) search area (642243, 642249, 648250, 648244), PZ vic of LZ, 1st lift 1500 hours, 2nd lift 1515 hours, return to Hunsley.  Conduct 1 NCP vic PB
   C Co (-) 2 4-ship lifts PZ Patton, 1st lift 0700 hours, 2nd lift 0715 hours.  1st lift C/A LZ-1A (627269), search area (624262, 624268, 631268, 631262).  2nd lift C/A LZ-1B (637269), search area (634260, 634267, 640267, 640260).  PZ vic search areas, 1st lift 1100 hours, 2nd lift 1115 hours.  1st lift C/Z LZ-4A (621191), search area (623187, 623192, 631194, 631189).  2nd lift C/A LZ-4B (622184), search area (621181, 624183, 629178, 626174), PZ vic search areas, 1st lift 1430 hours, 2nd lift 1445 hours, return to Patton.  One platoon occupy Venice East and tower at Patton, conduct road sweep on 7A from Trung Lap to Highway 1 0645 hours.
   D Co (-) 2 4-ship lifts PZ Patton, 1st lift 0730 hours, 2nd lift 0745 hours, 1st lift C/A LZ-2A (620252), search area (619252, 617257, 621259, 623253).  2nd lift C/A LZ-2B (627252), search area (624253, 629259, 631256, 625250), PZ vic search area, 1st lift 1130 hours, 2nd lift 1145 hours.  1st lift C/A LZ-5A (658236), search area (652236, 652234, 647232, 646235).  2nd lift C/A LZ-5B (640232), search area (643235, 645232, 639230, 638232, 642232, 641235), PZ vic search area.  1st lift 1530 hours, 2nd lift 1545 hours, return to Patton.  Conduct 2 NCP's.
   1 Co 1/49 LD (593210), obj-A (599208), obj-B (604200), obj-C (612207), obj-D (613194), obj-E (608190), obj-F (601193), obj-G (598184), obj-H (588187), obj-I (591198)
   2 Co 1/49 LD (587204) 0800 hours to obj-1 (582213), obj-2 (589222), obj-3 (588233), obj-4 (579229), obj-6 (575220), obj-7 (566214), obj-8 (575208)
   3 Co 1/49 LD (593217) 1000 hours to obj-2 (600222), obj-4 (598229), obj-12 (610230), obj-14 (614220), obj-16 (608215)

02

0100

Sitrep - negative

03

0200

Sitrep - negative

04

0300

Sitrep - negative

05

0400

Sitrep - negative

06

0500

Sitrep - negative

07

0520

Fence off (GS)

08

0635

Hornet 3 on station as C&C

09

0641

D Co NCPs closed Patton

10

0654

D Co NCP's for 19-20 Nov:  #1 (589182) 12 man, #2 (573199) 12 man

11

0655

C Co road sweep teams departed

12

0704

A Co NCP's closed Hunsley

13

0715

CRIP departed Trung Lap at 0640, in position 588219 at this time

14

0727

C Co 1st lift airborne from Patton 0710, down green (628268) 0716, 2nd lift airborne from Patton 0721, down green (637289) 0727

15

0729

Brigade requested air strikes grid 623300 at 0800

16

0739

Menehune 1 LOH on station for VR

17

0754

Co D 1st lift airborne from Patton 0736, down green (620252) 0742, 2nd lift airborne from Patton 0747, down green (627252) 0754

18

0810

AO Lobo requested by Brigade for free fire zone, 25th Avn 190800-191800

19

0810

B Co 1st lift airborne from Hunsley 0757, down green at (596242) 0803, 2nd lift airborne from Hunsley 0806, down green (596238) at 0809

20

0810

AMC released 8 hours 25 minutes blade time consumed

21

0815

Menehune 1 departed station

22

0800

[Late Entry] 1st Co 1/49 at LD (593210)

23

0808

[Late Entry] 2nd Co 1/49 at LD (587204)

24

0820

D Co found fresh trail, 2 men (619254)

25

0830

B Co blew 105mm dud, negative lot number or booby-trap at (598263)

26

0835

From Issue 28:  Will place air strike in vic. of Mushroom at 0900

27

0848

1st Co 1/49 at obj-A (599208)

28

0850

Menehune 1 on station as C&C

29

0856

Brigade requested air strike clearance grid (595305), time on target 1000, approved

30

0850

[Late Entry] From Brigade:  Sniff Mission 0900-1200 AO (6220-6720-6222-6722)

31

0907

Menehune 7 on station with papers for S-3

32

0900

[Late Entry] Locations:  C Co (629264, 634260), D Co (628256, 621242), B Co (597241, 599237), 1 Co 1/49 (599208), 2nd Co 1/49 (582213)

33

0915

B Co found fresh footprints moving east and sleeping positions in bushes at (600263)

34

0918

D Co found sign of recent digging at (628256)

35

0928

D Co found old punji pit at (628256), destroyed

36

0945

From Centaur 44:  Alpha reading (639219)

37

0955

Centaur 44:  Trail activity possible VC and clothing (633227)

38

0955

Locations:  B Co (602242, 605237), C Co (629272, 635260), D Co (629254, 622253), 1st Co 1/49 (608204), 2nd Co (589222), 3rd Co (593217)

39

1000

Flame Bath will  report on station at 1330, must have aircraft to guide strikes

40

1005

Col Whitehead landed at Hunsley

41

1020

CRIP CP closed Trung Lap

42

1025

Menehune 1 departed station

43

1030

C Co reported small bunker (635260), recent activity

44

1048

D Co destroyed 1 bunker 4x4x4, 2 ft overhead cover, old, negative recent activity (619247)

45

1109

Hornet 3 C&C on station

46

1110

Locations:  B Co (601243, 607239), C Co (625267, 637264), D Co (629256, 619253), 1st Co (613194), 2nd Co (588233), 3rd Co (598229)

47

1115

Col Whitehead departed Hunsley

48

1125

From Battalion Commander:  21.40 blade hours at 1030 hours

49

1130

From A Co:  19 Nov staging area (649242), NCP-T (641243), NCP-C & CP (642239), NCP-Z (646235).  20 Nov staging area (627240), NCP-T (632242), NCP-C & CP (634237), NCP-Z (638233)

50

1150

C Co 1st list airborne from (628269) at 1130, down green at (621191) at 1135, 2nd lift airborne from (634267) at 1142, down green at (622184) at 1147

51

1210

B Co 1st lift airborne from (601243) at 1157, down green at (641250) at 1200, 2nd lift airborne from (601243) at 1205, down green at (641250) at 1209

52

1225

D Co 1st lift airborne from (629256) at 1211, down green at (653236) at 1216, 2nd lift airborne from (619253) at 1219, down green at (640232) at 1224

53

1225

D Co found 6 US hand grenades, 1 bandoleer of ammo at (629256)

54

1226

C Co found small tunnel and a few documents, bare footprints on a trail to southeast, steel pot and metal spoon at (625192), documents returned to S-2

55

1230

Blade hours at 1230:  33 hours 40 minutes

56

1235

B Co NCP (589274) 15 men 19 Nov

57

1246

D Co found and destroyed 2 animal traps at (640232)

58

1250

D Co found and destroyed 40 lb shaped charge in hole at (640232)

59

1300

Locations:  B Co (641250), C Co (621191, 622184), D Co (653731, 640232), 1st Co (608190), 2nd Co (579229), 3rd Co (598229)

60

1315

Issue 24 FAC aircraft on station to direct Flame Baths delivered by Little Bear 35

61

1317

Locations:  B Co (646252, 647242), C Co (625191, 625184), D Co (653227, 640232), 3rd Co (603230)

62

1320

Little Bear 35 on station with 1st Flame Bath

63

1330

3rd Co 1/49 ARVN destroyed booby-trap 105mm round with trip wire in thick area, man tripped it, detonator went off but round did not, man suffered minor injury (603230)

64

1335

C Co destroyed 1 81mm dud, 1 105mm dud, 1 155mm dud within 100 meters of each other at (625134)

65

1340

D Co found old caved-in tunnel in hedgerow (648226) 3x3x2 2-1/2 ft overhead cover

66

1358

D Co found and destroyed 1 old bunker 4x4x4 containing 1 rotting corpse approx. 1 month old and 1 AK magazine

67

1410

D Co found bunker and tunnel 10x3 3 ft overhead cover (648237)

68

1410

C Co destroyed 50 .50 cal. rounds (626192)

69

1412

Brigade requested clearance for FAC to expend ammo (623206), cleared

70

1415

25th Avn Bn 35 completed 4 Flame Baths, negative secondary explosions

71

1415

LNO:  1 Co 1/49 closed Trung Lap

72

1427

2nd Co 1/49 closed Trung Lap

73

1430

LNO:  ARVN ballgame was then cancelled

74

1435

[Repeated on original page]  LNO:  ARVN ballgame was then cancelled

75

1435

C Co airborne (623182) at 1435 hours, down green at Patton 1438 hours, airborne from (622183) at 1426 hours, down green at Patton 1429 hours

76

1500

Brigade requested clearance for air strikes (644235, 600300, 598289), cleared except for (644235)

77

1500

A Co 1st lift airborne Hunsley at 1447 hours, down green at (641250) at 1450 hours, 2nd lift airborne Hunsley at 1455 hours, down green (641250) at 1459 hours, 3rd lift airborne Hunsley at 1503 hours, down green (641250) at 1506 hours

78

1503

B Co 1st lift airborne from (641250) 1451, down green Hunsley 1455, 2nd lift airborne from (641250) 1459 hours, down green Hunsley 1503 hours

79

1520

S-3:  At 1515 hours have consumed 45 hours 5 minutes blade hours

80

1527

D Co airborne from (648237) at 1527 hours, down green Patton 1533 hours, airborne from (639233) 1518 hours, down green Patton 1522 hours

81

1535

LNO:  3rd Co 1/49th closed

82

1540

S-3:  47 blade hours at 1530 hours, AMC released

83

1603

LNO:  NCPs 586221, 600208, 598214, 598206, 587213, 589207, 589204, 594198

84

1543

Ballgame for 20 Nov 69:  3rd Co 1/49 & HHC LD 0530 (586205), recon obj-6 (575207), obj-7 (568211)

85

1704

CRIP NCP 2300-0200 (593230)

86

1745

LNO:  20/0500-20/1800 AO (570270-600210-575180-550180-550215).  Disapproved by CQ

87

1750

A Co 3rd platoon sprung ambush on 3 individuals, did not receive any fire, 3 body count, artillery 1 Bush

88

1756

A Co 3rd platoon has enemy element moving down road toward them, employing artillery

89

1825

D Co NCPs departed

90

1830

B Co NCP departed

91

1850

A Co 3rd platoon linked up with CP.  Got one body count with ambush, killed 3 more with artillery.  Observed artillery had uncovered bunker entrance and spider holes

92

1942

Trung Lap radar (538242) picked up 4-5 individuals moving south, fired 6 high explosive 105mm rounds

93

1945

B Co NCP in position

94

2000

D Co NCP's in position

95

2020

Trung Lap radar (555259) picked up 6-7 individuals moving south, fired 6 high explosive 105mm rounds

96

2125

Trung Lap radar (580265) picked up 3-4 individuals stationary, fired 6 high explosive 105mm rounds

97

2050

[Late Entry] LNO:  ARVN Ballgame
   2nd Co 1/49 LD 0530 hours (581217), to obj-1 (581228), obj-2 (589232), obj-4 (591241), obj-10 (600250), obj-12 (615246), obj-14 (619238), obj-16 (621228), obj-18 (613219), obj-19 (607215), return to Trung Lap.
   Bn (-) 1/49 LD 0530 hours (588219)
   3rd Co to obj-6 (599229), obj-8 (5999239), obj-10 (600250), obj-12 (615246), obj-15 (612233), obj-17 (609221), return to Trung Lap
   1st Co & HHC to obj-5 (603221), obj-7 (608228), obj-9 (605235), obj-11 (606241), obj-12 (615246), obj-15 (612233), obj-17 (609221), return to Trung Lap

98

2152

Trung Lap tower has 4 enemy spotted (595220), will engage with sniper and 50 Cal

99

2200

Sitrep - negative

100

2230

Trung Lap radar  (553204) picked up 4-5 individuals moving north, fired 12 high explosive 105mm rounds

101

2300

Sitrep - negative

102

2320

CRIP NCP departed Trung Lap

103

2332

Hawk 02 on station, spotted sampan in stream (573218), engaged with minigun, sunk it

104

2400

Sitrep - negative

Summary:
   C Co heliborned from Patton to 628268 at 0721 hours.  D Co went into 620252 at 0754 hours.  B Co departed Hunsley by helicopter to 596242 at 0803 hours.
   D Co found a fresh trail vic 619254.  B Co found a trail and sleeping positions vic 600263.
   The Brigade Commander visited Hunsley at 1005 hours.  The companies were inserted into their second LZ in the afternoon.  At 1225 hours D Co found 6 US hand grenades and ammo at 629256.  At 625192 C Co found a tunnel and documents at 1225 hours.  D Co destroyed a 40 lb shaped charge vic 640232.
   At 1330 hours vic 603230 3rd Co 1/49th ARVN tripped a 105mm booby-trap that did not explode.  At 1358 hours D Co found a month-old body vic 648226.
   At 1750 hours A Co 3rd platoon sprang their ambush on 2-3 enemy, killing one.  3 more were killed by artillery.