Daily Staff Journal  20-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 continues Bushmaster operations
   B Co (-) 2 4-ship lifts PZ Hunsley, 1st lift 1000 hours C/A LZ-1 (603302), search area (603303-603305-597304-598301), PZ 1230 hours.  2nd lift 1010 hours C/A LZ-2 (607305), search area (609305-612307-607308-605307), PZ 1240 hours.  1st lift 1235 hours C/Z LZ-7 (631254), search area (631253-634253-634257-631257), PZ 1500 hours, 2nd lift 1245 hours C/Z LZ-8 (638252), search area (637252-641252-641256-637256), PZ 1510 hours.  1st lift 1505 hours C/A LZ-13 (622210), search area (623209-626210-625214-622214), PZ 1730 hours, return to PB.  2nd lift 1515 hours C/A LZ-14 (623204), search area (624202-627203-626206-623205), PZ 1745 hours, return to PB.  Conduct 1 NCP
   C Co (-) 2 4-ship lifts PZ Patton, 1st lift 1020 hours C/A LZ-3 (626294), search area (626296-624299-621296-624294), PZ 1250 hours.  2nd lift 1030 hours C/A LZ-4 (625287), search area (622286-622283-626283-626286), PZ 1300 hours.  1st lift 1255 hours C/A LZ-9 (649267), search area (648268-644268-644265-649265), PZ 1520 hours.  2nd lift 1305 hours C/A LZ-10 (654267), search area (655267-656264-661265-659269), PZ 1530 hours.  1st lift 1525 hours C/A LZ-15 (634222), search area (634219-640220-640224-635224), PZ 1830 hours, return to FSB.  2nd lift 1535 hours C/A LZ-16 (634214), search area (735212-638212-638217-635217), PZ 1815 hours, return to FSB.
   D Co (-) 2 4-ship lifts PZ Patton, 1st lift 1040 hours C/A LZ-5 (646286), search area (648286-652288-648291-645288), PZ 1310 hours.  2nd lift 1050 hours C/A LZ-6 (650279), search area (651278-655281-653284-650282), PZ 1320 hours.  1st lift 1315 hours C/A LZ-11 (655254), search area (658258-660252-663253-662260), PZ 1540 hours, 2nd lift 1325 hours C/A LZ-12 (654251), search area (659251-657246-662245-663249), PZ 1550 hours.  1st lift 1545 hours C/A LZ-17 (640233), search area (638232-639230-645232-643235), PZ 1830 hours, return to FSB.  2nd lift 1555 hours C/A LZ-18 (648236), search area (646235-647232-653234-652236), PZ 1845 hours, return to FSB.
   2 Co 1/49 LD (581217) 0530 hours, recon 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)
   3 Co 1/49 to obj-6 (599229), obj-8 (599239), obj-10 (600250), obj-12 (615246), obj-15 (612233), obj-17 (609221), return to Trung Lap.
   1 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.

02

0100

Sitrep - negative

03

0120

CRIP closed

04

0200

Sitrep - negative

05

0230

Trung Lap tower sighting confirmed by radar, grid (594232) 4 individuals moving north, engaging with sniper and .50 cal and 6 rounds high explosive 4.2

06

0300

Sitrep - negative

07

0400

Sitrep - negative

08

0500

Sitrep - negative

09

0535

Fence off (JW)

10

0655

B Co NCP closed

11

0705

C Co road sweep departed Patton

12

0707

D Co NCP's closed Patton

13

0707

CRIP 12 element departed Trung Lap

14

0725

CRIP 12 element in position (595220)

15

0729

CRIP 13 element departed Trung Lap

16

0730

3rd Co 1/49 hit 105mm booby-trap with trip wire (597230), 4 WIA (3 litter, 1 ambulatory)

17

0730

Menehune 2 on station for taxi

18

0754

3rd Co 1/49 dustoff complete

19

0747

[Late Entry] Locations:  1st Co & HHC (608228), 2nd Co (599229), 3rd Co (581228)

20

0800

Menehune 2 on station for VR

21

0808

B Co NCP-Z1, 20 Nov, 15 men (602279)

22

0810

CRIP 13 element in position (587221 & 595220)

23

0813

C Co road sweep complete, 7A clear

24

0815

D Co NCP-1 20 Nov 69 (568190) 15 men

25

0825

Brigade requested clearance for FAC to expend ordnance in grid XT600290 0825-0930, approved

26

0828

A Co will be in staging area today at (628240)

27

0835

AO's 1-GR & 1-HR disapproved by 8th ARVN Regiment, 5th ARVN Division

28

0845

Menehune 2 departed station

29

0852

From 1/5th (Mech) AO request 21/0800-21/1200, East of 63, south of 245 to AO boundary

30

0854

Menehune 2 & 15 spotted 1 VC in open (600293).  Issue trying to work up air strike, LFT called up

31

0855

Total of 46 blade hours today

32

0900

Shadow briefing for 53 in Brigade HQ 1230-1300 (S-3 & Battalion Commander invited) 24 Nov.  Sr. Shadow Pilot, Maj. Berchlemann will conduct

33

0918

Hornet 5 on station as C&C

34

0918

Brigade:  Mini-Cav will report 1000 hours

35

0925

LNO:  Locations, 1st Co (605235), 2nd Co (591241), 3rd Co (599229)

36

0930

1/5th (Mech) requested AO CAT 21/0600-21/1800, east of 7A, south of 19 to 605 grid, south to AO boundary

37

0945

Brigade requested air strike in (640290) and (656278), will coordinate with ground commander of D Co

38

0947

116th Avn 91 on station

39

0951

25th Avn Bn 706 on station with A Co resupply

40

1002

A Co resupply complete

41

1015

51 Asst. ARVN's not in AO Yen today

42

1015

B Co 1st lift airborne Hunsley 1004, down green (602303) 1005, 2nd lift airborne Hunsley 1009, down green (607305) 1011

43

1019

FAC 26 air strike complete, FAC 23 will replace 26

44

1020

3/4 Cav on station with Mini-Cav

45

1029

Brigade wants to know air assets for 24 Nov to 1 Dec

46

1031

CRIP checked a total of 114 males, 189 females and 64 ox carts, gave out 303 pamphlets, 64 flags

47

1035

C Co 1st lift airborne Patton 1018 hours, down green (625293) at 1025 hours, 2nd lift airborne Patton, down green (625287) 1035

48

1038

116th Avn reports heavy trail activity (625287)

49

1057

LNO:  Locations - 615246, 591241, 599229

50

1100

D Co trail activity south to north (645287)

51

1100

D Co 1st lift airborne Patton 1042 hours, down green (645287) 1048 hours, 2nd lift airborne Patton 1032 hours, down green (605279) 1100 hours

52

1104

S-3:  At 1100 hours, 10 hours and 20 minutes blade hours used

53

1105

B Co found tunnel 4x4 2-1/2 ft overhead cover, 10 ft long (599301), recent activity

54

1110

D Co found bunker 3x4x6 recent activity (645287)

55

1111

S-3:  Have used 11.25 blade hours

56

1124

Locations:  1st Co (612233), 2nd Co (615246), 3rd Co (615246), B-1 (599301), D-2 (645287)

57

1125

D Co found tunnel 15 ft long parallel to Highway 15 2-1/2 ft overhead cover, also bunker 2x4x8 2-1/2 ft overhead cover, 1 document, will bring in (645287)

58

1129

D Co found bunker 5x5 3-1/2 ft overhead cover, negative findings (654280)

59

1134

D Co found tunnel 2x3x4 ft long (646287)

60

1143

Brigade requested clearance on (638220) for FAC to expend his own ordnance, cleared

61

1148

116th Avn 86 have 12 VC in bunker with packs and weapons, possible body count (615235)

62

1151

C Co found bunker 2-1/2x2-1/2 with C rations (621295)

63

1159

B Co found 60mm booby-trap with trip wire and ? fuze (599301)

64

1200

S-3 spotted 10-15 individuals, engaging.  ARVN's will move in 6123 grid

65

1249

2nd Brigade Avn on station for C&C

66

1258

3/4 Cav 3 LST on station

67

1309

D Co trail activity crossing Highway 15, 10 individuals with Ho Chi Minh sandals going east (652282)

68

1241

[Late Entry] C Co found M-60 machine gun, old, rusty (625284)

69

1325

Aid station requested Medevac, Urgent, 1 litter, 1 ambulatory Vietnamese, on station 1337, complete 12 Evac 1339

70

1337

B Co 1st lift airborne (602302) 1327, down green (630253) 1329 hours.  2nd lift airborne (607302) 1333, down green (638253) 1337 hours

71

1258

[Late Entry] D Co found 3 NVA bodies buried, about 30 days old.  1 NVA body in open had mirror and knife on person, negative weapons (651282)

72

1343

A Co NCP's T (634244), C & CP (631240), Z (635238)

73

1345

Battalion CO:  Confirmed 2 body count in contact area credited to 116th Avn air strike blew away, 1/49th sweeping area

74

1350

Brigade:  Mini-Cav on station in 30 minutes

75

1403

C Co 1st lift airborne (624293) 1348 hours, down green (649267) 1352 hours.  2nd lift airborne (625286) 1358 hours, down green (654265) 1403 hours

76

1403

Battalion CO:  ARVN search after air strike in (621215) have found 3 AK's, 1 POW wounded, 1 VC body count, some legs, uniforms, cooking utensils

77

1425

Brigade requested air strike clearance for (600298), approved

78

1429

D Co 1st lift airborne (648287) 1410 hours, down green (655254) 1415 hours.  2nd lift airborne (649280) 1424 hours, down green (654251) 1429 hours

79

1430

Battalion CO returning to Patton

80

1430

2nd Brigade Avn 2 on station

81

1445

S-3:  Blade hours at 1445 hours are 28 hours and 45 minutes

82

1450

3/4 Cav 19 found 2 bunkers with an NVA shirt by one, sending in Mini-Cav (590243)

83

1455

Battalion CO:  Sitrep thus far, 4 AK's captured, clothing, NVA blue and brown, some in black shorts and white shirts.  17 body count as follows:  2 to Stingers, 2 to C&C, 12 to artillery and air strikes, 1 to ARVN

84

1456

Mini-Cav:  1115 down green (622189), 1118 airborne from (622189).  Off station 1200 hours, back on station 1430 hours.  1510 hours down green (590243) at 1555.  Airborne from (590243), found small bunkers and shot them up.

85

1457

1/49 found 3 more bodies, 5 unknown type hand grenades and 7 Chicom grenades, 1 US compass and some documents

86

1457

C Co found pair Ho Chi Minh sandals (657266)

87

1530

3/4 Cav 51 Mini-Cav found 1 105mm booby-trap with trip wire (590243)

88

1540

D Co found tunnel 75 to 100 feet, still going back.  1 VC entrenching tool (660250), request air strike

89

1546

LNO:  2 Co 1/49 closed Trung Lap, Bn (-) closing

90

1615

B Co 1st lift airborne (625254) 1605 hours, down green (622210) 1608 hours.  2nd lift airborne (638252) 1612 hours, down green (623204) 1615 hours

91

1628

C Co 1st lift airborne (648268) 1618 hours, down green (635221) 1621 hours, 2nd lift airborne (634267) 1627 hours, down green (634214) 1628 hours

92

1638

D Co 1st lift airborne (655254) 1629 hours, down green (640233) 1632 hours, 2nd lift airborne (660250) 1634 hours, down green (648236) 1638 hours

93

1625

[Late Entry] B Co found booby-trap (625205), it was destroyed

94

1630

C Co vic (636221) heavy movement on trail about 12 individuals

95

1640

3/4 Cav Avn 51 on station

96

1653

S-3:  Blade hours 40 hours at 1700

97

1655

FAC 28 on station

98

1700

3/4 Cav Avn 19 spotted tunnel entrance at (677228)

99

1700

D Co 3rd platoon found tunnel and bunker, contained ponchos, food and clothing, 6x5x4 with 3 ft overhead cover, destroyed it

100

1705

C Co found old bunker at (635216), destroyed it

101

1708

D Co 3rd platoon found tunnel, contained C-4, 2 packs and still-warm coals (649238).  Destroyed it

102

1710

3/4 Cav Avn 51 found 3-4 tunnel entrances (657229) with recent activity, destroying them

103

1715

C Co found sandals and water can (640223)

104

1715

LNO:  AO Betty 22/06000-22/1800 (5923-6324-6419-6018)

105

1715

LNO:  ARVN NCP's - 585221, 597214, 599209, 599205, 586213, 588207, 589204, 597198

106

1717

3/4 Avn 51 off station

107

1745

B Co found dud 155mm round (624203), destroyed

108

1751

B Co 1st lift airborne 1740 from (624198), down green Hunsley 1744, 2nd lift airborne (624203) at 1747 hours, down green Hunsley 1751 hours

109

1805

C Co 1st lift airborne (635211) 1756 hours, down green Patton 1758 hours, 2nd lift airborne (638221) 1803 hours, down green Patton 1805 hours

110

1810

Stingers destroyed bunker at (610224), 4 body count

111

1816

116th Avn has 1 body count, individual running in open vic (603221)

112

1830

D Co 1st lift airborne (640233) at 1816 hours, down green Patton 1820 hours, 2nd lift airborne (647237) at 1826 hours, down green Patton 1830 hours

113

1830

Brigade requested clearance (650282) for FAC to expend ordnance, cleared

114

1835

D Co NCP departing

115

1837

Blade hours used as of 1830 hours, 48 hours

116

1840

S-3:  AMC released

117

1851

C&C departing

118

1905

A Co 2nd platoon at (635238) ambushed 10 enemy, 4 killed, were carrying weapons.  Artillery is being employed at this time, negative assistance required

119

1915

1/5th (Mech) AP's (601171, 604149, 613147)

120

1925

B Co NCP in position

121

1905

[Late Entry] C Co AE 1805 hours (640223) found tunnel with 70 rounds M-60 ammo, 10 rounds M-16, and food.  Destroyed

122

1942

Hunsley radar (604265) picked up 2-3 individuals moving east, fired 6 high explosive 105mm rounds

123

1947

Trung Lap radar (595268) picked up 5-6 individuals moving north, fired 12 high explosive 105mm rounds

124

1952

Trung Lap radar (627224) picked up 3-4 individuals moving northeast, fired 6 high explosive 105mm rounds

125

2110

Brigade:  2/14 has Division Ready Reaction Force 21/0600 to 24/0600 Nov

126

2110

LNO:  AO Betty ballgame for 22 Nov, Bn (-) & 1 US Co & 1 platoon PF LD 0730 (597222), Bn (-) to obj-2 (608227), obj-6 (620232), obj-8 (623224), obj-12 (618214), obj-16 (633205), obj-14 (627200), obj-18 (622190), obj-20 (610188), return to Trung Lap.  US & 1 platoon PF LD obj-4 (613220), obj-8 (623224), obj-10 (622212), obj-14 (627200), obj-18 (622190), obj-20 (610188), return to Trung Lap.  1 platoon 1 Co 1/49 (593205) LD 1300 obj-24 (600704) blocking force.  495 RF Co (-) LD 1300 hours (593205), obj-22 (602200), vic obj-24, set up block, return to Trung Lap

127

2130

S-4:  At 1030 hours a Chinook will pick up ARVN Co at Trung Lap to take them to Hunsley.  There will be two sorties

128

2200

Sitrep - negative

129

2205

CRIP NCP departed

130

2300

Sitrep - negative

131

2315

Trung Lap radar (580231) picked up 3-4 individuals moving east 2150 hours, fired 6 high explosive 105mm rounds

132

2316

CRIP NCP in position (597228)

133

2400

Sitrep - negative

Summary:
   At 0730 hours 3rd Co 1/49th ARVN hit a 105mm booby-trap with a trip wire at  grid (597230), 4 WIA.  At 0854 hours 2 Brigade Avn spotted 1 enemy in open at (600293).  B Co heliborned from Hunsley to (602303) and (607305) at 1015 hours.  C Co went from Patton to (625293) and (625287) at 1035 hours.  D Co heliborned from Patton to (645287) and (605279) at 1100 hours.
   116th Avn 86 spotted 12 enemy in a bunker vicinity of (615235).  At 1159 hours B Co found a 60mm mortar round booby-trapped at (599301).
   The C&C ship spotted 10 to 15 enemy in the 6123 grid and engaged them at 1200 hours.  At 1241 hours C Co found an old M-60 machine gun at (625284).  D Co found 3 NVA bodies in a grave at (651282).  They had been dead about 30 days.  There was another body in the open.
   LTC Crutchley credited two body count to the 116th Avn at 1345 hours for the action in the 6123 grid.  A search after an air strike at (621215) found 3 AK's, 1 POW, 1 body, some legs and personal gear.  Total action killed 17 enemy, two by 116th Avn, 12 to artillery and air strikes, 1 to the ARVNs.
   At 1457 hours the 1/49th found 3 more bodies, grenades and a compass along with documents.  The 116th Avn in the vicinity of (610224) destroyed some bunkers and killed four more enemy.  About five minutes later at 1816 hours the 116th Avn killed one more enemy running in the open at (603221).
   A Co 2nd platoon ambushed 10 enemy at (635238) killing four.  They were carrying weapons.  Artillery was employed against the remaining enemy with unknown results.  The time of their contact was 1905 hours.