Daily Staff Journal 08-Aug-1970

ITEM	TIME	INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDERS, ETC.
		LOG OPENED, Supporting Information: Bn Cmdr LTC Charles Norton, Bn XO Robert Cope, S1 Cpt Michael Collier, S2 MSG Kermit Fincham, S3 Maj David King S4 Cpt Joseph Murphy, S5 MSG John Wright. Operations: A Co 3rd platoon continued operations in AO, conduct AP vic XT440390, 447388, 455388. Wpns plat duty mortars at Dau Tieng Base Camp. Co B 3rd plat and 1 plat 324 RF PZ vic XT548567 o/a 1400 hrs, return to Dau Tieng Base Camp 1 plat on 5 min. standby as RRF. [Ready Response Force]. Wpns plat in charge of road sweep from Dau Tieng Base Camp to FSB Byrd. Co C 2 plat return from AP to FSB, conduct road sweep from FSB Byrd to vic XT547493. 3 plat PZ FSB Byrd o/a 1400 hrs, CA LZ vic XT430435, conduct AP vic XT432432, 435433, 437436. Wpns plat at Dau Tieng Base Camp. Co D 1 plat return from AP to Dau Tieng Base Camp. 1 plat conduct road sweep on convoy route, return to FSB Byrd o/a 1700 hrs. 1 plat at Dau Tieng Base Camp conduct AP vic XT507505. 1 plat at FSB Conduct AP vic XT 561525. Wpns plat 1 tube at FSB, 2 tubes at Dau Tieng Base Camp, provide detail for road sweep. Recon at Dau Tieng Base Camp. 4.2 mortars plat provide detail for road sweep A Trp 3/4 Cav / 984 LCC/ 989 FR Co conduct cut in area 28, 29, 30, FL vic XT570560.
1	0100	Neg S/R all elements
2	0130	Khien Hanh 2/14 all pons start 0700 unites Co 389 Plt 49, PH15, XT445293-405293-431299. Sweep opns plat 142, plat 38 XT430329-403312, sweep operation poss Plat XT452339 SOP
3	0230	Neg S/R, neg commo W/B Co & 3/4 Cav
4	0230	Tri Tam B/G AO 512495-540490-550456-540450 unites 170-0700 one day sweep (RDC)
5	0245	LOH confirmed 1300-1430-ANC 1430-1700 13 B hrs RF 0800-0900 1500-1600
6	0400	Neg S/R all elements
7	0600	Neg S/R all elements
8	0650	D Co 1st plat depart AP sites
9	0715	Air requested for 9 Aug LOH 1000-1100-1400-1530 Neg AMC
10	0715	Convoy route D-1 for today
11	0715	D Co depart on road sweep on TL 19
12	0730	Air request for R/P 0800-1000-1400-1500
13	0730	C Co 3rd plat depart AP
14	0745	C Co 2nd plat closed Byrd
15	0800	C Co 3rd plat closed Byrd
16	0810	Depart Dau Tieng on R/S of 239 East B Co
17	0820	Unit location passed to Bde
18	0840	080810 C Co 3rd plat return from A/P site, found a trail running towards Byrd, trail stopped approx. 200m S.W. of Byrd & a position which was about 1 day old was found, appeared to be OBS position of Byrd - several cigarette butts found at this position.
19	0845	A Co 3/4 Cav reports continued French conversation on freq 44.25. Subject matter work to be accomplished - nothing specific - very short transmissions.
20	1015	C Co reports road sweep on 239 East complete
21	1016	D Co road sweep found what they believed to be a "Bouncing Betty" mine in the middle of the road TL 19 at XT484399, they blew in place
22	1035	C Co road sweep (2nd Plat) closed Byrd from 239E
23	1115	Units location passed
24	1150	Hwy 239 West completed by D Co
25	1229	Request 1 US priority Amb Medevac, report to A Co loc XT448408 on freq 41.45, contact 59V. Individual has urinal infection
26	1240	Medevac 152 on station 20-30 min.
27	1241	In ref to the graves found by B Co, they were dug up & rev the bodies of 2 individuals had roots growing through the bottom of the graves. Appeared to be quite old. Neg further findings
28	1248	D Co depart convoy for Dau Tieng to Byrd
29	1300	Medevac 152 on station at 1300 hrs, complete to 25th Med Tay Ninh at 1310
30	1320	Convoy closed Byrd
31	1355	S-5 Depart Dau Tieng for MEDCAP to Sazie Dau
32	1356	Notified Bde AO East: 6054-6056-6356-6354-DTG 101200-141200. For LRPP, approved Tri Tam (PM)
33	1413	Scout 33 ADC/A inbound in 10 min
34	1410	(Late) 25th Avn 19 (C&C) on station 1-8-2 package
35	1445	S-5 Return to Dau Tieng from MEDCAP
36	1445	Mechanical ambushes for Bryd are employed at 572495
37	1500	C Co lifts 1st lift Up/FSB Byrd at 1450 hours Down/XT429428 at 1500 hours
38	1530	B Co lifts 1st lift Up/548567 at 1507, Down/Dau Tieng at 1515. 2nd lift Up/1529 Down/1530
39	1530	AMC released to flex control-11 B, E released
40	1555	25th Avn 004 on station; VR LOH
41	1610	D Co road sweep reports convoy at XT457373 held up by a conex that fell off a track at 1615 hrs. It is on the move again, no further assistance needed
42	1620	Aid station requests 1 US priority litter Medevac for individual with 104.8 temperature from 2/60th Co A - Info, langer pad, freq 51.70, call sign Merit 85
43	1625	District AP's: 495450, 499442, 492455, 530400, 530474, 548368, 543367, 503474, 507471, 508472, 499467, 494463, 487477, 485474, 515415, 515487, 512478
44	1630	Medevac 153 on station 1630 hrs, complete to 25th Med at Cu Chi. 1 additional individual also taken for possible malaria 1637 hrs, 2nd patient - 7/11 Arty
45	1652	Bn CO depart Dau Tieng for Cu Chi
46	1700	Request slick to pick up tracker & dogs XT443405
47	1710	From Khiem Hanh Report - 25th Avn 004 report XT425445
48	1615	(Late) C Co at XT450428 found trail used within last 24 hrs by 2-3 individuals, runs SE, is well used. Also found 1 spider hole at XT424432. No support at all, no recent use.
49	1645	(Late) C Co at 424434 heard 2 shots believed to be S/A fire to the West about 200m away, Neg friendly in area. 3rd plat is setting up AP at this location. Reports numerous trails active in area.
50	1715	A Co requests Medevac for dog and handler, dog temp of 105
51	1717	25th Avn 004 depart station
52	1725	D Co 3rd plat closed Byrd return to Dau Tieng Base Camp
53	1750	D Co Mechanical Ambush at Byrd employed at 1445 at XT572495 has been blown. Are going to sweep area
54	1800	Rome plow report sent to Bde
55	1805	From Khiem Hanh BG for 9 Aug 687 Co 362410-374366-379386 blocking position at 379386; 872 Co + 51 plat 395385-399400-385355 blocking position 399400 oriented to south; 36, 99 & 141 plat 395345 drive north to 2nd BG blocking position. Also report enemy Bn in 4244 grid (by PRU)
56	1815	Medevac 157 on station 1808 complete to 25th Med
57	1805	(Late) Duster closed Dau Tieng with recon returned to Byrd
58	1820	D Co reports 5 enemy KIA's, will send full S/R ASAP (ref to item #53)
59	1825	D Co 3rd plat depart Byrd for AP
60	1830	S-3 requests LOH for document pick-up vic Mechanical Ambush tripped vic Byrd (ref item 53 & 58)
61	1830	Duster closed Byrd
62	1845	D Co 2nd plat depart Dau Tieng for AP at 1845
63	1910	Dau Tieng receiving incoming
64	1915	From dist, possible site of incoming vic 522537 (AP 7) from RF/PF
65	1915	D Co AP vic 502503 heard possible outgoing rounds at 300 degrees, 800m vic 492508
66	1920	Request 1 US priority litter, multiple fragment wounds. Contact Merit 85 on 51.70
67	1925	Neg sighting of incoming at Byrd
68	1930	3 lbs of documents picked up and taken to RDF from M/A KIA's, ref item #52 & 58
69	1934	25th Avn 14 (light fire team) on station. Assigned to XT492508, 492540, 522537. Possible mortar positions
70	1945	Complete S/R passed to Bde in ref to D Co M/A tripped at 1750. Emplaced Mechanical Ambush at XT572495 at 1445 hrs on trail running north to south. At 1750 M/A was tripped. Results 1 KIA resulting from M/A, 3 KIA from small arms, 1 KIA from bayonet. Individuals were apparently traveling from south to north, point man sprang M/A. Approximately 3 min after D Co engaged with 81mm, had a plat move in after 81 fire on target. Items recovered: binoculars & case, Lensatic compass and case, 5 maps (rubber blocks maps for workers), overlay of rome plow area, data on 82mm, 3 AK's extremely good condition, 1 K-54 pistol, clothing 3 blue uniforms, 2 green. All had standard belt with star - 1 had a wolf emblem. No shoulder patches. Documents: approximately 3 lbs. Evaluation: Believed to be officers of some importance, traveling with heavily armed security. Neg blood trails, believed to have killed entire element.
71	1945	Medevac on 157 ET, 15-20, ref to item #66
72	1950	DH 14 diverted LB 21 to chalby Avn mules 3/4 Cav
73	2020	Incoming individuals wounded: Clason, Michael D 2/14; Darill, James HHC 2/14; Whittermore, Michael HHC 2/14 Sidles, Bruce E Co 2/14; Miller, Terry HHC 2/14; Fregnick, Joseph HHC 2/14
74	2005	(Late) C Co closed AP's: 1st plat 427431; 2nd plat 436424; 3rd plat 424434 M/A's 1 429431, 426431; 2 435424; 3 424433, 426434
75	2015	(Late) D Co 2nd plat closed AP aty 501503, Neg M/A's
76	2000	(Late) Medevac 157 (ref #71) was diverted for an urgent litter, 60 min
77	2055	Dau Tieng receiving incoming
78	2100	Medevac on station 157
79	2105	Bn CO inbound from Cu Chi
80	2100	Mecevac 157 on station 2055, complete to 12th Evac Cu Chi 2102
81	2110	From Khiem Hanh district Pru info VN B2, 1 VC BM Arty, 88 NVA regt XT546416, mission to mortar Khiem Hanh 1 Tri Tam on 8-11 Aug supported from Bau Don for food. Dressed in Chinese green uniforms. 250 individuals, will fire arty tonight, also use firefly at 0100 hrs
82	2155	Request an additional LOH at 0800 for Bn CO & 5-2 to go to FSB Byrd to get pictures and entire report on the M/A that was popped, need for about one (1) hour
83	2156	Approved LOH for 0800-0830 9 Aug 70
84	2010	(Late) A Co closed AP 1st plat 449407; 2nd plat 443406; 3rd plat * CO 445405 M/A's 1 449408, 449406, 450407; 2 442426; 3 447405, 445403
85	2020	(Late) D Co 3rd plat closed AP at 562523, Neg M/A's
86	2205	Confirmed LOH for 9 Aug 0800-0830-1000-1100
87	2100	(Late) Suspected enemy mortar from incoming tonight 485500, 492508, 473453
88	2105	(Late) Damage assessment: 1 82mm Mess Hall 19 rounds 82mm 10 casualties, 1st 2/14 - 3/13, 3 duds
89	2245	Change in BG for 9 Aug 70 passed to Bde
90	2300	Neg S/R all elements
91	2240	(Late) Khiem Hanh district wants AO cleared for TOT at grid XT456416 at 2445 hrs grids 460440-490410-480399 follow little blue to 443422. This will be controlled by Khiem Hanh
92	2130	(Late) Intel from A Trp 3/4 Cav monitored following traffic time 1047 hrs. Mentioned position ending in 9001 using mortars all night good visibility in the 4 card dir contact 302-303 Time 1410 Same men as yesterday Dia Wee. Ready for tonight to the north. Time 1440 Dia Wee - coming in the future very soon - gunship pay($) those who are leaving Time 1450 (2nd party) did not copy (Dai Wee) Halt the Bombardment (Pause) Advance to WLD 2 and 1. Also troop commander talked to a manager of Minh Tahn Rubber. He said "VC activity south of the Minh Tahn Rubber has increased. " The last 3 different groups (5-6 individuals) moving north to south - weaving across cut (rome plow) which runs north to south between Michelin and Minh Tahn rubber. He also said 4 VC entered village (Minh Tanh Rubber) and told villagers not to aid US soldiers or they would return and kill them. A wood cutter told commander, troop "that he saw 12 VC moving from north to south between Minh Tahn Rubber and Michelin Rubber.
93	2310	The 930 RF at 448455 thought the mortars came from 457488 instead of 437453
94	2345	A Co green light (446B) B & C green light, D - DT
95	2400	LOG CLOSED
		Summary: At 1016 hours D Co found a Bouncing Betty mine in TL-19 at XT484399 and blew in place. D Co mech. ambush at XT572495 was blown at 1750 hours (see item #70) Dau Tieng received incoming at 1910 hours, D Co heard popping vic XT492508. At 1320 hours the aid station requested one (1) priority litter medevac at 2055 hours Khiem Hanh sent an intelligence report (See item #81). Suspected enemy mortar sites XT488500, 492508, 437453. Damage assessment at 2105 hours revealed 1-82mm hit 2/14 mess hall, 19 rounds of 82mm and 10 casualties. At 2240 hours Khiem Hanh requested AO to fire TOT at 0045 hours, A Trp 3/4 Cav passed intelligence report at 2130 hours (See item #92). JOURNAL CLOSED