201800H august 1967

Operation Order 2-67

Ref:     (a)           Map; Viet Nam, 1:50,000, Hue Sheet 6541 IV.

              (b)           1^st Battalion 4^th Marines COI

Time zone:            H

Task Organization:

1^st Battalion 4^th Marines                                         Lt Col          E.A.            Deptula

            H&S Co      Company C (rein)                       Capt            J.E.            Edwards

            Co C

            Det, H&S Co

            Det, 3^rd Plt, Co C 3^rd Engr Bn

            Det, Battery G 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar

PF/RF Plt

Recon Team 3^rd Recon Bn

Btry G 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar                                                    Capt                Grimes

Bn Reserve                                                                         2^nd Lt               Pugh

            1^st Plt (-)(rein) Co A

1. Situation.
2. Enemy forces.  See Current Intsums.
3. Friendly Forces.

(1)               1^st ARVN Division supports operation with forces, artillery support and liaison personnel.

(2)               Fourth Marines established direct liaison with Thua Thien Province Headquarters.

(3)                Air.  3^rd Marines Division frags air support as required.

2. Mission.  Commencing at L-hour, D-day, 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines provides command/control facilities and one rifle company (rein) for combined USMC/ARVN search and destroy operation from the vicinity of Ap Hoa Luong (YD 798080) northwest along the trace of the Song Ta Trach, through the two Royal Tomb area vic YD 750105, YD 773213, towards Nam Hoa District Headquarters (YD 760125).
3. Execution.
4. Concept of Operations.

(1)               On D-1, 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines and the Nam Hoa District Chief established a combined headquarters in the Cumberland Area.

(2)               By the evening of D-1, 3^rd Recon Bn provides screen to the left (west) flank of area of operations, to provide surveillance over probable enemy avenues of approach or egress and observe enemy activity in area.

(3)               At L-hour, D-day 1^st Bn 4^th Marines moves one reinforced Rifle Company and one PF/RF platoon (from Nam Hoa subsector) by heliborne assault into LZ Alfa to conduct a search and destroy operation northwest, along the Song Ta Trach within their zone of action as indicated in Annex A (Operation Overlay).

(4)               Fire support provided by organic mortars, with direct support fires available from artillery in the Cumberland area.

1. Company C (rein)

(1)               At L-hour, D-day conduct heliborne assault into LZ Alfa; secure the LZ and on order proceed to search and destroy enemy forces and installations located in Objective A.

(2)               On order, continue advance to search and destroy enemy forces and installations located Objectives B, C and D.

(3)               On order, cross Song Ta Trach vicinity of Coord YD 760127 by sampans provided by Nam Hoa District Hqds and return to Cumberland Area by either truck or foot march.

1. Recon Team 3^rd Recon Bn.  On order and by the evening of D-1 move to the vicinity of YD 760095 screen left (west) flank of zone of action to provide surveillance over possible avenues of approach or egress and observe enemy activity in area.
2. Battery G 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar.  Direct support 1^st Bn 4^th Mar.
3. Battalion Reserve.  1^st Platoon, Co A (Rock Crusher position) maintains a reinforced platoon (-) on one hour alert for employment as reserve.
4. Coordinating Instructions.

(1)               PF/RF provide assistance to search Royal Tombs in zone.

(2)               D-day: 24 August 67; L-hour: to be announced.

(3)               Rules of Engagement apply.

(4)               Command attention will be directed toward thorough troop orientation and understanding of religious significance of Vietnamese tombs, shrines, and artifacts in area.

(5)               Notify this headquarters of captured rice.

(6)               POW’s and detainees will be evacuated to 1^st Bn 4^th Mar CP.

(7)               Following thrust point in effect: YD 7909 Fruit

(8)               Maximum use will be made of riot control agents in clearing tunnels and caves.

(9)               Caution friendly forces on enemy mines and booby traps.

4. Administration and Logistics.
5. Prescribed Load.  As prescribed by Company Commander, Company C
6. Resupply.  Request resupply by 0900 daily for afternoon resupply.  Limited amount of Class V and water available MEEK JANE LZ for emergency resupply.
7. Uniform and Equipment.  As prescribed by Company Commander, Co C.
8. Med-evac.  Helo-evacuation in accordance with normal procedures.
9. Drinking water.  Water will be available throughout the area of operations from numerous streams; troops will be instructed on the proper use of halazone tablets and unit commanders will insure their utilization.
10. Command Communication/Electronics.
11. Command.

(1)             Combined ARVN/USMC Control Headquarters.

(a)            Initially (D-1)       YD 717105

(b)            On order             YD 740135

(2)             Company C (rein) notifies this headquarters of CP locations.

(3)             Btry G 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar:     YD 717105

1. Visual.  Carry air panels and colored smoke.
2. Communications/Electronics.

(1)               Radio nets in accordance with reference (b); U.S. Army Liaison: 43 OMCS.

(2)               Voice radio call signs: US Army Liaison *Small Blue – Two

This page last corrected 26 August 2011