080800H November 1967

Ser No: 003 31267

Operation Order 19-67 (Neosho)

Ref:     (a)        Maps: Viet Nam, 1:50,000, AMS Series L7014, Sheet 6441 I

             (b)        4^th Marines OpOrder 54-67

            (c)         1^st Battalion 4^th Marine COI

Time Zone:            H

Task Organization.

1^st Bn (-) 4^th Marines                                                                      LtCol           Deptula

            H&S Co (-)                                                                               1^st Lt            Fagersten

                        2 Sec, 81mm Mortar Plt

            Co A (rein)                                                                                Capt            Thompson

                        Det, 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar (FO Tm)

                        Det, HQ Co, 4^th Mar (Sniper Tm)

                        Det, 3^rd Reconnaissance Bn (Scuba Tm)

                        Det, H&S Co

                                    Det, 81mm Mortar Plt (FO Tm)

                                    Det, Med Plt (Corpsman)

                                    Det, Comm Plt

                                    FAC Tm

                        Det, Co A, 3^rd SP Bn (HST Tm)

                        Det, Co B, 3^rd Engr Bn (Demo Tm)

            Co B (rein)                                                                               Capt            Wirsching

                        Det, 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar (FO Tm)

                        Det, HQ Co, 4^th Mar (Sniper Tm)

                        Det, 3^rd Reconnaissance Bn (Scuba Tm)

Det, Co A, 3^rd SP Bn (HST Tm)

                        Det, Co B, 3^rd Engr Bn (Demo Tm)

                        Det, H&S Co

                                    Det, 81mm Plt (FO Tm)

                                    Det, Comm Plt

                                    Det, Med Plt (Corpsman)

                                    FAC Tm

            Co C (rein)                                                                           Capt            Renfro

                        Det, 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar (FO Tm)

                        Det, HQ Co, 4^th Mar (Sniper Tm)

                        Det, H&S Co

                                    Sec, 81mm Mortar Plt (w/FO)

                                    Det, Comm Plt

                                    Det, Med Plt (Corpsman)

                                    FAC Tm

            Co D (rein)                                                                           Capt             Weede

                        Det, 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar (FO)

                        Det, HQ Co, 4^th Mar (Sniper Tm)

                        Det, 3^rd Reconnaissance Bn (Scuba Tm)

                        Det, Co B, 3^rd Engr Bn (Demo Tm)

                        Det, H&S Co

                                    Det, 81mm Plt (FO Tm)

                                    Det, Med Plt (Corpsman)

                                    Det, Comm Plt

                                    FAC Tm

1. Situation.
2. Enemy forces.

(1)               Current INTSUMS and PERINTREPS.

(2)               Intelligence Estimate (PASEP).

1. Friendly forces.

(1)               4^th Marines continues operations in assigned TAOR to destroy VC/NVA Main and Guerrilla forces.

(2)               3^rd Bn 12^th Marines, DS 4^th Marines; on 8 November 1967 will displace one 105mm Battery plus 2 155mm Howitzers to vicinity YD 636250 and establish Forward Artillery Position.

(3)               1^st Marine Aircraft Wing provides fixed wing and helicopter support.

(4)               3^rd Reconnaissance Battalion will insert a reconnaissance team from the 1^st Battalion 4^th Marine OA on 9 Nov 67.

(5)               Plt, Co, 3^rd Tk Bn DS 1^st Bn (-) 4^th Mar.

(6)               Plt, Co B, 3^rd Engr Bn, DS 1^st Bn (-) 4^th Mar.

1. Attachments and Detachments.

(1)               Set Task Organization

(2)               Co B detaches one Plt on order after securing LZ to provide security for 81mm Plt (-).

2. Mission.  1^st Battalion 4^th Marines land by helicopter at L-hour on D-day in LZ Crane and Pelican.  Conduct systematic search of the Song Bo River area and its tributaries in assigned OA for caves, sampans, supply caches and enemy forces.  Provide security for Forward Artillery Base vicinity YD 636250.
3. Execution.
4. Concept of Operations.  On order on D-1 day displace one Company with tanks for security for one 105mm Battery plus two 155mm Howitzers, at the Forward Artillery Base (YD 636250).  At L-hour on D-day land one Company in LZ Pelican and two Companies in LZ Crane by helicopter and conduct detailed search of Song Bo River and its tributaries in assigned OA’s utilizing scuba teams and Engr Demo teams.  On order about D+1 return to designated LZ’s and prepare for helilift to Camp Evans.
5. H&S Company.

(1)               On order D-1 attach one section 81mm platoon to Company C to augment security for the Forward Artillery Base (YD 636250).

(2)               On D-day move two sections from the 81mm mortar platoon with H&S Co (-), land in LZ Crane and establish firing position vicinity YD 573184 to support operations in the Battalion OA.

(3)               Provide control/Comm personnel as necessary.

(4)               Provide one T/O squad as CP security.

1. Company A (rein).

(1)               At L-hour on D-day land by helicopter in LZ Pelican, conduct search and destroy operations toward Regimental Objective C with particular emphasis on banks of Song Bo and its tributaries.  Upon securing Objective C and order move to LZ Grouse or LZ Crane for extraction.

1. Company B (rein).

(1)               At L-hour land by helo in LZ Crane conduct search of Song Bo River banks at Objective B.  Conduct Search and Destroy operations toward LZ Grouse with particular emphasis to Song Bo River banks in zone.  Provide security for expansion of LZ Grouse for extraction of remainder of Battalion.

(2)                Provide security for Battalion Command group and 81mm platoon upon landing.  Utilize H&S Co security squad as supplement.

(3)               Utilize Scuba Teams where appropriate when searching riverbanks.

1. Company C (rein).

(1)               On order on D-1 with tanks in direct support provide security for the movement of artillery to the Forward Artillery Position (YD 636250) and subsequently provide security for the Forward Artillery Position composed of one 105mm Battery, two 155mm Howitzers.

(2)               Conduct small unit patrols/night activities in support of security mission.

(3)               Be prepared on order to provide security for return of artillery unit to Camp Evans.

1. Company D (rein).

(1)               At L-hour on D-day land by helicopter in LZ Crane after LZ is secured by Company B, conduct Search and Destroy operations upstream along banks of Song Bo to Objective A.

(2)               Conduct search of riverbanks of Song Bo River and its tributaries utilizing scuba team where appropriate.

(3)               Upon securing objective A and on order be prepared to move to either LZ Crane of Grouse for extraction.

1. Coordinating Instructions.

(1)               D-day: 9 November 1967

L-hour: 0800H

TOD Camp Evans: 0700

(2)               RCA authorized and encouraged in caves.

(3)               Maximum use of supporting arms mandatory.

(4)               Absolute maximum dispersion of personnel at all times.  Maintain no more than visual/audible contact between individuals when moving in canopy or close terrain where possibility of ambush greatly increased.  Flank security mandatory whenever possible.  Recon by artillery/mortar fire along flanks of routes of advance in particularly heavy canopy to provide moving envelopes in which troops can advance and from which they can attack.  Night positions employ maximum LP’s minimum illumination.

(5)               Submit position reports hourly when landing in LZ’s and when reaching objectives.

(6)               Submit Spot Reports IAW standard procedures.

(7)               Report enemy contacts immediately.

(8)               Caution friendly units on mines and booby traps.

(9)               Do not destroy enemy caches until advised by this headquarters.  All indigenous personnel, Sampans or other activity in this area is considered to be enemy or enemy controlled.

(10)          Report all POW’s/detainees to Bn CP and await instructions.

(11)          Utilize Scuba teams to search riverbanks for underwater caves.  Utilize Kit Carson scouts for the purpose intended.

(12)          Thrust Points:

(a)            Lima            YD 5620

(b)            Mike            YD 6017

(13)          Helicopter Landing Zone Red (YD 547323) will be utilized for personnel being lifted into LZ Crane, and Landing Zone Yellow (YD 551323) will be utilized for personnel being lifted into LZ Pelican.  All companies will be broken down into 5 man heliteams and staged in desired loading sequence by helicopter in ready circles at the appropriate Loading Zone.  HST personnel will coordinate loading activities in the Loading Zone and will collect plane tickets, which will be filled out by all members of the embarking heliteams.

(14)          Operation terminator on order on 10 November 1967.  Prepare for extraction at approximately 1500H.

4. Administration and Logistics.
5. Resupply

(1)               No resupply scheduled due to short duration of operation.

(2)               Submit any emergency resupply requests to S-4 IAW standard procedure.

1. Prescribed Load:  As prescribed by unit Commanders to include the following.

(1)               3 MCI.  Ensure adequate quantities of salt and halazone are carried.

(2)               One (1) 60 ft rope per squad (1 grappling hook per Plt)

(3)               One (1) CS grenade per fire team.

(4)               One (1) block C-4 per fire team.

(5)               Machetes as available.

1. Uniform and Equipment.  Primary means of evacuation will be by helicopter.

(1)               Helo evacuation IAW standard procedures.

(2)               Primary BAS will be established at Camp Evans.  A light BAS will be located with the Bn CP.

(3)               Heat casualties will be evacuated to Regimental Aid Station.  All other casualties will be transported directly to Company A, 3^rd Medical Bn at Phu Bai.

(4)               Each Company will carry at least 10 nylon stretchers.

5. Command and Communication/Electronics.
6. CP group with Company B
7. Report all CP locations when established.
8. Radio nets and Frequencies.

(1)               Regt TAC 68.30

(2)               Bn TAC 60.35

(3)               TACP Local 42.8

(4)               Med Evac 45.7

(5)               HST 42.8

(6)               Recon TAC 46.8

1. Radio Relay station will be established on Hill 674 to augment Communications if needed.

This page last corrected 29 August 2011