Narrative Summary
The Battalion continued to participate in Operation Kentucky during the month. The Battalion’s primary mission was to defend the C-2 Forward Operating Base (FOB), the C-2 Bridge and that portion of the MSR (Route #561) within the Battalion’s AOR. Three rifle companies were available to carry out this mission. The Alpha Command Group and one rifle company reinforced with one platoon defended the C-2 FOB while the Bravo Command Group and two rifle companies (one minus one platoon) defended C-2 Bridge.
From 1 February to 15 February, Company D was under OPCON of 9th Marines and operated in the Cam Lo area and along Routes #9 and #1 conducting small unit activities. Early on the morning of 2 February, while OPCON to the 9th Marines, Company D was instrumental in repulsing and decisively defeating the two Battalion NVA attack on the Cam Lo District Headquarters.
Over a period of three days on 13, 14 and 15 February, Company C effected relief of Company D and remained under OPCON of the 9th Marines or the 12th Marines through the rest of the reporting period.
Numerous Squad and Platoon combat patrols, ambushes and security and screening operations were conducted in the AOR. On 2 February, Company A was utilized as a reaction force north of the Cam Lo River to exploit the NVA defeat at the Cam Lo District Headquarters. On 17 February, Company B was dispatched to the site of a downed HU1E Gunship where they drove off the NVA in the area, recovered the dead and rescued the wounded crew members and passengers. Two days later, on 19 February, Company A and a Battalion Command Group took part in a two Company cordon and search of the Thon Nghia Hi Hamlet. Company C chopped OPCON from 9th Marines to 12th Marines on 23 February and assumed the defense of Gio Linh.
The Battalion first used ‘Killer Team’ patrols during the last part of the month. These patrols consist of specially tank organized units led by an officer or SNCO that search out the enemy on his own ground utilizing OP’s and ambushes. Three ‘Killer Teams’ were dispatched and accounted for nine confirmed NVA KIA’s with no casualties suffered by the teams.
Work on Dyemarker bunkers and fighting holes continued to progress commensurate with the tactical situation. At the end of the reporting period, the Battalion had competed 52 of the 81 bunkers.
This page was last corrected 31 August 2011