Personnel and Administration
- General. During the reporting period, the administrative section was located at Dong Ha. At the close of the reporting period, each rifle company was averaging 14 men below manning level and 14 men in a non-effective status. This Battalion is presently 5 officers below M/L in the 0302 MOS and still has a critical shortage in the 0402 MOS.
- Personnel Losses and Gains
Losses – USMC-Officers Enl , USN-Officers Enl
Battle – 0 2 0 0
Non-Battle 0 0 0 0
Administrative 4 40 0 5
Total 4 42 0 5
Gains 2 30 0 4
- Awards. Although no awards were presented during the reporting period, the following recommended awards were processed and forwarded through the chain of command recommending approval;
- Silver Star – 1
- Bronze Star – 6
- Navy Commendation Medal – 3
- Discipline. The number of disciplinary cases acted upon or pending action are as follows:
- Courts Martials
- Special Court, completed – 4
- Special Court, pending – 0
- Non-Judicial Punishments
- Battalion Commander – 7
- Company Commander – 16
- Morale. Morale continued to be high. Out-of-country R&R quotas utilized for the month were: Hawaii-2, Bangkok-15, Hong Kong-14, Taipei-11, Sydney-9, Tokyo-6, Okinawa-3, Kuala Lumpur-3, Singapore-3, Penang-1. the China Beach R&R facilities are still closed. Four additional R&R quotas were authorized for personnel who were responsible for the capture of NVA/VC POW’s. Hot meals were served whenever the tactical situation was such that the serving of same would not interfere with commitments. The mail continued to be delivered to all elements of the Battalion on almost a daily basis. A representative of the Division Post Office was available at all forward elements to see postal money orders to those who desired them. During the month, 10 Lance Corporals were promoted to Corporal and 26 Private First Class were promoted to Lance Corporal. The service record books of the Privates were screened twice this month and those eligible were promoted either on the first or the sixteenth of the month. Two requests for hardship discharge were acted upon. One was approved and one was disapproved.
- Savings Bonds. The Battalion placed second within the Division for percentage of Savings Bond participation. At present the battalion’s percentage stands at 94%.
- Extension of Overseas Tours. Four personnel voluntarily extended their overseas tour for a period of six months.
- Education. During March, Marine Corps Institute and United States Armed Forces Institute courses were given added emphasis. Arrangements and scheduling for 207 personnel for the General Education Development Test was initiated during the last of March. The screening and selection of Marines for the United States Navy Preparatory School was conducted late in the month.