Events – April 1968

 

Intelligence

  1. Enemy
  2. There was a significant increase in enemy activity in the Battalion’s AOR for the reporting period.  The enemy continued his attempt to use trails within the AOR as infiltration routes.  Enemy artillery fires and ground action within the AOR increased over previous reporting periods.  Small enemy infiltration groups were continually sighted to the north during the first half of the month against which artillery fires and fixed wing directed.  Significant contacts were made starting on 24 April and continuing through the month.  On 24 April, contact was made with an estimated 20 NVA in the Hill 88 vicinity.  A POW, a member of the 27th Independent Regiment, reported his mission was to recon for an attack on Con Thien.  Contact to our west on 26 April with two NVA companies, resulting in 72 NVA/KIA, confirmed the presence of enemy units harboring in the AOR.  The last two days of the month found enemy units attempting to blow the outer perimeter wire of the A-4 position and attempting ambushes on units operating close to the perimeter to the North.
  3. Artillery fires were minimal during most of the month, however, after 26 April, incoming was a daily occurrence ranging from 82mm mortars to 152mm guns.  The enemy proved his capability for observed fires by shelling Company D on 24 April with 30 rounds when they crossed the forward slope of Hill 88 east of A-4.
  4. Terrain
  5. The enemy used favorable terrain features to the maximum during the reporting period.  Enemy units apparently realized areas of limited observation to the north and northwest of the A-4 position and were able to complete some movements without observation.  The sloping plateaus just forward of A-4 along the east, west road prevented any observation of that area and allowed them to move undetected in this area.  Excellent observation of the plain area farther north has contributed significantly to our ability to call observed fires on enemy in the open.
  6. Weather.
  7. The weather in the AOR has been generally favorable to operations.  There has been a noted lack of precipitation, with the temperature generally in the high 70’s.  A heavy ground fog during early morning hours burns off before noon with visibility normally about five miles.
  8. Enemy equipment and weapons captured or destroyed.
  9. 1 – pack
  10. 82 – 82mm rounds
  11. 5 – Ak-47 carbines
  12. 2 – SKS rifles
  13. 1 – R*D machinegun
  14. 4 – 60mm rounds
  15. 112 bunkers
  16. 1 – tunnel
  17. Incoming.  Seventy-one rounds.

This page last corrected 30 August 2011