Narrative Summary
The Battalion engaged in routine defense duty at LZ Stud the first ten days of July.
On 11 July, the entire Battalion was helo-lifted into the Hill 715 area for the CANTON ACTION of Operation SCOTLAND II. The first contact came on 13 July a point element of Co. B was hit by a command detonated mine. Additional Co. B elements were sent forward in an attempt to retrieve the casualties but were met by intense small arms and .50 cal machine gun fire, combined with chicom grenades and another command detonated mine. All wounded were retrieved but Co. B could not reach the body of one KIA or search for a MIA due to heavy grazing fire by the enemy. The action resulted in one KIA BNR, on MIA and eight WIA evac. While attempting to get their med-evacs to an LZ for evacuation, Co. B received 16 rounds of 82mm mortar.
Co. B returned on 14 July in order to retrieve the KIA and MIA but received 25 82mm mortar rounds which resulted in 10 WIA evac. Co. B withdrew in order to med-evac the wounded.
In the late afternoon of 14 July, Co. A was sent to recover Co. B’s KIA and MIA by means of an alternate route. Four command detonated mines exploded, resulting in 4 KIA and 6 WIA evac. Co. A CO, Capt H. D. Banks was among the KIA. Co. A withdrew to LZ Peking with med-evacs.
The Battalion was helo-lifted back to LZ Stud on 15 July and assumed responsibility for the LZ Stud/CALU AO at 160800H July.
On 25 July, during the CANTON ACTION of SCOTLAND II, the Battalion was split into two Command Groups of two Companies each and again helo-lifted into the Hill 715 area. The Alpha Command Group, with Co.’s A and B, landed at LZ THRUSH (XD 947476), while the Bravo Command Group with Co.’s C and D, landed at LZ WREN (XD 938467).
While advancing on Hill 715, Co. B received small arms fire, RPG’s, 60mm and 82mm mortars. Co. B returned fire and called for 81mm mortar and artillery support, thus allowing Co. B to secure the objective. The hill was found to be heavily mined, and booby trapped. While seating an 81mm mortar baseplate, a booby-trapped anti-tank mine was detonated, resulting in one KIA and 4 WIA evac as well as damage to two mortar tubes.
No further contact was made with the enemy on the operation, which continued through the end of the month. Several large arms caches were discovered including 12 SKS carbines and 6 Chinese ****************** of various types of rounds and mines.
The Battalion accounted for approximately 3,000 pounds of rice captured. The vast majority of the rice was evacuated for redistribution
This page was last corrected 31 August 2011