Narrative Summary
During the initial seven days of the month of December the 1st Battalion 4th Marines was located at (FSB) Fire Support Bases Argonne and Alpine. The mission of the Battalion remained unchanged from that of the end of November, which was to provide security for the Artillery units located at the Fire Support Bases and to conduct search and destroy operations North and East of FSB Argonne and North of FSB Alpine. In order to accomplish this mission, Companies A and B were tasked as Fire Support Base security and located at FSB Alpine and FSB Argonne respectively while Companies C and D were tasked for the search and destroy operations.
On 5 December a new mission was assigned the Battalion. This was to develop Hill 1103 at Grid XD 825577 into a new Fire Support Base, close Fire Support Base Argonne and when the new FSB was developed enough to establish artillery on it to close FSB Alpine and to have the Battalion helo-lifed back to Vandegrift Combat Base (VCB) for further operations. All search and destroy operations were terminated. In order to accomplish this C Co. was assigned the task of developing the new FSB (Neville). The Company arrived on FSB Neville on 7 December and began constructing the landing zone preparatory constructing the FSB itself.
On 8 December, Company D was helo-lifted to Then Son Lam (Rockpile) to assume perimeter security thereat under the OPCON of 3rd Battalion 4th Marines. All search and destroy operations were terminated at this time.
On 10 December, FSB Neville was developed to the state of being able to position 107mm Mortars on it. The Artillery and Infantry units located FSB Argonne were help-lifted to other Fire Support Bases in the Battalion AO. Battery Whiskey (-) 3/12 and elements of Co. H&S (-) were helo-lifted to FSB Neville, where they and Co. C were later joined on the same day by Bravo Command Group from Vandegrift Combat Base.
Battery India (-) 3/12 and Company B were helo-lifted to FSB Gurkha, reopening this Fire Support Base temporarily in order to support FSB Alpine. Following this Company H&S (-) were helo-lifted to FSB Alpine. FSB Argonne was then closed.
On 12 December, FSB Neville was developed to a state of being capable of positioning a 105mm Howitzer Battery on it. This enabled the Battalion to close both FSB Gurkha and FSB Alpine. Battery T/1/11 (155mm) was helo-lifted from FSB Alpine to VCB on the same day.
On 14 December the closing of FSB Gurkha and FSB Alpine was completed Battery G/3/12 was helo-lifted from FSB Alpine to FSB Neville. Battery I (-) was helo-lifted from FSB Gurkha to FSB Fuller and Co. B was helo-lifted from FSB Gurkha to VCB. FSB Gurkha was closed. Following these lifts, Alpha Command Group and Company A were helo-lifted from FSB Alpine to VCB completing the closing of FSB Alpine.
On the same day, the Battalion, less Bravo Command Group, Companies C and D and elements of Company H&S (-) at FSB Neville, was changed to the OPCON of Task Force Bravo from 4th Marines. A new mission was assigned the Battalion. This was to participate as a cordon force in a cordon and search of Cam Lo Refugee Village in conjunction with elements of 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines, 3rd Tank Battalion and 2nd ARVN Regiment.
On 15 December a deceptive plan was initiated. Company B was helo-lifted to the Mai Loo TAOR to patrol the northern boundary and an order to proceed north to Cam Lo Refugee Village to form its portion of the cordon. Alpha Command Group with Companies A and H&S (-) went to Camp Carroll by motor transport from VCB. Later they were joined by a Provisional Rifle Company from 3rd Marine Division which became OPCON to 1st Battalion 4th Marines. The same evening the Battalion departed both its assembly areas at 1900H and completed its portion of the cordon at 2320H that same evening.
The following day the Provisional Rifle Company was changed back to the OPCON of 3rd Marine Division when Company D arrived from Thon Son Lam by motor transport to relieve it on the cordon. On 17 December two Platoons and the Command Group of Company C (-) was helo-lifted from FSB Neville to the Battalion’s position at Cam Lo. Once arrived the Company came under the OPCON of the Battalion and assumed a position on the cordon.
The cordon remained in place until 22 December when Task Force Bravo ordered it removed. That same day Company B was helo-lifted to Cua Viet and came under the OPCON of the 1st Amtrac Battalion. Companies A and C (-) moved to their assigned positions in the terrain to the south and west of Cam Lo Refugee Village.
On 23 December the Battalion was transported by watercraft and motor transport to the Cua Viet Rehabilitation Center, there assuming OPCON of Company B on the same date, erected on the Cua Viet River estuary, it’s mission to provide three days of R&R for Infantry Battalions on a rotational basis. It was a welcome break for the Battalion, especially so over Christmas.
On 26 December two Platoons of Company A and two sections of the 81mm Mortar Platoon of Company H&S (-) were helo-lifted to FSB Russell and FSB Mack relieving the elements of 3rd Battalion 4th Marines located there. The same day the remainder of the Battalion was moved by waterborne craft and motor transport from Cua Viet to VCB coming under the OPCON of 4th Marines once again.
The following day a Platoon and Headquarters Group of Company A was helo-lifted to FSB Neville relieving Bravo Command Group and a Platoon of Company C. Both latter units returned to VCB coming under the OPCON of the Battalion once again.
On 28 December 1st Battalion 4th Marines was helo-lifted on a search and destroy operation west-northwest of Thon Son Lam. At the end of the month the Battalion was continuing this mission, finding numerous supplies and ammunition caches.
On two occasions during the month of December members of the Battalion rear were temporarily with the Provisional Rifle Company from QTCB. The first instance was when seventeen personnel were with this Company from 15-17 December during the Cam Lo Cordon and Search. The second was when twelve personnel and one Officer were with the Company when it was assigned as perimeter security at Camp Carroll from 18-28 December.
Casualties Inflicted On the Enemy
NVA/KIA 4
NVA/POW 0
VC/KIA 0
VC/POW 0
Friendly Casualties Sustained
KIA 0
WIA 0
Non hostile deaths 2
DOW 0
NBC 102
MIA 0
This page was last corrected 31 August 2011