Narrative Summary

At the beginning of February 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines maintained security for Vandegrift Combat Base, Ca Lu, Elliot Combat Base, Khe Gio Bridge, Signal Hill, FSB Russell, FSB Neville and FSB Fuller.  Also 1^st Bn 4^th Marines had responsibility for providing the Reaction Platoon/Company for 3^rd Marine Division and for conducting road sweep security from Ca Lu to the 07 Grid line.  Units at Ca Lu were engaged in preparing the base for closing and for movement of the 4^th Marines Regiment to Vandegrift Combat Base.  Units at Vandegrift Combat Base, Elliott Combat Base and Khe Gio Bridge continued to improve defensive positions, perimeter fighting holes, fields of fire and conduct daily patrols and ambushes.

The morning of 1 Feb, Co. B spotted one NVA in the open, northeast of FSB Fuller and fired 60mm and 81mm mortars with negative results.  Co. Kilo/3/4 relieved Co. C, 1^st Bn 9^th Marines at Ca Lu and that unit was dropped OPCON to Task Force Hotel.

At 1530 on 3 Feb 1^st Plt Co. D, 1^st Bn 4^th Marines was alerted Sparrow Hawk and inserted at Grid YD 033699 and dropped OPCON to 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines.  At Grid YD 001454 a Co. Kilo/3/4 patrol, while set in a patrol base, captured one NVA.  Among the captured gear was 12 oz. Marijuana, 4 oz. Opium, 1 bottle of hydrochloride, 1 hypodermic needle, 3–22-gauge needles, 20-1-gauge needles, 92 vials of vitamin B-12 and 1 bottle of kerosene.  The prisoner was turned over to 4^th Marines ITT team.

At 0510 on the morning of 4 Feb, 1^st Plt. Co. D, 1^st Bn 4^th Marines took 3 rounds of 82mm mortars at Grid YD 034682, all landed outside perimeter.  At FSB Neville on 5 Feb Co. A took 8 rounds of 60mm mortars and returned fire with Counter Mortar Fire and artillery.  At 1600 Co. B 1^st Bn 9^th Marines chopped OPCON to 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines.  At 1710 a Co. A patrol off FSB Neville spotted an enemy and returned fire.  The enemy exploded a grenade in a tree.  The patrol gained a high volume of fire and broke contact.  Results were 2 NVA KIA and 3 friendly WIA.

On 6 Feb, 2^nd Plt, Co. D, 1^st Bn 4^th Marines was alerted as Sparrow Hawk and inserted.

Upon insert they chopped OPCON to 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines.  Co. A patrolling of FSB Neville in the area of recent NVA activity found 2 Chi-com grenades, 80 AK-47 rounds and drag marks of approximately 2 to 3 bodies.  At 1630 Co. Delta/1/9 was chopped OPCON to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines and assumed the western sector of Vandegrift Combat Base defense.  Co. Charlie/1/4 assumed the Reaction Platoon/Company.  At FSB Russell 2^nd Plt Co. A heard tubing and called in an AO who spotted a bunker complex at Grid XD 935607.  81mm mortar and artillery fire were returned on this area.  Incoming mortars hit 1,000 meters outside perimeter.

At 1000 on 7 Feb, 1^st Plt, Kilo/3/4 chopped OPCON to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines and was assigned as Reaction Platoon.  At 1225, 3^rd Plt, Delta/1/4 was inserted at Grid XD 864577 and began moving to FSB Neville with power sources.  The weather prevented resupply by helicopter.  At 0945 the next day they had contact at Grid XD 832580 with 4 NVA.  The Platoon returned fire and swept through the area resulting in 2 enemy KIA, O Friendly KIA and 3 Friendly WIA.  At 1500 Delta/1/4 chopped OPCON from 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines and returned to VCB.  The 2^nd Plt, Delta/1/4 assumed Reaction Platoon responsibility.

On 9 Feb at 1400 the Reaction Platoon was inserted and chopped OPCON to 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines.  At 1600 4^th Marines assumed OPCON of 1^st Plt, Kilo/3/4.  The 2^nd Plt Delta/1/4 was chopped OPCON from 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines at 1630 and returned to VCB.

On 10 Feb at 0800 Delta/1/9 chopped OPCON from 1^st Bn 4^th Marines to Task Force Hotel.  At 1400 Co. A on FSB Neville observed 12 NVA in open at Grid XD 836616.  Artillery was called and destroyed one bunker.  Air strikes at Grid XD 840630 resulted in three bunkers destroyed, one secondary explosion and fires which continued for 1 ½ hours.  An Aerial Observer verified four confirmed NVA KIA.  A patrol from FSB Neville at Grid XD 829579 found two chi-coms, one OP platform in a tree, one empty RPG canister and dried pools of blood 2 to 3 days old.  At 2200 Signal Hill reported 30 lights in a column moving north to south, called in 81mm mortars and 106 recoilless rifle missions.

At 1415 on 11 Feb, Echo/2/4 chopped OPCON to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines and was put on the perimeter at VCB.  At 2130 FSB Neville reported lights and fired artillery.  At 2330 Echo/2/4 received four rounds of 82mm fire outside their lines.

A Med-Cap party to Bru Village treated 20 patients and reported their finding to 4^th Marines.

FSB Neville reported movement on the morning of the 12^th.  The lines threw M-26 grenades and 60mm and 81mm mortars were fired around the perimeter.  At 1015 FSB Neville reported explosions and small arms 8,000 meters west of their position.  This report confirmed by a Reconnaissance unit in that area.  Effective 1230H, 3^rd Plt Charlie/1/4 chopped OPCON from 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines.

On 13 February Signal Hill had an accident with a defective 81mm mortar round resulting in 3 wounded and 1 killed.  At 1030, Co. D trucked to Elliot Combat Base to relieve Lima/3/4.  At 1150 a report from Co. B at Khe Gio Bridge was received.  The daily convoy from Dong Ha to VCB was hit with small arms and mortar fire 3,000 meters east of the Bridge.  At 1700 Kilo/3/4 chopped OPCON from 1^st Bn 4^th Marines to 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines.  At 2010 Co. A at FSB Neville observed a string of lights at grid XD 7051 and also, they observed AA fire from that grid.

On 14 Feb at 1125, 2^nd Plt, Co. C and 1^st Plt Co. A chopped to 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines.  At 1245 the road sweep reported 7 Chi-com claymore mines, 1 plastic anti-personnel mine and 34 blocks of TNT.  All gear was turned over to an explosive ordnance disposal team, Med-Cap party to Ca Lu Village reported 15-20 men of military age in the village.  It was the biggest turnout since the Med-Cap program began.  At 1450 Co. B (-) moved their CP to Khe Gio Bridge from FSB Fuller.  At 1625 FSB Neville took 20 rounds of incoming mortars.  The Counter Mortar Plan was fired.  105’s fired direct fire into the area and .50 cal and 81mm mortars returned fire.  Incoming caused negative damage to personnel and equipment.  At 1700, 2^nd Plt, Echo/2/4 and 3^rd Plt, Bravo/1/4 chopped OPCON to 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines, Alpha/1 and Charlie/2 chopped OPCON from 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines.  At 1845, Echo/2/4 at FSB Russell received 7-82mm mortar rounds from Grid XD 903589.  The Counter Mortar Plan and Artillery were fired.

At 0830 on 15 Feb road sweep found 1 anti-personnel mine, 5 ½ pounds blocks of TNT and eleven blasting caps.  At 0835 Lima/3/4 chopped OPCON from 1^st Bn 4^th Marines to 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines.

At 1200, 1^st Bn 4^th Marines (-) chopped OPCON to Vandegrift Installation Coordinator for VCB, Elliot Combat Base, Khe Gio Bridge security.  At 1240, 2^nd Plt Delta reported contact on road sweep at Grid XD 995565.   At 1300, 1^st Bn 4^th Marines assumed OPCON of India/3/4.   At 1500, 1^st Bn 4^th Marines dropped OPCON of Bravo, Delta of 1^st Bn 4^th Marines and India/3/4 to 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines.  At 1900, Golf and Echo Companies of 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines dropped OPCON to 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines, also Alpha/1/4 and 1^st Plt, Kilo/3/4 dropped to 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines.   2^nd Plat, Delta/1/4, while checking out enemy spotted at Grid YD 000568, prep fired with dusters and received automatic weapons fire.  Returned fire and called in air and artillery.

At 1250 on 16 Feb, 3^rd Plt Co. A lifted off GFB Neville and chopped OPCON from 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines.  At 1100 on 17 Feb, 3^rd Plt, Co. A relieved the Provisional Platoon from H&S/1/4 on Signal Hill.   At 1400, Fox/2/4 and 1^st Plt, Kilo/3/4 chopped OPCON to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines.   At 1450, a Signal Hill working party moving 60mm mortar ammo, detonated a round wounding 4 men.   At 2245, Co. C at VCB had movement on lines and threw M-26 grenades.  The Ontos at VCB while firing H&I’s observed lights at Grid YD 022483 and fired 37 rounds in that grid, the lights immediately disappeared.

At 1000 on 18 Feb, 1^st Plt, Kilo/3/4 chopped OPCON to 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines and Fox/2/4 was chopped to 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines.  At 0600, Bravo/1/4 and Delta/1/4 chopped OPCON to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines.  Co. D at Grid XD 986549 saw one man in open and took him under fire.  A patrol was sent to check area and had negative results.  At 2220, Co. B at Khe Gio Bridge fired 81mm mortars at 2 NVA with negative results.

At 2220 on the 20^th, 1^st Bn 4^th Marines assumed OPCON of 2^nd Plt Bravo.

On 21 Feb at 0845 another Med-Cap party was sent to Bru Village located east of Ca Lu.   At 1130 two jeeps on Route #9 hit a plastic anti-tank mine and immediately were hit by mortars and recoilless rifle fire.  Co. B, 2^nd Plt and two tanks were sent to ambush site and tanks fired on the suspected enemy position.

At 1137, Kilo/3/4 chopped OPCON to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines and began to move to the ambush site.   At 1115 on 22 Feb, Kilo/3/4 chopped OPCON from 1^st Bn 4^th Marines to 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines.  At 1445, Charlie/1/3 and Delta/1/4 chopped to 1^st Bn 4^th Marines.  At 1530, Charlie/1/3 relieved Delta/1/4 at Elliott Combat Base, Delta/1/3 relieved Bravo/1/4 at Khe Gio Bridge.

At 1200 on 23 Feb, Task Force Hotel chopped OPCON 1^st Plt, Delta/1/3 from 1^st Bn 4^th Marines to Task Force Hotel.

At 2320 on 24 Feb an explosion of an M-26 grenade in the 1^st Bn 4^th Marines transient area killed one and injured 13 others.  An investigation was immediately begun.

At 0705 on the 25^th, Charlie/1/3 reported 6 rounds of incoming 122mm rockets at the Elliott Combat Base Counter Rocket Fire was returned with unknown results.  At 0900 the road sweep found 2 AT mines at Grid XD 982524 and blew them in place.  At 1200 Co. B and Co. D chopped OPCON to 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines.  At 1700, 1^st Bn 3^rd Marines assumed control of Vandegrift Installation Defense from 1^st Bn 4^th Marines and 1^st Bn 4^th Marines was chopped OPCON to 4^th Marines.  Co. A, 3^rd Plt, was chopped OPCON to 1^st Bn 3^rd Marines.

At 1030 on 26 Feb, Lima/3/4 made contact at Grid XD 974590 and Charlie/1/4 was alerted as a Reaction Company and chopped OPCON to 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines.  At 1130, 3^rd Plt, Co. A chopped OPCON from 1^st Bn 4^th Marines, 1^st Plt chopped OPCON to 3^rd Bn 4^th Marines to provide security for an 81mm Mortar Platoon being sent to support Lima/3/4.

At 1200 on 27 Feb, Alpha/1/4 and 2^nd Plt, Bravo/1/4 chopped OPCON to Task Force Hotel.  At the end of February all 1^st Bn 4^th Marines units were chopped OPCON and under operational control of other Battalions.  Co. A was OPCON to 1^st Bn 3^rd Marines and was used as a Reaction Platoon/Company.  Co. B had 1^st Plt in support of Lima/3/4 and the other 2 platoons at FSB Fuller and Hill 950.  Co. C was employed as a Reaction Force to assist Lima/3/4 and Co. D was on FSB Alpine OPCON to 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines.  This brings to a conclusion Operation Scotland II as of 282400H February 1969.

This page last corrected 5 September 2011