Intelligence – March 1969

 

Intelligence

During the month of March, the 1st Bn 4th Marines participated in operations against the enemy from Landing Zones Mack and Marilyn, Fire Support Bases Alpine and Argonne.  Contact with the enemy ranged from light and sporadic to heavy with numerous reports of enemy mortar attacks.

  1. Enemy.
  2. On 5 March between the hours of 0500H and 0600H the Alpha Command Group at Landing Zone Marilyn received twenty-nine rounds of 82mm mortars.  At 1710H, Company C assaulted and captured Landing Zone Mack, Hill 484.  This action resulted in sixteen NVA KIA confirmed, and the capture of ten AK-47 rifles, one RPG-7 launcher, eight hundred rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, eight anti-personnel mines, seventy Chicom grenades and eight RPG rounds.  While consolidating on Hill 484, Company C received two RPG rounds.  An artillery mission was called in on the suspected enemy position with no known results.
  3. On 6 March at 1735H, Company A observed two NVA running across a bomb crater.  Company A fired 60mm, 81mm mortars and an artillery mission which resulted in one confirmed NVA.  At 1805H the Alpha Command Group on Hill 484 received fourteen rounds of 82mm mortars.  Counter mortar missions by 81mm mortar and artillery were fired with unknown results.  On 11 March at 1130H hours, Company C observed two NVA in vicinity of Grid XD 735538.  A 60mm and 81mm mortar mission were fired with unknown results.
  4. At 1119H, Company B while firing night defensive H&I’s observed twenty NVA run from the impact area, and artillery mission was fired, observed one secondary explosion.
  5. At 2303H, on 13 March a listening post of the Alpha Command Group observed eight NVA outside of the perimeter wire.  This was confirmed by use of a NOD.  A 60mm and 81mm mission initiated with negative results.
  6. On 20 March at 1030H hours the heliborne assault of Fire Support Base Argonne began with Company D as the assaulting force.  The initial elements received a heavy volume of small arms fire from an estimated Company size enemy force which was well entrenched.  At 1045H hours the Alpha Command Group landed and received a heavy volume of sniper fire.  At 1340H hours Fire Support Base Argonne was secured, with enemy still remaining on the southeast finger.  Company D assaulted the mutually supporting bunkers and secured the bunkers late that afternoon.  The results of the entire assault were eleven NVA KIA confirmed.  Also, there were numerous sightings of the enemy by aerial observers in area surrounding Fire Support Base Argonne.  The AO called numerous air strikes and artillery missions with results unknown.  Sporadic sniper fire was received by resupply helicopters from the northwest finger.  At 1830H, A patrol from Company D was dispatched to search out the suspected area of sniper fire and were engaged in a heavy fire fight and were forced to withdraw due to impending darkness.  On 21 March at 0820H hours, Lt/Col Sargent and 2nd Lt. Wilson were killed by incoming 82mm mortar fire.  The arrival of helicopters except on one or two occasions resulted in accurate 82mm mortar attacks.  Numerous strikes by fixed wing aircraft and artillery fire missions were conducted on suspected enemy positions.  On 22 March at 0630H the Bravo Command Group at Fire Support Base Alpine received forty-five rounds of 82mm mortar fire.
  7. On 23 March supply helicopters received automatic weapons fire while attempting to resupply Fire Support Base Argonne.  At 1415H, A patrol from Company D while searching the area in which sniper fire had originated found five enemy graves.  The patrol was taken under fire by seven enemy entrenched in a bunker complex.  The patrol withdrew and two air strikes were requested.  Company D then maneuvered into the area of contact which resulted in five enemy killed.  On 24 March at 0630H, Company M, received approximately fifty rounds of automatic weapons fire.  At 0900H, A patrol searching the suspected enemy position made contact with an unknown size enemy force.  Results were three enemy KIA.
  8. On 25 March at 1310H, Company A conducted a search and clear mission in the area of the suspected enemy mortar position.  Engaged in heavy contact with an estimated enemy platoon entrenched in bunkers.  The bunkers were assaulted, and results were seven NVA KIA.
  9. On 28 March at 0220H, Company A while in their night defensive position was probed by estimated enemy squad which resulted in one enemy KIA.
  10. On 29 March at 1705H, Company A found a company size bunker complex containing forty to fifty bunkers.  Found in the complex were nine enemy bodies and miscellaneous enemy equipment.

This page last corrected 6 September 2011

Enemy KIA Confirmed:            61

Captured:                                         0

  1. Weather.  During the first part of the month the days were generally hot and humid and the nights cool.  The temperatures differential was around thirty degrees Fahrenheit with temperatures ranging from a high of one hundred degrees to a low of seventy degrees Fahrenheit.  During the latter part of the month there was d drop in the day and nighttime temperatures.  There was considerable ground fog usually lasting until mid-morning.  The temperatures ranging from seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit during the day, to fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit during the night.
  2. Terrain.  The area of operations has numerous well pronounced hills with crests ranging from three hundred to seventeen hundred meters.  Thick heavily vegetated underbrush and a secondary canopy causes ground movement to be slow and difficult.  There are numerous deep valleys with small feeder streams.  The savannah grass ranges in height from five to fifteen feet in the lower areas.
  3. Enemy Equipment Captured or Destroyed.
  4. Small arms ammo
  5. 7.62mm, AK-47 – 3400 rounds
  6. 12.7mm – 600 rounds
  7. Mortar, recoilless rifle, rocket
  8. 82mm mortar –158 rounds
  9. 60mm mortar – 60 rounds
  10. rocket propelled grenades – 15 rounds
  11. Weapons
  12. crew served – 4
  13. individual – 26
  14. AK-47 magazines – 50
  15. Mines, demolition, explosives
  16. anti-personnel mines – 9 rounds
  17. TNT – 12 pounds
  18. Chicom grenades – 480 grenades
  19. Psychological Warfare – All psychological warfare operations were conducted by a higher echelon.
  20. Civil Affairs – Due to the tactical situation and the lack of civilian population in the area of operations there were no opportunities to conduct civil affairs operations this month.  This Battalion maintains a plan for conducting civil affairs assistance.  This plan will be implemented where appropriate and activated when the tactical situation permits.