Sequential Listing of Significant Events
- Combat Operations.
May
01 At 1840H, Company B at Grid XD 312723 received six to eight rounds of AK-47 small arms fire from Grid XD 314715. The Company returned fire with M-79 and 60mm mortars with unknown results.
08 At 1300H, Company B found three caves with entrances 10’ by 2’, about six months, old at Grid XD 843622.
09 At 0730H, Company B found 50 to 75 bunkers adjacent to a trail at Grid XD 857615. The bunkers had hootches built on top of them and were estimated to be about two to three months old.
At 1730H, Company B found a disarmed booby-trapped can, with wire inserted. The wire had been previously cut. No action was taken.
At 1745H, Company B found three bunkers built with sandbags and plastic at Grid XD 855593.
10 At 0830H, Company B found two .50 cal. positions, two A frame bunkers, three empty .50 cal ammunition cans, benches and tables. Positions and bunkers were located at Grid XD 847587 and were estimated to be two months old.
At 1700H, Company B while moving north through a draw, received small arms fire from their front, wounding two Marines. They returned fire resulting in two probable NVA, KIA’s. They then commenced to move to high ground taking small arms fire and grenades from the west. Results were two more Marines wounded. They continued to move up the hill and took sniper fire from the south wounding one Marine. The Company called artillery fire and an air strike at Grid XD 865618, with unknown results.
11 At 1020H, Company B while searching the area of the previous day’s contact found assorted miscellaneous 782 gear and numerous bloody bandages at XD 867611.
12 At 0630H, Company C located at LZ Catapult, received approximately 18 rounds of 82mm mortar fire from suspected enemy position at XD 849649. The Company fired 81mm mortars and called in artillery fire and an air strike on the suspected enemy position.
At 1040H, Company B received approximately 30 rounds of .50 cal fire from the vicinity of XD 875634 while helicopters were landing at their company position. The company fired 81mm mortars and directed artillery fire on the suspected enemy position.
At 1200H, Company C found a bunker complex running along the trail in a northerly direction between Grid XD 828610 and XD 830613. The bunkers were well constructed and estimated to be three to six months old. The Company also found two graves at XD 833607 covered with stones. They had stakes at both ends and were fenced in by rope. The graves were five or six feet deep with one body in each one. The bodies were deteriorated with no markings on the uniforms.
At 1020H, Company C also found four AK-47 magazines, eight Chinese Communist Grenades, nine ‘E’ tools, six ponchos, three hammocks, one canteen, two medium size claymores, five small picks, two large cooking pots, small bowls, one block of TNT, one saw, one tube (substance unknown), two machetes, two small green bags and 25 pounds of rice. All articles were found in a complex of 16 bunkers at XD 867611. The bunkers were either new or under construction. Some medical supplies were also found consisting of two bottles of aspirin, two syrettes of alcohol, two vials of methylate, one can of camphor and six battle dressings. All of these supplies were found in two first aid kits.
At 1900H, Company D found ten homemade TNT explosive devices and one RPG round at XD 823574. They were found while patrol was on a wire check. The patrol also found explosives 100 meters in front of the wire. The explosives were in ½ pound blocks secured with vines. Each block contained an AK-47 round as a blasting device.
13 At 1812H, Company B located at XD 858615, received approximately 15 rounds of 82mm mortar fire from the vicinity of XD 850636. All rounds fell about 400 meters short of the Company position. Counter mortar fire was conducted with 81mm mortars and artillery.
14 At 0045H, Company C spotted one NVA outside of their perimeter at XD 826615. Two hostile grenades were thrown from the outer perimeter, resulting in one Marine being wounded. Small arms fire and hand grenades were returned with unknown results.
At 1900H, Company B located at XD 885613, received approximately 10 rounds of small arms fire, which impacted 20 meters from their perimeter. The Company fired 60mm and 81mm mortars with unknown results.
16 At 0912H, Company C found a cave complex which was estimated to be three months old, and large enough to accommodate at least 40 persons. The Company searched the area and found 54 AK-47 rounds, one 82mm mortar round and two Chinese Communist grenades. All items were destroyed in place.
At 1610H, while patrolling in the vicinity of XD 901585, Company A made a security halt, and then continued on their patrol route. The last man in the column remained behind. His absence was noticed three or four minutes later. The patrol immediately began to conduct a search for the missing Marine. The patrol found the following items of his personal equipment; ammunition, one cartridge belt, canteens, and one wristwatch. The patrol continued to search the area with negative results.
17 At 0900H, Company C found two boxes of AK-47 rounds with 550 rounds in each box. They also found three living hootches and one kitchen located inside a cave, dimensions 10’ by 4’ at XD 830625. The Company destroyed all the rounds.
At 1015H, Company A found the Marine who had been missing since 16 May. He was found at XD 903582. The incident is under investigation.
19 At 0545H, Company B located at XD 901610, received approximately 20 rounds of 82mm mortar fire from vicinity of XD 875635. The rounds impacted about 200 meters west of the Company position. The Company returned fire with 81mm mortars and called artillery fire with unknown results.
At 1020H, Company B located at XD 902609, received 30 to 50 rounds of .50 cal fire as helicopters approached their LZ. The Company returned fire with 81mm mortars and called artillery and air strikes with unknown results.
At 1200H, Company ** while patrolling in the vicinity of XD 897613, found the remains of a Marine missing as result of a helicopter crash on 2 May 69. Remains were returned to Company CP and med-evaced.
At 1900H, Company B located at XD 901610, received 35 rounds of 82mm mortar fire from the vicinity of XD 878628. The Company returned fire with 81mm mortars and called artillery fire on the enemy positions with unknown results.
21 At 0930H, The Third Platoon of Company C located at XD 825626, received small arms fire from the vicinity XD 823627. The Company returned small arms fire with unknown results.
23 At 1100H, Company ** located at XD 897627 found one Communist Chinese grenade, two .50 cal positions, and two Chinese .50 cal boxes. There were 50 rounds of expended cartridges left in the area.
At 1410H, Company B located at XD 894632 found three fuses for 82mm mortar ammunition, two packages of Russian increments, three Russian 82mm mortar primers and approximately 1400 rounds of Chinese 7.62mm ammunition for weapons of unknown type. The patrol also found a trail running north. The trail was estimated to have been used within the past twenty-four hours by a platoon size unit moving north.
At 1600H, Company C located at XD 825639, received .30 cal fire from the north while being resupplied by helicopter. Artillery missions were fired at the suspected enemy position with unknown results.
24 At 0830H, Company A located at XD 912591, heard three AK-47’s firing from the vicinity of XD 897593. They appeared to be firing at helicopters approaching FSB Russell. Company A deployed a patrol to the position with negative results.
At 1400H, Company B while patrolling in the vicinity of XD 894631, found two caches containing four 60mm mortar base plates (Vietnamese, manufactured during the year 1967), 90 82mm mortar rounds, 46 Anti-Tank mines, one case of submachine gun ammunition (7.62mm), 90 RPG rounds with propellant, 263 directional mines, 523 electrical fuses, 452 pull friction fuses, 127 boxes of 12.7mm rounds, 41 boxes of 7.62mm long rimmed case cartridges, seven cans of propellant for 82mm mortars, 12 fuses for 60mm mortars, 17 boxes of stick explosives, 12 60mm rounds, six large mines (type unknown), one large fuse for 122mm rockets, and 2,000 feet of communication wire. One of each item not previously captured was returned the S-2 and the balance was destroyed in place.
25 At 0730H, Company B located at XD 887637, encountered an unknown size enemy unit at XD 887637. The enemy opened up with small arms fire. The patrol returned small arms fire and moved back. An Air Observer was on station, and adjusted artillery fire on the enemy with unknown results.
At 1500H, Company D while patrolling in the vicinity of XD 826582, found one 82mm mortar round and six 82mm mortar fuses in a container. The fuses were new. The Company destroyed the mortar rounds and fuses.
At 1325H, Company B while conducting a sweep in the vicinity of XD 890638 found three camouflaged holes, one pair of NVA sneakers, and two blood trails leading north. One man observed one NVA with what appeared to be an M-16. Small arms fire was exchanged. The NVA fled north.
26 At 1020H, the first and second Platoons of Company B while patrolling in the vicinity of XD 895618, was taken under fire by eight to ten NVA. The NVA were using Chinese Communist grenades and one RPG. The Company began to take small arms fire from the east across the river. Mortar and artillery fire was placed on the enemy and helicopter gunships supported the Company’s assault on Hill 202. Two NVA were killed, and the hill secured. At 1945H Company B located at XD 885636, received 10-15 rounds of 82mm mortar fire which landed 500 to 600 meters outside their perimeter. Company B returned fire with 81mm mortars and artillery fire with unknown results.
27 At 1445H, Company B OP at XD 888615 observed four NVA moving up and down Hill 202. The Company called in artillery fire, 81mm mortars and 60mm mortars. The NVA moved down the hill and crossed the river. A thorough search of the area resulted in two confirmed NVA KIA.
At 1745H, Company C located at LZ Catapult, received approximately ten rounds of 60mm mortar fire. Company C immediately fired counter mortar fire with 60mm and 81mm mortars. An artillery mission was also called. One Platoon of Company C conducted a patrol in the area of the enemy mortar positions at XD 830612.
28 At 1215H, Company A while patrolling at XD 913594, found a pair of Russian wire cutters about 200 meters outside of the wire. The wire cutters were slightly rusted but usable.
At 1000H, Company B observed 15 NVA in groups of three and four crossing a steam in the vicinity of XD 896613. The Company requested artillery and mortar fire. Fire missions were conducted with unknown results.
29 At 1045H, Company D while patrolling in the vicinity of XD 827573, found 37 one-pound blocks of TNT and one AK-47 magazine with 20 rounds in it. The TNT and ammo were destroyed.
30 At 0800H, Company C located at XD 826616, received approximately 15 rounds of 82mm mortar fire from the vicinity of XD 835635. All the rounds landed approximately 80 meters outside of the perimeter. Artillery and mortars were fired at the suspected enemy position with unknown results.
- Significant events not related to Combat Operations.
01 At 1030H, The Alpha Command Group and Companies A and D departed for Cua Viet to join Companies B and C who had moved to the R&R center during April. Upon arrival, the Battalion came under operational control of the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) U.S. Army.
02 At 1640H, A liaison visit was made to the Battalion by the Deputy Commander of the 1st Brigade, and the Assistant Division Commander, 3rd Marines Division.
04 At 1100H, the 3rd Marine Division Special Services Officer visited the Battalion to determine how well the R&R program was functioning.
At 0800, The relief of A and D Companies with Companies B and C commenced.
At 1300H, the relief was completed, and A and D Companies commenced their R&R.
At 1540H, Col Goggin, Regimental Commander of the 4th Marines, arrived at the 1/4 COC at Cua Viet. He departed at 1635H.
05 At 0900H, LtCol Willcox, the Battalion Commander, departed Cua Viet.
06 At 0930H, The Alpha Command Group and Companies B and C departed Cua Viet for VCB.
At 1400H, CG 3rd Marine Division assumed opcon of Companies B and C from 1st BGE, 5th Inf Div (Mech) and simultaneously passed control to CG, Task Force Hotel.
At 1515H, the helilift of Company B to relieve Company F/2/4 at XD 856615 commenced.
07 At 1500H, Company C assumed responsibility for Sparrow Hawk/Bald Eagle.
At 1630H, Company B completed their helilift to Grid XD 856615 and were chopped to the Operational Control of the 2nd Bn 4th Marines.
09 At 0001H, Operation ‘Herkimer Mountain’ commenced.
At 0815H, the helilift of the Alpha Command Group to FSB Neville commenced.
At 0830H, Company C was relieved of Sparrow Hawk/Bald Eagle by Company F 2nd Bn 4th Marines.
At 1030H, Helilift of Company C to relieve Company H/2/4 at XD 826616 commenced.
At 1100H, the 1st Bn 4th Marines assumed responsibility for the 2nd Bn 4th Marines AO and assumed Operational Control of Company G 2nd Bn 4th Marines.
11 At 1245H, Company D with H&S attachments arrived at VCB.
At 1300H, CG Third Marine Division (rein) assumed Operational Control of Companies A and D from the 1st BDE 5th Inf. Div (Mech) and simultaneously passed control to the CG Task Force Hotel.
At 1310H, Company D was helilifted to XD 825515 to relieve Company G 2nd Bn 4th Marines in place. The lift was completed at 1515H. Company G was simultaneously chopped back to their parent Battalion.
At 1745H, Company A with attachments returned to VCB.
13 At 1057H, Helilift of Company A to relieve Company L 3rd Bn 4th Marines at FSB Russell commenced. Upon completion of the lift at 1530H, the Battalion assumed responsibility for the 3rd Bn 4th Marines AO.
At 1120H, in the area of the Company C supply tent at VCB, an explosion caused the detonation of a trash barrel wounding two Marines from Company C.
At 1200H, One Marine from H&S Company received minor wounds as a result of incoming 107mm rocket rounds at VCB.
14 At 1200H, A squad patrol from Company D at XD 814577, received an erratic 81mm WP round resulting in one Marine wounded.
22 At 0831H, Gen Drake took Command of Task Force Hotel.
At 1350H, Gen Drake and Col Goggin, CO, 4th Marines arrived at FSB Neville for a conference with the Battalion Commander. They departed at 1415H.
This page last corrected 7 September 2011