Sequential Listing of Significant Events

1. Combat Operations

July

01                           As the month of July commenced, the Battalion Headquarters (CP Group) was located at VCB along with Company C.  Companies A, B and D were OPCON to 3/4.  At 1500H, Company C was chopped OPCON to 3/4.

02                           Effective 1600H, the Battalion assumed responsibility for the VCB AO from 3/4.  At the same time, 3/4 chopped all four Companies of 1/4 back to the Battalion.  Additionally, the Battalion assumed OPCON of Companies K, L and M from 3/4, Company B, 3^rd Tank Battalion and a Platoon from the 3^rd Recon Battalion.

At 2145, A Squad OP from Company C heard movement in the vicinity of YD 996466.  Hand grenades were thrown, and small arms fired with negative results.

03                           At 1515H, the helilift of Company D to VCB was completed.

At 1655H, Company D was chopped OPCON to 3/4.  They commenced participation in ‘Arlington Canyon’ at that time.

04                           At 0800, Company L was chopped OPCON to 3/4 to participate in operation ‘Arlington Canyon’.

At 0945H, The S-3, CO of Company K and the tank Platoon Commander from Company B, 3^rd Tank Battalion made a VR in a CH-34.  This was in preparation for the Tank-Supported Company Operation which was to commence later in the day.

At 0950H, The FAC was helilifted to ‘Signal Hill’ (XD 978481).  He took a transponder for the purpose of conducting ‘Beacon’ fixed wing strikes.

At 2400, A boundary change reduced the northeastern corner of the Battalion’s AO by two 1,000-meter grid squares.

05                           At 0900H, A Marine from Company M was killed while conducting a road sweep in the vicinity of YD 018565, when he detonated what appeared to be an AT-mine.  The unit also found 5 AT mines, and 10 AP mines nearby.

07              At 1300H, The Battalion assumed OPCON of Company F 2/9.  The Company was moved immediately by truck to ECB and replaced Company M 3/4.  Company M returned to VCB and commenced preparations for a helilift on the following day into the ‘Arlington Canyon’ AO.

At 1310H, The S-3, 4^th Marines reported that 3/9 would relieve the Battalion and assume the VCB AO on 08 July.

08                           At 0815H, Company L 3/9 relieved Company A on the lines at VCB.

At 0900H, Company M 3/4 was chopped OPCON to 3/4.

At 1300H, 3/9 assumed responsibility for the Battalion’s AO.  The 3^rd Platoon, Company B had not yet been helilifted from Hill 950 and was chopped OPCON to 3/9 upon their assumption of the AO.

12              At 0930H, The Battalion Commander and the S-3 attended a briefing at the 3^rd MarDiv CP at Dong Ha.  The briefing concerned the chopping of the Battalion OPCON to the 1^st Brigade, 5^th Mechanized Infantry Division, US Army.

At 1145H, The Battalion Commander and the S-3 attended a briefing at the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) of the 1^st Brigade, 5^th Mechanized Infantry Division.  The operation in which the Battalion was to participate was named ‘William’s Glade’.  (See Operation Order and Overlay in supporting documents section of this chronology).

By 1630H, The Battalion had received supplies and commenced operation ‘William’s Glade’.

13                             At 1030H, Company A uncovered a well-camouflaged Platoon Patrol Base in the vicinity of YD 250553.  Documents found were immediately forwarded to the S-2.

At 1200H, Company D apprehended a female (Vietnamese) with no identification card.  She was returned by helicopter to the 1^st Brigade, 5^th Infantry Division (Mech) at Quang Tri.

15              Company B was resupplied and moved into the attack at 0600.  The other three Companies and the CP Group were delayed in their movement due to the late arrival of resupply.  It was 0950 before resupply was completed, this causing the remainder of the Battalion to move during the heat of the day, resulting a large number of heat casualties being evacuated from the field.

18                           At 1040H, An NVA was killed by a Company B ambush in the vicinity of YD 171431.

At 1920H, Company B received hostile small arms fire and 8-10 61mm** mortar rounds from the vicinity of YD 181428.  Counter mortar fire and an artillery mission were returned with good target coverage but unknown results.  There were no friendly casualties.

** Copied as written.

22                           The Battalion was helilifted back to VCB.  The lift started at 0630 and was completed at 0950.  At this time the Battalion’s participation in operation ‘William’s Glade’ was terminated and the Battalion was chopped OPCON to the 4^th Marines.

23                           At 0700H, A Platoon from Company D was helilifted to ‘Signal Hill’ to assume responsibility for that position from a Platoon from Company L 3/9.

At 0800H, Company A assumed responsibility for the defense of F Battery 2/12 at Ca Lu.  They relieved Company H 2/9 in place.

At 0900H, Company B relieved Company I /3/9 as the ‘Sparrow Hawk/Bald Eagle’ Company.

1240H, The Battalion assumed responsibility for the defense of VCB, Signal Hill, Ca Lu and OP Biddle.  At the same time, Companies I, K and L 3/9 were chopped OPCON to the Battalion.  This was the beginning of the Battalion’s participation of Operation ‘Georgia Tar’.

24                           At 1400H, The Battalion Commander and S-3 met with a representative from MAG-39 to work out the details of a vertical assault scheduled for 25 July.

25                           At 0800H, Companies C and D conducted a vertical assault of objectives located in the Ba Long Valley.  The LZ utilized was the original FSB Holcomb, located at YD 118432.  The Assault Force encountered no resistance.  Throughout the troop lift the Battalion Commander, S-3 and FSC were airborne in a UH1-E Command and Control helicopter, piloted by the Helicopter Transport Group S-3A.

27              At 1630H, Company M 3/9 relieved Company I 3/9 in the lines at VCB.  At that time, Company M was chopped OPCON to the Battalion and Company I was chopped OPCON to the Battalion and Company I was chopped OPCON back to 3/9.

29                           At 1205H, A patrol from Company D (-) found two decomposed NVA bodies wrapped in ponchos.  They appeared to have been dead approximately two months.

30                           At 1600H, Company I relieved Company D (Both 3/9) in the lines at VCB.  At the same time OPCON of both Companies changed.  Company I to the Battalion and Company D back to 3/9.

31                           At 1330H, A patrol from Company C (-) found 3-82mm mortar rounds, 1 can of fuses, 3 shot gun rounds and 9-82mm increments in the vicinity of YD 066464.

2. Significant events not related to combat operations

July

05                           Between the hours of 1300H and 1500H, the Battalion Commander and the S-3 visited Companies B and D in the field.

06                           At 2040H, The VCB Reaction Force was mustered in a Base d\Defense drill.  A predesignated assembly area, appropriately coded, was passed over the Base Defense Net at the time the Reaction Force was alerted.  A critique of the drill was scheduled for the next day.

At 2230H, A serious incident report was received from Company K.  A Marine had died from heat stroke during the afternoon while on patrol.  He was an FO from 3/12 attached to the company.

07                           Company D secured an LZ at 0840H along the Quang Tri River, in the vicinity of YD 033450.  A unit was helilifted into the LZ at 0940H to conduct a medical and PsyOps program for the Vietnamese village in the area.

At 1100H, The Battalion received the word to move the entire Battalion to Cua Viet R&R Center for rehabilitation on 09 July.

At 1340H, VCB received eight 122mm rockets.  There were no casualties in the Battalion.

08                           At 0930H, the helilift of Company D to VCB commenced.  The lift was completed at 1030, at which time OPCON of the Company was returned to 1/4.

09                           At 1200H, The Battalion departed by truck convoy for the Cua Viet R&R Center.

At 1330H, The Battalion was chopped OPCON to the 3^rd Marines Division.  The OPCON will remain in effect throughout the R&R period.

10                           The Battalion commenced their two-day rehabilitation at the Cua Viet R&R Center.

11                           The Battalion commenced their second and final day of rehabilitation at Cua Viet.

At 2030H, an accidental detonation of an M-26 grenade killed one Marine and wounded seven others.  All Marines were from Company B and the incident occurred in the Company’s billeting area at Cua Viet.

12                           At 1200H, The Battalion arrived at the Dong Ha ramp by boat.  They had departed the R&R Center at Cua Viet that morning.

14              At 0915H, The G-3, 3^rd Marine Division visited the Battalion in the field (vicinity of YD 218526) and was briefed by the S-3.

16                           At 1100H, Colonel Osteen, Commanding Officer of the 1^st Brigade, 5^th Infantry Division (MECH), US Army and his S-3 visited the Battalion CP and were briefed by the S-3.

At 1545H, the G-3, 3^rd Marine Division visited the Battalion CP and was briefed by the S-3.

18              At 0920H, MajGen Jones, CG, 3^rd Marine Division visited the Battalion CP and was briefed by the Battalion Commander.

30                           At 1000H, the 2^nd Platoon Commander from Company C was helilifted from the field to meet with the 3^rd Marines Division MTO.  His platoon will provide convoy security for the Dong Ha to VCB daily convoy during the period 1-15 August.

At 1400H, A Marine from Company M 3/9 was killed by an accidental discharge of an M-16 rifle.  The incident is being investigated.

This page last corrected 5 September 2011