25 October 1965
Intelligence Summary (Operation Snaggle Tooth) of 24 October 1965
Comprehensive Summary ALPHA Company 1/4
Received incoming fire from estimated four carbines vic (BT 436150) at 240745H. Checked area, found footprints leading in westerly direction. Found several fighting holes along the ridge (BT 435150). Also found barbed wire fence and some unused barbed wire in the same area.
While at (BT 426153) at 241200H, received sniper fire from (BT 432152). Fire believed to be from carbine.
People in area appeared to be afraid of the Marines.
Found punji traps vic (BT 429142. Traps approximately 4’x6’. Found three more punji traps approximately 2’x2’. Also found leather pack beside trench vic (BT 428135), 1 photograph inside the pack with some fishing lines.
Many booby traps on trails with usual type signs with the word ‘MIN’ written in white letters. Booby traps were set with wire chest high, ———and trip wire line used. Instantaneous detonating type grenades used as explosive.
One VC wounded vic (BT 427131) at 241545H. Later died of wounds at B-Med.
Received incoming small arms fire from vic (BT 421129) at 241614H. Captured one VCS at 241755H vic coord (BT 426139). Man was hiding in a hole at waters edge.
Comprehensive Summary BRAVO Company 1/4
Found burned house still smoldering vic (BT 455151) at 240630H.
Found M-2 fragmentation grenade vic (BT 458149) at 240700H.
Received approximately 15-20 rounds of small arms fire while on Hill 10 (BT 437158) at 240830H. Fire came from (BT 432157). Weapons sounded like automatics. Two people observed vic (BT 432157). Checked area later and found bipod prints in the dirt and found four Mauser expended cartridge cases.
Found 21 punji traps at (BT 438157) at 240830H. Traps were approximately 4-5 feet square and 5-6 feet deep. They were well constructed with bare woven bamboo matting on all sides with corner and center braces. From 20 to 30 punji stakes approx —- feet in length were —- each pit. The punji traps had been recently constructed . Each of the stakes were green. Some of the punji stakes had some substance appearing to be —-. The covers to the traps were constructed of light interwoven strips of bamboo and laid across flexible crosspieces that would collapse under added weight. This was then covered over with a thin layer of sand. Punji traps were destroyed by the security platoon, provided by 106 Platoon, H&S Co.
Several foxholes found vic (BT 438156) at 240830H. foxholes and one trench approx 20 feet long East to West found at 240830H at (BT 437158) and approx 30-Anti-Helo poles (BT 437158).
Found cardboard marker on tree (Arrow pointing south) vic (BT 436161) at 240835H.
Punji stakes on both sides of trail from (BT 435158) to (BT 432158) at 240835H.
Found steel foot trap vic (BT 435160) at 240835H. Trap was set in covered hole well camouflaged.
Found 105mm dud vic (BT 447152) at 240915H. Dud was blown.
Found 3-Anti-personnel mines vic (BT 437161) at approx 240930H. Mines were destroyed.
Found foot trap at (BT 428158) at 240930H. This foot trap was booby trapped with French grenade. Foot trap was destroyed.
Found foot trap at (BT 435161) at 240930H. This foot trap was also booby trapped with use of a French grenade. Approx 25 meters away an M-16 mine was tripped but did not explode.
Found spider trap under trail vic (BT 436160) at approx 240950H. This position was ‘L’ shaped, allowing sniper to enter from below and come up to firing position on trail. This position was destroyed.
Found gate (Removable obstacle constructed of thorny bushes, cactus and bamboo interlaced) was found vic coord (BT 432161). Destroyed at 241150H.
Found tunnel vic (BT 432161) at 241155H. Opening at (BT 431160). Tunnel was approx 200 meters in length, 4 feet deep and 3½ feet wide. Tunnel was well constructed with top and sides of tunnel lined with matting made of interwoven bamboo strips. Vertical side braces and cross poles along the top were approx 3” diameter and evenly spaced every 2½ feet apart. Tunnel was covered over with approx 12 inches of dirt and camouflaged with transplanted crops. Tunnel was destroyed.
Found tunnel vic (BT 430160) at 241210H. Tunnel was approx 200 meters in length, 4 feet deep and 3½ feet wide. Tunnel was constructed and camouflaged in the same manner as the one mentioned above. Tunnel was destroyed.
Found tunnel vic (BT 425159) at 241230H. Tunnel was approximately 50-60 meters in length, 5 feet deep, 3½-4 feet wide. Tunnel constructed and camouflaged in the same manner as described in first tunnel. Tunnel was destroyed.
Ly Tin Intelligence personnel furnished information on the location of these tunnels. A province agent and civilians actually pointed out the exact locations.
Observed armed VN (BT 410150) at 241500H. Junk fleet wounded and captured him later as he ran onto the beach while being fired at by B Company. Received small arms fire at approximately 241500H from vic coord (BT 409153). Moved into area where fire was coming from. Observed men moving through the mud flats. Took them under fire killing one and wounding one. Took seven captives from this area. No weapons were found in the mud.
Comprehensive Summary CHARLIE Company 1/4
Departed ‘C’ Co. CP at 240100H with rubber boats. The unit crossed water vic (BT 474145) at 240330H. Crossing completed at 240535H. Established blocking positions (BT 432174) and (BT 439169) at 240640H. Observed seven fishing boats (approx. 14 men) vic (BT 430172). Shortly thereafter the seven boats put back into shore (BT 430170). Four fishing boats put back into the channel, the occupants reported as women and boys. Later, two boats put out into mid-stream. 1st Sqd fired warning shots across their bow. The boats then put back into shore and a few minutes later, 1st Sqd received incoming sniper fire. A Junk Fleet vessel came around the bend and fired automatic fire in the direction of the sniper fire. (Sniper fire was estimated as two carbines).
At 240715H, 2nd Sqd observed two VC at (BT 437161) with rifles. 2nd Sqd was located at (BT 439169). The VC fired across the channel into 2nd Sqd positions. Fire was not returned because Company B positions were not known at the time. No further sightings.
At 240730H, a HU1E flew overhead and fired automatic fire which impacted 100 yds behind 2nd squad position.
One VCS captured vic (BT 430175) at 240750H. VCS had attempted to run away when Marines approached.
Heard sporadic carbine fire vic (BT 432178) at 240840H. This firing was heard periodically throughout the morning. The exact source could not be determined.
Received sniper fire from (BT 430170) at 240930H. Fire was returned with undetermined effect. His location was spotted when he fired at a Junk Fleet Vessel. Two rocket heat rounds impacted where he was determined to be firing from . Results undetermined.
Note: The cigar shaped peninsula appeared scarcely populated. The patrol was not detached until after we occupied firing positions in the objective area. The only people we found on the peninsula where we established blocking positions were the VCS who was turned in and one family (BT 439170). Two children, a man and his wife with proper ID.
Bui Thi San Huynh Kiem
DOB: 16-4-38 DOB: 1931
Card No. 119932 Card No. 096771
DOI: 7-7-62 (wife) DOI: 6-7-62 (husband)
Most of the houses checked were empty and did not seem lived in.
Conclusions:
It is estimated that 20-30 local guerrillas operate on the island and cigar shaped peninsula with occasional organized squad or possibly platoon sized regular VC Forces moving through the area to avoid the controlled areas and check points from (BT 4311) to Tam Ky along coastal highway 1. By controlling Hoa Xuan Island, VC Units could easily move from (BT 4312) to (BT 4218) then Northwest to the upper Trung Phan east of Tam Ky by foot, boat, or both. The island has obviously been under VC control for several years, however, defenses have only recently been constructed to any extent. This recent construction of defenses could be attributed to the fact that this island is the VC’s only open access route leading through southern Quang Tin Province. It appears that the VC have tight control over the people. Very little information has been furnished by the population of this area.
Most of the defenses were oriented to the north along the line from (BT 437155) to (BT 436161) to (BT 415158). Other defenses were vic (BT 435149) and (BT 414155).
The Hamlet Hoa Xuan (1) (BT 426159) was possibly in the early stage of a Combat Hamlet, with its concentrated defenses in and on access routes entering this Hamlet and extensive tunneling throughout.
The island remains a valuable area for the VC and the VC cannot afford to lose this access to the inland waterways. They could continue to attempt to maintain control. However, the probability that the VC would risk large Regular Force Units and equipment in this area is not considered great. A total of 79 captives were taken, 17 were interrogated by Counterintelligence and Interrogator-Translator Teams immediately. Fifteen (15) of those were released. 64 were sent to Chu Lai Collection Point for further processing.
Four (4) VC killed, one (1) VC wounded.
Three (3) large caves destroyed.
21 man traps plus several types of foot traps and/or booby traps, which employed frag grenades of the M-26, M-2 and French type hand grenades, were destroyed.