231200H September 1965

Operation Order 222-65

Ref:     (a)        Map: Viet Nam 1:50,000 AMS L701 6757 III, 6757 IV

                                                        (b)   4^th Marines (-)(rein) OpOrder 305-65

Time Zone:            H

Task Organization:            Annex A (Task Organization).

1. Situation.
2. Enemy Forces.
3. Annex B (Intelligence)>
4. Current ISUMS.
5. Friendly Forces.
6. 4^th Marines (-)(rein) defends Chu Lai airfield and ancillary facilities; conducts search and destroy operations and aggressive patrolling within the TAOR; and conducts combined operations with RVNAF, on order, beyond TAOR boundaries.
7. 3^rd Bn, 3^rd Marines on south (left) flank defends along MLR and maintains OPLR and outpost for defense of bridge (BT 498067) within assigned TAOR.  Provides Battalion Headquarters and two rifle companies for local defense of Chu Lai airfield, of which one company designated as regimental reserve.
8. 2^nd Infantry Division ARVN operates in areas adjacent to TAOR.
9. Popular Forces conduct patrols/ambushes within TAOR in coordination with US Forces.
10. Self Defense Corps of Ky Ha Village man joins SDC/USMC checkpoints to enforce curfew and control local populace.
11. Junk Division 15, Vietnamese Navy, maintains counter-infiltration screen along the coast.
12. Artillery.  Annex C (Artillery).
13. Air.  Annex D (Air Support).
14. Naval Gunfire.  CTG 71.8 provides NGF support.
15. 1^st Plat, Co. A, 3^rd AmTrac Bn.
16. Direct support of 1s Battalion 4^th Marines (-)(rein).
17. Consolidated and improves perimeter defense at splash point (BT 521118).
18. Provides LVTs for tactical and logistic support as required.
19. Conducts waterborne patrols as assigned to enforce curfew, prohibit infiltration, and repel landings of enemy forces on Ky Ha Peninsula and the Islands of Ky Xuan and Ky Hoa.
20. 1^st Plat, Co. B, 3^rd AT Bn.
21. Direct support of 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines (-)(rein).
22. Provide direct fire support as required.
23. Provide Ontos for vehicular convoy escort as required.
24. Continues to improve firing positions within patrol bases.
25. Co. B (rein), 3^rd Engineer Battalion, general support 4^th Marines, prepared to attach one platoon on order for operations.
26. Co. B (rein), 3^rd Reconnaissance Battalion, general support 4^th Marines.
27. 1^st Plat, Co. C (rein), 3^rd AT Bn.
28. Direct support of 1^st Battalion, 4^th Marines (-)(rein).
29. Continues to improve firing positions within patrol bases.
30. Conducts fire missions as assigned.
31. Attachment and Detachments.  Annex A (Task Organization).
32. Mission.  1^st Bn, 4^th Marines defends along the trace of the MLR and maintains CODL within assigned TAOR.  Conducts and maintains surveillance of seaward approaches within sector to repel landings and prohibit infiltration.  Conducts aggressive operations and patrolling within TAOR.  Prepare to conduct operations on order unilaterally and /or bilaterally with RVNAF outside the Regimental TAOR.  Provides liaison in order to effect positive coordination with Province Chief, TAM KY.
33. Execution.
34. Concept of Operation.  Annex E (Operation Overlay).  1^st Battalion 4^th Marines defends assigned area against infiltration and eager attack by: (1) Establishing and improving, and , on order, manning a MLR along the western edge of island Ky Ha Peninsula; (2) conducting constant patrols from control bases established on key terrain;  (3) Coordinating the tactical defensive activities of all units within the TAOR, including Vietnamese Forces;  (4) Outposting, patrolling, and assisting District Officials in pacifying and regaining effective governmental control over the Islands of Ky Hoa and Ky Xuan;  (5) concentrated patrolling of areas within 4,ooo meters of the airfield, heli-pad, LST ramps and FLSU to prevent any direct or indirect fire weapons within that range from delivering fires on those installations.

Two companies (rein) shall be based on and defend the Ky Ha Peninsula, one company shall outpost Ky Hoa Island; and one company (-) shall outpost Ky Xuan Island.  All companies shall engage heavily in pacification activities.  In these operations, the aim is to win the support of the people for the government of Republic of Viet Nan and to assist local governments in becoming established/re-established so that they may effectively govern the populace.  These operations shall, but are not limited to; providing military security for the people against Viet Cong attacks; establishing and enforcing population control measure, finding and apprehending VC hard-core and infrastructure members within the community; civic action project; advising, assisting, and training police and Para-military forces which should be activated by the local governments, when established; psychological warfare, preventing infiltration of VC agents from outside areas into the community; and supporting, within the rules of engagement and the Rules of Land Warfare, the operations and activities of Vietnamese government officials and agencies in the community.

In all these functions exercise care that the RVN government’s credit is stressed and US help is furnished only at the government’s request; emphasize self control and void unfavorable Marine/people incidents.

1. Company A (rein).
2. Establish and occupy patrol base(s) in assigned sector.
3. Patrol assigned sector from patrol bases(s) to water’s edge.
4. Construct and improve MLR positions, man them on order.
5. Establish and man joint checkpoints with SDC in hamlets within sector to enforce established curfew.
6. Conduct patrols assigned.
7. Coordinate defenses and local patrols with local VN and adjacent units.
8. Advise and assist hamlet chiefs in sector in military and civic actions.
9. Company B (rein).
10. Establish and occupy patrol base(s) in assigned sector.
11. Patrol assigned sector from patrol base(s) to water’s edge.
12. Construct and improve MLR positions; man them on order.
13. Establish and man joint checkpoints with SDC in hamlets within sector to enforce established curfew.
14. Conduct patrols assigned.
15. Coordinate defenses and local patrols with local VN and adjacent units.
16. Advise and assist hamlet chiefs in sector in military and civic actions.
17. Provide one platoon (rein) as battalion reserve.
18. Company C (rein).
19. Establish company/platoon patrol base(s) on Ky Hoa Island.  Secure and pacify the island in coordination with other US and VS agencies.
20. Prohibit hostile fire on LST ramp (BT 520118).
21. Coordinate patrols and defenses with Battery A, 2^nd LAAM Bn, Village Chief and Popular Forces.
22. Conduct patrols assigned.
23. Advise and assist village hamlet chiefs on Ky Hoa Island in military and civic actions.
24. Coordinate all military activities on Ky Hoa Island.
25. Company D (-)(rein).
26. Establish company (-) patrol base(s) on Ky Xuan Island.  Secure and pacify the island in coordination with other US, and VN agencies.
27. Coordinate patrols and defenses with Village Chief and Popular Forces.
28. Conduct patrols assigned.
29. Advise and assist village/hamlet chiefs on Ky Xuan Island in military and civic actions.
30. Coordinate all military activities on Ky Xuan Island.
31. 3^rd Platoon, Company D.
32. Establish patrol base vicinity (BT 525074).
33. Construct and improve MLR positions in zone.
34. Conduct assigned patrols and missions.
35. 81mm Mortar Platoon (-).
36. Consolidate and improve assigned firing positions.
37. 106mm RR Platoon.
38. General Support.  Be prepared to attach sections to rifle companies and to occupy firing positions in support of MLR on order.
39. Flame Section.  General Support.
40. Battalion Reserve.  Platoon, Company B.
41. Platoon to be designated by company commander.
42. Be prepared for rapid deployment by helo, LVT, or foot anywhere within the Battalion TAOR.
43. Be prepared to execute counterattack plan on order.  See Annex F, (Counterattack Plan).
44. Coordinating Instructions.
45. This order effective on receipt.
46. Reports.  See Annex I (Reports).
47. Rules of Engagement.
48. Rounds will not be inserted in the chamber of individual weapons unless an encounter with the enemy is obvious, and in the judgment of the senior Marine present, this measure must be taken to preserve the lives of USMC personnel.
49. During hours of darkness the sequence of engagement will be:
50. Challenge.
51. If there is no response to the challenge or the response is incorrect the area will be illuminated.
52. If the person challenged makes an overt attempt to avoid apprehension, opens fire or commits any other hostile act and thereby endangers the life of the challenger, then the challenger may load and fire.
53. Magazines will not be inserted in weapons in a camp during daylight hours unless under attack.
54. Fire support coordination.  Annex G (Fire Support Coordination).
55. All tenant units in the Battalion Rear areas are responsible for their own local security, including coordination with adjacent units.  This headquarters exercises over-all coordination of local security measures and areas of responsibility.
56. Civilian curfew within the Battalion TAOR is from 2000-0500 daily.  During curfew all VN boats are prohibited from landing on or departing from the shore within the TAOR.  Local nationals are permitted to move about away from the immediate vicinity of their residence during curfew hours only for emergency reasons in which case they must travel in pairs and display a light.
57. Avoid unnecessary destruction of civilian life and property.
58. All religious, cultural, medical and public installations are restricted targets from damage by any weapon or supporting arms.
59. Administration ad Logistics.  Administrative Order 222-65.
60. Command and Communications/Electronics
63. .
64. Annex H (Communications/Electronics)
65. Command Posts.
66. Annex E (Operation Overlay).
67. Subordinate units report command post locations as changes occur.

ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT.

By Command of Lt/Col PERRICH

1. ROMANO

Major, U.S. Marines Corps

Executive Officer