14 Sept 1965

From:  Company B, 1^st Bn 4^th Marines (-)(rein)

 

To:       S-2, 1^st Bn 4^th Marines (-)(rein)

Subj:   Report of operation conducted by Company B on 11 Sept 1965.

Concept.  Land Company B (rein) with Engineers, Arty FO and FAC, with mission of blowing up Caves and tunnels at village BT 445054 and mine factory in Ky Sonh (1) BT 455055.  Detaching one (1) platoon to remain behind and conduct combat patrols around Hill 270 (BT 423048) and west of Hill 270.

Operation.  Company B was picked up by helo at approx 0645H

Note:   1.            This was 45 minutes late according to operational plan (load

                        0600H).

2. Landing was at approx 0650H.
3. This was 20 minutes after prep fires were lifted.
4. All 8 helo’s did not arrive together, two (2) helo’s were approx 10 minutes late.
5. This caused Marines to be landed in a hostile LZ with out any supporting weapons, as the Arty FO, FAC team, 81 FO, Companies 60mm Mortars and Companies Command Group were all in planes 7 and 8.

B-1.  Upon landing and gaining there supporting weapons, moved to high ground BT 439057 to cover movement of B-3.

B-3.  With Engineers moved to reported mine factory (factory was actually straw covered shelter) coord vic BT 455055.  Engineer Officer and CO of Company B determined there was no need for use of demo.

Search of area (radius of 100 meters) produced one basket containing a few old small arms cartridge casings and a few pieces of rusted iron.

B-3 moved to village at BT 445054 and blew three (3) small tunnels (see encl. #1) and eleven (11) holes.  They were 12’ deep, 4’ in dia, dug back at bottom 5’, then right and left to form a connecting tunnel 3 ½ ft to 4’ high and wide.

Note:

All tunnels were not connected yet as they were not completed. (See encl. #2).  Entire tunnel, when completed, would have been approx 100 meters long.  All dirt removed from tunnel was camouflaged from Air Observation.  New holes have been started, three (3) running generally NE from BT 446053 to BT 446054.  These holes, one (1) was about 2 ft deep and the other two (2) were only marked off and about 6’ deep.  The dirt removed was also camouflaged from Air Observation.  Upon completion of holes and tunnels being blown, B Co. was ordered to return to Bn with all units, canceling out remainder of operation.

Note:

Only women were in village.  When questioned about husband, women claimed husbands were working fields.  Younger women claimed husbands were in Army.

Conclusion:  That VC are very active in this village and intended to honeycomb area below village as storage areas or staging points for troops.

Recommendations:

1. That this area be checked approx once each week for further progress of diggings.  The VC appear to be able to dig very fast.
2. That air support (helo) coordinate closer with ground units.  When planning a tactical lift, Helo’s should be loaded to afford the 1^st Unit Cmdr. On the ground with as much support as possible.  One (1) helo could mean lack of the one support unit he needs to defend a LZ.  Also a 20 to 25 minute delay in landing after prep fires is sufficient to allow the enemy to re-occupy the LZ or to move into LZ.