Operations/Training

1. Mission.

During the entire period the Battalion was OPCON to the 4^th Marine Regiment.  From 1-15 June two (2) companies of the Battalion conducted Operation Choctaw in the Phong Dien area and the other two (2) companies phased into Operation Cumberland in the Nam Hoa area with the remainder of the Battalion to follow when needed.  Operation and/or activities noteworthy during the period were:

1-15 June             Companies A&B and Command Group provided security for 4^th Marine CP complex, established company patrol base on Hill #51 (YD 549281) and provided one platoon as security for Phong Dien District Headquarters.  In accordance with 4^th Marine Frag Order 24-67.  Operation Choctaw/Cumberland.

3-30 June             Company C relieved G/2/9 as security for Company C, 11^th Engineer Battalion at 031600H and Operation Cumberland commenced with mission to upgrade Route 547 to vic YD 6008 and established artillery base in that vicinity.

6 June                  2^nd Platoon Company D and Bravo Command Group moved to operation Cumberland area.

7 June                  The remainder of Company D moved to Operation Cumberland area.

9 June                  Battery G, 3^rd Battalion 12^th Marines arrived Operation Cumberland as direct support.

15 June                Relieved of all responsibilities of perimeter defense, Hill #51 and Phong Dien Dist Sqds, by 1^st Battalion 3^rd Marines at 1930H.  Operation Choctaw terminated for this Battalion.

15-30 June          Operation Cumberland IAW 4^th Marines, Frag Order 27-67.

1. Summary of Activities.

Having relieved 2^nd Battalion 4^th Marines on 30 May the Battalion continued Operation Choctaw.  Company A established a company patrol base on Hill #51 (YD 549281) from 1 June and immediately began platoon size patrol to the south and southeast.  Each platoon would remain in a designated operation area from 2 – 4 days conducting squad size patrols from a PPB.  Contact was light, mostly small groups who fired and withdrew.  Bunkers, rice paddies, farming tools and other evidence of VC presence were constantly discovered throughout the Co Bi Thanh Tan Valley area.  Numerous booby traps of various types were encountered and some booby-trapped 250 lb bombs.  Company A lost 1 KIA from one of these bombs.

Two sniper teams from Hdqts Co were utilized on Hill #56 (YD 578282) and high ground west of Hill #51 as both snipers and OPs with good results.

From 1-10 June Company B provided security for the 4^th Marines CP complex as well as providing security details for Engineer Road sweeps, water runs etc.  Company D provided one platoon for security of Phong Dien District Headquarters and the remainder of the companies provided Rough Rider security for convoys between CO Bi Thanh Tan and Phu Bai.

On 3 June Company C relieved G/2/9 as security of Company C, 11^th Engineer Battalion at Nam Hoa upgrading Route 547 vic (YD 755136) Operation Cumberland began at 031600H.  The Battalion was now involved in two operations (Cumberland and Choctaw).  Operation Cumberland was a road-building project from the ferry crossing (YD 755134) to a proposed artillery base vic grid square 6008.  The existing Route 547 would be improved to a Class 30 road by Company C, 11^th Engineer Battalion with 1^st Battalion, 4^th Marines providing security and control.  Additional companies would be fed into the operation as the road progressed and security requirements increased.

On 6 June one platoon from Company D was moved to the Cumberland area and attached to Company C.  On 7 June the remainder of Company D and the Bravo Command Group moved to the Cumberland area and established a perimeter at YD 717106.

On 9 June Battery G, 3^rd Battalion 12 Marines moved into the Company D perimeter and began firing in support of operations.

At 071000H the Battalion assumed OPCON of 3rd Plt G/2/4 and immediately assigned this platoon as security for Phong Dien District Headquarters.

On 10 June Company B relieved Company, A on Hill #51.  Company A assumed perimeter defense.  Two platoons from Company and/or platoon established series of ambushes along stretch of Route #1 from YD 573312 to YD 608314 to deter recent heavy mining of that area.  These units remained in that vicinity until relieved on 15 June.

At 101850H the ferry at the Cumberland area received moderate A/W fire from YD 757131 from approximately one platoon of VC.  The security element aboard from Company C returned fire.  The enemy broke contact and fled.  Company C sustained 5 WIA’s and 11^th Engineers sustained 2 WIA’s.  One VCS was captured and later classified as VC.  No further contact was encountered in this area.

On 12 June the Battalion assumed OPCON of C/1/3 and moved 1/C/1/3 to Phong Dien District Headquarters on 13 June to relieve 3/G/2/4 who chopped back to 2/4.  At 121630H Major General Cushman visited Operation Cumberland.

On 15 June the Battalion (-) was relieved at Co Bi Thanh Tan by 1/3.  Company A and the Alpha Command Group moved to Operation Cumberland at 1500H.  Company B chopped OPCON to 1/3 at 1930H.  Operation Choctaw terminated at 1930H for the Battalion and maximum effort concentrated toward Operation Cumberland.  The Battalion Executive Officer returned to the 4^th Marine perimeter to assume Command of the Battalion rear.  At 191230H Company B chopped back to the Battalion and moved to the Cumberland area placing the entire Battalion in Operation Cumberland.

The period 20-29 June the Battalion provided security for the engineers upgrading of Route 547 to vic grid Square 6008.  Company B moved to vic YD 620094 on 22 June to enable engineers to begin clearing the heavy jungle growth around the proposed artillery base.  The base camp remained at YD 717106 with G/3/12, Company D and part of Company C 11^th Engineers.  Company A established a perimeter at YD 687095.  Engineers moved some equipment to that location to continue improving the road to the west.  Company C provided security for the ferry site and chopped one platoon to Company D to assist in perimeter defense of the base camp.

By 24 June a pioneer road had been completed to the proposed artillery base (GS 6008).  Due to the density of the jungle and terrain features not shown on the map, the proposed location had to be shifted to the southwest slightly to take better advantage of terrain.

On 25 June two M-109 (SP) Howitzers arrived at the base camp and on 29 June 2 M-153 (SP) guns arrived to further provide support for the artillery base camp and recon inserts operating west toward the Ashau Valley.

On 29 June Company A vacated their position (YD 687095) and moved with 2 platoons (rein) to vic of the ferry sight (YD 755137) to begin search and destroy operations southwest and established blocking positions vic YD 778096 for combined USMC/ARVN sweep from the west.   Company D moved from base camp (YD 717106) and conducted search and destroy operations southeast and then east toward Company A blocking positions.  The 1^st and 6^th ARVN Airborne Battalions followed the same axis on Company D right flank.  Company C moved 2 platoons to the base camp with one platoon from Company A to provide security for that area during their search and destroy operations.  Both Company B&C were occupied with security requirements for the engineer effort and road sweeps.  Patrols were cut to a minimum until A and D returned.

Enemy contact during the period 15-30 June in Operation Cumberland was limited to some sniper fire and a limited number of sightings of small 4–5-man groups.  Only one box types mine was found on the road during this period and was destroyed with no damage to equipment.

As of 302400H June the USMC/ARVN search and destroy operation was continuing.

1. Training.  During the month the Battalion launched a campaign to pinpoint malfunctions in the M-16 rifle.  Each man fired at least 225 rounds and malfunctions were recorded as to type and probable cause.  Contact teams were made available through 3^rd Marine Division to further assist in the effort.  Throughout the month units continued to FAM fire M-16’s to correct malfunctions and create confidence in the weapon.  This method has proven very satisfactory.  Due to constant tactical commitments no other training was accomplished during the month.
2. Training Problems Encountered.

None.

This page last corrected 27 August 2011