Narrative Summary
The first fifteen days of the reporting period the Battalion planned and executed the withdrawal phase from the Cumberland Area, while continuing to fulfill its assigned mission of providing security for the Pontoon Bridge/Rock Crusher complex, Route 547 and the Forward Fire Support Base. The limited availability of trucks during the final stages of withdrawal (8-15 Sept), due to higher tactical commitments, resulted in some Class IV being destroyed in place because it could not be moved from Cumberland. Seasonal rains during the withdrawal period affected the traffic ability of Route 547 and hindered the Battalion’s withdrawal.
As Cumberland terminated, Company B proceeded to Quang Tri and assumed the security mission for a composite 200-man Seabee detachment (elements MCB 1,3,7,11,16,24,121 and 133) constructing an airfield. Company A remained at Cumberland (15-16 Sept) under OPCON, 2nd Bn 26th Marines as security for the Pontoon Bridge/Rock Crusher complex. The remainder of the Battalion returned to the 4th Marines Headquarters at Camp Evans, RVN. Company A was relieved by Company I, 3rd Bn 26th Marines on 16 September and processed to Camp Evans. On 18 September Company A and Bravo Command Group joined Company B at the Quang Tri Airstrip.
From 18-30 September operations by the Battalion Forward (Quang Tri) were limited to squad and platoon activities in their assigned TAOR while the primary effort was directed toward establishing defensive positions along the perimeter of the airfield.
The Battalion (-) at Camp Evans was assigned an OA within the 4th Marines TAOR. Squad, platoon and company size operations were conducted within the assigned OA and other areas as directed by 4th Marines.
Operations of note included a Company size sweep of the Co Bi Thanh Tan Valley to the southwest, a Company size sweep of the Co BI Thanh Tan Valley to the southeast, a Company size search and destroy/artillery security operation in the Northern portion of the OA, a three-day County Fair and a two Company blocking mission in conjunction with a 1st ARVN Division operation in the ‘Street Without Joy’ area.
This page last corrected 30 August 2011