Operations
1 June
Trucks parked at YD 077572 received six 82mm mortar rounds and s/a fire. Fired arty and 81mm mortar missions on enemy positions at YD 057585 and YD 060597.
At 1500H, Camp Carroll received 15-20 rounds of mixed 120mm rockets and 75mm arty howitzer. Fired arty missions on enemy positions at YD 038589, YD 035590 and YD 040550. One WIA, minor.
3 June
At 0900H, Road sweep found one enemy claymore mine at YD 063570. Engineers blew mine in place.
At 1100H, Road sweep received 12 rounds of 60mm mortar from YD 146585. Fired arty mission and 40 rounds of dusters with good target coverage. Results unknown. One WIA (minor), non-evac.
5 June
At 1230H, Co. C at Landing Zone LOON, observed enemy mortar tubing at XD 879323. Fired 106 RR, 81mm mortar and .50 cal missions. Good target coverage on enemy position.
6 June
At 0600H, an estimated 150 NVA commenced early morning attack on Co.’s C and D at LZ LOON. Co.’s C and D received s/a, a/w and RPG as well as ChiCom grenades. Company elements repelled attack with a/w, s/a, 60mm and 81mm mortars, arty, fixed wing and helo gunships. Contact continued throughout the day as Co.’s C and D received s/a, 82mm mortar and 130mm artillery fire. At approximately 1400H an attempt to extract two C Company Platoons was made. The last helo was brought down by enemy fire. The helo crashed in such a position that friendlies could not reach it. Co.’s C and D consolidated and were extracted in the late afternoon.
7 June
At 1135H, Co. B found 37 living bunkers in the vicinity of XD 899276. The bunkers could house 1 to 2 men each. Also found cooking area. This area believed to be enemy transit area.
At 1245H, 1/4 commenced lift to 4th Marines objective #2. First lift landed at 1305H at 906279. First wave received s/a from hill north of landing zone. Observed 12-15 NVA in draw at 504207. Called in arty and fixed wing with unknown results. All hands in landing zone by 1630H. Continued to call arty missions and air strikes on the above confirmed position as well as suspected enemy positions throughout the afternoon.
At 1430H, 1/4 elements found a pamphlet in the vicinity of 4th Marines objective #2. An interpreter said the pamphlet was from the Loatian government, granting NVA freedom of movement in Laos. Sent pamphlet to 4th Marines S-2.
At 1700H, Co. A squad patrol observed a wire leading alongside of road. Found NVA type stretcher and NVA entrenching tool. Patrol continued along road and observed one NVA. Took enemy under fire and observed him fall. Heard movement, hence did not check out area.
At 1900H, Co. A/1/3 observed 5 NVA approximately 475 meters from their lines at 915277. The enemy were moving west and appeared to be carrying packs. Observed no weapons. Fired approximately 6 WP and 4 HE mortar rounds and 20 rounds s/a. Results unknown.
8 June
At 0830H, Elements of Co. A observed what appeared to be a tracked vehicle, possibly an enemy tank. Called in fixed wing air strike, checked area with negative results.
At 2000H, Co. B patrol discovered road that ranged in width from 5-8 meters from coordinates XD 899276 to XD 905280. Road had cut and fill. In some places, the cut was 8-10 feet deep. In spots where gulley ran across road, the holes were filled with rocks and covered with logs in order to allow drainage and ensure trafficability during rains. In some places, the road was covered with fist size rocks. The road was generally well constructed with even surface. Overhead trees had limbs cut to provide possible vehicle passage. Found comm wire along road. Trail leading off road led to what appeared to be transit areas. These areas were well policed and provided excellent coverage from aerial observers. Also found papers giving NVA rules for engagement with the South Vietnamese. Found sign with two possible translations:
- ‘When you fight, you must win’.
- ‘The NVA are here to liberate the South Vietnamese’.
Also found container that held six pints of whole milk, made in China. Label printed in English and Chinese read, ‘National cereals, oils, food stuffs Import and Export Company’.
9 June
At 0900H, Co. A found 16 unoccupied bunkers in the vicinity of XD 912288. Some were living bunkers, and some were fighting bunkers. Also found apparent mess hall area. Also found improved road at XD 910286. One personal letter was found. Destroyed bunkers and road. Forwarded letter to 4th Marines S-2.
At 0930H, Co. D at XD 920283, observed three NVA and tunnel and bunkers that appeared to be fresh at XD 923271. Could have been living area. Tunnel was located in draw with trails leading to it. Cultivated area with corn located to east of tunnel. Called for fixed wing air support.
At 1730H, Co. A Company size patrol, along enemy road between XD 9028 to 9129, found approximately 56 bunkers. The biggest group was found at 915289. Bunkers were about 200 meters apart along road. S-2 believed that most bunkers were used for highway security and living quarters. Most bunkers had been there at least 2-3 months but had been improved within the last two weeks. Comm wire, apparently freshly laid, ran along road. Discovered bridge at XD 916296. The bridge was capable of handling heavy vehicles. Trees along the road had ‘D8’ or ‘HS’ blazed into them. S-2 scouts thought cooking facilities were large enough for a reinforced company. Trails leading off road were well used. Found sledgehammer and 7 to 8 sticks of unknown type of explosive. AO gave air 16 NVA KBA in vicinity of XD 895255 (not carried on this units’ totals). Destroyed bunkers and bridge. Forwarded explosives to 4th Marines S-2.
At 1815H, Co. B observed five NVA carrying three bodies at 890252. Fired firecracker arty mission with good target coverage. Results unknown.
10 June
At 0650H, AO gave air three more confirmed KBA’s and arty two confirmed NVA KIA’s. (At XD 895255 not carried on this unit’s totals) AO also reported that 21 bodies that were in the vicinity of the above coordinates on 9 June were no longer there. S-2 believed that this possibly indicated a large enemy unit in that vicinity.
At 0835H, Co. B found two bunkers and a grass hut at XD 901272. Hut was approximately 14 by 8’ wide and approximately 8’ off the ground. Hut had fireplace and fan. Blew bunkers and burned hut.
At 1130H, Co. B found cornfield at 901267. Field was approximately 250 meters long and 75 meters wide. Also found two bunkers in same area. Field contained corn, cucumbers, squash, tobacco, tomatoes, potatoes and okra. At coordinates 904260, Co. B found two living huts and one bunker. Living huts were on stilts and each was capable of sleeping 5-6 men. Living huts and bunkers did not appear to have been used in a month. Destroyed field, bunkers and huts.
At 1400H, Co. D/1/3 found 16 living bunkers at XD 907286. Found trail from 906286 to 903288 that was flanked with 42 living bunkers. Overhead on those bunkers was not complete. Found several cooking fires sites. In vicinity of 903288, found several recently bombed trails with footprints heading west. Vicinity of 899291, found Montegnard Village of two houses, 8 recently completed living bunkers with overhead protection and 4 ‘A’ frame bunkers with two beds each. In this area, cornfields and other vegetation were growing. Also heard several chickens. Found two huts near cornfield. One booby trap was found in this area. Trap was a Russian projectile buried in the ground with a trip wire. Destroyed bunkers, huts and booby trap.
At 2210H, Co. D observed seven NVA moving in draw approximately 400 meters in front of its position. Observed enemy by use of night device. Fired 81mm and 60mm mortar missions. NVA were observed running into 81mm mortar fire. Area was covered later by H&I fire.
11 June
From 0215H to 0430H, received s/a RPG, satchel charges and ChiCom grenades. Assault was oriented toward C Btry and Co. A/1/4. Enemy force estimated at company size, assaulted on two sides. 1/4 repelled assault with s/a, a/w, frag grenades, M-79’s, 60mm and 81mm mortar missions and direct/indirect arty fires. Had a flare ship providing illumination. Friendly casualties:
C Btry – 4 KIA, 17 WIA
Co. A – 8 KIA, 5 WIA
Co. D/1/3 – 1 WIA (one minor and one NBC evac).
At 0900H, Co. A CO, Capt. Mannilla was med-evaced (routine) with shrapnel rounds in back and shoulder.
At 0930H, shortly after ground assault, 1/4 elements received 50-75 82mm mortar rounds. Called fixed wing air strikes, fired 60mm and 81mm mortar missions and fired arty. Total casualties for day action:
1/4 – 10 KIA, 23 WIA evac, 8 non-evac
C Btry – 4 KIA, 14 WIA (evac)
D/1/3 – 1 WIA evac, 1 non-evac.
At 2100H, Co. A had movement in front of lines. Fired 60mm and 81mm mortar missions and arty. Requested flare ship. Co. A. CO, 1st Lt Jones, was wounded in leg by s/a round and med-evaced.
14 June
Conducted routine activities with negative contact. Co. D/1/3 returned from Co. patrol, negative contact. Cumulative casualty totals for Operation SCOTLAND II were:
43 KIA
95 WIA evac
10 WIA non-evac
Enemy casualties: 149 NVA KIA
Weapons captured: 13 AK-47’s and 2 RPG
15 June
At 0700, Co D/1/3 chopped OPCON from 1/4 to 4th Marines at 150700H.
At 1123H, total LZ LOON CASUALTIES FOR 1/4:
33 KIA, 74 WIA, 7 NBC. Figures include 9 KIA by enemy arty on 5 June and 12 KIA in helo crash on 6 June. Co. D total casualties 8 KIA, 26 WIA, 2 NBC. Co. D extracted to Bulldozer 34. Co D WIA med-evacs through Bulldozer 6. Co. D other med-evacs 7 KIA, 16 WIA. Co. D med evacs to LZ CAMEO. H&S Company total extracted to Bulldozer 13. Total med-evacs through Bulldozer 8 WIA. Total KIA 12 result helo crash.
16 June
At 1500H, Air uncovered 16 bunkers and had nine secondary explosions. Requested AO to return at 1700H to adjust arty. AO failed to return to area due to priority missions. 81mm mortar illumination lost by helo on 15 June was destroyed by air.
18 June
At 2040H, Helo lift of 1/4 from LZ TORCH to LZ STUD and LZ MIKE completed.
19 June
At 1700H, At LZ MIKE, 3-5 NVA were observed XD 931408. Enemy were moving through high elephant grass and shrubbery. They were wearing green uniforms and helmets. Fired 106 RR, 60mm and 81mm missions with excellent coverage. Unable to fire arty due to lack of clearance. Platoon swept area with negative results.
22 June
At 2120H, Co. C ambush observed 5-6 NVA at XD 928409. Fired s/a, 60mm and 81mm mortars with excellent coverage of target.
24 June
At 1330H, Co. D found remains of a downed helicopter. Found in helo were 20 helmets, 30 M-16’s, 3 ID cards, 3 wallets, 3 SRB’s and 1 canteen cover. Sent patrol to check and requested Graves Registration assistance.
29 June
At 0130H, Co. D ambush took one incoming ChiCom grenade. Negative casualties. Ambush returned to perimeter. Fired 60mm and 81mm mortars on suspected enemy position at XD 964411. 60mm mortars had two short rounds resulting in 3 USMC casualties (2 med-evac and 1 non-evac). Improper base plate seating due to rain, caused short round.
30 June
At 1400H, At YD 028439, Co. A made contact with 4-5 NVA wearing green uniforms. Fired two rounds of M-16 into one NVA. Pulled back and called in arty. Poor coverage due to FO’s inability to observe rounds. One NVA confirmed.
This page last corrected 1 September 2011