Operations
1 September
At 0130H, Co. B, at XD 863962, received approx 10-15 rounds of s/and 6 ChiCom grenades. Returned fire with s/a, a/w, M-26 grenades and 60mm mortars. Contact lasted approx 10 minutes. Negative friendly casualties. Action resulted in one NVA KIA and one NVA POW. Captured gear include one radio transmitter and antenna, four AK-47’s, 11 AK-47 magazines, 8 ChiCom grenades, one RPG, 19 AK-47 rounds, one compass, one battle dressing, one water container, one canvas body bag, morphine, vitamin K (surgical), one canteen pouch and ID papers.
At 0830H, Co. B patrol found two NVA KIA at XD 863462. Enemy dead were result of action noted at 0130H. Found two AK-47’s, ten AK-47 magazines, two ammo belts and ten chicom grenades.
At 1000H, Co. B patrol found NVA gear at XD 863462. Gear included two AK-47’s, two RPG rounds, two RPG fuses and one chicom grenade.
At 1600H, Co. B chopped OPCON to 3/4 at 011600H
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2 September
At 0230H, Co. C observed two NVA at XD 008489. Fired approx five rounds s/a, called in 60mm mortar mission (illum) and fired arty mission with excellent target coverage. Results unknown.
At 0730H, Co. B observed approx ten NVA with weapons at XD 862462. Fired arty and 60mm mission with unknown results. Also ran gunships in area.
At 0800H, Co. B observed smoke rising from tree line at XD 856471. Fired arty mission on suspected enemy position which resulted in unknown results.
At 1100H, Co. C personnel on patrol discovered a bunker under grass hooch at XD 005495. Bunker was approx 4’x5’x6’ and was reinforced with layer of logs and dirt approx 2’ thick. Destroyed bunker.
3 September
At 1800H, Co. A, 1/9, chopped OPCON to 1/4
4 September
At 0600H, chopped OPCON of Co. India/3/9 back to 3/9.
7 September
At 1330H, Co. B returned to Vandegrift Combat Base and chopped OPCON to 1/4. At 2300H, Co. D returned from Dong Ca Lu.
8 September
At 2145H, Co. A spotted suspected enemy flashlight at XD 010488 approx 200 meters in front of lines. Fired tank 90mm gun at enemy grid. Negative results.
9 September
At 1000H, Co. A, 1/9 chopped to Task Force Hotel.
At 1000H, Co. C found one bunker approx 3’x4’x6’ oriented to southeast with 3-4 logs as reinforcement. Appeared to be six months old. Destroyed bunker with bulldozer.
10 September
At 0730H, Co. C personnel had accidental discharge of claymore in living quarters, resulting in one death. Investigation processed.
At 1500H, Co. B commenced helo-lift to vicinity XD 940486 (Dong Ca Lu).
11 September
At 1400H, Co. B was helo-lifted to Vandegrift Combat Base.
12 September
At 2300H, OP observed movement. Personnel on Co. A lines threw six M-26 grenades, fired 60mm mortar illum and twenty rounds of HE. Movement ceased.
13 September
At 2330H, Co. C personnel heard movement and threw M-26 grenade. Small fragment hit same person in back of head, resulting in one USMC WIA.
14 September
At 2115H, Co. A observed sequence of flashing lights at XD 998476. Fired 12 rounds 105mm HE at suspected enemy position. After mission, movement observed in same area.
At 22**H, Co. A observed suspected movement at XD 006459 and XD 006462. Fired s/a and threw ten M-26 grenades.
At 2235H, Co. A observed unknown personnel at XD 007458. Observation made with NOD. Turned on spotlight with negative results.
At 2245H, Co. C observed two NVA at wire at XD 976480. Threw M-26 grenade and NVA seen fleeing. Fired 105mm arty mission with excellent coverage. Results unknown.
At 2303H, Co. A received premature VT 105mm round over XD 007457. One WIA SIR submitted.
15 September
At 1130H, 1/4 relieved of responsibility of defense of VCB and Ca Lu AO.
17 September
At 0037H, VCB received two rounds arty of unknown caliber from the south. Checked with 4th Marines to see if friendly H&I fire was being conducted from that area with negative reply.
At 0800H, 1/4 chopped OPCON to 9th Marines.
At 0945H, Co. B, A, 81’s, Bn CP, D and C helo-lifted to XD 947685 for operations. At 1200H, helo-lift completed.
18 September
At 0900H, Co. A personnel observed two NVA at XD 947674. NVA were apparently wounded as both had bandages on arm. Fired M-79 and M-60. Checked area with negative results.
At 0945H, Co. A heard voices at XD 947672 and immediately set up defense. As forces went closer, two NVA came into view. Fired M-60, resulting in one POW, other NVA escaped. Recovered one AK-47 and one RPG round, two NVA packs and one generator.
19 September
At 0515H, Co. A lead element observed three NVA at XD 944667. Fired s/a, NVA fled. Checked area and found two AK-44’s, eight packs, six sets new utilities, 10 pounds rice, three cakes, three plastic bags containing beef jerky, one document, 782 gear, one entrenching tool, one pick and four medicine kits.
At 0930H, Co. A observed one NVA at XD 941660 on trail approx 30 feet away from lead elements. Fired s/a, one NVA escaped. Called AO and fixed wing air strikes. Negative results.
At 1315H, Co. C found two FO positions in tree at XD 943674. Trees approx 30 feet high. Positions were camouflaged with leaves and vines and were oriented to SW and NE. Destroyed positions.
At 1530H, Co. B found 30 bunkers at XD 953669, one small mess hall, 400 pounds of rice, 2 water points, documents, demo cord and caps, one AK magazine, three canteens, one sledgehammer, pick and a pig pen. Area well used, and approx was Battalion size. Found numerous trails with handrails and steps. Bunkers were for 3-4 people. Appeared approx two months old. Destroyed by C-4.
At 1530H, Co. B elements observed two NVA walking down trail at XD 950667. Fired approx three M-16 rounds, apparently wounding one NVA. Negative results.
At 1600H, Co. A discovered large arms cache at XD 935660. Approx 320 Mosin Nagent 7.62mm rifles, 76-82mm mortar rounds, 168-81mm mortar rounds, 300,000 AK-47 rounds, 200 pounds of TNT, 64 claymores, 128 cases of .50 caliber rounds, one light machine gun and two sub-machine guns were discovered.
At 1630H, Co. C found excavation site at XD 938667 which possibly was a road, one sleeping bunker 4’x6’x2’, one booby trapped M-26 grenade and writing on a tree.
At 2100H, Co. C had one Chieu Hoi turn himself in at XD 938665. Debriefed as much as possible. NVA possibly holds rank of Corporal. Found one SKS weapon with POW.
At 2100H, Co. B had strong enemy probe on lines at XD 950668. Received 23 chicom grenades, 7 RPG’s and numerous s/a fire. Also took three dud chicom grenades and two dud RPG rounds. Returned s/a fire and grenades. Fired approx 34 60mm rounds, called arty missions and Puff. Checked area thoroughly at first light and found numerous drag marks and blood. Action resulted in three WIA evac and one WIA non-evac USMC.
20 September
At 0930H, Co. C found one shovel, one hoe, one crowbar and a two man saw at XD 944667.
At 1245H, Co. A discovered bunker complex at XD 940656. Found eight living bunkers approx 6’x6’x4’ that were reinforced with logs and dirt. Also found cave approx 4’x2’x2’ on side of stream, two shovels, one pick and 5–50-pound bags of rice.
At 1315H, Co. A discovered ammo cache at XD 934652, 150 anti-tank mines, 40 claymore mines, 249-82mm rounds, 26 cases of AK-47 rounds (50 rounds each case), 16 shotgun shells and 4,000 .50 caliber rounds.
At 1400H, Co. A discovered arms cache at XD 932656, 12 RPG rounds, 192-81mm rounds, ten anti-tank mines, 59-82mm rounds, 15,200 .50 caliber rounds, 300-75mm HE rounds.
At 2400H, Co. B was calling arty mission when one round landed approx 30 meters outside perimeter. Action resulted in 2 USMC WIA. Investigation of incident taking place.
21 September
At 0230H, while checking lines, Co. A CO observed lights. Other personnel on lines heard engine noise at 290 mils, grid XD 933659. All units alerted, called in arty mission with unknown results.
At 1310H, H&S Company found one NVA type pack and NVA telephone similar to US type TA-1 with marking of B-2, 19th Bn, 320th Division. Pack had cooking gear, rice, gas mask, first aid kit, poetry, diary, training manual, cap, shorts, shirt, rope, belts, NVA entrenching tool and documents. All gear turned over to S-2.
At 1530H, Co. A element followed main trail then cut off on small trail which led to suspected enemy base camp and training center at XD 933654. Searched area and brought back some gear and destroyed the rest. Found four AK-44’s, three SKS’s, 4,000 bandoleers, 400 leather rifle slings, 472 AK-47 rounds, eight cases of 82mm rounds and 48 anti-tank mines.
At 1530H, Co. C found two cans of .50 caliber ammo approx 5 meters off the side of trail at XD 923652.
22 September
At 1000H, Co. C found two chicom grenades, one can of .50 caliber ammo at XD 921650.
At 1330H, Co. B found 27 large, reinforced bunkers at XD 940665. Also found 100 pounds of rice, bunker to bunker strung comm wire, one set of wire cutters, 4–30-foot living quarters, one large kitchen, two cases of .50 caliber ammo (300 rounds per case), 3-82mm rounds, two small rolls of comm wire. Destroyed everything except bunkers.
At 1530H, Co. C found seven A-frame bunkers approx two weeks old at XD 921651. Blew bunkers in place. Bunkers were oriented to the north.
At 1545H, Co. C, while having security out for people destroying bunkers at XD 927651, had three NVA approach from west among brush along trail. Opened fire on enemy then searched area. Pulled back and called in arty mission. Found one helmet, one medicine kit and one poncho.
At 0800H, Co. D found 95-75mm recoilless rifle rounds at XD 933658 in bunker. Rounds were in individual canisters. Destroyed all but one round.
At 1015H, Co. B found one ammo cache at XD 938654. Included 63,000 rounds of AK ammo, 25,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammo, 184 anti-personnel mines, 126-122 rocket warheads, 30-82mm rounds, all stored in one bunker. Destroyed gear in place.
At 1015H, Co. C, while searching a bunker complex, took one NVA under fire at XD 921652, resulting in one NVA KIA and one captured SKS weapon.
At 1200H, Co. B found at XD 938658, two cases of cleaning gear including oil cans, ram rods, and combination tools, 75 rounds of 82mm mortars, 80-60mm rounds, 600 new cartridge belts, 800 rifle slings, 150 new chicom belts, one .50 caliber barrel, one heavy machine gun barrel, and two anti-tank mines. Destroyed all gear in place.
At 1300H, Co. C found at XD 926658, 25 bunkers with A-frame construction, one dining area, and one head. Bunkers were 6’x4’x4’ deep with logs 4” in diameter. Estimated to be 1-2 weeks old. Called in 155mm arty mission and requested a TPQ.
At 2400H, 1/4 chopped to 3rd Marines.
27 September
At 1500H, Co. D found three bunkers along road at XD 952667. Checked them out and found equipment in two of them which included five picks, eight shovels, two crow bars, one saw, one sledgehammer, and 20 blocks of TNT. Destroyed bunkers and collected gear.
28 September
At 1800H, Co. C was helo-lifted to VCB.
At 1800H, Co. C. chopped OPCON to 4th Marines.
At 1815H, 1/4 assumed base defense of VCB.
30 September
At 1500H, 1/4 (-) relieved of responsibility of Vandegrift.
At 1630H, Co. D with assistance from an aerial observer, uncovered the road complex running from North Viet Nam south across the Ben Hai River into the southern sector of the DMZ in the vicinity of Grid Square 9768. The road in the above grid square was well camouflaged and very difficult to detect from the air. North of the Ben Hai River the road is well developed, open and easy to locate from the air as well as from prominent terrain features in the southern sector of the DMZ.
Casualties inflicted on the enemy
NVA/KIA (confirmed) – 4
NVA/POW – 3
Friendly casualties sustained
KIA – 0
WIA – 5
Non-Hostile Deaths – 1
DOW – 0
NBC – 130
Heat – 48
MIA – 0
This page last corrected 3 September 2011