Narrative Summary
The Battalion participated in Scotland II during the month of August. The mission of the Battalion was to conduct extensive patrolling at the Company level with the specific mission of searching for caches, search and destroy operations and construct landing zones for future heliborne assaults.
On 2 August in continuation of Action Canton II, Company C found 4,000 pounds of rice, one AK-47, 105 bunkers, a field aid station and medical supplies at XD 925480.
On 3 August, Company C found a cache of graves, 65 bunkers, 6 Chinese burp guns, 12,000 pounds of rice, plus 782 gear at XD 923483.
On 7 August, Company A was helo-lifted to Hill 679 at XD 895458. Battalion CP and Companies C and D departed Vandegrift Combat Base by helicopter to Hill 505 (XD 904477). The Battalion expanded the landing zone at that position and defended the same until 17 August. During that time, the Companies conducted numerous patrols within our designated AO. Company A discovered a bunker complex consisting of 53 bunkers at XD 893458 and observed a secondary explosion while firing artillery and 81mm fire missions in the area. Company C, while conducting a Platoon patrol, took one NVA under fire at XD 923483, resulting in one NVA KIA with no friendly casualties sustained. Company D had one WIA (minor) while attempting to disarm a friendly claymore.
On 21 August, while in a defensive posture at Vandegrift Combat Base, Company B spotted 5 NVA at 0305H and at same time received incoming mortar fire and s/a. A counter mortar mission was fired as well as s/a. The following night Company C challenged a person approaching the lines at 0050H. The individual did not halt and thus was taken under fire. A sweep the following morning resulted in 1 VC/NVA female type KIA.
On 23 August, the Battalion CP, Companies A, B and C conducted a heliborne assault on XD 898348. After the LZ was secured, Companies A and C left the perimeter to conduct search and destroy operations within the Battalion AO. In the initial stages of patrolling, NVA equipment was found by both companies. On 25 August, Company C came under s/a and a/w fire as they were assaulting an objective (XD 883358). They returned fire with s/a, M-79, 60mm mortar rounds followed by RPG’s and recoilless rifle fire. Company C returned fire with organic weapons plus made excellent use of supporting arms, to include 105mm and 155mm artillery missions, 106 RR beehive rounds fired from the Bn CP location, Huey gunships and fixed wing. The resulting damage was 9 NVA KIA with 4 USMC WIA. Company C was extracted from that position with outstanding air support provided by UH-1E gunships as CH-46 and CH-53’s made the extraction. Company A was also extracted by helicopter. Both units returned to Vandegrift Combat Base followed by Company B and the Battalion CP the following morning. Company D was helo-lifted to Hill 715 (XD 943476) to conduct patrols and establish OPs to observe area to the east of Vandegrift Combat Base.
On 29 August, Company B and a small Command Group were helo-lifted to XD 854473. The landing zone was ‘hot’ as they received .50 cal fire of 50 rounds as the insertion was being made. A sweep of the area was made after the LZ was secured; however, the results were negative. Company B had no casualties during the encounter.
On 30 August, Company D found and destroyed 20 NVA bunkers at XD 933472. On 31 August, Company D discovered 54 NVA bunkers with ‘A’ frame tops at XD 937468. Bunkers revealed negative enemy equipment and were thus destroyed.
Between operations the Battalion had the responsibility for the defense of Vandegrift Combat Base and Ca Lu. It was our mission to plan a new perimeter to include the defensive measures necessary for a static position. A coordinated effort was made with 11th Engineers to clear fields of fire and to enable our Battalion to lay defensive wire. Tanks, Ontos, Dusters and Searchlight were also included in the planning and defense of Vandegrift Combat Base.
The following is a breakdown of casualties encountered for August:
KIA – 1
WIA – 10
MIA – 0
NHD – 0
DOW – 0
NBC – 55
This page was last corrected 30 August 2011