Personnel/Administration

1. Summary

On 2 April 1967 the 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines (rein) was assigned to the operational and administrative control of the 3^rd Marine division (rein), FMF.  On the same date the Battalion entered Operation Prairie III in Quang Tri Province, south of the Demilitarized Zone.  On 19 April 1967 Operation Prairie III was terminated.  On 20 April 1967 operational control of the Battalion passed to the 9^th Marines.  Also on 20 April 1967, Operation Prairie IV commenced.

1. Problem Areas/New Developments

Early in the month, personnel shortages, caused mainly from heavy casualties during Operation Beacon Hill I plagued the Battalion.  At one point in time, Company D could muster but 104 men in the field.  Other companies, except Company A, experienced severe shortages of deployable Marines; field strength averaging 125-135.  Company A, due to its assignment as defense company for the Gio Linh Provisional Artillery Battalion, was brought to T/O strength at the direction of the Assistant Division Commander, 3^rd Marine Division (rein) FMF.

To counter such shortages, the Headquarters and Service Company 106mm Platoon was placed in a cadre status, thus releasing approximately 35 Marines for assignment to the rifle companies.

Similarly, it was directed that Headquarters and Service Company be stripped of all excess personnel (it had been over T/O) in order to alleviate the problem.

At the close of this period, rifle companies were approximately T/O strength, however companies still averaged 20-30 non-effectives (mainly wounded personnel in the Battalion Aid Station, and on light or no duty status).

The current officer strength of 33 militates against prolonged operations and has reduced assignment flexibility to an inadaptable degree.

After offloading from the ships of the Amphibious Ready Group, the Battalion rear settled in GP tents at Dong Ha Combat Base.  It remained for the entire reporting period.

1. Personnel
2. Monthly strength (average chargeable)

                                       USMC                        USN

                                     Off/Enl                     Off/Enl

                                     33/1130                        2/53

2. Losses

Battle                             2/15                            0/1

Non-Battle                 0/0                              0/0

Admin                           5/24                            1/3

Total                              7/39                            1/4

3.          Gains                   1/190                            0/2
4.           Awards – The following awards were presented during the reporting

                        period:

                                    Purple Hearts 15

                                    Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry 3

                                    Bronze Stars 2

1. Discipline – Courts Martial and Non-Judicial Punishment
2. Discipline was excellent during the period as evidenced by the following:

                        Courts-Martial:

                                    Completed: None

                                    Pending:  1

                        Non-Judicial Punishment:

                                                Battalion Commander: None

                                                Company Commander: 15

1. Morale, Postal Affairs, Liberty, R&R, PX

Morale is excellent. The Battalion received R&R quotas to Okinawa, Manila, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Taipei.  While PX facilities were available to all hands at Dong Ha.  PX stock has been inadequate.  Particular shortages of film (mainly 35mm), cigarettes, stationary, and some toilet articles have been prevalent.

This page last corrected 26 August 2011