Chronological Account of Significant Events
June
4 At 040050H, CAC-7 patrol reported receiving 30-40 rounds of semi-automatic small arms fire from 100 meters south of their LP. No return rounds were fired due to friendly units being in the area. The area was thoroughly searched with negative results.
5 At 052155H, CAC-7 received 20 rounds of automatic small arms fire and one fragmentation grenade. Marines manned their defensive positions and returned fire.
6-7 At 072300H, CAC-7B patrol sighted 3 VC crossing a field and heading south. The patrol opened fire, and the VC then began to return fire, expending 10 rounds of carbine ammunition and throwing one grenade. Marines expended 100 rounds 7.62mm, one round M-79, and 8 rounds of 81mm illumination. Two Marines suffered minor superficial wounds of the leg; cause was undetermined.
8 At 080305H, a Company B patrol reported 3 VC walked into their ambush site. The patrol fired 15 rounds automatic small arms fire. One VC WIA probable was reported. There was no return fire. At 082130H, Company D illuminated to its front and flanks. 3 VC were spotted in the vicinity of Company B’s lines as a result of the illumination. The Marines fired approximately 20 rounds. One VC fail and did not rise again. Company B requested illumination at 2145H. The illumination was on target, but nothing was observed. A fire team was sent to check the area, negative results. At 2150H, Company D received 20 small arms rounds and 2 grenades on its left flank. Company D personnel saw people moving away from the lines as requested illumination was burning out. They returned fire; negative results.
9 At 092130H, CAC-8A patrol fired at 2 VC at coordinates YD 795185. The VC had crossed the path of the patrol point, and the front element of the patrol fired 8-10 rounds of automatic fire. Marines pursued as the VC withdrew to the north. Contact was lost. The patrol swept the area. Contact was not regained. At 2300H, an LP at YD 895153 spotted 6 VC and fired one burst of 7.62mm and threw 2 grenades. Illumination was requested and 2 VC were spotted moving from left to right. Marines fired 2, M-79 rounds, most probably wounding one VC. At 2400H, CAC-7B patrol heard movement in a tree line 100 meters east of their checkpoint #2 at YD 825181. 6 VC were spotted and fired upon. The area was checked with negative results. No incoming rounds had been received. The Marines expended 150 7.62mm rounds, 3 M-79 rounds, 2 81mm illumination rounds, and 5 white star clusters.
10 At 102050H, a Company B listening post at YD 895154 received one fragmentation grenade and 5 rounds small arms fire. The Marines returned 2 WP grenades and 20 small arms rounds and returned to the lines. At 2115H the right flank of the lines received 400-500 rounds small arms fire. They observed 25-30 VC, which were taken under fire. Six to ten VC were believed to be wounded. The VC broke contact and withdrew to a tree line about 250 meters from the lines. A tank on the lines fired 25-30 rounds .30 caliber light machine gun fire. Contact was lost. At 2115H, one VC was observed running northwest in front of CAC-1’s CP at YD 881174. The Marines fired at the VC expending 65 small arms rounds and 3 parachute flares. The Marines received no incoming rounds; contact was lost. When Marines swept the area one VC KIA was found. At 2210H a CAC-1 patrol received 6 rounds small arms fire at vicinity YD 881174. They saw 2 persons running south. The patrol fired, expended 250 rounds and 3 illumination hand grenades. They pursued the VC, lost contact, and returned to their CP. At 2330H, a Company A patrol heard movement to their front. One round of M-79 ammunition was fired. The patrol received an undetermined number of incoming rounds and requested illumination. The Marines spotted 3 VC enter a tomb area. The patrol swept the area with negative results.
11 CAC-7B patrol had its ambush at YD 826178 sprung. The ambush sighted 4 VC in a brush line and fired on them. One VC was killed. Recovery was made of the body and one ChiCom automatic weapon. Four VCS were apprehended by the patrol while enroute back to this LP. At 112040H, a Company D LP received one incoming grenade and at the same time sighted 3 VC running away. The LP opened fire expending 10-15 small arms rounds and heard one VC yell as the rounds impacted. The LP then withdrew to its own lines. One VC WIA probable was reported.
12 At 122215H, a Company A patrol 500 meters forward of the lines observed movement along the riverbank at YD 887123. The patrol threw one illumination hand grenade and observed 15 VC, 4 of who were carrying weapons. The patrol received 3-4 rounds from a carbine. Fire was returned, contact lost; negative results.
13 At 130145H, a Company A patrol spotted three VC at YD 888123. The patrol shot one VC who tried climbing a tree on the riverbank. Continuous illumination was requested as the patrol tried to retrieve the body from the river. The body could not be found. The other VC withdrew northwest. At 2035H, H&S Company line position #3 received one incoming grenade approximately 30 meters in front of the position. Illumination was requested and fire d. Negative activity was observed. Line position #1 observed one VC in front of its position at YD 877127 at 132040H. The position fired two small arms rounds. The VC fell, then got up and moved off to the south. One VC WIA probable was reported. At 132055H, a Company D patrol while moving to its ambush site received 4-5 rounds of automatic weapon fire and one fragmentation grenade. The patrol returned 8-10 rounds 7.62mm and one fragmentation grenade at the suspected enemy position at YD 896154. They observed one VC running across a rice paddy toward the northeast. The patrol returned to its lines and then later swept the area at 2115H with negative results.
14 At 140330H, a H&S Company patrol moving towards its ambush position made contact with an unknown number of VC at YD 875132. The patrol fired 5 rounds of 7.62mm, and the VC broke contact withdrawing in an unknown direction. The patrol moved on to its ambush position. At 2100H an unknown number of VC threw three 2 grenades at CAC-7A patrol. The Marines expended 6 white star clusters and 4 81mm illumination rounds and swept the area with negative results. The patrol continued on the nighttime operations.
15 At 152330H, one VC was spotted in a brush line heading west from coordinates YD 816178. CAC-7 Marines opened fire and expended 60 7.62mm rounds, 3 M-79 rounds, and 6 white star parachutes. No incoming rounds were received. The area was swept with negative results.
16 At 162015H, a CAC-7 patrol sighted 7 VC moving in a column along a tree line at YD 820175. The VC were heading north. The Marines patrol received approximately 45 rounds of small arms automatic weapons fire. The Marines expended approximately 500 rounds 7.62mm, 7 white star parachutes, and 1 M-79 round and 4 81mm illumination rounds. The CAC-7 unit swept the area with negative results and continued on patrol.
17 At 172230H, CAC-7A waiting in ambush was fired upon by an undetermined number of VC. The Marines returned fire and swept the area with negative results. One USMC KIA was sustained.
18 At 182335H, CAC-7B observed 7-10 VC in a tree line moving northwesterly. The Marines opened fire on the VC expending approximately 245 7.62mm rounds, 6 M-79, and 4 81mm illumination. The Marines received no incoming rounds. The area was searched with negative results.
19 At 190005H, CAC-7B reported sighting one VC running southeast down a trail. The Marines opened fire expending approximately 40 small arms rounds and 4 81mm illumination rounds. At the time of contact the VC were approximately 30 meters away. The Marines received no incoming rounds; they swept the area taking 3 VCS into custody. They were taken to CAC-7B CP to be interrogated. At 190035H approximately 15 VC fired 10 rounds at patrol 7B as they returned to their CP. Approximately 6 rounds and one grenade were fired at the CP. The CP responded with 3 grenades. The VC broke contact heading north toward Loi Nong (YD 836196); no friendly casualties were sustained. At 2205H, the Company A bunker reported hearing automatic weapon fire. Illumination was fired. A Company A patrol at coordinates YD 891118 saw three men hunched down 100 meters away when the illumination was fired. They swept area with no contact. At 2320H an H&S Company patrol heard movement to their front, received approximately 20 to 30 rounds automatic weapons fire, and observed 3 VC. They requested illumination and returned fire with approximately 200 small arms rounds and 5 grenades. Negative findings resulted.
20 At 200005H, VC tried to encircle CAC-5 at a distance of approximately 30 meters. CAC-5 opened fire. The VC dispersed in all directions; the area was swept with negative results. At 2255H, 3-4 VC were observed at YD 830172 moving in a northern direction along a tree line. CAC-7 Marines opened fire and expended 150 rounds 7.62mm, 3 M-79 rounds, and 10 81mm illumination rounds. The VC failed to return fire. The Marines swept the area and found a blood trail. They followed the blood trail with negative results. At 2345H approximately 20 VC moved to and surrounded a CAC-7 ambush site. Friendly troops opened fire expending 200 small arms rounds, 12 M-79 rounds, 3 M-26 grenades, 5 white parachute illuminations and one red illumination. The VC broke contact after returning 100-200 small arms rounds. Two PF WIA’s were sustained.
21-22 At 220040H, approximately 10 VC attacked the compound at CAC-8. The Marines received 100 small arms rounds and 3 grenades inside the compound. The Marines returned fire expending 600 rounds 7.62mm, 8 M-26 grenades, and 12 81mm illumination rounds. The VC broke contact and headed northwest. Marines swept the area at 0130H with negative results. At 1615H at YD 839195 VC in a tree line opened fire on a CAC-7 patrol. Approximately 10 VC fired 30 small arms rounds. ‘The patrol returned fire and assaulted the tree line. The VC broke contact and withdrew in an easterly direction. The area was swept with negative results. Villagers told PFs with the patrol that 2 VC had been wounded and that the VC were carrying 2 BAR’s, 4 carbines, and 4 SMG’s. At 1800H CAC-7A patrol at YD 844194 was fired upon by approximately 15 VC in a tree line with semi-automatic weapons. The Marines returned fire expending 780 7.62mm rounds, 10 M-26 grenades, 15 M-79 rounds, one red smoke grenade, one LAAW, 2 hand held illumination, and 16 .45 caliber rounds. The VC broke contact withdrawing in a northeasterly direction. The area was searched with negative results.
23 At 230015H, a patrol from CAC-1 acting on intelligence from the PF’s was sent to the vicinity of coordinates YD 878177 to check on a meeting of Vietnamese that was to be held. Eleven Vietnamese males (ages 24-80) were apprehended. The VCS were held overnight and turned over to ITT at first light for interrogation.
24 At 0048H the CAC-7 CP was probed by an estimated 3 VC. The Marines opened fire with 50 rounds 7.62mm, 2 M-26 grenades, and 11 white parachute flares. A sweep of the area revealed one wounded civilian. He was med-evaced by request of CAC-7. At 0127H a patrol from CAC-7 received 4 rounds of small arms fire from YD 819181. The Marines returned 20 rounds of 7.62mm into the tree line from which the fire came. A sweep of the tree line produced negative results. At 242400H, four VC were sighted moving thru a tree line at YD 814176 by a CAC-7 patrol. The CAC-7 patrol opened fire at 50 meters from the VC. The expenditure of ammunition was 30 7.62mm rounds, 3 M-79 rounds, 7 M-26 grenades, 8 white star parachutes, 5 illumination hand grenades, and 9 81mm rounds of illumination. The VC fled west after contact. The area was swept with negative results.
25-26 At 262331H, the Company D bunker and listening posts heard sounds of digging and saw three men walking parallel to the lines. The lines fired two rounds of illumination, 10 rounds of small arms fire, and threw one M-26 grenade. Negative results ensued.
27-28 At 2240H, a Marine/PF ambush at YD 790190 reported receiving 2 rounds of small arms fire from an unknown number of VC in an unknown position. One hundred rounds of 7.62mm and 4 M-26 grenades were returned in the direction of the fire. The area was swept with negative results. At 282200H, 4 VC were observed in the vicinity of a Company M (OpCon to 1/4) LP at YD 992042. Marines expended 3 grenades, 35 rounds 7.62mm and 3 M-79 rounds. The area was searched with negative results.
29 At 290718H, the Regimental S-2 reported that an AO had spotted 12 to 15 boats containing people with weapons moving east to west on the river at YD 932053. Permission was requested to conduct an air strike. The air strike was approved and conducted at coordinates YD 903046 and YD 908065. At 0755H the Regimental S-3 reported on results of the air strike:
YD 903046 1 boat sunk
5 VC KIA
5-10 VC KIA possible
YD 908065 4 boats sunk
10 VC KIA
15-20 VC KIA possible
At 0905H Sparrow Hawk was alerted to move to HMM-161 to be lifted into the area of the air strike. The Sparrow Hawk under OPCON of 1/4 moved to the objective area at YD 901062. At 0940H, Company D was alerted to move the Company headquarters and one platoon to HMM-161 and to have the remainder of the company follow. At 0945H, Commanding Officer of Company D assumed OPCON of Sparrow Hawk. The two units searched the objective area with negative VC contact. At 1530H Sparrow Hawk returned to the Company B area. At 1855H the Company D headquarters, and platoon returned to the company area.
30 At 302135H, a CAC-7 patrol made contact with and killed two VC at YD 833172. The VC KIA’s were wearing green uniforms. Captured equipment included one new ChiCom weapon, 3 ChiCom grenades, 1 M-26 grenade, 2 cartridge belts, 3 magazines, and assorted documents taken off the two VC KIA’s.
This page last updated 24 August 2011