Summary
At the beginning of March, the 1st Battalion 4th Marines maintained Company B (-) and the Alpha Command Group at Vandegrift Combat Base continuing preparations for the upcoming Operation Purple Martin. All other Rifle Companies were under the Operational Control of the other two Battalions of the 4th Marines. On 3 March, Company A was chopped OPCON to the 1st Battalion 4th Marines from the 2nd Battalion 4th Marines. On the morning of 3 March, the Alpha Command Group was alerted and helilifted into LZ Marilyn with Company A moving to convoy to Fire Support Base Pete. At 031800H March Companies L, I and C were chopped OPCON to the 1st Battalion 4th Marines.
On 4 March, Company A commenced movement by foot to sweep toward LZ Marilyn to join the Alpha Command Group. While moving towards LZ Marilyn the leading element of Company A found a trail located at Grid XD 976597. Two mortar pits, three fighting holes and one empty fuse can of unknown size were found at this location. Company I, 3rd Battalion 4th Marines located at Grid XD 965626 found ten A frame bunkers and three mortar pits containing an assortment of various NVA gear. Company L, 3rd Battalion 4th Marines at Grid XD 960624 received six to seven enemy 60mm mortar rounds approximately 100 metersin front of their lines. Counter mortar fire on the suspected enemy firing position was immediately fired.
At approximately 050550H March, the Alpha Command Group at LZ Marilyn received fourteen rounds of 82mm mortar fire. There were no casualties. At 050555H March, the Alpha Command Group received fifteen additional 82mm mortar rounds 50 meters outside the perimeter. Counter mortar fire was returned resulting in one secondary explosion and fire. At 051215H March, Company I at Grid XD 964627 received 82mm mortar fire resulting in one Friendly KIA and three WIA. An artillery fire mission was conducted on the enemy position. At 051430H March at the same location, Company I received additional enemy 82mm mortar fire. Fixed wing air strikes were called on suspected positions to suppress the artillery fire. While conducting these air strikes, one aircraft received enemy small arms fire. This enemy mortar barrage resulted in one Friendly KIA and one WIA.
At 051710H March, Company C, commenced an assault on LZ Mack, preceeded by an extensive fixed wing and artillery preparation. The assault elements were pinned down fifty meters from the objective by a stubborn enemy entrenched in a complex of mutually supporting bunkers. The enveloping platoon from Company C destroyed the bunkers and continued the assault through the objective. During consolidation on the objective Company C had to rapidly redeploy to facilitate a CH-46 helicopter making an emergency landing. The helicopter was resupplying Company I and received a hit from an 82mm mortar round while in an adjacent zone. The helicopter caught fire almost immediately upon lift off and diverted to LZ Mack which was still under attack by Company C. The helicopter was landed and all crew members evacuated from the flaming aircraft suffering only minor burns.
At 051735H March, The Alpha Command Group and Company C at LZ Mack received two enemy RPG rounds from the vicinity of Grid XD 960617. An artillery mission was promptly fired on the suspected position. The two enemy rounds resulted in two Friendly KIA’s. Soon after one enemy walked into an observation post manned by Company C. The observation post quickly opened fire, killed two NVA soldier and captured one AK-47 rifle. That same evening Company A reached LZ Marilyn and assumed perimeter security.
At 061235H March, A patrol from Company I at Grid XD 968623 discovered a bunker complex containing twenty-two recently constructed bunkers and assorted equipment and ordnance which included 10 Chicom grenades, ten AK-47 magazines fully loaded, four cans 30 cal. ammo, twenty-eight 12 gauge shot gun shells, two pounds TNT, one NVA claymore, three M-16 magazines fully loaded, one F-1 fragmentation grenade, 1500 AK-47 rounds, one 60mm mortar fuse, two RPG-7 rounds, numerous NVA propaganda sheets, four NVA utility bolts, one set of utilities, one axe, three picks, four NVA e-tools, one NVA shovel, five NVA canteens, one pair Ho Chi sandals, two packages condensed soy, four packages dehydrated leaves, two sweat shirts (one NVA, one USA), three NVA cartridge belts, three large cooking pots, five small cooking pots, assorted medical supplies and instruments and sixty pounds of rice.
Almost simultaneously Company A on LZ Mack observed two NVA running across a bomb crater at Grid XD 962606. Company A fired 60mm and 81mm mortars and an artillery mission which resulted in one confirmed NVA. Later the same evening the Alpha Command Group and Companies A, C and I received a total of fourteen 82mm mortar rounds from Grid XD 974631. A counter mortar mission was fired immediately on this position. At 061900H March, Company M was chopped OPCON to 1st Battalion 4th Marines.
On 7 March, Companies A, B (-), C, I, L and M were chopped OPCON to the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines. The Alpha Command Group prepared for a helilift to Vandegrift Combat Base. This lift was completed at 071600H March. The following day Company C returned to Vandegrift Combat Base and was chopped to the 1st Battalion 4th Marines from the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines.
On 10 March, The Alpha Command Group and Company C were alerted to commence operations in the Purple Martin Area of Operation. By 101510H March, the helilift of the Alpha Command Group and Company C to Fire Support Base Alpine was completed. Company D already at Fire Support Base Alpine was chopped from the 2nd Battalion 4th Marines to the 1st Battalion 4th Marines. Company C established a night position to the immediate South of Fire Support Base Alpine and the Alpha Command Group commenced operations from Fire Support Base Alpine.
On 11 March, Company C relieved Company D of the security mission for Fire Support Base Alpine. Company D began a search and clear mission to the Northeast in search of suspected enemy mortar positions. Throughout the remainder of the day personnel on Fire Support Base Alpine observed at various times a total of five NVA soldiers. Artillery and 81mm mortar missions were immediately fired on all sightings.
On 12 March, Company A was chopped OPCON to the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines from the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines and alerted for helilift to Fire Support Base Alpine. On the evening of 13 March, the Alpha Command Group on Fire Support Base Alpine spotted eight NVA soldiers to the south moving just outside the perimeter wire. This sighting was confirmed by an observer using a night observation device. Sixty mm and 81mm mortars were immediately fired on the sightings.
Company A on 14 March was chopped OPCON to Task Force Hotel as the Sparrow Hawk/Bald Eagle Reaction Force at Vandegrift Combat Base. At approximately 141600H March the Alpha Command Group sighted from Fire Support Base Alpine, five NVA next to a stream at Grid XD 754536. Mortars were fired on this area.
Company B (-) was chopped OPCON from the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines to the 1st Battalion 4th Marines on 15 March and completed helilift to Fire Support Base Alpine on 16 March. With the exception of the 3rd Platoon, Company B, which was OPCON to the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines on Dong Ha Mountain, the 1st Battalion 4th Marines was configured and positioned to commence the helicopter assault on Fire Support Base Argonne. Company A awaited helilift from Vandegrift Combat Base to Fire Support Base Alpine to support this assault. The Battalion continued planning and accumulating supplies at Fire Support Base Alpine. The logistic buildup at Fire Support Base Alpine code named ‘Blue Eyes’, was accomplished to assure prompt availability and proximity of follow-up supplies. Construction of a Regimental Aid Station was also commenced on Fire Support Base Alpine to support the operation.
During the early morning hours of 20 March, the Battalion was alerted to commence the assault on Fire Support Base Argonne at 201000H March. Prior to the assault an extensive artillery and air preparation of the objective was completed. Prior to L-hour a reconnaissance team was inserted to insure a secure LZ. Two helicopters were assigned to insert the team. Only one aircraft landed. It received a heavy volume of fire which killed both pilots and wounded all the reconnaissance team members. The order to land the assault element was given and Company D commenced the helicopter assault landing on the lower LZ at Fire Support Base Argonne due to the upper zone being fouled by the downed reconnaissance helicopter. Company D met with stiff resistance from NVA soldiers well entrenched in virtually supporting bunkers. The assault continued throughout the afternoon and by night fall the hill was secured with scattered sniper fire. Company D and the Alpha Command Group maintained a continuous vigil throughout the night prepared to repel and counterattack.
At 210800H March Company M, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines was chopped OPCON to the 1st Battalion 4th Marines and assumed responsibility for security of Fire Support Base Alpine from Company C. At 210820H March the first round of an enemy 82mm mortar attack instantly killed Lt/Col Sargent the Battalion Commanding Officer and 2nd Lt Wilson, the Battalion S-2 Officer.
The same round wounded many other Command Group personnel. Major Pierpan assumed Command of the Alpha Command Group and directed operations at Fire Support Base Argonne. Major Green, the Battalion Executive Officer monitored the situation with follow up elements on Fire Support Base Alpine. Lt/Col Willcox assumed Command upon his arrival at Fire Support Base Alpine about 211400H March. Accurate enemy 82mm mortar and sniper fire hampered helicopter operations at Fire Support Base Argonne. Counter mortar fire against suspected enemy positions continued throughout the day and into the night.
On the afternoon of 21 March Companies, A and C were landed south of Fire Support Base Argonne and commenced movement north to relieve the pressure on Fire Support Base Argonne. A flare ship provided continuous illumination during the night. Additionally, an aerial support ship, Spooky, assisted in suppressing enemy mortar fire and deterred a night counterattack.
On 22 March, The Bravo Command Group on Fire Support Base Alpine received 45 enemy 82mm mortar rounds. Counter mortar fire was immediately returned on the suspected enemy position. There were no serious wounded, however, two artillery pieces were moderately damaged. At 221430H March the partially constituted Bravo Command Group from Fire Support Base Alpine and the Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion 4th Marines arrived at Fire Support Base Argonne. At 221930H March Fire Support Base Argonne received 15 incoming mortar rounds. The counter mortar plan was immediately fired in response.
Twenty-three March found Fire Support Base Argonne receiving sporadic enemy mortar fire through the day. Patrols from Company D were in frequent contact with the enemy less than 200 meters outside the north perimeter. Company C arrived at Fire Support Base Argonne and was resupplied and dispatched to search and clear the area to the direct north. Helicopter flights into Fire Support Base Argonne continued to be endangered by the sporadic mortar attacks coinciding with the arrival of the helicopters at Fire Support Base Argonne. Company B was deployed to activate Fire Support Base Green at Grid XD 758610.
On 24 March, Company M/3/3 at Fire Support Base Alpine received approximately 50 rounds of enemy automatic fire from Grid XD 740539.
At 240815H March, Company C at Grid XD 677577 searched and cleared the seven-bunker complex in the same area that contact had been made on 23 March. Five NVA bodies previously undiscovered were found at that position. The bunkers were destroyed, and air strikes were called to assist in the total destruction of those well-prepared emplacements. At 230900H, Company M, searching the suspected area made contact with an unknown size enemy unit and received one Friendly KIA and inflicted three enemy KIA’s. Two AK-47 rifles, six Chicom grenades, twenty rounds of 82mm mortar and 3 helmets were captured. At 231500H March, Fire Support Base Argonne received twelve rounds of 82mm mortar fire while helicopters were attempting to resupply the position.
At 250930H March, Company A received sniper fire and called in air strikes resulting in four enemy KIA. At 251100H March, while resupply helicopters were landing supplies at Fire Support Base Argonne, nine enemy 82mm mortar rounds landed in the vicinity of the upper landing zone and Battalion Command Post. Company A was ordered to close on the suspected position and destroy it. At 251310H March, Company A assaulted a bunker complex killing seven enemy. There was an extensive air and artillery preparation just in advance of Company A’s sweep of this area.
Companies A, C and D continued to search and clear the area in the immediate vicinity of LZ Argonne on 26 March. There were no additional fire incidents.
Throughout the daylight hours of the 27th, Company A was probed by an estimated squad of NVA. That night an aerial support ship, Spooky, was requested and inflicted one enemy KIA and three probables. Later the same day Company A found an NVA mortar position and several 82mm mortar rounds, fuses and increments. Also found were a bipod for a .50 cal. And a 12.7mm gun sight.
At 291705H March, Company A found at Grid XD 666574 an enemy company size position. There were nine NVA bodies, forty to fifty bunkers, four AK-47 rifles, sixteen hundred AK-47 rounds, twenty-eight e-tools, five 60mm mortar rounds, fourteen RPG rounds, thirty-three Chicom grenades, sixteen AK-47 magazines, fifty pounds of rice and numerous articles of clothing and personal field equipment.
As the month ended three Companies of the 1st Battalion 4th Marines remained heavily engaged with a determined NVA force, who were deadly accurate with 82mm mortar fire. Company B continued its construction of Fire Support Base Greene at Grid XD758610. Company M continued its defense of Fire Support Base Alpine with regular sweeps in a radius of from three to four kilometers.
This page was last corrected 7 September 2011