Narrative Summary
1. General Overview of all Activities. The beginning of May found the Battalion at Cua Viet engaged in Rest and Rehabilitation. Though half of the Battalion was tactically employed in defensive operations in the Cua Viet Area, two of the Companies were free to enjoy the beach facilities, movies a cook-out type steak fry and two USO shows all sponsored by the 3rd Marines Division Special Services. After three days the Companies were rotated so that all Companies could have a three-day rest period; however, the stay at Cua Viet was shortened due to tactical considerations, resulting in Companies ‘B’ and ‘C’ getting only about half of the programmed three-day rest period. While at Cua Viet the Battalion was under the operational control of the 1st Brigade, 5th Mechanized Infantry Division, U.S. Army. The R&R program is considered to be an excellent program. It contributed perceptibly to the morale of the Marines who had recently been employed in extended periods of combat prior to their participation in the program.
On 6 May the Alpha Command Group with elements of H&S Company, Company B and Company C departed for Vandegrift Combat Base (VCB). The move was made by LCU type craft to the Dong Ha ramp, and by truck to VCB. The move was made without incident, and was supported by Company C, was immediately lifted to Hill 304 (XD 856615). Due to inclement weather the lift was not completed until 1630H the following day. At this time the Company was chopped to 2nd Battalion 4th Marines for Operational Control. When Company C arrived at VCB, they were placed under the Operational Control (OpCon) of the 3rd Marines Division and was subsequently passed to Task Force Hotel. On 7 May Company C assumed the mission of Sparrow Hawk/Bald Eagle. This is the code name used to identify the Company acting as the Tactical Reserve. This Company is subject to immediate deployment on short notice to any part of the Area of Operations (AO). One Platoon (Sparrow Hawk) must be prepared to be employed in twenty minutes, while the remainder of the Company (Bald Eagle) is prepared to move on sixty minutes notice. Company C was relieved of the responsibility on 9 May.
The Battalion was alerted on 8 May to commence ‘Operation Herkimer Mountain’ and on 9 May the Alpha Command Group and Company C were helilifted to the northwestern corner of the 4th Marines AO with the Alpha Command Group occupying Landing Zone (LZ) Catapult (XD 826617). The Battalion assumed Operational Control to Company ‘G’ 2nd Battalion 4th Marines, located at FSB Neville and assumed control of the AO.
On 11 May, Company D returned from Cua Viet and was immediately helilifted to FSB Neville, relieving Company G, which returned to its parent Battalion. Company A having returned to Battalion in the field on 13 May, relieving Company L, 3rd Battalion 4th Marines on FSB Russell (XD 912591). Also, on 11 May the Battalion AO was enlarged to include the area vacated by the 3rd Battalion. This larger AO resulted in the Battalion being responsible for an unprecedented 182 one-thousand-meter Grid Squares.
During the remainder of the month extensive patrolling by Platoon and Squad Size units was conducted by all Companies. Company positions remained stationary with the exception of Company B which moved to LZ Margo (XD 901609) on 17 May.
2. Command Relations. The Battalion remained generally under the control of the 4th Marines Regiment, with the exception of the period during which it was under the Operational Control of the 1st Brigade, 5th Mechanized Infantry Division, U.S. Army, at Cua Viet. There were certain instances during the month when Companies from another Battalion were the Operational Control of the Battalion. The Battalion also relinquished Operational Control of two of its Organic Companies to other Commands. Specific units and dates are set forth in the Sequential Listing of Significant Events portion of this Chronology.
3. Mission Assigned. The primary mission of the Battalion throughout the month was to continue to defend and conduct operations north of Fire Support Bases Neville and Russell.
This page last corrected 7 September 2011