Vietnam War Timeline

111
15 September 1968
Bravo 1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div
Bn Forward Fire Base
LZ Mary Lou, ZA 227840, Kontum

Summary: At 0005 hours 8293 (3rd Plt B Co 1/35) reported small arms fire coming from the east. At 0007 hours 8292 (2nd Plt B Co 1/35) reported small arms fire at their position. Kontum ASP (Ammunition Supply Point) firing coming from an azimuth of 350 degrees about 200 meters away. There were mortar rounds hitting the west end of the air strip on an azimuth of 300 degrees to 5 degrees about 300 meters out. The flash from the mortar tube could be seen as each round was fired. At 0019 hours the 2nd Plt reported that the firing had stopped and the Gladiator control had taken approximately 40-50 82mm mortar rounds. At 0024 hours 2nd plt reported receiving small arms fire again, location unknown. Gunships on location from Gladiator central and are peppering the area where the small arms fire in believed to be coming from. At 0054 hours 2nd Plt had 1 man wounded and requested a Med-Evac. They were informed to carry the EM on a stretcher and take him to the aid station at Gladiator central\'s location. 2nd Plt reported the EM had been taken to aid station and he had received 3 wounds, one on the right side of the face, one in the right shoulder and one in his right side. At 0120 hours 2nd Plt reported contact had been broken and gunships were still working the area. No enemy casualties were reported. No damage was reported at this time. At 0125 hours Recon Plt 1/35 at Plei Mrong (Special Forces Camp) reported small arms fire and 60mm mortar fire to the right and left of their position. At 0135 Recon Plt reported receiving 1 60mm mortar round. No friendly casualties. At 0142 Bde reported Spooky en route to their location and to come up to their frequency. At 0155 hours platoon reported Special Forces Camp still receiving mortar rounds. One round every 30 seconds. At 0157 hours radar (Big Eye) reported the following locations of suspected enemy mortar locations grid coordinates: 78629215, 78659175 and 78909272. Arty, gunships and Spooky bird worked this area over. At 0206 hours Recon Plt reported contact broken. Plt reported Special Forces Camp received 30-50 rounds of 60mm mortars. No friendly casualties were reported. At 0525 hours Recon Plt reported incoming 60mm mortar rounds west and south of his position. The Special Forces Camp received approximately 5-8 rounds. At 0545 hours Recon Plt reportedly received 8-10 rounds outside of his perimeter. One round landed inside the perimeter. No friendly casualties reported. Plt reported that rounds stopped coming in at last report. This at 0537 hours. At 1905 hours Recon Plt reported a change on the type of mortar rounds received. They were 82mm instead of 60mm. This was confirmed by a tail fin found outside the perimeter. They appeared to be new rounds. At 0923 hours Captain Tower B Co reported finding the following items at 795897 believed to be the sight of mortaring of the ASP (Ammunition Supply Point) and Gladiator Central position: 1 fuse can, 2 Chinese rations cans, 21 mortar fuse caps, 24 fuse wires, 12 fuse weld caps. All the foregoing items are believed to be associated with 82mm mortars.