Vietnam War Timeline

131
21 October 1968
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div
Bn (1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Joan, Duc Co, YA 842251

Unit Locations:
A 1/35 LZ Joan, YA 842251
B 1/35 (-) LZ Joan, YA 842251
C 1/35 (-) LZ Jean, YA 809232
D 1/35 (-) LZ Jean, YA 809232

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 21 October 1968. Unit locations: At LZ Joan YA842251, Battalion Headquarters (Forward), A Company 1/35, B Company 1/35, B Battery 1/92 Artillery, Recon Platoon 1/35 Infantry, 4.2 Mortar platoon 1/35 Infantry, Counter Mortar Section 2/9 artillery; At LZ Jean YA809232 C Company 1/35, D Company 1/35, C Battery 2/9 Artillery, 1 CSF (Camp Strike Force) platoon from the Special Forces Camp at Duc Co; At LZ Oasis; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward); At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear), E Company (-). At 0720 hours the battalion was notified regarding MPC conversion. All personnel are restricted to their place of duty until further notice. At 1000 hours the minesweep at LZ Jean was completed with negative results. At 1035 hours SRP 15 from D Company reported finding a mortar pit at grid YA810223. It was 6 by 8 feet and was approximately two months old. It had no overhead cover. The team contaminated it with C/S gas. They also found a recoilless rifle canister and propaganda papers. At 1050 hours an officer from Division G-3 arrived at LZ Joan. The battalion commander LTC Buckner briefed the individuals on the status of the current situation. At 1125 hours the Bde S-3 informed the Bn S-3 Major Royal of the new LRRP insertion at grid YA745236. At 1205 hours SRP team 1 from B Company reported firing approximately 150 meters from them on an azimuth of 120 degrees. This from their location at grid YA841283. No further action was taken. At 1315 hours the Bde S-3 informed the Bn S-3 Major Royal that the LRRP team at grid YA745233 saw 5 individuals with weapons, soft caps and other items moving northeast to southwest. Artillery was called in, gunships were available and FAC was on station. At 1558 hours Vivid 27 7/17 Cav reported spotting 1 NVA with a weapon at grid 755199 this at 1605 hours. 27 reported artillery firing west of LZ Joan. No artillery from the surrounding area had been firing. 27 also spotted a long road about 6 feet wide running south to west about 1-1 1/2 clicks there were also hooch's along the side of the road also contained a tunnel complex and foxholes around the hooch's at grid YA746204. At 1625 hours the Cobras were firing at grid 764204, they got a secondary explosion, there was white smoke rising about 100 feet. At 1635 hours Headhunter spotted about 4-5 packs lying alongside the trail at grid 746204. Also Vivid 27 scout birds received ground fire from that location. At 1641 hours the Bn S-3 Major Royal requested Tac air on grid 746204. At 1655 hours Vivid 27 spotted an unknown amount on NVA at grid 761238. Cobras fired on this element. At 1705 hours Tac air on the way moved into the proposed grids YA761236, YA750204. LRRP team was extracted at grid 745236. Team received fire at 1700 hours 50-75 meters from their location. At 1810 hours message from the Bde S-3 to the Bn S-3 Major Royal: The 1/35 Inf has been designated for rapid deployment within or out of the Division A/O. Should the tactical situation dictate it the 3/8 will be the alternate unit. At 2130 hours there was message from Bde: General Irsecs will be at LZ Joan 22 October 1968 at 1310 hours for the awards ceremonies. At 2156 hours SRP team 15 from D Company and SRP team 14 from D Company reported lights at grid YA810208 and grid YA815206. Team 15 reported their lights on an azimuth of 3700 mils at a distance of 500 meters. Team 14 spotted their lights on an azimuth of 1200 mils at a distance of 800 meters. Artillery and light organics were fired the lights went out, and the rounds were on target. At 2328 hours SRP team 12 thinks he heard the backblast from a recoilless rifle approximately 400-500 meters east of this location grid YA792211. Item at 1816 hours Vivid 27 confirms 3 NVA KIA's in LRRP 3 foxtrot box.