Vietnam War Timeline

234
1 December 1968
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div
Bn (1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Joan, Duc Co, YA 844252

Unit Locations:
A 1/35 (-) LZ Jean YA809234
B 1/35 (-) OPCON to 2/8
C 1/35 OPCON to 3/8 Inf at LZ Vera YA838178
D 1/35 (-) OPCON to 2/8
D Co Mortars (-) LZ Joan
Recon Plt LZ Joan YA844252
4.2 Mortar Plt, LZ Joan

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 1 December 1968. Unit locations: At LZ Joan YA841251, Battalion Headquarters (Forward), C Battery 2/9 Artillery, E Company, Counter Mortar Section 2/9 artillery; 1st Platoon D Co 4th Engineers Battalion, Mobile Dental Clinic from the 4th Medical Battalion; At LZ Jean YA809232; A Company 1/35, 1 CSF platoon from the Special Forces Camp at Duc Co, At LZ Vera YA835178, C Company 1/35 OPCON to 3/8 Infantry; At grid ZA195354 B Company OPCON to 2/8 Inf; At ZA181305 D Company OPCON to 2/8 Inf; At LZ Oasis; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward); At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear).

At 0220 hours 1 December 1968 A Co at LZ Jean started to receiving incoming rounds, a Spooky bird was requested from Bde at 0225 hours and was on station at 0310 hours, rounds were believed to be 75mm Recoilless Rifle rounds coming for the vicinity of Hill 391, Major Laird reported that they took approximately 42 rounds, no casualties were sustained, Spooky bird left station at 0400 hours, artillery was employed with a negative assessment of the damage. C Company evacuated LZ Vera and moved to LZ Betty and returned to the control of the 1/35 Inf at 1310 hours. A Company evacuated LZ Jean and closed LZ Joan at 1805 hours. Recon platoon was alerted for the move to LZ Lanetta on 2 December 1968.

0735 hours (C) Major Laird reports the following concerning last night's incoming rounds: There were 26 holes inside the perimeter, 16 passed over, they came in 5 & 6 round barrages, 3 bunkers were hit one of which was occupied, 4 layers of sand bags stopped a glancing round and the occupant of the bunker was only dazed, the determined back azimuth of the rounds was 218 degrees. 2 55 gallons barrels were ruined and 2 1/2 ton truck took some shrapnel damaging head lights and replaceable items, nothing serious, the rounds from an 82mm Mortar and 75mm Recoilless Rifle.