Vietnam War Timeline

263
31 December 1968
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div
Bn (1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Lanetta YA857457

Unit Locations:
A 1/35 (-) LZ Lanetta YA857457
B 1/35 (-) LZ MaryEtta YA766492
C 1/35 (-) LZ Betty YA905505
D 1/35 OPCON to 2/1 Cav
Recon Plt (-) LZ Lanetta
4.2 Mortar Plt, LZ Lanetta

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 31 December 1968. Unit locations: At LZ Lanetta YA857457, Battalion Headquarters (Forward), A Company 1/35, E Company, C Battery 2/9 artillery, 3rd platoon D Company 4th Engineers Battalion, counter mortar section from the 52 group; At LZ MaryEtta YA766492; B Company, 1 CSF platoon from the new Special Forces Camp at Plei Djerang; At LZ Betty YA905505; C Company, OPCON Units: D Company OPCON 2/1 Cav; At LZ Oasis; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward); At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear). No significant activities occurred in the area of operation during the reporting period.

1035 hours (C) B Co CO informs the S-3 air that his platoon is having great difficulty crossing the river, they will not make the proposed location before 1200 hours.

1205 hours Recon CO informs TOC that they will not be able to make their A/O by 1200 hours due to the rough terrain.

1230 hours (C) From Bde to Bn: Message from the Bde CO: There will be no pyrotechnics expended on Fire Support Bases celebrating the new year, this is a command responsibility from the division CG, informed A, B, C, Recon and 4.2", have all QSL the message.

1316 hours (C) Recon CO (72) wants to know if it is still required to move to the center of mass of the A/O, Major Royal says he is to cross the river, Recon CO says the terrain is thick and bad, however he will move along and give us his location periodically.

1450 hours (C) B Co CO informs Recon and B Co 93 element are both having extreme difficulties crossing the river and will not be able to reach the proposed night locations by tonight.

1548 hours (C) LTC Buckner Bn CO is airborne at this time to make a visual reconnaissance of the river.

1634 hours (C) Informed Bde 2 platoons in operation north of river are both in mid-stream and are having great difficulty crossing. It is very doubtful that they will reach the night location by tonight. Will set up another night location after crossing the river.

1710 hours (C) From the 1/35 S-3 to Bde S-3: LTC Buckner made a decision to seek a new crossing site the one previously picked out proved to be impossible due to the swift deep water. LTC Buckner based his decision on safety because some of the EM couldn't swim. LTC made a visual reconnaissance of the area very carefully before directing the platoon to a new location. The platoon will continue to attempt a crossing until darkness. B Co 93 element is moving west for the new crossing site. Recon is moving south to a new crossing site.

1740 hours (C) B Co informs us that part of the platoon is across the river will not be able to get the rest across tonight. S-3 informs them that they will get the rest of the element across tomorrow first light.