Vietnam War Timeline

41
16 January 1969
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div
Bn (1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Tango ZA035663

Unit Locations:
A 1/35 Plei Mrong ZA116672
B 1/35 LZ Tango ZA035663
C 1/35 LZ Betty YA905505
D 1/35 LZ Lanetta YA857457
Recon Plt LZ Oasis
4.2\" Mortar Plt, LZ Oasis

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 16 January 1969. Unit locations: At LZ Tango ZA356637, Battalion Headquarters (Forward), B Company, C Battery 2/9 artillery, 3rd platoon (-) D Company 4th Engineers Battalion, At Plei-Mrong ZA116672 A Company, At LZ Betty YA905505; C Company, At LZ Lanetta YA857457; D Company; At LZ Oasis; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward), E Company; At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear).

From the Bde S-3 to the Bn S-3: ARC lights are scheduled to be put in at 1200, 1215, 1230 hours in the vicinity of grid YA951663. From the Bn S-3 Major Losey to A, C and D Companies: A Company will conduct a CA from Plei-Mrong at Objective Bravo at grid coordinate YA950662. Secure the LZ until the first lift of D Company is in and established. Conduct a Recon in force to the southwest in the assigned AO if the ARC lights strike prior to the CA conduct a BDA in the assigned AO, time of the CA for purposes of planning 171100 hours January 1969. C Company conduct a CA from LZ Betty to the vicinity of grid YA950662 to Objective Bravo. Secure the LZ Until the first of A Co is established, conduct a Recon in force to the northwest in the assigned AO, if the ARC lights strike prior to the CA conduct a BDA in the assigned AO, time for planning purposes 171100 hours January 1969. D Company conduct a CA from LZ Lanetta to the vicinity of grid YA950662 to Objective Bravo, conduct a Recon in force to the west in the assigned AO, if the ARC lights strike prior to the CA, conduct a BDA in the assigned AO, time for planning purposes 171100 hours January 1969. Engineers will CA with C Company and they will conduct a mine sweep of the LZ and enlarge the LZ, they will then move out with D Company. C Company 81mm mortar platoon will set up at or on Objective Bravo for fire support. At 1223 hours the first lift PZ for C Company, PZ complete at 1325 hours, LZ Cold. At 1409 hours the first lift off PZ for A Company, PZ complete at 1430 hours. LZ complete at 1803 hours. At 1509 hours the first PZ for D Company, PZ complete at 1535 hours. LZ complete at 1545 hours. All units on the ground with no enemy reported.

0055 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY- 1240 hours 17 Jan 69- At 1240 hours we received the following message from Bde: From the Bde S-3 to the 1/35 S-3. Be advised that the following ARC lights a troop assault preparation will be given, it will consist of three ARC lights scheduled at 1200 hours, 1215 hours, 1230 hours put in at the vicinity of grid YA951663, ordnance will include Mark 117 high drag, Mark 117 instants, mark 82 high drag, I recommend that you coordinate with the FAC prior to 170900 hrs.

0515 hours (C) In reference to item 66 16 Jan 69 log; Question 1 is how many packs will go on the CA tomorrow? Question 2 is the platoon order of march? Question 3 is what bird will be Co be on? C Co will take 106 packs, D Co will take 83 packs, A Co will take 115 packs, order of march C Co order of march 3rd, 1st, 4th, 2nd platoons; D Co order 2nd, 1st, 4th, 3rd, A Co order 1st, 3rd, 4th, 2nd; C Co CO will be on the sixth bird. D Co will be on the 3rd bird; A Co CO will be on the 9th or 10th bird.

1100 hours (C) At 1100 hours received the following message from D Co: Casualties of D Co from the 1 Jan roster: WHA line numbers; 7, 18, 20, 32, 49, 61, 82, 85, 98 and 142- wounded not as a result of hostile actions; 33, 50 and 72- casualties Medic, WHA Shelton, Hann, KHA- Reiser, died 16 Jan.

1559 hours (C) Informed Bde that we will have a total of 309 packs today for the operation.

0826 hours (C) From Bde to the S-3: ADC-A with 2 reporters will visit LZ Tango between 0915 and 1015 hours, be prepared to give him a briefing on the current tactical situation.

0915 hours (C) To the Bde S-3 air from the S-3 reference the CA for today; It will be C Co first from LZ Betty, 2nd A Co from Plei-Mrong, then D Co from LZ Lanetta, they want one lift ship to report to LZ Tango for the insertion of the Engineers and the CP group, then this ship will return to his respective unit.

1223 hours (C) First PZ time for C Co.

1238 hours (C) 1st LZ time 1238 hours.

1250 hours (C) LZ Cold.

1318 hours (C) 14 ships on the LZ.

1430 hours (C) CSM says that the birds are receiving ground to air fire from the east side of the perimeter.

1455 hours (C) Gunships are working out in the area where the birds received the ground to air fire.

1615 hours (C) CSM says that they have just put in an air strike at grid 960626 and they had the enemy in the open.

1639 hours (C) LZ complete now have three companies, A, C and D.