Vietnam War Timeline

281
17 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 17 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 on 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 171000 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 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 or on Objective Bravo for fire support. At 1223 hours the fist lift PZ for C Company, PZ complete at 1325 hours, LZ complete at 1332 hours LZ Cold. At 1409 hours the first lift off PZ 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 contact 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 and 1230 hours, put in at the vicinity of grid YA951663, ordnance will include Mark 117 high drag, Mark 117 instant, Mark 82 high drag, I recommend that you coordinate with the FAC prior to 170900 hrs.

0200 hours (U) DELAYED MESSAGE-1250 hours 17 Jan 69- Passed the following message to A, C, D Co\'s: To a Co CO; Conduct a CA from your present location to objective B the vicinity of grid YA950662, secure the LZ until the first lift of D Co has landed and they are established, conduct a Recon in force to the Southwest within the assigned AO, if the ARC lights strike prior to the CA conduct A BDA in the assigned AO, Commanders will take 81mm mortar assigned Engineer and Chain-saws, time of the CA for planning 17100 hours. To C Co CO; Conduct a CA from the present location to the vicinity of grid YA950662 to objective B, secure the LZ until lift of A Co is in and they are 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. Commanders will take 81mm mortar, assigned Engineers and Chain saws. Time of the CA for planning will be 171100 hours, Engineers will go in on the first lift with C Co, conduct a mine sweep and enlarge the LZ and move out with D Co upon completion of the CA. To D Co CO: Conduct a CA from your present location to objective B in the vicinity of grid YA950662, conduct a Recon in force in the assigned AO, if the ARC lights strike prior to the CA, conduct a BDA in the assigned AO, Commandeers will take the 81mm mortar, assigned Engineers and chain saws. Time for planning purposes will be 171100 hours. Engineers will go in with C Co on the first lift, conduct a mine sweep and enlarge the LZ, they will move out with D Co upon completion of the CA. To A, C and D Co\'s: S-2 will visit each company with maps, overlays and instructions in the morning as early as birds are available to us, need a QSL from all elements.

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 the 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 3d, 1st, 4th, 2nd platoons; D Co order 2nd, 1st, 4th 3d; A Co order 1st, 3d, 4th, 2nd; C Co CO will be on the sixth bird. D Co CO will be on the 3d 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 action; 33, 50 and 72- casualties Medics, WHA Shelton, Hann, KHA-Reiser, died 1131 16 Jan.

0559 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.

0925 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 form 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.

1610 hours (C) D Co found 8-10 camp fire positions that are less than 12 hours old.

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

1640 hours (C) S-3 directed Captain Tower to take a patrol along the ridgeline from 009650 to 010670 start 18 Jan a night ambush is to be set up in the vicinity of grid 009652 return 19 Jan 69.

1655 hours (C) From the Bde S-3 to the BN S-3: 1 Co of CSF from Plei-Mrong will be OPCON to the 1/35 19025 Jan 69, you will assign them a boundary within the 1/35 AO and employ them as a fighting force, coordinate directly with CO Plei-Mrong and submit A/C equipment to BDE NLT 181200.

2306 hours (C) A Co reports movement to the West of their location, they will move their D.T into that area at this time.