Vietnam War Timeline

46
22 January 1969
1/35th
Submitted by:

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

Unit Locations:
A 1/35 946677 (YA) reconfirmed
B 1/35 YA924717
Snoopy Baron 008657
C 1/35 YA945693
D 1/35 YA939685
OPCON CSF-YA941705 (confirmed)
Recon Plt, LZ Tango ZA035663
4.2" Mortar Plt, LZ Tango
Bn CO LZ Tango ZA035663
C Co LZ Tango ZA035663
Weapons platoon 951679 (A, C Co) 2nd platoon

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 22 January 1969. Unit locations: At LZ Tango ZA035663, Battalion Headquarters (Forward), E Company, C Battery 2/9 artillery, A Company YA946677; B Company YA924717; C Company YA945698; D Company YA939685; At LZ Oasis; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward); At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear).

The battalion was repositioning forces for a three company sweep to the north between the 92 and 94 north-south grid lines against the positions occupied by B Company and the CSF, A Company was to move to the top of Chu Pa in the vicinity of grid 950678, D Company was to move to grid 930690, C Company was to hold in place until they were directed to move by the Bn CO, B Company and the CSF were to develop their positions, Recon was ordered by Bde to check out the area in the vicinity of grid ZA048689, D troop 1/10 Cav was OPCON to the 1/35 today. They were given a visual reconnaissance mission and they were directed to work in the direct support of the companies.

At 0700 hours A Company moved north, at 0730 hours D Company moved west. At 0930 hours A Company was at grid 951673, D Company was at grid 939685. At 1025 hours D Company spotted one suspicious looking individual and they fired on him. At 1030 hours D Company reported one friendly WHA, contact was made with an unknown size enemy force, contact was broken at 1045 hours but contact was again regained at 1047 hours. At 1051 hours the enemy fire was reported to be coming from an azimuth of 220 degrees this from D Company location. At 1052 hours D troop 1/10 Cav came on station. From 1205-1300 hours D Company platoon attempted to flank the sniper fire but they became pinned down. At 1215 hours D Company reported 3 WHA, they were receiving sniper fire from the northeast and the west. At 1300 hours birds from D troop 1/10 Cav checked the area of contact but they were forced to leave due to the heavy volume of fire that they were receiving. At 1120 hours gunships were employed in the area to the north of D Co location this lasted until 1235 hours. A Company was now at grid 951679. At 1255 hours C Company heard mortar rounds being fired to the west, no rounds in their area and the rounds were of an unknown origin as reported by C Company. AT 1330 hours D Company was at grid 937683, has 4 WHA, KHA. At 1300 hours D Company was told to stay in place. A Company (-) moved to sweep toward D Company location leaving one platoon at grid 951679. At 1355 hours D Company began receiving 60mm mortar fire, they also reported 2 enemy KHA. At 1400 hours D Company received small arms fire from the north. From 1400-1600 hours A Company swept towards D Company but they continually received heavy small arms fire from the northwest. From 1600-1800 hours A Company attempted to reduce the hostile fire, negative results. From 1608-1726 hours Recon was lifted from grid ZA049688 to LZ Tango and C Company weapons platoon from Objective Bravo to LZ Tango. At 1750 hours D Company was again getting mortared and they requested gunships. At 1755 hours D Company had 2 KHA, 14 WHA (total). At 1803 hours A & D Companies were both receiving mortar fire. At 1815 hours the mortar fire ceased. At 1830 hours the gunships fired on the suspected enemy mortar positions. At 1831 hours the Bn CO instructed all units to establish defensive positions for the night. At 1837 hours D Company reports 2 enemy KIA, A Company one (1) KIA, at 1841 hours the enemy fire and the dense terrain caused the Dust-Off called for the wounded to return to Base Camp (Camp Enari). At 1920 hours A Company reported 3 KHA, 8 WHA (total). The enemy was contacted at extremely close ranges and in extremely rugged mountainous terrain with triple canopy which precluded the use of artillery, the gunships of D troop 1/10 Cav and 45th Aviation did fine in support and each ship expended at least three times. Gunships and scout ships did receive ground/air fire when they got close to the contact area. The enemy used sniper tactics to pine down the companies and then brought in mortars. An airstrike was employed above the ridgeline above D Company along with the gunships.

0150 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-0150 hours 21 Jan 69- Passed to Bde at 2200 hours 21 Jan 69 log total casualties from A Co 8 WHA, 4 KHA, total from D Co 14 WHA, 2 KHA, also D Co killed 2 NVA (confirmed) A Co killed 2 (not confirmed by body count).

0600 (C) Dust-Off from Pleiku called to inform us that he would be at D Co location with a penetration device to Evac the seriously wounded, he will come with the gunships at 0700 or 0715 hours.

0625 hours (C) From the Bde S-3 to the 1/35 S-3: A Co 1/14 will move by truck from the Oasis to Plei-Djerang 0630 hours, today they will CA from Plei-Djerang airstrip at 1100 hours to a new LZ to the west of B Co 1/35.

0625 hours (C) Pleiku Dust-Off wants D Co to clear a LZ for the seriously wounded, Major Losey told D Co to start clearing a LZ through the use of explosives, D Co is staring at this time.

0655 hours (C) Dust-Off 32 is on station 2 Cobras, will contact D Co as soon as he is close enough to find out D Co tactical situation, will have the Cobra gunships work in the area of D Co CO deems it necessary.

0825 hours (C) Sergeant Major informed us that D Co has 16 WHA, 2 KHA.

0900 hours (C) LTC Buckner reports that he is receiving ground/air fire at this time, but there have been no hits.

0915 hours (C) Bde says that the ADC-A is en route to our location ETA 05 minutes.

0920 hours (C) Bde informs us to use artillery that we have, liberally fire in front of our troops even while they are moving, even when they are not in contact, fire artillery around the troops when they stop.

0950 hours (C) A Co reports 2 NVA KIA possible, not confirmed body counts.

1000 hours (C) D Co informs us that the 16 WHA's are as follows: line no.'s 90, 41, 139, 63, 7, 134, 124, 114, 170, 162, 166, 67, 116, 11, Davidson (Eng), Scott (Medic), the 2 KHA are as follows: 13, 59.

1010 hours (C) A Co is still receiving sniper fire while they are trying to marry up with D Co.

1025 hours (C) A Co reports that most of the 81 element has married up with D Co, Major Laird and a few A Co EM are pinned down 30-40 meters outside of the D Co perimeter.

1026 hours (C) D Co is receiving B-40 Rocket fire at this time. Azimuth 105 degrees.

1040 hours (C) Bde Signal officer requests to know the status of the search for the missing KHA from A Co.

1042 hours (C) LTC Buckner says that there are no plans at this time to conduct a search until things quiet down our there, and A Co has no idea where to search at this time.

1045 hours (C) D Co reports B-40 Rocket and mortar fire at this time at an azimuth of 240 degrees, distance 1,000 meters.

1055 hours (C) D Co reports that the rounds are impacting inside of the perimeter negative report of casualties at this time.

1055 hours (C) Bde informs us the Hawk 10 is en route to our location for the CA of A Co 1/14 who are OPCON to us.

1105 hours (C) Division recommends that we use tactical airstrikes.

1110 hours (C) A Co 2nd platoon is on top of the Chu Pa Mountain, they report movement on the north side of the perimeter, they have gunships moving in at this time.

1115 hours (C) D Co reports that they are still receiving 60mm mortar fire and B-40 Rocket fire at this time, no casualty report.

1145 hours (C) D Co reports that most of the A CO elements have closed their perimeter, they are not sure of the jump CP and the rocket and mortar fire have stopped but they are receiving small arms fire.

1150 hours (C) A Co reports that there is one company coming up the mountain at Chu Pa, call sign Leroy Cooks 6, they are at grid 955674 at this time.

1205 hours (C) D Co reports that they are still under small arms attack and sporadic B-40 Rocket attack, they cannot stand up to build an LZ.

1221 hours (C) A Co reported that they informed Leroy Cooks to stop closing in on their position, but Leroy Cooks refused.

1230 hours (C) Passed the information concerning Leroy Cooks on to our CO, and he informed us that hew was aware of this and that Leroy Cooks 6 was going to support our A Co 2nd platoon on the hill at Chu Pa.

1231 hours (C) A Co CO says that the missing KHA was left behind because the company was pinned down by sniper fire and they had to leave him.

1235 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-1217 hours 22 Jan 69- At 1217 hours PZ for A Co 1/14 complete.

1236 hours (UP DELAYED ENTRY-1233 hours 22 Jan 69- At 1233 hours LZ complete and Cold at grid 910715.

1255 hours (C) LTC Buckner reports that Major Laird and his RTO are 40 meters from D Co perimeter, and they are pinned down but safe.

1340 hours (C) A Co reports that they have 3-4 people laying on the road, but they do not know whether or not they are WHA or KHA, being that they are still pinned down.

1350 hours (C) D Co reports the line numbers of the additional wounded personnel: 2, 106, 85, 142, 81, Lt. Williamson 1350 hours (C) A Co reports the KHA line no. 14, 17 Head (Medic), WHA's 88, 26, 72, 84, 82, 89, Ducane.

1352 hours (C) Air strikes with napalm is going in at this time approximately grid 943685.

1355 hours (C) The airstrike is going in at the vicinity of grid 943685 with 500-pound bombs.

1415 hours (C) Bde wants to know what direction the jump CP is from D Co perimeter.

1420 hours (C) The airstrike is complete.

1430 hours (C) Leroy Cooks has married up with our A Co 2nd platoon element and they are awaiting further instruction at this time.

1433 hours (C) A Co 1/14 reports that their LP spotted a VC/NVA coming up the hill and he looked like he was motioning for more to come, LP killed him but they had one man wounded.

1448 hours (C) A Co 1/35 has closed D Co location, jump CP is 40 meters to the east in a cave.

1449 hours (C) C Co is ready for resupply at this time, they will have to kick the material out of the helicopters as they will not be able to land.

1458 hours (C) Requested a Dust-Off at this time, the Bn CO says that as far as he knows they are not being fired upon at this time and we have negative guns in the area.

1503 hours (C) A & D companies are beginning to cut an LZ.

1510 hours (C) Dust-Off 32 is on station at this time.

1515 hours (C) Bde informed us that Dust-Off 32 will be at D Co location in about 20-25 minutes with guns.

1516 hours (C) D Co reports sniper fire coming from the north at this time.

1518 hours (C) Bde informs us that they are sending a pair of gunships to aid the Dust-Off.

1615 hours (C) D Co is taking incoming 60mm mortar rounds at this time, they are coming from an azimuth of 240 degrees and a distance of 1,000 meters.

1620 hours (C) D Co reports that they are receiving 4-5 rounds at this time.

1625 hours (C) Bde requests to know the total number of casualties and they wish to know the progress of Dust-Offs, have the jump CP married up with D Co, have any of the bodies been recovered.


1630 hours (C) D Co reports 3 KHA, 22 WHA.

1650 hours (C) D Co reports that the three KHA are line numbers 13, 59 and 100.

1700 hours (C) A Co requested a case of BA-386, C-rations and water is essential.

1710 hours (C) A Co swept the area where the VC/NVA was spotted and they had negative findings, but they have one man injured as a result of the action occurring after they spotted the VC/NVA.

1717 hours (C) A Co 4 confirmed KHA, 10 confirmed WHA, does not include the jump CP nor 81 security element.

1721 hours (C) D Co received 3 rounds B-40 Rocket fire and they think that the M-79 rounds are coming from the east and northwest.

1831 hours (C) D Co reports sniper fire and B-40 Rocket.

1835 hours (C) D Co reports to LTC Buckner that the jump CP has not married up with D Co element at this time, they are holding up in a cave and they are safe, but they will not try and meet up with D Co until after dark.

1845 hours (C) D Co reports that they are receiving incoming rounds at this time, they believe them to be 60mm mortar rounds.

2003 hours (C) D Co informed 8192 that there are 6 VC/NVA moving towards them.

2005 hours (C) A & D companies have coordinated with the CSF, A & D companies will not move tonight, Major Laird and the RTO will stay in the cave for the night, CSF has ambushes all around the area and they will sweep the hill tomorrow.

2006 hours (C) D Co informed 8192 that there are 6 enemy going toward the 8192 location and they can request Spooky if need be.

2008 hours (C) A Co 1/14 LP 2 has movement 250 meters to their front at an azimuth of 180 degrees, Bde LNO says that the closest element is our B Co, A Co 1/14 has been instructed to take the enemy force under fire.

2009 hours (C) In reference to item 60 the three men who were pinned down of the trail were KHA from A Co.

2035 hours (C) A Co 2nd platoon has movement all around their perimeter, they seem to think that they are being encircled, the are waiting for the artillery to clear the grid.

2050 hours (C) A Co 2nd platoon has people closing in from their northeast and they request Spooky, SGM told them to hold tight and that he will get a Spooky.

2055 hours (C) B Co reports hearing a burst of automatic weapons fire at grid 939706, CSF is taking care of it.

2104 hours (C) A Co 2nd platoon is going to employ M-79 rounds at the visible enemy.

2115 hours (C) Received a report from A Co CO and we relayed it to A Co 2nd platoon and to D Co to TOC; Bn XO is MIA and one of his RTO's HHC line no. 122 is KHA but the body had not been recovered as of yet.

2155 hours (C) B co has enough C-rations to last for tomorrow, but they do need water.

2205 hours (C) To B Co CO from the Bn CO: I have recognized that you have violated my specific order to put out SRP's tonight.

2230 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-0945 hours 22 Jan 69- A Co started to close D Co perimeter. At 1020 hours 1/2 of A Co closed the perimeter and then remained with the 50 party. Included were pinned down and trapped in caves. 50 party was separated from A Co element, (they were in separate caves) at last report of the communication with the 50 element was 1 RTO KIA (SP/4 Ross) and the others were all right. Communications was lost with the 50 and the RTO between 0900-1000 hours. At that time 1 RTO Sgt. Corum reported that the other RTO SP/4 Ross was moving upright and was killed. Major Laird had not spoken on the radio as of that time.

2315 hours (C) From Bde: Intelligence reports the possibility of attacks by fire or sapper attacks on Kontum, Pleiku, Oasis and Camp Enari as well as installation in these vicinities, the same intelligence indicates the possibility of renewed attacks in the Sledgehammer AO, Commanders should take the appropriate action to improve the security in their areas.

2350 hours (C) Major Losey coordinated with Bde LNO to have him tell the ARVN's that A & D companies would be moving to the south tomorrow, the ARVN's were informed.