Vietnam War Timeline

52
1 February 1969
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div
Bn (1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Charmaine YA999219

Unit Locations:
A 1/35 (-) 017203
A Co 3rd Platoon Rock Quarry 0831
B 1/35 LZ Charmaine YA999219
C 1/35 LZ Linda
D 1/35 (-) 968186
Recon 003231
4.2" LZ Charmaine YA999219

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 1 February 1969. Unit locations: At LZ Charmaine YA999219, Battalion Headquarters (Forward); B Company, 4.2" mortar platoon, counter-mortar section from the 2/9 artillery; At LZ Linda ZA172217; C Company; A Company (-) ZA017203; D Company (-) YA968186; Recon platoon ZA003231; OPCON units: A Company 3d platoon OPCON to the 1/92 artillery; D Company 2nd platoon OPCON to the 1/69 Armor; At LZ Oasis Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Froward); At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear).

At 1015 hours C Company reported that they were receiving small arms fire from a village at a grid ZA175209 and ZA169212, contact was broken at 1200 hours, there were no US casualties reported and no enemy assessment was made. At 1020 hours c company reported that they had spotted 8-10 individuals with packs, the individuals were standing in a village but there was no action taken as a result. At 1032 hours C Company reported that they were in contact with an estimated enemy squad at grid ZA173206, contact was broken at 1050 hours. Light organics and gunships were employed but there were no casualties sustained. At 1445 hours C Company reported that they had detained one individual as a suspected VC at grid 156209, the individual was sent to Brigade Headquarters. At 2145 hours we received a message from the Bde S-3 which was sent to Bn S-3: B Company will be air lifted to the Oasis 2 February 1969, move overland to Plei-Mrong where they will be OPCON to the 2nd Brigade.

0003 hours (C) D Co reports that their ambush has movement to the north, sounded like someone crawling and they set off one Claymore and they threw 2 hand grenades and the movement stopped. They are going to sweep the area tomorrow.

0840 hours (C) Bde S-3 suggests that the Bn CO and the Bn S-3 make a reconnaissance of the area Punchbowl north to 509 and south and the river on the east for LZ's, Firebases and employment of the 1/35 in a defensive blocking position, plan to occupy 2 firebases.

1015 hours (C) C Co is receiving small arms fire from the villages at grid 175206, 169212.

1020 hours (C) C Co spotted people with packs, 8-10 EM, standing in the village, also spotted the water buffalo near the village and the people in the trees.

1032 hours (C) C Co is in contact and they employed M-60 fire in the tree line and they are now receiving fire from grid 173206 request guns, estimate the enemy size force to be a squad.

1047 (C) Shamrock 97 is on station.

1049 (C) From the Bde S-3 air to the Bn S-3: Tell C Co not to proceed any further than their current location, proceed west towards Puma, mission to is to move west towards Puma.

1050 hours (C) Contact broken at this time.

1106 hours (C) From Bde: Have the Bn CO use the LOH to go to the Oasis for the change of command ceremony at 1300 hours.

1112 hours (C) Gunships have been pulled by Bde S-3 air, C Co is to move towards the west to LZ Puma.

1114 (C) From the Bn CO to C Co CO: Move the Co back to the west by a different route, work the draws.

1133 hours (C) C Co received fire from the same area while pulling out they received fire from the same area, estimated to be a platoon size element with automatic weapons and M-79, request gunships.

1145 hours (C) C Co is employing 81mm and LAW at this time on grid 170286.

1152 hours (C) Gambler 21 is on station at this time.

1150 hours (C) Contact was broken at this time.

1210 hours (C) Guns Gambler 21 did not expend all of their ordnance, only 80%.

1235 hours (C) D Co found seven old hooches and seven green gourds one old magazine, looks like a Soviet 7.62, recent GI activity in the area (977169).

1236 hours (C) D Co requested a MedEvac for a man with a swollen hand from a bee sting (line no. 140) requested this MedEvac from Bde.

1245 hours (C) Bn CO is airborne for a change of command at the Oasis.

1305 hours (C) C Co is in contact at the village at grid 156209.

1308 hours (C) C Co reports that the contact is broken.

1309 hours (C) C Co reports that the contact was light automatic weapons firing coming from the southeast side of the village approximately 3-4 individuals in a ditch, there were also women and children in the village.

1315 hours (C) C Co reports that they are still receiving sporadic fire at this time.

1317 hours (C) C Co reports that the villagers have been hurt in the exchange of fire.

1320 hours (C) S-3 informed C Co to try and maneuver and get into the village to get at the enemy, and also to help the wounded and try to get them out of the village and out of the field of fire.

1445 hours (C) To C Co from the S-3: How many civilians were hurt in the village and how were they hurt, and by whom were they hurt, C Co says that negative personnel were hurt, also C Co has 1 suspected VC and they wish to know what they are to do with him.

1620 hours (C) To Bde from the S-3: Due to rough going B Co will not be able to make it any further then the vicinity of grid 028210.

2040 hours (C) To D Co from the S-3: Be advised that the firecracker was fired along the Ia Puch river valley in the northeast part of the area, you will work tomorrow and this does not preclude operating but you must be aware of this, work the Ia Puch river valley in detail.

2145 hours (C) From the Bde CO to the Bn CO: B Co 1/35 will be airlifted to the Oasis, 2 February 1969 they will move overland to Plei-Mrong and they will be OPCON to the 2nd Bde, what time can B Co be at the PZ?

2201 (C) From Major Losey to the Bde S-3: Comments; None of the positions that were visually reconned will be able to take an artillery battery without extensive preparations taking 4 days to a week, tall trees will mask fires, all areas must be cleared to put artillery into position, in the entire area to the east of LZ Punchbowl any units requiring MedEvac or resupply would have to conduct extensive LZ preparation once they left the areas of the bases.

2300 hours (C) From Bde S-3 to Major Losey: Be prepared to assist a guide in location 5 KHA left at Chu-Pa mountain.

2350 hours (C) From Major Losey to C & D companies: Be prepared to go OPCON to the 7/17 Cav between 2-6 Feb report immediately to the nearest LZ, report equipment and the number of personnel that will be required to accompany you from LZ Charmaine to the Oasis.