Vietnam War Timeline

53
2 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 (-) LZ Charmaine
A Co 3rd Platoon Rock Quarry 0831
B 1/35 (-) 016214
C 1/35 148217
D 1/35 987159
D Co 2nd platoon LZ Janet 896243
Recon LZ Charmaine YA999219
4.2" LZ Charmaine YA999219

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 2 February 1969. Unit locations: At LZ Charmaine YA999219, Battalion Headquarters (Forward); A Company (-), E Company, counter-mortar section from the 2/9 artillery; B Company ZA016214; C Company ZA148217; D Company ZA997159; OPCON units: A Company 3d platoon OPCON to the 1/69 Armor; 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 1730 hours 2 February 1969 C Company reported secondary explosions while firing D.T. at their night location. At 1740 hours a secondary explosion was observed at ZA087217, a sweep of the area was ordered by the Battalion Commander on 3 February 1969.

0845 hours (C) B Co is at an LZ at this time at grid 021213, it is a one ship LZ.

0955 hours C Co reports VC/NVA at grid 138218 they are out in the open, they are going to set up an ambush, they are going to call in artillery, 4 VC/NVA.

1008 hours (C) B Co reports that their lift is complete at this time.

1009 hours (C) From the Bde to the Bn S-3: You are advised that 8 members of an Air Force (B-52 crew) will visit LZ Charmaine 4 February 1969 they will arrive at approximately 0830 hours they will depart at 0930 hours, the ranking member will be a LTC; you are requested to be prepared to give a tactical briefing and escort around LZ Charmaine, please advise the 2/9 radar to be prepared to give a briefing, QSL requested.

1056 hours (U) DELAY ENTRY 0955 hours 2 February 1969- Passed to A Co CO from Major Losey: From Major Losey and levied on A Co; For an airmobile demonstration 36 troops. 4 NCO's, 12 persons, 81mm mortar and 2 officers.

1123 (C) From the Bde CO to the Bn CO: Be prepared to OPCON one company to the 1/14 not later than 3 February 1969 for use in the Chu-Pa operation.

1150 hours (C) In reference to the one company going OPCON to the 1/14, the company will go OPCON on the morning of 3 February 1969.

1209 hours (C) Major Losey received the following information from the Bde 82A; the company in reference to item 37 must be at full strength, C Co will be airlifted from the field on the morning of 3 February 1969.

1212 hours (C) From the Bde S-3 to the Bn S-3: Send a guide to the 1/14 to assist them in the location of the 5 KIA's of the 1/35 on Chu-Pa, send the guide to the Oasis and have him go to the resupply pad and catch a bird to LZ Tommy.

1215 hours (C) Major Losey informed that we will send 2 guides.

1219 hours (C) To C Co from the S-3: You will go OPCON to the 1/14 Inf on the morning of 3 Feb 69, you will be airlifted from the AO that you are in select and report the PZ prior to 021700 Feb get in a list of resupply and requirements for the operation ASAP, so we can effect the necessary resupply, be ready to go by 0700 hours 3 Feb 69 give us the number of personnel that will be involved that are at your location and that are at LZ Charmaine.

1237 hours (C) From the Bde S-3 to the Bn S-3: Be prepared to have one platoon on a 15 minute alert and one company on a one hour alert as a reaction force for the LRRPs that are in contact at grid ZA034370.

1240 hours (C) S-3 alerted D Co to be on the alert as a reactionary force for the LRRP team that is in contact at this time.

1345 hours (C) D Co has 82 people and 2 PIO personnel.

1420 hours (C) C Co informs us that they have 110 packs in the field.

1625 hours (C) To D Co from the S-3: Continue to the southwest and then move back towards the northwest staying approximately 1000-1500 meters from the border, continue a detailed search and destroy mission into AO 4 set up the patrol base at night and place a bushmaster out each night at least 800 meters from the CP.

1730 hours (C) C Co reports secondary explosion on a D.T.

1740 hours (C) In reference to C co secondary explosion it was at grid 087217 ball of fire 50 feet with white smoke after repeatedly observing another explosion 20-25 feet of white smoke.

1830 hours (C) C Co reports hearing another secondary explosion at grid 087217 20-25 feet of white smoke.

2120 hours (C) C Co reports a UFP at his location traveling north to south altitude 300 feet and we informed radar.

2330 (C) To CO 1/35 from CO 3d Bde: Be prepared to go OPCON 2nd Bde on order from this Headquarters, continue the present mission until receipt of further orders, be prepared to move 1/35 Inf minus one company with direct support artillery battery to Plei Djerang and then combat assault into the assigned AO.