Vietnam War Timeline

290
23 February 1969
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div Bn
(1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Lillie ZA119561

Unit Locations:
A 1/35 079538
B 1/35 093548
C 1/35 108492
C Co 2nd platoon Rock Quarry
D Co 1st platoon 109517
D Co 2nd platoon 1st squad 110535
D Co 2nd platoon 2nd squad 108533
D Co 3d platoon 110511
Recon LZ Lillie ZA119561
11th Ranger Battalion 2 Co size elements and CP 171505
2 Co size elements 130517

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 23 February 1969. Unit locations: At LZ Lillie ZA119561, Battalion Headquarters (Forward); A Company, 4.2" mortar platoon, C Battery 2/9 Artillery, counter mortar section from the 2/9 artillery; B Company 093548; C Company 108492; D Company 109517, D Company 109517; 2nd platoon C Company Rock Quarry; Recon platoon LZ Lillie ZA119561; 11th ARVN Rangers 2 company size elements and the battalion CP grid 171505.

At 0715 hours the Brigade Commander informed us that Pleiku Air Force Base received an unknown amount of 122mm rockets, the firing has ceased at this time and the enemy is believed to be located at grid ZA153507 artillery is being employed. At 0930 hours Lt. Kerr reports that the ARVN are in contact at grid 128514 with a platoon size element or larger they popped purple smoke and the VC popped red smoke. Shamrock reports that his LOH received ground to air fire 400 meters at an azimuth of 250 degrees from A Co location at grid 079538. At 1107 hours Lt. Kerr reports finding 10 NVA bodies at grid 127515 it is believed to be a battalion size bunker complex also there are graves at this location and 82mm mortar shells. Lt. Kerr says that he enemy bodies were found in an open field at grid 129514. A Co reports that they found the following items in the village at grid 177538, 2 pair of NVA pants, 3 shirts, 3 ammunition boxes, 3 bottles of salt, 3 AK-47 rounds, 1 barber kit complete and they say that 5 days ago 15 VC passed through the village and they were carrying carbines, 10 days ago 4 VC came through the village and they were traveling East to West. At 1606 hours D Co 73A element is in contact with 4 NVA, 1 KIA enemy was moving to the Southeast.

0240 hours (C) Bde informed us that Division had informed them that Ban Me Thuot, Quin Nhon, Pleiku and the II Corps headquarters received unknown number of mortar rounds within the last hour.

0251 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-0230 hours 23 Feb 69- AT 0230 hours B Co informed us that they had reached Plei Ya Gran (1), 103546.

0320 hours (C) B Co informed us that they have the village mentioned in entry 10 completely encircled.

0715 hours (C) From the Bde CO to the 1/35; Pleiku AFB (Air Force Base) received an unknown amount of 122mm Rocket rounds at 0635 hours firing has ceased and the enemy is believed to be located at grid ZA153507, artillery is being employed.

0745 hours (C) Lt. Kerr reports that at 0630 hours he heard 15 122mm rockets being fired overhead 1000 meters to the East of grid 157506 ARVN's found 4 holes where the rockets were believed to be buried, the holes were 4 feet long and 1 1/2 feet wide found 15 122mm rocket pod's at grid 157506.

0800 hours (C) From Lt. Kerr to the S-3: We received 8-10 60mm mortar rounds outside of their perimeter at grid 171505 this was at 0615-0630 hours.

0805 hours (C) From the Bde S-3 to the Bn S-3: UFO was lasted sighted at grid ZA12914650 believed to have sat down at that location have the artillery fire on that grid to the Bde S-3 from the Bn S-3; Grid on the AO border with PK 7/69-2.

0830 hours (C) C Co reports that their 3d platoon spotted one aircraft at 2100 hours last night 2 klicks due East from his location, aircraft had 1 red blinking light altitude 3000 feet and it sounded like a Cessna aircraft (Fixed-wing type).

0930 hours (C) From Lt. Kerr to the S-3: ARVN are in contact at grid 128514 with a platoon size element or larger, they popped purple smoke and the VC popped red smoke.

0859 hours (C) Bde S-3 air reports that Kansas City is under attack.

1000 hours (C) Aloha 4 says that the spotted the dead VC/NVA at grid 129512.

1010 hours (C) Shamrock reports that his LOH's received Air/Ground fire 400 meters and 250 degrees from A Co location grid 079538, Shamrock birds will sit down at LZ Lillie.

1107 hours (C) From Lt. Kerr to the S-3: 10 NVA bodies were found at grid 127515 believed to be a battalion size bunker complex, also graves at this location and 82mm mortar shells, Lt. Kerr saw the enemy bodies in an open field at grid 129514.

1145 hours (C) To the Bn S-3 from the Bde S-3: Bde CO approves the overall plan for the employment of units, however be advised that the slicks will not be available this afternoon for the airlift of B Co; Division does not have the slicks available for our units. Advise us as to how this affects your plans, we are standing by for the answer, Bn S-3 gives his QSL.

1158 hours (C) From Shamrock to the S-3: Scouts report that they are receiving fire from the same area as before, they are employing gunships at this time.

1226 hours (C) From Shamrock to the S-3: Scouts have received fire from the same area again and the gunships are working out at this time.

1245 hours (C) From Lt. Kerr to the S-3: The enemy body count is now 20 KIA, all found at grid 127515.

1246 hours (C) From Lt. Kerr to the S-3: Friendly body count now stands at 9 instead of 10, which was reported earlier.

1330 hours (C) From Lt. Kerr to the S-3: Battalion or larger infantry element is believed to be moving to the West along the stream and we found one Russian SKS Carbine, VC stopped the bus on the way to Pleiku and told the people that they were going to take Pleiku tonight.

1605 hours (C) To the S-3 from Lt. Kerr: Reference the enemy KIA's that were killed either by gunships or ARVN's.

1606 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-1425 hours 23 Feb 69- D Co 73A element is reported in contact with 4 NVA, 75 meters to the Southeast of the 73A location 1 KIA, enemy was moving to the Southeast.

1615 hours (C) In reference to the above message D Co reports 1 VC KIA wearing green fatigues and carrying a Montagnard loin cloth, killed by M-16 fire, also carrying a dead rat wrapped in a newspaper tied by C-ration wire, also carried a big knife.

1633 hours (C) From Lt. Kerr to the S-3: ARNV element had contact at grid 132505 approximately 3-4 enemy and the enemy fled to the Northwest along the trail, contact lasted from 1620-1630 hours.

1807 hours (C) To the S-3 from B Co: 71 element was moving into their night location, the pointman spotted a VC/NVA, VC/NVA fired and missed and the pointman fired, he is sure that he did not miss, the enemy soldier war carrying an automatic weapon, the 71 element was moving back for support at this time.