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326
5 March 1969
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg
3rd Bde 4th Inf Div
Bn (1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Lillie ZA119561
Unit Locations:
CP 1/35 LZ Lillie
A 1/35 & TAC LZ Bass 022938
B 1/35 (-) 119673
C 1/35 (-) LZ Lillie
D 1/35 (-) 119673
Recon LZ Lillie
4.2" LZ Lillie ZA119561
23rd Ranger Battalion CP and 2 Co's 131529, 1 Co 128535
Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 5 March 1969. Unit locations: At LZ Lillie ZA119561; Battalion Headquarters (Forward), C Company, 4.2" mortar platoon; B Company (-) 119673; D Company 119673; Recon LZ Lillie ZA119561; At Oasis Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward); At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear). 23rd ARVN's and CP grid 131529.
At 1552 hours the 23rd ARVN Rangers report finding the following at the rocket launch site at grid 154517, 2 empty canisters, 24 plastic lids (screw on type for canisters), 3 metal protectors for the warheads, 4 bunkers with overhead cover.
0505 hours (C) Radar picked up the grid where the rockets were being launched from and aimed at Pleiku (155516) C Co heard about 15 or more of the rockets.
0712 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-0617 hours 5 Mar 69- Arty battery fired at the rocket positions 46 HE and 10 WP rounds.
0804 hours (C) C Co reports that SRP 1 while enroute to this location spotted one VC/NVA running to the Northwest at grid 118550 azimuth 115 degrees from his position.
1214 hours (C) S-3 A Co PZ from LZ Bass to 3/8 CP LZ Pause 868888.
1233 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-0915 hours 5 Mar 69- In the vicinity of grid ZA007552 a fighter Air Force type while making air strikes dropping daisy cutters received small arms fire they made a check of the area and they had negative findings.
1500 hours (C) Division has one company that is ready to be airlifted from Plei Mrong to Polei Kleng immediately, the aircraft will be supplied by Division.
1503 hours (C) Bn CO informed Bde that the element to be airlifted from Plei Mrong will be B Co.
1435 hours (C) From the S-3 to the Bn CO: Speculates from what he can gather 1/35 CP and the artillery will be moving tomorrow to grid 100914 (Polei Kleng) C co will secure the bridge at Polei Krung, A Co will be OPCON to the 1st Bde, 1 Co will be OPCON to the 1/69 Armor.
1521 hours (C) From the Sergeant Major: 1st PZ from Plei Mrong of B Co.
1538 hours (C) The Sergeant Major says that the convoy is leaving Plei Mrong for Polei Kleng with D Co.
1552 hours (C) 23rd ARVN Rangers found the rocket site at grid 154517 2 dug out launch sites and one empty canister, 24 plastic lids (screw on type for canisters) 3 metal protectors for the warheads, 3 warhead fillers to take the place of the warhead while carrying, 4 bunkers, 2 of them were in good shape and they were just freshly dug, 2 were destroyed by artillery, found one bloody rag in the destroyed bunker, 2 bunkers were three feet wide, 2 feet long, and 3 feet deep, 2 of the bunkers were 4 feet wide, 2 1/2 feet long 3 1/2 feet deep and one of the bunkers had overhead cover made of logs and dirt an it was one foot thick.
1700 hours (C) S-3 reports that LZ Bass received 2 122mm rockets, negative casualties for D Co.
1718 hours (C) S-3 gives the order for evacuation from LZ tomorrow; Move overland to grid ZA1091, work up the aircraft requirements for the 1/35 and C 2/9 will be airlifted to either Plei Mrong or artillery hill chop to the 2nd Bde when we close at grid ZA1091, 2nd Bde provides the security for the move.
1756 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-1232 hours 5 Mar 69- At 1232 hours A Co went OPCON with the 3/8 1st Bde.
1915 hours (C) S-3 air informed Bde of our airlift and truck requirements, 39 slicks, 6 internal hooks, plus 6 more internal hooks if the slicks are not provided plus 42 external hooks 2 wreckers, 21 2 1/2 ton trucks, 2 flatbeds.
1915 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-1745 hours 5 Mar 69- B Co is OPCON to the 3/8 Inf 1st Bde.
2000 hours (C) At 1930 hours the TAC/CP reports that Capt. Scott the Bn S-3 was hit with a piece of mortar frag in the left arm, he was taken to the dispensary and he had the arm taken care of, the frag was removed but he was not Dusted-Off.
2205 hours (from 1/69) Extracted 1 Plt B/1-35 from Southwest of airstrip and put into CSF camp for security of 1st Bde CP.
2230 hours (C) TAC/CP informed us that the platoon of B Co is now securing the TAC/CP inside of the perimeter.
2300 hours (C) In reference to item 66 B Co now has one weapons platoon 3d platoon and the CP in Special Forces camp for security.
421
5 March 1969
2/B 1/
Submitted by: Dave Fogg
The following is from the journal Ralph Leebert kept during his tour. Ralph was the squad sergeant for 3rd squad, 2nd platoon, B Co., 1st Bn, 35th Inf., 4th Inf. Div. 1968-69.
Wednesday, March 5, 1969
Delta Company moved out by convoy today for Polei Kleng and we moved to the same location by Chinook. Upon arrival at Polei Kleng the airstrip was mortared and hit with rockets. For us, all we could do is head for the nearest hole. After it was over, we moved to the west end of the runway to set up.
The second platoon had a different mission. We were to move out with three tanks and two personnel carriers for a night location as a platoon outpost. Upon reaching the hill we started digging in and putting on overhead cover. A report came in that the Special Forces Camp was to be hit by a human wave attack. So we were on a hill to view the valley running north south, the supposed routes of attack.
Armor is also suspected in the attack. These may be the same ones used against Ben Het. Therefore, we have a good vantagepoint. We continued work way into the night. Although it is getting late, nothing has materialized yet.
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