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327
6 March 1969
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg
3rd Bde 4th Inf Div
Bn (1/35) Forward Fire Base
Polei Kleng ZA026937
Unit Locations:
A 1/35 LZ Pause YA868889 OPCON 3/8
B 1/35 CP ZA006947
C 1/35 (-) LZ Lillie
D 1/35 ZA148898
Recon LZ Lillie
4.2" Mortar LZ Lillie
TAC/CP LZ Bass ZA022938
23rd Ranger Bn CP and one Company 173493, 2 Co's 165492
Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 6 March 1969. Unit locations: At Polei Kleng ZA026937; see the previous day log for locations, as well as the locations for the Tactical CP. The Daily Situation report 6 March 1969 is as follows: At 1340 hours 6 March 69 B Company 2nd platoon made contact with an estimated NVA platoon at grid ZA005935 while OPCON to the 1/69 Armor, the 2nd platoon of B Company was conducting a cordon and search operation with the 2nd platoon of A Company 2/8 Infantry (Mech) when contact was made the enemy employed automatic weapons fire, AK-47 fire and Chinese Communist grenades they attempted to fire B-40 Rockets and the gunner was killed the US units employed 50 caliber machinegun fire and artillery, the contact was broken at 1530 hours, 2 tanks from the 1/69 Armor reinforced the activity, there were 14 enemy KIA, B Company 2nd platoon sustained 3 WIA, captured 3 AK-47 rifles, 12 B-40 Rockets, 4 Chinese Communist grenades and 7.62 ammunition.
0915 hours (C) First PZ C Co.
0915 hours (from 1/69) Fr Bn S3 to Scts: Move 1 tank and 1 APC to PK bridge (VIC ZA100914); marry up with 4 APC's of 2-8 inf, proceed to LZ Thunder (VIC ZA146898) pick up D/1-35 Inf and bring to LZ Bass; Escort vehicles will return to mission upon completion.
1000 hours (from 1/69) From S-3, 2-8 Inf: Transport for D/1-35 is cancelled; Scts to return to mission.
1340 hours (from 1/69) A/1-69: A1 ZA 010937 2/B/1-35 established contact with est platoon; Rec'd S/A auto weapons; returned fire W/all organics & Arty: 1st Plt A/1-69 supported W/direct fire from Vic 008937; 5-6 indiv were spotted, 1 mortar tube and 1 51 cal MG also spotted; 1 indiv had radio on back; 1430 reported receiving Chicom hand grenades. 1435 G/S on station did not expend; 1445 1/A/1-69 moved into area and married up with Inf; At 1510, tank hit mine at ZA010397, Neg casualties. Damage to tank, track blown, 1 Road Wheel blown; Crater 3' x 3'. Contact broke at 1530, 1535 dustoff request for 6 US. 1 serious, wounds in back and shoulder, dustoff complete 1615 for 6 US.
1400 hours (C) First PZ D Co.
1415 hours (C) First LZ D Co.
1515 hours (C) First PZ A Co.
1530 hours (C) Final PZ D Co, first LZ A Co.
1545 hours (C) Final LZ D Co.
1630 hours (C) Final PZ A Co.
1640 hours (C) Final LZ A Co.
1700 hours (from 1/69) To A/1-69: Hold your element on Hill 600; bring Inf back to Bass w/2 APC's. Be prep to receive another Inf element at LZ Bass.
1705 hours (from 1/69) A/1-69 found 5 NVA & numerous weapons and equipment. Detail will follow.
1715 hours (from 1/69) Fr Bde: Will receive A/1-14 Inf to replace 1/35 Inf; prepare LZ at ZA008937
1735 hours (C) 2 EM from 3/8 Inf walked into the perimeter of the 1/35 at LZ Mary both individuals were wounded, Captain Scott S-3 1/35 called 1st Bde headquarters and requested a Dust-Off for SP/4 Smith, Ronnie L. US53671404, Blonk, Stephen J. US54831615.
1825 hours (from 1/69) A/1-69 1st Plt in contact at ZA010937 W/unk size enemy force; Rec'd AK47 fire. Saw several individuals running throughout area. Contact broken at 1840. Returned fire with S/A. 50 cal and 90mm. 2 US WHA (not serious) 3 NVA KIA.
1911 hours (C) DELAYED ENTRY-1800 hours 6 Mar 69- B Co 1st PZ 1715 hours, 1st LZ 1730 hours final PZ 1800 hours final LZ 1815 hours.
2100 hour (from 1/69) Ref item #21: Equipment CIA - 2 B-40 launchers, 2 AK-47, 3 RPG III, 9 B-40 rounds, 3 60mm mortar rounds (2 fuses); 9 B-40 boosters, 6 AK Mags w/ammo; 1 drum 7.62 ammo; 50 rds AK ammo, 2 ponchos (NVA), 2 sets khakis, 2 pair sandals, 1 small 1st aid kit, 2 packs of rice; tobacco, rope, soap, toothpaste & brush, writing paper, towels and bowls.
422
6 March 1969
2/B 1-35th
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.
Thursday, March 6, 1969
Last night we finally finished the bunker close to eleven o'clock. By the time I settled down it was approaching twelve. Because double guard was required, it appeared as though I just went sleep and 4:15 came.
The day started good. We were to remain on the hill. Then some army personnel carriers (2/A/2/8) arrived and we were told that we were going with them to check out a bunker complex that the 2/8th had discovered. They also had a little trouble with some dinks. We move out toward our objective, which took approximately twenty minutes to reach. The complex started at a wood line at the upper portion of a hill. We got off the carriers and walked on the flanks of the two tracks. The APC's used recon-by-fire with the 50 caliber various times while we moved through the wood line. After going about two hundred meters or so an APC threw a track. Naturally, we sat down to rest and set up security.
We had not stopped too long when a round was fired from a 16. At first everybody did not know just what to make of it. Then a small lull passed before everything started flying. Fifty calibers' from the APC's fired, M-60's fired, M-16's. Yet, surprised as I was, return fire was given. Not just AK's, but dinks had their own automatic weapons.
The firefight started when PFC Stanley Rice shot a dink carrying a B-40 rocket launcher. He thought it was a tube for mortars, but I told him that a dink would not walk in the jungle with a tube knowing GI's were around. Nevertheless, with APC's present, I said that the tube was probably a B-40 rocket launcher.
The firefight lasted at least three hours, possibly four. The APC's with the 50 caliber's definitely put out fire support, plus we had six M-60 machine guns. We put the max on them. We killed seven (1/35th Daily Journals listed 14 enemy KIA) with an unknown number wounded that got away. Also, in this was the dead carried away. We captured 2 AK-47 rifles (Russian), 3 B-40 launchers, 7 B-40 rockets, 6 mortar rounds, AK-47 rounds, hand grenades and machine gun ammo.
During the fight our platoon leader Lieutenant Mayne was wounded and Lamar Bond took shrapnel in his left arm and leg. He was on the other side of the road (made by the APC's) when the fighting broke out. Just as with Lee Ayers when he was hit (ref 2/14/69 contact), Lamar called for me to come and get him. I assured him that we would be there just as soon as possible, but to remain calm and relax, we were getting things under control. The people hurt during the fight totaled seven. A couple were hit bad but did not appear critical at the time. Lieutenant Mayne, as mentioned, was hit three or four times, Lamar Bond and PFC Poss, who took a round in the foot. I cannot identify the others. Leaving the area felt great. But a platoon from Alpha 1/14th (1/A/1-14) came in to go past the point of contact to secure a tank that had hit a mine.
Meanwhile, during this time the rest of the company was CA'd to LZ Mary. It isn't far from the Cambodian border and sits on the mouth of a valley leading from Cambodia. After leaving we almost had to return as Alpha 1/14 came in contact but nothing materialized, so we headed for Polei Kleng. We set up for the night and tried to relax and forget about the day's activivites.
483
6 March 1969
Delta 2/35th
Submitted by: Pete Birrow
In the Chu Pa Mountains shortly after noontime, Delta 2/35 was in a firefight that caused 3 KIA. Bravo 2/35 was sitting on a mountain top awaiting an airlift to the hotspot. Recon humped to the battle sight from their blocking force position.
The airlift for Bravo was one of the wildest I have ever been on. We had to hack an LZ into the side of the mountain which appeared to be a 45 degree slope. When the birds came in to the side of the mountain to pick us up, they had to pull into the tree line like they were pulling into a parking spot; only the front part of their skids were on the mountain. To lift off with us on board, the pilot had to lift up, back out, turn 90 degrees then fly out and away. Because of this intricate maneuver, the crew would only let four of us on board per lift. This led to an increased number of sorties into the hot LZ on the other end.
When my turn to board came, the door gunner was all hyped up as he pulled me up and in and threw me on the floor. I was pretty surprised at the treatment, but then again I had no idea what he was going through at the drop site. When we got to the hot LZ at 6 feet from the ground I was ready and standing on the skid. All of a sudden I felt a boot in my back and I went flying through the air and hit the ground face in the dirt. It was the only time in my whole life that I hated an air crew member. As I spun around on my stomach I saw the bird do a touch and go; however, the door gunner had his machine gun aimed at me instead of the tree line. As the bird lifted off we both kept a bead on each other, neither one of us cognoscente of the sniper fire around us. This millisecond of a moment in one whole year of a war is still a mystery and embarrassment to me. I could have and did have the notion to kill one of us.
The remainder of the afternoon as we moved forward, the NVA backed up. We night laagered in an area vacated by another company. The next day in the morning, things were a little slower, so we waited for re-supply.
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