Vietnam War Timeline

344
20 March 1969
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div Bn
(1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ English 102694

Unit Locations:
1/35 CP LZ English
A 1/35 (-) 026687
B 1/35 (-) 017712
C 1/35 LZ English (2)
D 1/35 (-) 044640
Recon 027673
4.2" mortar plt 027673
C 2/9 Artillery LZ English
CSF: 1 Co 086730, 1 plt 118703

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 20 March 1969. Unit locations: At LZ English 102694; Battalion Headquarters (Forward), C Company, C Battery 2/9 Artillery; B Company 017712; D Company 044640; Recon 027673; 4.2" mortar 027673; CSF 086730; At LZ Oasis; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward): At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear).

At 0635 hours C Company reported hearing mortar tubes popping at grid 150 degrees distance 500 meters. At 0840 hours C Co 22 element found 10-12 canisters, recoilless rifle site, also bunkers 2 x 5 x 3 dirt and logs for overhead cover, 2 trails and footprints. At 0832 hours CSF made contact with a two-platoon size enemy force, contact broken at 0903 hours. At 1025 hours C Company 23 element reported receiving sniper fire, which proved to be an erroneous entry. At 1120 hours D Company reports that they found 20 ARVN type foxholes. At 1200 hours C Co 2nd platoon reports finding one NVA KIA, the body was burned and hastily burned, uniforms and papers were found but no weapon found, a towel with 242 written on it, found bunkers 2 x 5 x 3 with a position for an automatic weapon, also found a canister for an automatic weapon. AT 1244 hours B Company reported spotting one VC/NVA at grid ZA034712, took fire, artillery will follow. At 1441 hours D Co 21 element went down to investigate the VC/NVA went down to investigate took fire from both sides of the trail. At 1810 hours the SGM aircraft took rounds, small arms type while on his way back to LZ English, at 1828 hours C company reported finding a company size perimeter to the west of their night location grid 098696, 20-30 bunkers well camouflaged, sleep 3-4 people, entrenching tools, B-40 Rocket casings with markings; At 2000 hours C Co reports 23 element here at LZ English heard 60mm mortar tubes popping 170 degrees azimuth, distance 300 meters.

0630 hours (C) 1/35 is receiving incoming rounds at this time.

0645 hours (C) Incoming rounds have stopped at this time, 3-4 B-40 Rockets, 7-8 82mm mortars, the suspected location is grid 092692.

0840 hours (C) C Co 22 element found 10-12 canisters recoilless site with bunkers around the site, 3 bunkers are 2 feet wide and 5 feet long, 3 feet deep, there are dirt and logs for overhead cover, 2 main trails leading from the site, 1 trail has sandal footprints and bare footprints, possibly 6-7 people location 093694.

0850 hours (C) CSF reports that his 2 elements are moving into a blocking position to the element in contact to the west.

0923 hours (C) A Co says that their 22 element is to the southwest of the contact, says that they gave them two grids last night and they are near the one nearest the contact.

0936 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-0905 hours 20 Mar 69- CSF broke contact at this time.

0940 hours (C) CSF reports one KIA.

0945 hours (C) Further information from C Co 22 element in reference to their findings: The bunkers had 18 inches of overhead cover, three bunkers that were away from the site were approximately 30 feet away.

0946 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-0832 hours 20 Mar 69- CSF is in contact at grid 075706.

1000 hours (C) 1-2 platoons of CSF from the CSF Camp at Plei Mrong made contact with an estimated 2 enemy platoons at 0832 20 Mar 69 location 075706 artillery was employed and the contact was broken at 0903 hours, CSF had one KIA enemy losses were unknown and the enemy was believed to be moving to the south, plan of action and the location, CSF Commander plans to leave units as they are now located with one company moving from Plei Mrong northwest toward the point of contact and request an element for 2/8 move to 069710 as a blocking force one company 080706, company (-) 075700, 2 platoons 078697, one plt 072696.

1200 hours (C) C Co reports finding one NVA KIA at grid ZA089691, the enemy's head had been partially blown off by shrapnel, the NVA had been hastily buried about one foot deep, he had a green uniform but negative weapon, papers and was barefoot, he had a tattooed star on the right hand, had a towel with the numbers 242 in a half crest with a small circle in the upper right hand corner (same as Chu Pa area), negative trails in the area found 2 bunkers 2 x 5 x 3 with 18 inches of overhead cover in the center of the bunkers was a bowling pin shaped hole possibly for an automatic weapon, also found a canister for an automatic weapon.

1424 hours (C) B Co spotted one VC/NVA at grid ZA034712, took fire, employing artillery will follow.

1441 hours (C) B Co 21 element thinks that they killed the VC/NVA, went down to investigate and they took fire from both sides of the trail, pulled back and they are employing artillery, moving 22 in at this time.

1611 hours (C) Cider 35 is on station ordered airstrike.

1724 hours (C) Fighters are on station.

1810 hours (C) SGM took small arms fire while on his way back to LZ English.

1825 hours (C) C Co reports that his 21 element found a company size perimeter 100 meters to the west of their night location grid 098696 approximately 20-30 bunkers were well camouflaged, will sleep 3-4 people, found several entrenching tools approximately 40 B-40 Rocket casings with Chinese marking and they report hearing an element in contact at an azimuth of 120 degrees and 800 meters away.

2000 hours (C) C co reports that their 23 element here at LZ English heard 60mm mortar tubes popping 170 degrees, 300 meters away.

2005 hours (C) CSF informs us that they observed enemy lights moving to the east to the west same location where the contact was made this morning.

2056 hours (C) From the Bde to Bn: FO party will have to come out of the 1/35 resources, have no FO people here, the LNO use own judgement on the problem, attacks by fire have commenced against US Forces tonight, these attacks together with intelligence indicated that this is the beginning of another spring offensive, CO will take appropriate means to increase local security and protective measures, negative AO changes and negative move of D Co.