Vietnam War Timeline

347
23 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 102694
A 1/35 (-) 025693
B 1/35 (-) 034708
C 1/35 (-) LZ English 102694
D 1/35 019708
Recon 027673
4.2" mortar plt 027673
CSF 1 Co 057696

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 23 March 1969. Unit locations: At LZ English 102694; Battalion Headquarters (Forward), C Company, B Company 034708; A Company 025693; D Company 021701; Recon 027673; 4.2" mortar 027673; CSF 1 Co 057696; At LZ Oasis; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward): At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear).

At 0739 hours A Co reports that they heard two large explosions and that it would be M-79 or a Claymore mine northwest approximately 1500 meters to 2 klicks. After unsuccessfully attempting an ambush B Company found one rucksack, an AK-47 and a blood trail, they fired light organics and were instructed to set up a blocking position. At 0930 hours this date B Co reports that they had captured one wounded NVA. At 1020 hours the CSF reports finding 4 buried NVA bodies, 60 foxholes US Armored Personnel Gun Parts and chopper parts. At 1-27 hours A Co reports making contact and they are drawing AK-47 fire at this time, at 1110 hours A Co found a trail running east to west with a substantial amount of blood on it, also found an RPG casing dated 4-66, In reference to A Co receiving the AK-47 the individual fired briefly and fled the scene. At 1105 hours A Company reports that they think they have found a hospital in the vicinity of grid 023697 and at 1159 hours B Co reports contact again they had one WHA in the leg and they also received AK-47 fire, B Co estimates the element with which they are engaged to be a squad size enemy force. At 1414 hours D Company found 1 60mm mortar round dated Mar 68 canister weather woven but the round was in excellent condition. B co reports that at 1445 hours that while pushing towards a bunker complex the found 5 rucksacks, one entrenching tool and two steel helmets.

0637 hours (C) From the Bde CO to the Bn CO: Sweep the Zulu contact area as soon as possible, secure the ammunition and equipment that was left at the contact site.

0740 hours (C) A Co heard two large explosions could be an M-79 or a Claymore mine northeast 1500 meters to 2 klicks.

0742 hours (C) B Co bushmaster 23A spotted VC/NVA and popped their ambush.

0743 hours (C) From Bde to the 1/35: B Co reports that the bushmaster 23A element says that the VC/NVA were moving from low to high ground on the finger, VC/NVA spotted the ambush and then they sprang the ambush, they are going to put some artillery in that area.

0755 hours (C) B Co says that part of the dinks were in the kill zone when the ambush was sprung, they have one rucksack and an AK-47, also a large blood trail, estimated squad of the enemy, firing light organics at grid 044705 would like a blocking force.

0801 hours (C) C co wants to know if there is any unfriendly mortar fire in the area where the convoy was ambushed.

0839 hours (C) B Co reports that their 23 element is approximately 200 meters from the ambush site, 21 is moving east, 22 is moving south then they will go west.

0840 hours (C) 4.2" employed 45 rounds of HE 044708 and 042712 in support of B Co ambush.

0905 hours (C) B Co CO common base and the Bde S-3 have coordinated CSF will send one company to check out the ambush site of 2/8.

0930 hours (C) B Co CO says that they have one dink alive, 2 more spotted and they are employing light organics.
0940 hours (C) B Co has one captured and wounded enemy prisoner and they are patching them up at this time.

1020 hours (C) CSF (Camp Strike Force) found the following at the ambush site of the 2/8 yesterday, 4 NVA bodies which had been buried, 60 foxholes, US Armored Personnel Gun Parts, chopper parts.

1027 hours (C) A Co is in contact, they are holding at this time at grid 021701, they drew AK-47 fire.

1037 hours (C) Informed common base LOH enroute to his element at the ambush site to pick up the gun parts.

1050 hours (C) B Co reports that the 21 and 22 elements have linked up as has the 23 element and the dog team, the sub-element is taking the prisoner to the LZ where the CP is.

1051 hours (C) D Co is moving out at this time and they are going to reinforce A Co.

1110 hours (C) A Co current location grid 023697 to the right is a gully with a trail running east to west substantial amount of blood on the ground also found an RPG casing date 4-66, 2.

1121 hours (C) D Co is in position awaiting the airstrike.

1136 hours (C) B Co reports that the prisoner is at the CP location and he has a leg wound.

1137 hours (C) From the Bde S-3 to the Bn S-3: AO adjustment will be effective 23 Mar 69 to include LZ Bobby in your AO, you will move B or D Co 23 march to secure the artillery unit at LZ Bobby, direct coordination with the 2nd Brigade is authorized and directed, submit the aircraft requirements and the PZ times ASAP. QSL required.

1142 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-1027 hours 23 Mar 69- A Co says that the element received AK-47 fire from Dinks weapons the individual fled as soon as he fired.

1156 hours (C) Cider 30 is going off station at this time.

1157 hours (C) Cider 33 is on station and there are 2 fighters on the way.

1158 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY-1105 hours 23 mar 69- A Co says that they believe there to be a hospital in the vicinity of grid 023697 to item 46.

1159 hours (C) B Co 233 element made contact again they have one WHA in the leg, received AK-47 fire.

1207 hours (C) C co is enroute to our location with the truck that hit the mine from the artillery.

1229 hours (C) B Co first WIA line no. 103, 2 more wounded at this time.

1235 hours (C) Airstrike is in progress at this time.

1240 hours (C) B Co conditions of the wounded: line no. 103 leg wound, line no. 102 forehead, line no. 16 knee, they say that they are not serious enough to warrant a Dust-Off at this time.

1258 hours (C) B Co element is in contact at this time, they estimate it to be a squad size enemy force possibly 6 men and they are moving the element to move around for help.

1413 hours (C) B Co 22 element found a bunker and blood trails and they are now checking out the area.

1414 hours (C) D Co found one 60mm mortar round US type dated mar 68 canister weather woven but the round is in excellent condition.

1435 hours (C) To the 1/35 from the Bde CO: A Co will move to the PZ location now will be extracted from the PZ to LZ Bobby need the location of the PZ and the time that you require the slicks.

1440 hours (C) From D Co to TOC: The 21 element is moving out to join up with the 22 element the units are still pushing into the bunker complex thy have found 5 rucksacks, entrenching tools and 2 steel helmets.

1445 hours (C) From B Co to TOC: 21 element is moving to join up with the 22 element units are still pushing and the 23 element found an AK-47.

1529 hours (C) From B Co to TOC: All elements have married up and they are sweeping the bunker complex at this time.

1605 hours (C) From B Co to TOC: Bring the WIA's to B Co location to be extracted.

1622 hours (C) Informed Bde that A Co has closed Recon location (PZ) and they are ready for the birds for the CA.

1627 hours (C) D Co at grid 023699 found a very fresh bunker on the trail running to the east through the saddle, the trail was obliterated by an airstrike but the trail was very recent, negative findings of the lost M-16, bunker was 2 feet by 5 feet by 17 inches cover was dirt and logs of a 2 man type.

1832 hours (C) 8 rounds of incoming at an azimuth of 20 degrees 250 meters from C Co 21W location.

1833 hours (C) Possibly M-79 rounds of 60mm mortar rounds have stopped at this time 094695 impact.

2030 hours (C) B Co reports on today's action: The 2332 bushmaster held an ambush, heard movement spotted 2 dinks, one dink spotted the bushmaster and leaned against a tree, he was wearing a watch and the 2332 element set off a Claymore mine wounding the dink, found an AK-47 and a trail of blood running down the hill, 23 closed together and they followed the blood trail down the hill found the dink alive at the bottom of the hill with the Claymore wounds but no watch, saw 1 dink 270 75-100 meters fire M-79 negative results, sent a dog track team with an element forward one dink fired from the left five to ten feet, 1 US wounded and they were able to sever the leg wound, 23 swept right of the 2332 element to the high ground 2333 fired upon by two or three dinks, 1 US wounded in the knee 230 right flank killed one dink wearing complete khaki with the soft cap, 3 men emptied their magazines into them found an AK-47 that was at grid 035701 50 to 100 meters to the north of the bunker complex the bunker system was swept and they found some bunkers that were very fresh 18 inches to 2 feet overhead cover and three of the bunkers were still being built were facing down hill on 2 of the tires 3 on the upper and 4 on the lower found seven rucksacks one with binoculars, a kitchen 2 holes with pots, 21 joined with the 22 element and they swept the area it was then and know the incidents 37 elements fires 27 rounds 22 HE, 5 WP would like the Colonel to give thanks to the dog handlers helped 23 enormously secured one of our WIA's and helped get him to safely.

2326 hours (C) C Co 2nd platoon heard a tube firing at approximately grid 103686, light organics will fire.