Vietnam War Timeline

373
18 April 1969
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div Bn
(1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Oasis ZA119278

Unit Locations:
A 1/35 LZ Oasis
B 1/35 LZ Oasis
C 1/35 LZ Oasis
D 1/35 LZ Oasis
Recon LZ Oasis
4.2" mortars at LZ Oasis
1/35 Command Post LZ Oasis

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 17 April 1969. Unit locations: At LZ Oasis ZA119278; Battalion Headquarters (Forward), 1/35 command post and companies A, B, C, D, E and Recon and 4.2" mortar platoons are at LZ Oasis grid ZA119278; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward) at LZ Oasis; At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear).

At 2140 hours on 18 Apr 69 S-2 relayed the following message to TOC: A Montagnard detainee named KUK, a rice cadre, said he had been working for 2 months as a cadre. Cpt Knight thinks he has worked longer and is more hard core. KUK gives rice to SINH (another rice cadre) who is Vietnamese and speaks Montagnard. He has come to the village 4 times, 3 earlier times and one 3 days ago with an NVA Company. An NVA Company came to the village 3 days ago and SINH collected rice. # NVA with pistols gave a speech about growing more rice and corn. The NVA stayed 2 to 3 hours and come from the north and left to the south. The company had 5 B-40's, 4 mortars possibly 82mm, 4 heavy machine guns: M-24 and M-29. KUK also knew CHINH a member of the NVA Company. 1/0-KUK was his wife's name. KUK knew nothing of holes. A Military Intelligence team is needed tomorrow to further interrogate KUK. At 2357 hours on 18 Apr 69 KUK was questioned more and he said that the holes may have been dug by the VC but he did not see them and he was only guessing.

1113 hours (C) From B Co to TOC: We are moving out on convoy at this time.

1159 hours (C) From A Co to TOC: We are departing Oasis by convoy at this time.

1323 hours (C) From C Co to TOC: Company is ready on pad to be picked up but no birds have yet checked in.

1350 hours (C) From S-3 air to TOC: Birds for combat assault are 05 minutes out and there will be 4 of them.

1359 hours (C) From C Co to TOC: 1st pick up zone is for C Co.

1417 hours (C) C Co LZ is cold.

1426 hours (C) S-3 air to TOC: Someone possibly fired at birds 300 degrees azimuth and 800 to 900 meters due west and rounds landed approximately 300 meters from the pick up zone. The first B-40 rocket round landed on the pick up zone location pad.

1627 hours (C) Gunships spotted 8 VC/NVA west of the landing zone at approximately 117438. The gunships are expending at this time.

2132 hours (C) The following planned summary was: A Co is to move from present location north to vicinity of ZA100375 for search and clear operation. B Co is to move northeast to vicinity of ZA084374 for a search and clear operation. C Co is to move Southeast to vicinity of ZA086398 and conduct a cordon and search. D Co is to continue a search of Plei KU Tong and move southeast to Plei Xat Atau to conduct a cordon and search operation. The Recon platoon is to remain OPCON to D Co. 4.2 mortar platoon, C Battery 2/9 arty and 1/35th command post are to remain at the Oasis.

2157 hours (C) From Bde to S-2: Analysis of all intelligence incidents indicates the possibility of attack by fire in the next 48 hours. Targets indicated are Ben Het, Polei Kleng, Kontum, Pleiku, Plei Dejreng.