Vietnam War Timeline

399
9 May 1969
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div Bn
(1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Oasis ZA117277

Unit Locations:
1/35th CP is at LZ Oasis
A Co CP AR982285
B Co OPCON to the 2/1st Cav
C Co CP ZA105419
D Co CP ZA056402
Recon Plt ZA082231
4.2 plt AR982285

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 9 May 1969. Unit locations: At LZ Oasis grid ZA117277; Battalion Headquarters (Forward), 1/35th Command post is at LZ Oasis ZA117277; A Company at AR982285; B Company is OPCON to the 2/1st Cav; C Company at ZA105419; D Company at ZA056402; Recon platoon at ZA082231; 4.2 mortar platoon AR982285; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward) at LZ Oasis; At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear).

At 0130 hours on 9 May 69 D Company reported they received a VC probe and estimated that they also received 4 grenades and 1 magazine of AK fire. The probe came from north, northwest and the company had 5 WIA, 3 not too serious, 2 a little more serious and may need a Dust-Off. The OP's reported hearing negative movement. At 0730 hours on 9 May 69 D Company found 2 holes that were made by a B-40; one on the perimeter and one inside the perimeter. They found 1 new B-40, 2 Chinese Communist grenades (1 was a dud) and 1 explosive package with a fuse. As a Delayed Entry D Company at 0710 hours on 9 May 69 received small arms fire and B-40 rocket rounds at vicinity ZA056402. 3 Rockets rounds landed one outside of the perimeter approximately 50 meters and the other one landed inside of the perimeter. One round hit a tree at a height of 20 feet and caused a friendly casualty. They estimated 4 to 5 enemy individuals involved in the attack. During a sweep of the area at daylight they found 1 new B-40 Rocket, 1 Chinese Communist grenade (frag) complete, 1 explosive pack with fuse, a home made bomb about 2 inches square by 4 inches long with an acid type fuse which did not explode, approximately one or two AK-47 magazines. At 1035 hours on 9 May 69 D Company reports finding 2 cans of material vicinity ZA056402. One can was a M60 type and the other was an M-16 type. Included in the material was some 30-caliber ammo, box of rice, 2 boxes of documents with the name of 2 villages (local) written on them. The number B7 is frequently mentioned in the documents and the Company was told to evacuate to the Bn Command post all material. At 1050 hour on 9 May 69 the Recon plt at ZA079217 was located with the CIDG team. The team was told that the village people quessed they received 4 rounds of mortar or B-40 rounds, which came from the south or southwest. At a later time comments were made by Brigade S2. The 1/39 RF Company made contact with an unknown size VC force. They received 3 to 4 rifle grenade rounds vicinity ZA085206 and returned the fire. Contact was broken at 1005 hours with unknown enemy casualties. No friendly casuatlies resulted. At 1125 hours on 9 May 69 D Company found 2 Chinese Communist grenades, 1 bottle of rack salt, 1 dead python snake 8 feet longs approximately 50 meters north of their location of ZA056403. At 17109 hours on 9 May 69 C Company 70 element spotted 1 individual 100 meters east. They fired at him and he fired back, headed east. There were no blood trails or equipment at the contact site. He was wearing pants the type unknown. ZA085401.

0107 hours (C) D Co reports they just received mortar fire and small arms on the CP location ZA056402.

0115 hours (C) D Co reports they believed they received frags instead or mortars and they have casualties.

0210 hours (C) Lt. Clark from Bde TOC: Were Arty or organic mortars employed by D Co? Ans: No, on Arty, C Battery could not reach it and there was a gun target problem from the Rock Quarry. Also, mortars and Arty were not employed due to D Co troops being spread over the area and the Co did not know which way the enemy fled.

0344 hours (C) D Co now reports they have 9 wounded instead of 5 with line numbers: #8 - leg, #15 hand and hip, #36 head and hip, #47 hip and back, #58 upper arm and above eye, #60 shoulder, #62 cheek, #86 leg, #104 leg.

0423 hours (C) We sent wounded men's line no's to Bde and Lt. Clark wanted to know the disposition of the troops.

0427 hours (C) D Co says troops are sleeping outside of the holes with 4 men to a hole and the perimeter is a circle.

0801 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY - on 9 May 69 at 0710 hours D Co received small arms fire and B-40 rockets and rounds vicinity ZA056402. 3 B-40's landed outside the perimeter approximately 50 meters. One landed inside the perimeter and one round hit a tree 20 feet high causing the friendly casualties. They estimated 4 to 5 enemy and on a sweep of the area at daylight they found 1 new B-40 rocket, 1 Chicom grenade frag type and complete, 1 explosive pack with fuse, (home made bomb), about 2 inches square by 4 inches long with an acid type fuse which did not explode. Approximately one or two AK-47 magazines. Small arms were fired from the northeast as possible diversionary tactics while the B-40 rockets were fired from the north. An estimated enemy crawled to within 75 meters to fire the B-40.

1430 hours (C) From the 1/35th to C Co: You will have everyone sleeping in bunkers with overhead cover tonight. C Co CO says this has been completed and everyone will be sleeping in bunkers tonight.

2003 hours (C) From Bde S3 to S# 1/35th Inf: Subject: Reaction Force. 1. (C) The 1/35th Inf is designated as Bde Reaction Force for indefinite period of time. This is effective upon receipt of the message. 2. (C) You will have 1 plt on a 15 min alert and one company on 1 hour's alert. Be prepared to move the Bn (-) in 5 hours. 3. (C) The most probable missions are LRRP Reinforcement in the Bde AO and Reinforcement of other contacts. There exists the possibility of commitment to the 2nd Bde TF formed to reinforce the 24STZ in Ben Het area.

2052 hours (C) From Bde To TOC: 1/10 Cav element at 2015 hours received mortar rounds and AK fire from Vicinity YA975427 and returned small arms fire.