Vietnam War Timeline

465
29 June 1969
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div
Bn (1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Ruth ZA168528

Unit Locations:
1/35th CP is at LZ Ruth
A Co CP ZA085538
B Co CP ZA144545
C Co CP ZA982285
C Co 3rd plt at Rock Quarry
C Co 2nd plt at LZ Kathy
D Co CP At LZ Ruth
Recon CP ZA103567
4.2 Mortar plt at LZ Ruth

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 29 June 1969. Unit locations: At LZ Ruth ZA168528; Battalion Headquarters Support (S-4 Forward); A Company at ZA085538; B Company at ZA144545; C Company at ZA982285; D Company at ZA168528; Recon CP at ZA103567; 4.2" mortar platoon located at LZ Ruth ZA168285; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward) at LZ Oasis; At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear).

0056 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY - ON 29 June 69 at 0045 hours from S-3 3d Bde to CO of 1/35th: Be prepared to receive OPCON of two Co's 2/35 Inf on 30 June. Co's will leave Ban Me Thuot area the morning of 30 June and will arrive at 1/35th Inf Trans area. Adjacent to 45th GS group the afternoon of 30 June. You are responsible for coordination with 1/10 Cav to guide convoy to your train's area. Submit plans for continuing Operation "Green Axe" using the following planning guidance to Bde S3 NLT 291700H; A - Maintain CP at LZ Ruth, B - Maintain two (2) Co's and Recon in Rocket box A/O. C - Continue sweep N to 61 grid line from approximate area where sweep was abandoned on 27 June. D - Remain in Arty range of LZ Ruth. E - Coordinate with Plei Mrong Special Forces Camp for blocking force in conjunction with your sweep. F - Plan for gunship shoot of Arty to LZ Lilly or other mutually agreeable position when necessary.

1108 hours (C) A Co to TOC: In contact ZA085538 and request guns.

1110 hours (C) A Co to TOC: Are receiving small arms fire from east, estimate 5 to 7 individuals, contact broke at this time. We are planning 81mm and employing Redleg.

1130 hours (C) Gambler 53 on station.

1140 hours (C) From A Co: Have 2 real minor casualties, just grazes, medic tended to them.

1200 hours (C) A Co to TOC: 33 element currently sweeping area, guns on station, received small arms approximately 10 rounds of M79 and 3 rounds of frags. 2 minor frag flesh wounds treated by a medic.

1330 hours (C) Ref to A Co contact at 1108: Grid ZA085538 reported finding tail fin of a 60mm mortar.

1335 hours (C) A Co reports line #100 WIA - minor hand frag wound in the left hand. Line #115, June roster - minor left shoulder frag wound. We would like to get #115 sent in because he can't carry a rucksack now.

1736 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY - ON 29 June 69 at 1630 hours, grid ZA097537, received small arms, 1 mortar round, spotted 3 dinks in one group and 4 to 5 in another. Dinks were to A Co north approximately 50 to 75 meters. They were taken under fire and they fled east and north. A Co says they re sure they wounded 2. CO reported the dinks were NVA. Estimate mortar round came from ZA1044356. At first they saw 5 bunkers later estimate to be a complex of Company size. Arty was employed and Co fired blocking fires to the north.

1911 hours (U) DELAYED ENTRY On 29 June 69 at 1755 hours A Co heard 6 to 10 rounds fired approximately ZA108542. Co was at grid ZA098542, gunships from our CA assisted and also cradle 11 was in the are for VR. 11 spotted 1 dink in a spider hole expended 6 rounds M16 fire, which impacted in the spider hole. 11 left the area after marking it with smoke and gunships expended on the area around the hole, which was at grid ZA106543. Gunships also spotted bunkers at ZA100546 after contact. When gunships finished 57 swept to 300 meters southwest of ZA098542 and found fresh trails, bunkers at grid ZA097538. After gunships expended and smoke cleared, 11 flew again into the area with his LOH and found 1 dink KIA in the spider hole where rounds were fired.

2050 hours (C) A Co to TOC: Readout on search of bunker complex - inside they found 9 M16 magazines shot up, approximately 6 dinks spotted - 3 to the east 50 to 75 meters away. There were approximately 30 four-man bunkers in the complex with 20 fighting positions and 1 1/2 to 2 feet overhead cover, rain shelters and perimeter 200 meters square. Company policed up 1 bottle of penicillin, mortar fuses, charges boxes for B40's with a blue line through the middle, 1 NVA ammo pouch, observed 2 good blood trails running northwest, used bandages a day of 2 old, one good size new mess hall, trench line with punji stakes. Entire complex was new not more than a week old; mess hall contained bread food, green melons and rice bowls. All bunkers were estimated to be larger than a Company size complex. Frags were thrown in all bunkers.

2058 hours (C) A Co to TOC: Had 1 WIA from contact, wounded in left arm line #63 - M79 frag wound (small).

2150 hours (C) Bde to CO 1/35: Change of Command of 3d Bde previously scheduled for 1 July 1130 rescheduled for 30 June 1130 hours. All addressees are responsible for informing their staff and subordinate command as appropriate. The letter VDDC sent to this HQ on subject change of command remains in effect. Responsibilities and requirements remain the same as stated in the letter. Only change is the date.