April 9th, 1969 recap
Several LRRP teams actively patrolled the area around the March 27th and 30th contact sites, and reported multiple sightings of NVA bunkers and personnel. Artillery and mortars were called in on those positions, with no reported casualties or damage. The elements of the 3-12 remained in basically the same positions and April 8th, with some shifting of short range and ambush patrol locations.
In the evening of April 9th, an Alpha Company ambush patrol reported movement to the west side of their perimeter. Light organics (81mm and 4.2″ mortars and M-79 grenade launchers) were fired into the suspected movement area, with no casualties or findings reported in the log.
April 10th, 1969 overview
The 3-12 Infantry remained in mutually supporting blocking positions along the Cu Kotah and Cu Don mountain range. Alpha, Charlie, HHC, B/6-29 FA near LZ Cider, and Bravo & Delta and the 4.2″ Mortar Platoon on our near LZ D-Handle. The 1-22 Infantry, inserted into the AO on April 2nd, occupied positions to the west of LZ Cider and south of LZ D-Handle.
April 10th, 1969 recovery of three Alpha Company MIA
Two LRRP teams (1-4-M and 1-4-I) continued their mission reconning the Alpha Company contact site of 27 & 30 March 1969 in order to locate the bodies of 14 soldiers missing in action from that action. An Alpha Company element, consisting of five men familiar with the contact site, were lifted to the Charlie Company location.
At 1240 hours, LRRP team 1-4-M discovers the body of a GI on a stretcher. Evidence confirmed that the body was that of SP4 Johnny Gibson, missing since March 30th. Nearby, two additional unidentified bodies were found. The Alpha Company patrol moved out from Charlie Company’s location to link up with the LRRP teams and assist with recovery efforts.
At 1602 hours, LRRP team 1-4-I, which was operating on the north side of a small stream near the contact site, engaged a group of 20 NVA soldiers, killing four. The NVA returned fire, forcing the LRRP team to break contact and withdraw to the northwest, leaving two radios and four rucksacks at the contact site. The NVA also fled the area, and LRRP 1-4-M was able to recover the equipment.
April 10th, 1969 Bravo Company SRP contact
On the northern end of the 3-12 Infantry AO, SRP22, a short range patrol from Bravo Company, was occupying a night position approximately 500 meters southwest of the Bravo Company patrol base on Million Dollar Hill. At 1945 hours, it reported heavy movement and lights west of its perimeter. By 2226 the movement had begun again. Fearing being overrun by an NVA unit, the SRP blew its claymore mines and hastily withdrew back to the Bravo Company position. Bravo Company brought mortars and artillery in on the suspected NVA location. The men from SRP22 reported being chased back to the Bravo perimeter, and soon after their arrival, listening posts just outside the wire began reporting signs of movement. Additional mortars are brought to bear on the movement, and a three to four NVA are listed as probably KIA.
April 10th, 1969 Daily Journal entries
0055 hours
Alpha Company reports one listening post (LP) has movement to his southeast. Frags were employed.
0100 hours
Alpha Company reports that the same LP hears movement and employing other frags and mortars were employed.
0815 hours
Alpha Company LP had movement last night. Negative findings.
0820 hours
Air Cav area of operations (AO) YA 8796 – YA 8496 – YA 8490 – YA 8390 – YA 8383 – YA 8483 – YA 8478
One Hummingbird we have for 0900 – 1100 hours
0905 hours
Present locations of all elements were reported to Brigade
0907 hours
LTC Larkin is airborne in bird for command and control (C&C).
0935 hours
LTC Larkin returned to this location (LZ Cider).
1030 hours
Alpha Company is test firing to valley at east.
1125 hours
Charlie Company Patrol #1 (Recon patrol 1) had movement 150 meters at 150 degrees from their location at YA 831811.
1130 hours
Charlie Company Patrol #1 reports movement has stopped at this time.
1131 hours
Alpha Company has airlifted a five man patrol (Patrol #1) to Charlie Company location. A Co Patrol #1 will depart from C Co location and A Co Patrol #2 will depart from A Co location. They will link up with LRRP 1-4-M.
1200 hours
Negative movement at this time. First they were having it, ended that mission.
1205 hours
LRRP L-1-H 14M is presently at 825809. They have found four fighting positions. A trail running south. They found fresh blood from last night.
1210 hours
Present locations of all elements were reported to Brigade.
1240 hours
LRRPs – L-1-D 14I found body with GI boots on it. Also body had letters on him indicating name was Gibson. Body was found laying on stretcher.
1300 hours
LRRP 1-4-I has just found two more bodies about 50 meters south of the first.
1310 hours
Five man patrol from Alpha Company will starting point (SP) at 1315 hours to join LRP 1-4-I to evacuate bodies. Will SP from 43’s night location.
1311 hours
Brigade reported that the grave registration people would be out to our location today.
1335 hours
Delta Company reports two individuals with temperatures in excess of 103 degrees. They will get them out on a resupply bird.
1345 hours
Ammo Supply Request (ASR)
M-60 – 30,400 rounds Hand grenades – 50
M-79 – 1,656 rounds White star clusters – 72
81mm (Illum) – 141 rounds White star parachutes – 72
81mm (HE) – 655 rounds Trip flares – 288
4.2″ (HE) – 430 rounds TNT – 350
Blasting caps (non-elect) – 600 4.2″ (CS) – UNK
Det cord – not authorized M4 – 20
40mm (CS) – 24 Firecracker grenades – 180
1421 hours
The bodies found by LRRP team was at YA 826811.
1430 hours
Alpha Company 5-man patrol at grid YA 829816 heard small arms to south. 1-4-M (LRRP) heard small arms to north. Both suspected locations vicinity 1-4-I last location YA 826811. Negative contact with 1-4-I.
1515 hours
Grave Registration arrived this location (LZ Cider).
1531 hours
Dizzy 38 (Yellow Scarf) spotted the LRRP team about 500 meters from Charlie Company location YA 833814.
1602 hours
LRRP 1-I spotted 20 NVA. Killed four NVA. They said they were surrounded. Lost two radios. One was on LRRP frequency and one on A Co frequency. Lost four rucksacks grid of contact YA 825810.
1706 hours
LRRP team (1-M) found black pants in bunkers both sides of blue line. Couple weeks old. Some expended .51 caliber cartridges. Also recovered the equipment 1-I left behind.
1830 hours
3-12 Infantry night locations and plans summary sent to Brigade. The Plan Summary is the same as yesterday.
1945 hours
Bravo Company SRP22 reports to see a light go up and down the hill on a 200 degree azimuth and is 150 meters from them.
1950 hours
Bravo Company SRP22 reports negative situation.
2000 hours
Bravo Company SRP22 says that NVA lights went out about 25-50 meters from the and they are laying low. He believes that the NVA are waiting for him to give himself away. Small organics and large organics are being employed.
2026 hours
SRP22 has NVA just 10-15 meters from him and he believes that the best thing for him to do is blow his claymores and pull back at every 50 meters. Also at the same time call in large and small organics. He will pull all the way back to B Co location.
2035 hours
SRP22 heard a lot of movement after they blew their claymores and will employ light organics.
2045 hours
Bravo Company reports that they have heavy movement on their western side. They are employing hand grenades. Their SRP22 is about 150 meters out and stopped to listen for movement. B Co are also employing mortars to the movement on the western side of perimeter.
2047 hours
SRP22 closed Bravo Company location. Also SRP22 were chased all the way by NVA. The LP on the side SRP22 came in hears heavy movement. Employing organics and Redleg.
2101 hours
Bravo Company SRP22 blew all claymores and while they were pulling back the NVA were throwing grenades at SRP22. There were 4-7 NVA chasing them.
2106 hours
Bravo Company reports that their LP hears moaning outside their wire. They believe to have hit 3-4 NVA.
2130 hours
Bravo Company reports that they got a secondary at YA 81448330 while firing for SRP22. Also SRP22 said that one of his four claymores was between 3 to 4 NVA and he is sure that he got three possible KIAs.
2155 hours
Bravo Company reports that they lost commo with SRP21 about 2000 hours and still have no commo with him.
2224 hours
Bravo Company has commo with SRP21 at this time.
2225 hours
A message sent to our S-3 from Brigade. S-3 is now attached to the log.
2250 hours
Yellow Scarf AO will be the same as it was today for tomorrow.
2255 hours
Employ Eye’s 1543 – 1830 hours YA 854807
2305 hours
Status sent to Brigade
