April 13th recap
Bravo Battery, 6-29 Artillery and Bravo Company and Recon Platoon of the 3-12 Infantry were extracted and brought to Polei Kleng airstrip, where they consolidated into a single convoy, and traveled overland east to Highway 14 and south to LZ/FSB Mary Lou, where they would wait for the rest of the battalion.
Alpha Company, Charlie Company, Delta Company, the 4.2″ Mortar Platoon and the Battalion TOC remained in position and prepared to be extracted on April 14th.
April 14th, 1969
It was moving day in the Cu Kotah mountains. Beginning with Delta Company and the 4.2″ Mortar Platoon at LZ D-Handle and the Battalion TOC at LZ Cider, all elements of the battalion are extracted from the field. The soldiers of Alpha Company, the last element to be extracted, perhaps left with the heaviest hearts. They have spent the last three days searching for their three missing soldiers, but have turned up no signs of the missing men.
The searchers would have no way of knowing, and would not know for many years, but SGT Gail Kerns, grievously wounded in the head by an NVA bullet on March 27th, was likely being dragged west through the jungle by his NVA captors on April 14th. Unconscious and paralyzed, he would not regain awareness of his situation until days later, when he awoke in an NVA prisoner of war camp somewhere in Cambodia. He would spend a total of 1,439 days in captivity until his release on March 5th, 1973. He lived out the rest of his life in his home state of West Virginia, before passing away in 2024 at the age of 77.
The bodies of SGT Raymond Czerwiec and SP4 Clarence Latimer (promoted to SSG and SFC respectively while in MIA status) were never located. Both men were eventually declared Killed in Action – Body Not Recovered.
By the end of the day on April 14th, all elements of the battalion had arrived at FSB Mary Lou just south of Kontum City. For the 3-12 Infantry, Operation Wayne Grey was over.
April 14th, 1969 Daily Journal entries
0655 hours
Delta Company SRP 41 has departed night location (NL) and closed D Co location.
0706 hours
Charlie Company SRP 33 and ambush patrol (AP) 1 have departed night locations and closed C Co location.
0718 hours
Charlie Company Patrol #1 has departed to sweep wire.
0726 hours
Delta Company SRP 44 has departed night locations and closed D Co location.
0733 hours
Charlie Company Patrol #1 wire sweep has closed.
0742 hours
Alpha Company AP2 has departed night location and closed A Co location.
0905 hours
1st hook sortie departs this location (LZ Cider).
0906 hours
Delta Company has one hook sortie out and one to go.
0920 hours
Delta Company 2nd hook sortie departed at this time. D Co hook sorties complete.
0930 hours
Brigade reported that in about 15 minutes we should have nine slicks and a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) check in with us.
0944 hours
2nd hook sortie of command post (CP) departed LZ Cider.
0950 hours
LOH (Hummingbird 3) checked in on Command A with nine slicks. The slicks are going down to Command B at this time. Charlie Company is standing by.
0952 hours
LTC Larkin is airborne at this time.
1000 hours
3rd CP hook sortie departed this location.
1001 hours
Charlie Company initial pickup zone (PZ).
1010 hours
Seven slick sorties and 20 to go for Charlie Company.
1012 hours
4th CP hook sortie departed this location (LZ Cider).
1013 hours
Dizzy 19 checked in on Command A
1021 hours
5th CP hook sortie departed this location.
1025 hours
Charlie Company has nine slick sorties out of PZ.
1028 hours
6th CP hook sortie departed this location (LZ Cider).
1030 hours
Air Cav (Dizzy 19) reported he was going back to Polei Kleng and sit down because of weather. They will be standing by in case we need them.
1045 hours
7th and final hook sortie departed this location (LZ Cider).
1046 hours
Charlie Company has 12 sorties out of PZ.
1050 hours
Brigade reported that Charlie Company will be completed into Mary Lou. The rest of our elements will be lifted to Polei Kleng unless the weather breaks. From Polei Kleng our elements will be either lifted or convoyed to Mary Lou.
1057 hours
Charlie Company has 16 sorties out and five to go.
1125 hours
Delta Company initial PZ.
1126 hours
Charlie Company has 18 sorties out of PZ and three sorties left to go.
1135 hours
Charlie Company final PZ.
1143 hours
LTC Larkin has returned to LZ Cider.
1150 hours
Delta Company has three sorties off PZ.
1207 hours
Delta Company has six sorties of PZ.
1213 hours
Major Williams is airborne on Hummingbird 3.
1215 hours
Delta Company has nine sorties out and 16 sorties to go.
1228 hours
Delta Company has 11 sorties off PZ.
1250 hours
Delta Company has four sorties left on PZ
1300 hours
Initial PZ for CP group.
1305 hours
Final LZ for Delta Company.
1314 hours
Initial LZ for CP group.
1316 hours
Alpha Company initial PZ.
1328 hours
CP group final LZ.
1330 hours
Alpha Company initial LZ.
1400 hours
Delta Company convoy departed Polei Kleng enroute to Mary Lou.
1415 hours
2nd Brigade called and said to have our 4.2″ platoon operational and ready by 1700 hours.
1425 hours
4.2″ Mortars and CP(-) have departed Polei Kleng enroute to Mary Lou by convoy.
Alpha Company final PZ. 3-12 Infantry final PZ.
1432 hours
Alpha Company final LZ. 3-12 Infantry final LZ.
1515 hours
Delta Company convoy arrive Mary Lou.
1520 hours
HHC(-) and Alpha Company departed Polei Kleng at this time.
1637 hours
HHC & Alpha Company closed Mary Lou and everybody of 3-12 Infantry closed.
1745 hours
Major Williams said for tomorrow the first C-130 sortie will be at 0630 hours and with one vehicle and 10 packs [passengers]. Second sortie at 0730 hours with one vehicle and 10 packs.
1930 hours
Message from 1st Brigade relayed by 2nd Brigade.
Part 1 – Be sure to contact 15th A.P.S.D. to see if they will manifest our personnel on flights to coordinate airlift from Kontum.
Part 2 – A – If at all possible send Class 5 and vehicles by convoy.
Part 2 – B – Submit number of passengers and equipment to include weights and cubage needed for airlift. Kontum to An Khe. Action taken – 1LT Ford relayed information required thru 2nd Brigade TOC.
2035 hours
Status sent to Brigade
2200 hours
Commo check with all elements. Loud & Clear.