March 14th, 1969 recap
Alpha & Charlie Companies and the Recon Platoon were air lifted into a cold LZ on Hill 1043 approximately 18 kilometers south of LZ Swinger. Having met no resistance, they immediately began the work of expanding the landing zone and clearing the area in preparation for the arrival of the battalion TOC.
Bravo & Delta Companies remained on LZ Swift & LZ D-Handle respectively. They continued policing the battlefield and patrolling the immediate area. Dozen of NVA bunkers and fighting positions were discovered, and Delta Company began to set its sights on a large 860 meter hill to the southwest.
March 15th, 1969
Alpha & Charlie Company and the Recon Platoon continue to reinforce their position on LZ Cider. The five 105mm howitzers of Bravo Battery, 6-29 Field Artillery are lifted from LZ Mary by CH-47 Chinook helicopters and brought to the quickly expanding landing zone. Charlie Company sends two patrols out several hundred meters, but no contact or significant findings are noted in the log.
Bravo & Delta Companies continue to expand their patrol areas around LZ Swift and LZ D-Handle. At 0954 hours, a Delta Company short range patrol makes contact with a small NVA element to the southwest of LZ D-Handle. In a short engagement, one NVA is confirmed KIA with no friendly casualties.
Just after noon, a Bravo Company patrol spots and engages a group of 12-15 NVA soldiers walking on a trail. They take the NVA by surprise, killing one and wounding at least one other. The remaining NVA soldiers scatter into the jungle. Bravo Company fans out, searching the area for signs of the enemy. The body of one NVA soldier is recovered and multiple blood trails indicate that more than just one NVA soldier was wounded. While searching the area, Bravo Company discovers a bunker complex and at least two caves.
March 15th, 1969 Daily Journal entries
0710 hours
Cider 12 just checked in and is on station at this time.
0720 hours
Delta Company Patrol #1 closed D Co location 821852 (LZ D-Handle).
0745 hours
LZ Swinger receiving rounds coming from west and impacting to the east at 832976.
0755 hours
Unknown number of rounds were impacting. One round confirmed to be White Phosphorous.
0757 hours
Bravo Company Patrol #2 departed B Co location (LZ Swift).
0810 hours
PZ time for 4.2″ mortars is 0815 hours.
0825 hours
LZ time for 4.2″ mortars element is 0828 hours.
0827 hours
Three slicks will be working for us.
0907 hours
Cider 12 is putting an airstrike at YA 848850 on top of hill. Nearest friendly four kilometers northwest.
0908 hours
One slick checked in at Mary Lou – Time 0840 hours.
0930 hours
LTC Larkin is to go to Mary Lou location at 1000 hours on 16 March 69 for impact award.
0940 hours
4.2″ mortars reports having a slick and a half sorties left at this time. Majority of the mortar element is at Delta Company location (LZ D-Handle).
0954 hours
Delta Company reports that short range patrol (SRP) 41 made contact with one NVA moving southeast. Light organics being employed. NVA believed to be wounded after SRP 41 engaged him with small arms.
1010 hours
Delta Company further reports that the NVA confirmed WIA also NVA was wearing no head gear. Had no ruck sack and was wearing dark green fatigues. Redleg and light organics employed. Also NVA was carrying one weapon. Believed to be AK-47. Grid where contact was made YA 818848.
1015 hours
Cider 12 reports airstrike complete but did not get a reasonable LZ cleared.
1020 hours
Delta Company reports SRP 41 has movement to the south of his location where contact was made 818848. Light organics being employed.
Charlie Company informed LTC Larkin that C Co Patrol #1 has found a better location for perimeter 125-200 meters from C Co present location at YA 827796. C Co will be moving to new location 125-200 meters from where he is now. C Co will keep an element on YA 827796 and rotate daily keeping his old location secure.
1035 hours
Delta Company reports that SRP 41 and SRP 42 will be pulled back so D Co can hit area of contact. After that, D Co will be sending out patrols to sweep area and then have the two SRPs go back out.
1040 hours
4.2″ mortars one sortie left to complete lift.
1045 hours
Advance Party for TOC departed LZ Swinger
1053 hours
Individual from Alpha Company is going to Mary Lou because of injury on toe when log fell. Toe broken.
1100 hours
Delta Company reports contact broken. Also believed NVA got away. D Co will be sending same two SRPs out.
1113 hours
Last sortie for 4.2″ mortars have just left LZ Mary.
1115 hours
D Co reports that SRP 41 saw one NVA walking along trail feeling pretty secure and going in a southern direction. The point man on SRP engaged NVA and is positive that NVA was hit pretty bad. D Co’s commander estimate a probably one NVA KIA.
1116 hours
PZ time for last sortie of 4.2″ mortars element out of LZ Mary is 1110 hours.
1120 hours
LTC Larkin has informed Brigade that LZ Cider will be accepting redleg at this time.
1130 hours
Delta Company reports the completion of 4.2″ mortars element. Time in LZ 1125 hours.
1225 hours
Cider 13 and fighters checked in LTC Larkin informed him to drop airstrike to the north where we had been receiving small arms yesterday.
1240 hours
Bravo Company reports that 62 Patrol #2 is in contact at grid 809848 with estimated 12-15 NVA. Light organics being employed from D Co location. Negative friendly casualties.
At 1240 hours B Co reported that 62 Patrol #2 spotted 12 NVA both patrols ran into each other. When 62P2 saw NVA they engaged. NVAs hit the ground. Redlegs were called and are now being employed. Bravo Company sent a sub-element northeast to reinforce 62P2. Negative friendly casualties. Negative NVA casualties. The grid where redleg is firing is 803848.
1242 hours
Bravo Company reports that 62 Patrol #2 estimates more than thought because they have movement all around them. Need more guns.
1255 hours
Cider 14 has been informed on contact with Bravo Co Patrol #2. Cider has location and is standing by at this time.
1250 hours
Brigade informed us that gunships will be checking in with us shortly.
1315 hours
PZ time for B/6-29 FA is 1313 hours
1316 hours
Cider 14 will have a set of fighters in about 20 minutes with Hi-Drags and napalm. ETA for fighters and airstrikes 1325 hours.
1340 hours
Bravo Company Patrol #2 has sub-element approximately 500 meters. B Co Patrol #2 cannot confirm their location because lack of smoke. Cider 41 and fighters cannot assist B Co Patrol #2 at this time because of the condition. So LTC Larkin informed Cider to place airstrike on grid 845975 north of LZ Swinger.
1350 hours
Cider 41 starting airstrikes at grid 845975 and will work around area.
1351 hours
LZ for redleg 1325 hours
1352 hours
Reinforce element is expected to link up with B Co Patrol #2 in about 30 minutes.
1355 hours
Cider 14 reports completion of airstrike. Cider 14 informed us that if he wasn’t needed for the next 20 to 30 minutes, he will be taking some photos around FSB #29. he will monitor our Command A in case he’s called upon.
1411 hours
Delta Company reports that D Co 1st Platoon departed his location to check out contact area of SRP 41.
1420 hours
Cider 14 is back in our AO.
1425 hours
Bravo Company two patrols are 25 meters apart and will be marrying up shortly.
1437 hours
Bravo Company new internal frequency is 65.75 hours.
1447 hours
Bravo Company is still employing redleg.
1450 hours
Bravo Company two patrols at grid 818848 believe they have one NVA KIA and wounded another. They see in the immediate area several bunkers, caves, fighting positions. They are checking out the immediate area at this time. Are staying in position and having redleg zero first before moving.
1500 hours
Cider 14 left our push to help out 1-8 Infantry & Cav
1515 hours
Cider 14 has left our AO and he is going back to his home base.
1525 hours
Bravo Company reports one NVA confirm KIA & one AK47 at YA 811848.
1526 hours
B/6-29 Field Artillery has four Chinook lifts left.
1710 hours
Bravo Company patrols are moving back & redleg is walking behind.
1832 hours
A wrap up on Bravo Company contact. They had no casualties. At YA 811849 found 15 bunkers & two caves. These bunkers could hold 4-5 people. The bunkers were behind big rocks and very hard to hit by redleg & airstrikes. Also had a bridge & picket fence and they were used very recently. The NVA (KIA) had all his personnel gear & letters plus documents. These documents look to have some importance.
1st Platoon of B Co rear element saw eight NVA coming down the trail in sling arms. They opened fire, killing one and wounding another also believe to have wounded others. The 2nd Platoon left Bravo Company location due west for 2-300 meters than north to marry up with the 1st Platoon. Along this trail (YA 811851) they found several old positions southwest of Bravo Company location and commo wire. This trail was a high speed trail went west around directly into contact area. On a finger on this trail found several blood trails, very fresh because the blood was still very red.