March 23d Recap
The battalion remained in mutually supporting blocking positions along the Cu Kotah mountain range. Alpha & Charlie Company, with Recon attached, sent several ambush patrols out with negative contact. Charlie Companies 4th Platoon moved to a previously discovered NVA bunker complex and employed persistent CS tear gas to deny the NVA the use of the complex.
Bravo Company continued to occupy LZ Swift, with a detached platoon securing the 4.2″ mortar platoon on LZ D-Handle. Delta Company, which remained on Hill 800 (Million Dollar Hill) over night, recovered the last of the D Co men KIA on March 18th and then returned to LZ D-Handle.
March 24th, 1969
Alpha Company remained at LZ Cider, securing B/6-29 Artillery and the 3-12 Infantry TOC. Charlie Company with Recon Platoon attached remained at a patrol base just a few hundred meters southwest of the firebase. Alpha Company’s 1st Platoon engaged a small group of NVA soldiers with small arms and machine gun fire. After adjusting mortar and artillery fire on the contact area, the platoon swept the area with negative findings. At 1500 hours, LZ Cider received several rounds of enemy sniper fire, with no casualties or damage reported.
Bravo occupied LZ Swift and Delta occupied LZ D-Handle, securing the 4.2″ Mortar Platoon. Both companies sent out local ambush and short range patrols with no significant findings or contact.
March 24th, 1969 Daily Journal entries
0720 hours
Charlie Company ambush patrol (AP) 2 has departed night location.
0735 hours
Charlie Company AP3 has departed night location.
0810 hours
Charlie Company AP2 and AP3 have closed C Co location.
0830 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon has departed A Co location (LZ Cider).
0915 hours
Delta Company AP1 has departed D Co location.
0930 hours
Bravo Company 1st Platoon has departed B Co location. Bravo Company 3rd Platoon has departed B Co location.
0935 hours
General Irzyk has arrived at this location (LZ Cider).
1000 hours
General Irzyk has departed this location (LZ Cider).
1001 hours
Delta Company AP2 has departed D Co location
Alpha Company 1st Platoon has spotted six NVA in the open and they are engaging with M-60 and M-16. They spotted the NVA about 50 meters in front of them in thick brush.
Alpha Company 1st Platoon made contact at YA 835810
Alpha Company 1st Platoon is proceeding forward at this time. Recon’ing by fire.
1150 hours
NCO school candidates for 30 March.
Bravo Company – PFC Romeo, F.J. US52860571
Charlie Company – SP4 Cowan, J.A. US53456951 [James Alton Cowan would be KIA on 6/18/69 on LZ Cherokee]
Delta Company – PFC Pearcy, C. RA51802096
1200 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon has reached location where they spotted NVA and has negative findings.
1210 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon reported NVA were wearing green fatigues with rucksacks and weapons. They seemed to be lighter complected and a little larger than average NVA. They departed to the north on a prominent trail. A Co 1st Platoon is pursuing and employing redleg.
1225 hours
Delta Company AP1 at YA 829854 found four hootches 15’x8’x6′. They found several trails all running north-south. Area has been used within the last week.
1230 hours
Bravo Company 3rd Platoon is at day location YA 824857.
1232 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon has checked out area of contact with negative findings and are now proceeding to night location.
1245 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon at YA 835812 has found markings on trees. The markings appear to be “H”. They appear frequently and appear to be fresh. They have also found some firecracker rounds that haven’t went off.
1300 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon has found a fresh hole. They are going to pop a frag grenade in it.
1302 hours
Charlie Company AP1 and AP2 have departed C Co location.
1310 hours
Delta Company AP1 is in day location at YA 829853.
1345 hours
Charlie Company AP1 has reached night location at YA 825784.
1346 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon is at night location YA 834815.
1427 hours
Bravo Company 1st Platoon at YA 810851.
1440 hours
Brigade reported Arc Light #7186 was laid on for 24 March at 2120 hours.
1445 hours
Colonel Knight has arrived at this location (LZ Cider).
1450 hours
Bravo Company 3rd Platoon night location is YA 824857.
Charlie Company AP2 at YA 820788.
Charlie Company AP4 at night location YA 834794.
1501 hours
We at LZ Cider received small arms shot at Division chemical officers bird. 8-10 rounds. The fire came from the north side.
1515 hours
Colonel Knight departed this location.
1520 hours
The sniper fire we received came from east side of the perimeter. 15 to 20 degree azimuth. 300 to 400 meters out. Northeast side of the perimeter. 10 degree azimuth, 700 meters.
Alpha Company 1st Platoon is at YA 833814 (280 degree azimuth).
1540 hours
Bravo Company 1st Platoon is at YA 806857.
1600 hours
The sniper fire was believed to come from YA 828803 and YA 829814
1645 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon is at YA 835810.
1700 hours
Charlie Company AP4 night location is YA 834794.
1706 hours
Status sent to Brigade
1714 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon closed A Co location & C Co AP2 night location is YA 814791.
1800 hours
Delta Company reports movement at YA 818839.
1836 hours
Delta Company reports two probably NVA KIA at YA 818839.
1930 hours
Message from Brigade: Each company will employ minimum five short range patrols (SRP) in addition to platoon sized ambushes.
2210 hours
Cav will check out the Arc Light at YA 7684, YA8084, YA 8080 and YA 7680. Delta Company will supply reaction platoon. Brigade will call our platoon ambushes “SRPs”.
2235 hours
Captain Foss requested the following: Starlight scopes and persistent CS at YA 818839. Also Yellow Scarf visual reconnaissance for body count. LTC Larkin was informed.
2240 hours
Bravo Company reported no communication with B Co AP2.
March 24th, 1969 S-3 Operations Daily Journals retrieved from the National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
