March 24th Recap
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 25th, 1969
The 3-12 Infantry remained in its assigned Area of Operations (AO) occupying mutually supporting blocking positions along the Cu Kotah mountain range. Its mission was to destroy enemy forces in the AO and to interdict NVA infiltration from Kontum area to Cambodia.
Alpha Company remained as LZ Cider securing B/6-29 Artillery and the 3-12 Infantry TOC. Charlie Company, with Recon Platoon attached, occupied a patrol base just a few hundred meters southwest of the battalion firebase. Alpha Companies 4th Platoon undertook a long circular patrol route down into an unnamed river valley and then back up to the northern end of a crescent shaped ridgeline. It then followed the ridgeline back to LZ Cider.
A series of discoveries along the northern end of the circular patrol route gave hinted at a strong NVA presence in the area below Hill 900, which anchored the northern end of the crescent shaped ridgeline. Hootches, sleeping positions, fighting positions, an NVA field kitchen, tunnels and an ad hoc classroom complete with a diagram of a 122mm rocket all indicated that a company to battalion sized NVA unit was active in the area. Alpha’s 4th Platoon completed its patrol without incident, and dropped off a small element to monitor and report on activity near the discoveries.
On LZ Cider, an NVA sniper targeted two helicopters and personnel stationed at the firebase. One artilleryman from B/6-29 FA was severely wounded by the sniper, and evacuated at 1040 hours. Unfortunately, PVT Walter E. Brown Jr, the stricken Redleg, died of his wounds before the Dustoff helicopter could make it to an evacuation hospital.
Bravo Company and Delta Company remained at LZ Swift and LZ D-Handle respectively. The two companies deployed a patrol screen consisting of ten short range patrols and three platoon sized ambush patrols.
March 25th, 1969 Daily Journal entries
0045 hours
Delta Company reports that lights were seen on the west side of Bravo Company location (LZ Swift).
0134 hours
Bravo Company reports negative lights but will have redleg employed.
0135 hours
Bravo Company will have D.T. fired around his perimeter. Still negative movement and negative lights.
0145 hours
Small organics have been employed and was observed by Delta Company and Bravo Company. Delta Company reported to Bravo Company that they saw two direct hits on the lights. Bravo Company still reports sighting of lights. B Co will continue to employ organics.
0815 hours
Alpha Company 4th Platoon has departed Alpha Company location. They will pick up ambush patrol (AP) 1 on their route and drop off new AP1 in same location.
0820 hours
Delta Company old AP1 and AP2 have departed their night locations.
0850 hours
Delta Company AP2 has closed D Co location (LZ D-Handle).
0851 hours
Charlie Company 2nd Platoon 1st Squad departed C Co location. Local sweep.
0910 hours
Charlie Company 2nd Platoon 1st Squad has closed C Co location.
0930 hours
Delta Company commanding officer (CO) was informed that persistent CS tear gas will be dropped on YA 818839 first thing 26 March.
1020 hours
A Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) received sniper fire from two directions while approaching our pad.
1030 hours
A Chinook received sniper fire while bringing in a sortie. Two AK rounds.
1035 hours
The LOH took negative hits. A redleg personnel was wounded. Urgent. The Chinook took negative hits. Possible sniper location is YA 826816.
1040 hours
Redleg WIA was evacuated in a log [supply] bird.
Authors note about B/6-29 FA casualty
In a supplemental report found in the archival records, this excerpt contained additional information regarding the B/6-29 FA soldier wounded by a sniper. It reads – LZ Cider again received enemy sniper fire and sustained one US WIA from B/6-29 Arty (Dead on arrival at 4th Medical while aboard Dustoff)
1050 hours
Crocodile 4 (gunships) have checked in Command A and will work over area where we received sniper fire. Alpha Company forward observer (FO) will work with guns. [Crocodile 4 belonged to the 119th Assault Helicopter Company]
1115 hours
Gunships have expended on [target] and have checked off Command A.
1150 hours
Alpha Company 4th Platoon at YA 822809 found one hootch. Also four fires that appear approximately two days old. Also a well beaten trail headed northeast at 25 degree azimuth.
1152 hours
At approximate grid YA 826816 there is possibly a .51 caliber [machine gun] set up.
1220 hours
Alpha Company 4th Platoon at 822812 found numerous sleeping positions on trail. They also found markings on trees. Arrows, fresh, but some quite old. at this location the trail forks to 40-48 degree azimuth. Fresh arrow mark point at 245 degree azimuth.
1255 hours
Alpha Company 4th Platoon reported that the hootch they found was bamboo. 6’x5′. Holds 4-5 men. Hootch sits on ground. Hootch was destroyed.
1330 hours
Alpha Company 4th Platoon at YA 827814 found a doughnut shaped hole. 10 foot in diameter with center four foot in diameter. About 50-75 meters east of hole they found a bamboo hootch sitting on ground. 15′-25′ with open bottom. Bunks to sleep 10 men, baskets and some old fires in the area. Near this location was a tunnel system.
1435 hours
Alpha Company 4th Platoon found at YA 827814 more tunnels. Some had rice. About 50 holes, several bunkers 6’x7′ and kitchen with five dirt type stoves. A mark-up of a 122mm rocket as like a classroom, all of which look to be three or four months old. Trails in the area well used.
1503 hours
Alpha Company 4th Platoon found at YA 829814 about 20 cannisters for 75mm recoilless rifle and several shell casing of .51 caliber. Gun position clearing thru tree tops to shoot toward our location.
1545 hours
Alpha Company 4th Platoon at YA 833813.
1820 hours
Night locations sent to Brigade.
1821 hours
Alpha Company 4th Platoon closed A Co location (LZ Cider).
1911 hours
Status sent to Brigade
2000 hours
Wrap up of Alpha Company 4th Platoon. Found 50 holes 3’x3′ or 4’x5′ inside. One jug of rice, about 5lbs. A hootch kitchen 6’x10′. 5 ovens 15″ diameter. Small hootch nearby closed in 6’x8′. Tables of bamboo 2′ x 1.5′ at YA 798803.
2043 hours
Airstrike requested for 27 March sent to Brigade.
2138 hours
Requested to Brigade that we would like persistent CS tear gas at 0900 on 26 March at YA 817839.