December 1st – Bravo Company occupies a position on the 3-12 Infantry Battalion Firebase atop Hill 1030. The company sends out several short range patrols during they day. One Bravo Company patrol finds body of NVA soldier KIA by arty 4-5 days previously at 816086. All Bravo Company patrols return to the firebase before dark, and the men of Bravo enjoy one last night in the relative safety of the firebase perimeter before embarking on a 17 day search & destroy patrol.
December 2nd – Bravo Company departed the Battalion firebase on 1030 and headed north, almost immediately discovering a large empty NVA complex in the vicinity 821083. The cut bamboo mats and foxhole covers are still green. The NVA complex consisted of at least three large hootches, 12 bunkers with bamboo matting, 19 spider holes, two mortar positions and multiple trenches. A large bomb crater in the middle of the complex contains remnants of even more fortifications. Later at grid 819085, a high speed access trail is discovered running north to south. The Bravo Company artillery forward observer reported discovering at least one fuse canister for a rocket. An additional 20 NVA structures or bunkers were also discovered, some of them containing torn ammo pouches, used first aid dressings and torn up Chou Hoi leaflets. From the NVA bunker complex, Bravo Company pushed northwest to a small 840 meter high hilltop to establish an Night Defense Position (NDP) at 809092. Two night ambush patrols and multiple listening posts are also sent out.
December 3d – At 801088 Bravo Company discovers 17 incomplete foxholes, three bunkers, one kitchen and sleeping quarters for over 100 individuals. Footprints are found on a high speed trail. A ruck sack with warm rice in a canister with a spoon was found, as well as an NVA officer’s belt buckle. Bravo reports hearing small arms fire and mortar fire to the southeast. Later, at 797084, Bravo finds another empty NVA complex. Over 100 bunker positions, rocket components, ammo crates. The area had been hit heavily by 81mm mortar fire. Five graves are found along with several bodies. A large trail running west-southwest is also discovered. Bravo Company establishes a semi-permanent perimeter on the site of the NVA complex. Ambush Patrols are sent out to the north and south.
December 4th – Bravo continues to occupy and reinforce the NDP at 797084. Normal patrols are conducted. Negative findings.
December 5th – Bravo continues to occupy and reinforce the NDP at 797084. Normal patrols are conducted. Negative findings. Ambush Patrol established at 801087. Status 107 enlisted men and four officers.
December 6th – Bravo continues to occupy and reinforce the NDP at 797084. Normal patrols are conducted. Negative findings. Ambush Patrol established at 796080. Status 98 enlisted men and four officers.
December 7th – Bravo continues to occupy and reinforce the NDP at 797084. Normal patrols are conducted. Negative findings.
December 8th – Bravo Company is lifted from its NDP at 797084 and brought several kilometers to the west, where it eventually joins with Charlie Company. The two elements establish an NDP at 771088. Bravo Company status is 96 enlisted and four officers. Charlie Company status 109 enlisted and five officers.
December 9th, 1967
Bravo & Charlie Companies move to 769098 and establish a new NDP. Ambush Patrols are sent out to 772103 (Bravo) and 765095 (Charlie). Bravo Company status is 96 enlisted and four officers. Charlie Company status 109 enlisted and five officers.
December 10th, 1967
Bravo Company moves out of the NDP at 1030 hours and heads northeast toward Hill 890. At 1130 hours, they are engaged by a large NVA element. Enemy sniper fire from multiple positions is followed up by mortar fire. At least one man is KIA and three WIA in the initial engagement. A Bravo Company element encounters a well dug-in enemy force in foxholes with overhead cover. It takes several hours for Bravo Company to break contact and link up with Charlie Company. The wounded from the initial engagement, including PFC John Nishimura, are finally evacuated at 1600. At approximately 1800 hours, additional casualties are suffered and a new dustoff request is called in at 1820. PFC Nishimura would succumb to his wounds on April 4th, 1968. SGT Ronald Sandmann, SP4 Robert Larson and PFC Robert Campbell are reported MIA from the morning contact.
December 11th, 1967
Bravo Company begins moving back to the contact site on December 10th. At 1255 the lead element spots two NVA running across a trail and takes them under fire. One KIA, one WIA and escaped. By 1335, Bravo was receiving intense small arms fire and 60mm mortars. At 1350, Bravo is able to break contact. Four friendly WIA and unknown NVA casualties. The NVA position consisted of several large bunkers connected by a trench system. Air strikes are called in the enemy position as Bravo returns to its NDP from December 10th. At 1400, Bravo spotted a tunnel at 773106. Cider 15, a USAF Forward Air Controller, calls in airstrikes consisting of napalm and 750lb bombs before clearing the airspace so friendly artillery from the battalion firebase can continue to pound the target. Bravo is unable to recover the three MIA from December 10th. Bravo Company status 88 enlisted men and four officers.
December 12th, 1967
At 0635 hours, the joint Bravo & Charlie Company NDP receives five rounds of incoming mortar fire. One round lands within the perimeter and four rounds impact outside. No casualties. Bravo Company once again moves against the NVA positions on Hill 890. No enemy contact is reported, but the body of one of the MIA soldiers from December 10th is recovered. Bravo Company status is 92 enlisted and five officers. Charlie Company status 103 enlisted and five officers.
December 13th, 1967
Bravo & Charlie Company once again push towards the site of the December 10th contact. At 1050, Charlie Company discovers a bunker and the remaining two MIA Bravo Company soldiers. Both are KIA. Charlie Company continues clearing the area and begins to receive sporadic sniper fire, resulting in one soldier WIA with a shoulder wound. The wounded and recovered KIA are evacuated from the field, and Charlie company continues pushing north, with Bravo Company in a trail position. Both companies continue to receive sporadic sniper fire as they clear the area. The companies established a new NDP at 772108. Bravo Company status is 90 enlisted and five officers. Charlie Company status 104 enlisted and five officers.
December 14th, 1967
At 0840, a Charlie Company listening post reports heavy movement to the west of the NDP. The LP spots a 60mm mortar position and takes it under fire using an M-79 grenade launcher and small arms. A patrol element from Charlie Company moves out to the southwest and is almost immediately taken under sniper fire. The patrol breaks contact and returns to the NDP. Charlie continues to take contact and push through NVA positions. One soldier, SP4 Lloyd Slack, is shot and killed by a sniper. Bravo Company discovers mortar positions on a nearby hill and makes contact with additional NVA elements, suffering one WIA. After evacuating the WIA and KIA, the two companies join once again and establish an NDP at 774113. At 1755, NVA mortars impact in/around the B Co position. No casualties are reported. Bravo Company status is 85 enlisted and four officers. Charlie Company status 102 enlisted and five officers.
December 15th, 1967
Bravo Company is tasked with clearing the area immediately surrounding their NDP. Charlie Company is given the mission of clearing three small knolls to the southeast. Charlie Company discovers an NVA position including bunkers, sleeping quarters and mortar positions. Also discovered are AK-47 ammo, 82mm tail fins, NVA and an NVA entrenching tool, as well as an M-16 rifle, likely taken from the Bravo Company casualties suffered on December 10th. Bravo Company finds a possible rocket position before returning to the NDP at 774113. At 1727 hrs the B Co perimeter was hit again with approximately fourteen 60mm mortars. No casualties are reported. Bravo Company status 87 enlisted and four officers. Charlie Company status 103 enlisted and five officers.
December 16th, 1967
Bravo Company remains in position on the NDP. Several small patrols are sent out in the immediate vicinity. Charlie Company moves out to continue searching and destroy operations to the west. At 1350 hours it discovers another large NVA bunker complex and trail system. Numerous fighting and sleeping positions are discovered, as well as burlap bags, straw baskets and mortar fuses and powder. After destroying the NVA positions and material, Charlie Company returns to the shared Bravo Company NDP. Bravo Company status 87 enlisted and four officers. Charlie Company status 108 enlisted and five officers.
December 17th, 1967
At 0800, Huey slicks from the 189th Assault Helicopter Company (Ghostrider) begin lifting Delta Company soldiers from the Battalion firebase on Hill 1030 and bringing them to the shared Bravo/Charlie NDP. As the Delta Company soldiers disembark the helicopters, Bravo Company men jump aboard, happy to be headed back to the firebase for a change of scenery and lighter duty.
