Recap of March 5th, 1969
The battalion FSB at LZ Cider receives more incoming indirect fire. Charlie Company is airlifted to a position nearby to offer support if needed. Bravo Company is airlifted to LZ Mary, where it joins Delta Company, the 4.2” Mortar platoon, Recon platoon and B/6-29 FA.
March 6th, 1969
LTC Larkin consolidated his line companies into two positions. Charlie Company is moved on to the top of Hill 680, roughly one and a half kilometers southwest of Alpha Company and LZ Swinger. On LZ Mary, the battalion executive officer Major Williams organized Task Force Swift, composed of Bravo & Delta Companies and the Recon Platoon. Task Force Swift was ordered to move southeast of LZ Mary across the Dak Hodrai River and into the mountains that form the eastern border of the Plei Trap Valley. As night fell on the 6th, Charlie Company was ordered to prepare for insertion on top of Hill 947, in order to reinforce Delta Company, 3-8 Infantry, which was hit hard on March 5th.
March 6th, 1969 Daily Journal entries
0040 – Alpha Company reports they have one NVA prisoner who is pretty bad beaten up. They said he is blind and could be left from the other day.
0045 – Brigade informed us that Alpha & Charlie Companies will secure firebase & search & destroy.
0045 – Brigade informed us that Bravo & Delta Companies will be use as blocking force & search & clear southeast. LTC Larkin & Major Williams has been notified.
0045 – Delta Company reported that Short Range Patrol (SRP) 44 sees lights in front of him about 200 meters & azimuth of 2800 mills. He is now in a hasty ambush. D Co could not fire small organics because SRP 44 is gun target. Major Williams has been informed.
0051 – D Co report that SRP 44 said the lights are now out.
0100 – The NVA who A Co found has wounds of neck & his eyes are out. Wounds appear to be 3-5 days old. They are not bleeding. He is conscious and dehydrated. We will keep him until tomorrow and send him out on log bird.
0730 – Charlie Company has put 10 rounds of 81mm on his night location at this time & are moving up to it at this time.
0832 – Charlie Company has reached their night location 828952.
0856 – B & D Co has got the word to get ready to move out on short notices.
0902 – Four slicks have just checked in. Bringing C Co, 1-35 Infantry elements to LZ Mary. Colonel Knight arrived at this location (LZ Swinger).
0920 – LZ Mary time 0920 for C Co 1-35 Inf.
0928 – Colonel Knight has departed the command post.
1006 – The POW has departed the command post.
1007 – LTC Larkin is airborne at this time enroute to LZ Mary.
Task Force Swift formed at LZ Mary
1040 – Task Force Swift SP 1040.
1200 – B Co has a man that just fell out & a small party is taking him back to LZ Mary.
1201 – Location on Task Force Swift 789909.
1225 – D Co has a man that just shot himself in the foot. A LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) enroute to pick up the individual with a bad back & the individual that shot himself in the foot.
1255 – B Co is at YA 784898.
1255 – D Co is at YA789906.
1300 – LTC Larkin departed this location.
1308 – LTC Larkin in LOH has picked up one of the individuals & taking him back to LZ Mary.
1314 – LTC Larkin in LOH has the individual taking him to LZ Mary.
1316 – D Co is carrying one individual back to LZ Mary at this time.
1320 – Task Force Swift command group YA 789903 came across burned out area by air strike. Found two NVA bodies. Estimated two weeks old bodies have been eaten up by some kind of animal.
1330 – Request dustoff for the three individuals at LZ Mary.
1335 – B Co are grid YA786895.
1335 – D Co are grid YA788900
1350 – Task Force command at YA 786898.
1351 – LTC Larkin enroute to 3-8 Infantry command post.
1354 – B Co has movement to their front are employing M-79 & are checking it out at this time.
1355 – B Co has small arms at grid 788892 at this time. Recon by fire & are moving out again.
1402 – D Co has linked up with Task Force Swift command.
1430 – The last man that is hurt is at LZ Mary.
1434 – Task Force Swift is at YA 789891.
1447 – LTC Larkin returned this location.
1514 – C Co has been notified to be ready to airlift to assist 3-8 Inf, D Co at YA814864.
1515 – C Co SRP 34 at YA 821955.
1520 – Task Force Swift command at YA 789886.
1545 – LTC Larkin is airborne.
1550 – LTC Larkin returned this location.
1555 – C Co SRP 31 & SRP 34 closed C Co location.
1610 – C Co SRP 32 closed C Co location.
1650 – Dustoff went into LZ Mary.
1700 – Dustoff went out LZ Mary.
1709 – Major Williams reported hearing small arms on the south ridge line.
1715 – LTC Larkin is airborne.
1716 – Major Williams negative small arms he said it was a bamboo fire.
1730 – Colonel Knight arrived here.
1735 – Colonel Knight left here. (LZ Swinger).
1830 – 3-8 Infantry S-3 informed us that the birds that will pick up our C Co is being used to haul WIA out of 3-8 Infantry location.
1847 – Task Force Swift Command night location is YA 792883.
1845 – PZ time for C Co 1845
1906 – B Co night location is YA 792883.
1945 – C Co 2nd Platoon was informed to be ready with strobelights to be lifted out.