March 21st, 1969 recap
After the massive indirect fire attack on LZ Cider the evening of the 20th, the Alpha and Charlie companies and the Recon platoon sent out multiple patrols to try to pinpoint the point of origin and disrupt any NVA forces in the area. Four patrols made significant findings noted in the log, including a massive bunker complex just southeast of LZ Cider.
Bravo Company occupied LZ Swift. Delta Company (with Bravo Company 1st Platoon attached) prepared for another assault on Million Dollar Hill. The planned attack was delayed by a lack of air support in the morning, and called off in the afternoon. The planned airstrikes finally arrived in the early evening, and plans were made for a massive set of airstrikes on March 22nd, including Arc Light strikes against the area west of the battalion AO.
March 22nd, 1969
Author’s Note. Up to this point, the daily posts documenting the battalion activities of the 3-12 have been pulled from the S-3 Operations Daily Journals. For the month of March 1969, each day had a record preserved at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. March 22nd is the sole exception. No record exists. The only document found at the Archives specific to March 22nd, 1969 was the Plans Summary, which was included in the March 21st Daily Journal.
March 22nd, 1969 Plans Summary
Alpha Company
Remain LZ Cider (YA 829799) and secure B/6-29 Artillery and 3-12 Infantry TOC. Continue improvement of firebase. Conduct local reconnaissance patrols and employ ambushes.
Bravo Company (-)
Remain LZ Swift (YA 818856). Conduct local reconnaissance patrols and employ ambushes. Secure LZ D-Handle (YA 821852) with one platoon.
Charlie Company
Remain present position (YA 827797) Continue improvement of PZ and LZ. Conduct local reconnaissance patrols and employ ambushes. Recon Platoon attached. Conduct Reconnaissance In Force with two platoons east/southeast and destroy and contaminate enemy bunker complex vicinity YA 832794.
Delta Company
Attack south. Seize and destroy enemy bunker complex vicinity YA 817839.
Operation Wayne Grey After Action Report (AAR) excerpt
A single half-paragraph in the Operation Wayne Grey AAR gives us the only indication of what actually occurred on Million Dollar Hill on March 22nd, 1969.
D/3-12 attacked Hill 800 again on 22 March after heavy air and artillery bombardment. The hill was seized without opposition and all US MIA were recovered. 4 NVA KBA were found in the bunker complex.
After almost a week of contact, withdrawal, airstrikes, artillery and mortars, Delta Company takes the hill without opposition. The NVA, masters of choosing when and where to engage the Americans, have disappeared. Much more costly than the millions of dollars of ordinance dropped on the hill, the five day engagement has cost the lives of seven Delta Company soldiers, one U.S. Army scout dog and over twenty men wounded.
The battle for Million Dollar Hill may be over, but the NVA is still out there, waiting for the right moment to re-engage with the Braves of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry.
