March 22nd recap
HHC, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Recon Platoon, 4.2″ Mortar Platoon and Bravo 6-29 FA all remained in the same positions as the 21st. Delta Company was ordered to assault Million Dollar Hill once again. A massive air and artillery bombardment prepared the way, and the men of Delta took the hill with no contact. The NVA forces had melted away.
March 23rd, 1969
The 3-12 Infantry continued to occupy mutually supporting blocking positions along the Cu Kotah mountain range to destroy enemy forces in its assigned Area of Operations and to interdict NVA infiltration routes from the Kontum area to Cambodia. Each rifle company employed two platoon sized ambushes within their respective AOs. All with negative enemy contact. LZ Cider received enemy sniper fire with negative damage or casualties.
Alpha Company remained at LZ Cider, securing B/6-29 FA 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.
Bravo Company (-) remained at LZ Swift with 1st Platoon securing LZ D-Handle and the 4.2″ Mortar Platoon. Delta Company, searched the objective area on Hill 800 (Million Dollar Hill) and recovered the last remaining U.S. KIA from the action on March 18. Also discovered were four additional NVA KIA. The company then returned to LZ D-Handle.
March 23rd Daily Journal entries
0755 hours
Alpha Company ambush patrol (AP1) has departed night location (NL) and closed A Co location.
0756 hours
Delta Company reports recovering their last KIA from three days ago. [error in log, all D Co KIAs occurred five days prior on March 18th]
0815 hours
FAC (Cider 10) checked in on Command A.
0845 hours
Delta Company has found four more enemy KIAs. One appeared to be hit by shrapnel. Three were together and appeared to be hit by a bomb. They found one diary. Last entry 18 March.
0847 hours
LTC Larkin is airborne on short visual reconaissance.
0855 hours
Alpha Company AP2 has departed night location and closed A Co location.
0925 hours
LTC Larkin has returned to this location (LZ Cider).
1030 hours
Charlie Company AP1 is at day location YA 816796. Charlie Company AP4 departed night location and is now in new day location at YA 835795.
1115 hours
Charlie Company AP4 has departed their present location enroute to C Co location so there will be no conflict when their platoon goes out to apply CS to bunker complex.
1130 hours
Convoy has reached Polei Kleng.
1135 hours
Alpha Company AP2 has departed A Co location.
1140 hours
Alpha Company AP1 has departed A Co location.
1144 hours
Delta Company has the five KIA from previous contacts evacuated.
1145 hours
Delta Company reported they have checked out area and have negative further findings except for one friendly radio which was demolished. D Co will be departing that location (817839) shortly.
1150 hours
A Chinook checked in and took out the slick that was hit by small arms fire here yesterday.
1155 hours
Preplanned airstrikes and Combat Spy Spot drops for 25 March.
1156 hours
Delta Company (+) has departed night location at YA 817839 enroute to LZ D-Handle.
1159 hours
Brigade reported General Irzyk will be at 3-12 Infantry command post (CP) at approximately 1400 hours. From 3-12 Infantry he will visit 3-8 Infantry and 1-8 Infantry CPs.
1220 hours
Brigade reported that General Irzyk would not be here this afternoon.
1240 hours
Delta Company (+) has closed LZ D-Handle.
1243 hours
Charlie Company 4th Platoon has departed C Co location enroute to apply CS to bunker complex.
1246 hours
Brigade reported that we will get requested airstrike on YA 850820 tomorrow. It will be a Trail Dust – Time on Target 0830 hours.
1315 hours
Charlie Company 4th Platoon is at YA 833796.
1445 hours
Charlie Company 4th Platoon is at YA 832794 and is putting CS at the bunker complex at that location.
1510 hours
A slick came in and drew sniper fire. Alpha Company returned fire with .50 caliber from LZ Cider.
1515 hours
The sniper fire was believed to be coming from YA 835807. Negative casualties.
1540 hours
Alpha Company AP1 is at YA 835809. Alpha Company AP2 is at YA 839801.
1545 hours
Charlie Company 4th Platoon have captured two blonde headed people.
1550 hours
The two people C Co 4th Platoon picked up belong to A Co AP1.
1620 hours
Charlie Company 4th Platoon closed C Co location.
1646 hours
Charlie Company reports that there were 15-18 bunker like tunnels. Size 4’x4’15’ deep. Believe to be sleeping positions. All have persistent CS.
1700 hours
Cider 13 checked in on Command A.
1703 hours
Bravo Company ambush patrol departed B Co location (LZ Swift).
1711 hours
Alpha Company new AP1 closed A Co location (LZ Cider).
1731 hours
Charlie Company AP4 said he has large movement. 300 meters west where they put CS earlier. Redleg is being employed.
1805 hours
Message sent to the companies follows.
Conduct local recon patrols. Deploy two platoon sized ambushes. Vicinity. Bravo Company YA 825857 and YA 805852. Charlie Company YA 815792 and YA 825784. Delta Company YA 829842 and YA 839852.
1810 hours
Charlie Company reports that they have movement to east-northeast. The movement is moving back north or south. One individual, could possibly be 3-4 people because of their movement earlier.
1911 hours
Status sent to Brigade
1930 hours
Charlie Company reports their AP4 is 100 meters outside the perimeter and hears two or three people heading north.
1931 hours
Charlie Company AP1 has closed C Co location.
2000 hours
Bravo Company & Delta Company sees three lights at YA 818839. Redleg is being employed.
2029 hours
Charlie Company listening post (LP) on east of his perimeter has spotted some NVA and opened up on them.
2030 hours
Charlie Company AP4 closed C Co location.
