April 10th, 1969 recap
The battalion remained in mutually supporting blocking positions along the Cu Kotah and Cu Don mountain range. Alpha, Charlie, HHC, B/6-29 FA near LZ Cider, and Bravo & Delta and the 4.2″ Mortar Platoon on our near LZ D-Handle. The 1-22 Infantry, inserted into the AO on April 2nd, occupied positions to the west of LZ Cider and south of LZ D-Handle.
Two LRRP teams inserted into the AO several days prior are finally able to approach the Alpha Company contact site of March 27 and 30. The remains of three American soldiers from A Co, missing in action for over 10 days were located. A five man patrol from Alpha Company linked up with the LRRP team, but approaching darkness stymied recovery efforts on the 10th.
April 11th, 1969 Daily Journal entries
The recovery efforts of the missing Alpha Company soldiers from March 27th and 30th began in earnest the morning of the 11th. Additional Alpha Company soldiers moved in to assist in transporting the bodies from the contact site up several hundred meters of elevation to the Charlie Company patrol base. During the day, the Alpha Company element and LRRP teams were able to locate a total of 11 of the 14 missing Alpha Company men. All were killed in action during the contact in late March. Three men, SGT Gail Kerns, SGT Raymond Czerwiec and SP4 Clarence Latimer cannot be located. The two LRRP teams, instrumental in locating the missing Alpha Company men, took up security positions on either side of the small stream near the contact site. The Alpha company element is returned to LZ Cider for the night. Plans are drawn out to continue the search on April 12th.
Bravo & Delta Companies, located northwest of LZ Cider, both reported possible enemy contact late in the evening. Mortars and artillery are employed on the suspected NVA positions, with no significant findings or casualties noted in the log.
0043 hours
Alpha Company reported their 2nd Platoon has movement to their west and are employing frags.
0750 hours
Alpha Company patrol has departed night location as YA 827815. They have reached the first body and they’re bringing him back at this time.
0815 hours
Bravo Company Patrol #2 has departed B Co location enroute to area of SRP22 contact of last night.
0817 hours
Charlie Company is going to secure finger from their location to YA 829816. Alpha Company will bring bodies up to that point.
0820 hours
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) 1-4-I has linked up with LRRP 1-4-M and they are establishing security at the blue line.
0904 hours
Air Cav area of operations (AO) will not be same as yesterday. They will be working in 1-8 Infantry old AO.
0920 hours
Lt. Wiley requested that we bring Charlie Company 4th Platoon from Alpha Company 1-22 Infantry location back to C Co 3-12 location.
0925 hours
Brigade informed us that C Co 4th Platoon would not move today.
0926 hours
Present locations of all elements were sent to Brigade.
0945 hours
Bravo Company patrol found negative findings. Did bring back ruck sacks.
1020 hours
Colonel Knight arrived this location.
1100 hours
1-4-M and 1-4-I are co-located to clear landing zone to extract bodies.
1110 hours
Colonel Knight departed this location.
1125 hours
Air Cav (Dizzy 64) has checked in Command A. Cav will be supporting us in the extraction of the bodies.
1200 hours
511 and 531 have come together. 512 is 300 meters away. 511 will SP shortly.
1255 hours
One body at LZ at Charlie Company location. Other bodies are being bagged. LRRPs are still cutting LZ with Air Cav giving support.
1325 hours
LTC Larkin is airborne at this time.
1340 hours
LTC Larkin has returned to this location (LZ Cider).
1341 hours
Alpha Company reports they have a total of three recovered KIA-MIA bodies at C Co location.
1345 hours
Alpha Company has recovered two more bodies for a total of five.
1400 hours
Alpha Company reports finding one more body in contact area. This brings bodies found up to 10.
1500 hours
One more body found at location making total of 11.
1621 hours
Charlie Company 4th Platoon pickup zone (PZ) time 1621 hours
1624 hours
Charlie Company 4th Platoon LZ time 1624 hours
1640 hours
Charlie Company 4th Platoon Final PZ time 1640 hours, Final LZ time 1645 hours
1700 hours
Alpha Company 511 and 531 closed on C Co location.
Alpha Company bodies recovered from contact area vicinity YA 826811. Search element from A Co and two LRRP teams searched over 360 degrees for radius of 250 meters. No further bodies recovered. LRRP team remained in place vicinity YA 826811. A Co elements being extracted to A Co location at this location (LZ Cider). Search will continue tomorrow.
1719 hours
PZ time for Alpha Company Patrol #1 and A Co 3rd Platoon 1st Squad is 1640 hours. Final LZ time 1720 hours.
1736 hours
Status sent to Brigade
1745 hours
Data on body recovery. All bodies had fatigues still on and boots. Bodies were void of rings and watches. No weapons were round in area.
Items found in area.
1 – AK clip
10 – GI frags and 5 NVA frags
20 – GI steel pots
15 – Dud 60mm mortar rounds
4 – NVA pistol belts with holes in them
12 – NVA canteens with holes
5 – Bandoliers on bodies (covered with blood) all other ammo taken
Negative ID on bodies
1. Bracelet with word Jim
2. Letters next to body
1830 hours
Night locations sent to Brigade. Plan Summary is the same as yesterday.
2000 hours
Negative situation report all elements.
2030 hours
Bravo Company SRP21 has movement to his south-southwest about 50 meters. Estimate three individuals employing small organics.
2047 hours
Delta Company SRP43 has movement to his southeast about 100 meters. Estimate one individual dropping a weapon. Organics being employed. Also D Co perimeter spotted one NVA on east side of the perimeter. Will employ a frag.
2051 hours
SRP43 of Delta Company has negative situation.
2055 hours
Delta Company said after they employed a hand grenade and saw nothing through the Starlight scope. So he employed a second frag which set off a trip flare and they saw two NVA running away. They employed M-79 immediately and they are bringing up organics. Fled southeast and 15-20 meters from the wire.
2105 hours
SRP21 reported he believes they were three individuals. Two fled east and one is believed to be laying down observing about 50 meters away. SRP21 is observing and employing organics.
2120 hours
Delta Company reports negative situation