April 12th, 1969 recap
The search for the last three MIA soldiers from Alpha Company is renewed in earnest. Patrols from Alpha Company, Charlie Company, Recon and the two LRRP teams, some accompanied by a team of Scout Dogs, searched for any signs of the missing men. The search focused on the river valley just south of the contact site, and the northern and southern approaches to that valley. Several large bunker complexes were discovered, along with some indicators of American equipment, but no bodies were found.
April 13th, 1969
The 3-12 Infantry remained in a series of blocking positions supplemented by short range and ambush patrol screens. No enemy contact was reported in the log. The area of contact of Alpha Company on 27 and 30 March was again searched by patrols of Alpha and Charlie companies assisted by Scout & Tracker dog teams. No additional bodies could be found.
Extraction of the 3-12 Infantry from this area of operations (AO) commenced with B-6/29 FA being airlifted from LZ Cider, Bravo Company from its patrol base on Million Dollar Hill and the Recon Platoon from the Charlie Company patrol base north of LZ Cider. All elements were lifted to Polei Kleng. Once consolidated at Polei Kleng, all three elements convoyed east to Highway 14 and then south to FSB Mary Lou to wait there for the arrival of the remainder of the Battalion. The 1-22 Infantry and Brigade LRRP teams were also extracted from the AO.
April 13th, 1969 Daily Journal entries
0430 hours
Area of Operations (AO) for Delta Company 1-10th Cavalry for 13 April 69 is YA 7078 east to YA 7978 north to YA 7985 west to YA 70705.
Delta Company platoon will be on 15 minute reactionary for the Air Cav today. The remainder of D Co will be on 30 minute reactionary.
0815 hours
Charlie Company patrol found approximately 200 M-16 expended rounds. 200-300 M-60 clips all rounds missing. 25 M-79 rounds.
0825 hours
3-12 Infantry still has loudspeaker team.
0830 hours
Loudspeaker team should be leaving today.
0840 hours
Bravo Company Patrol #2 and #3 starting point (SP) at this time.
0855 hours
Mission given 12 April as Delta Company for reaction force has been canceled. To be handled by another element.
Weather is clearing.
0900 hours
Charlie Company Patrol #6 SP
Recon Patrol #4 SP
0910 hours
Delta Company wants to dustoff man who had seizures last night.
0930 hours
All present locations to Brigade.
0940 hours
Charlie Company 1st Platoon found well used trails with steps cut in it running to blue line at YA 821810. Also three huts 5’x6′ one week or older. Three fighting positions 3’x5′ wide. No overhead cover. 1-1/2′ deep at YA 823811.
1000 hours
Permission granted for Delta Company to test fire.
1005 hours
Bravo Company Patrol #2 closed B Co location.
1008 hours
Bravo Company Patrol #3 closed B Co location.
1025 hours
Charlie Company 1st Platoon is moving to vicinity of contact area to run sweeps at this time.
1030 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon and Charlie Company 1st Platoon are departing each other and splitting up the dog teams.
1045 hours
Element from 1-22 Infantry passed Alpha Company platoon and is enroute to this location (LZ Cider).
1055 hours
Brigade needs landing zone (LZ) and pickup zone (PZ) call signs and locations where pick up and slick and hook requirements.
1110 hours
Charlie Company 1st Platoon and Alpha Company 1st Platoon will meet and sweep 700 meters to west on both sides of blue line.
1115 hours
Initial PZ for Redleg M-42 at 1113 hours.
Charlie Company Patrol #5 has closed C Co location
1122 hours
Second sortie for Redleg departed
1135 hours
Third sortie for Redleg departed
1143 hours
Fourth sortie for Redleg departed
1155 hours
Bravo Company was informed of the move to Polei Kleng with direct move by convoy from there to An Khe.
1158 hours
Fifth sortie for Redleg departed.
1205 hours
Order of move. Bravo Co. Delta Co. Charlie Co. then Alpha Co. and TOC if move on the 13th. If move tomorrow order will be Delta Co. Bravo Co. Charlie Co. and Alpha Co and TOC. Alpha and TOC have 34 slicks and 7 hooks. PZ 59B. LZ 59A.
Bravo Company have 23 slicks, PZ 92C and LZ 59A. Charlie Company have 28 slicks. PZ 43C and LZ 59A. Delta Company have 29 slicks and 2 hooks. PZ 44C and LZ 59A.
1210 hours
Sixth sortie for Redleg departed.
1225 hours
Delta Company Patrol #1 closed D Co location (LZ D-Handle).
1235 hours
Alpha Company 1st Platoon and Charlie Company 1st Platoon are coordinated running sweep on both sides of blue line with dog teams.
Delta Company Patrol #1 at YA 828855
Charlie Company Patrol #6 at day location (DL) YA 831811
Recon Patrol #4 at DL YA 826815
1245 hours
Charlie Company 1st Platoon and Alpha Company 1st Platoon have linked.
1250 hours
Bravo Company followed by TOC to depart their present locations today to Polei Kleng. Remainder of battalion to move to Mary Lou on 14th then to An Khe on 16th by convoy.
1300 hours
Seventh sortie Redleg departed.
1310 hours
Eight sortie for Redleg departed.
1315 hours
Ninth sortie for Redleg departed.
Recon Platoon to be extracted after Bravo Company is extracted. 4 sorties.
1320 hours
Tenth Redleg sortie departed.
1323 hours
Eleventh Redleg sortie departed.
1330 hours
Recon Patrol #4 closed Charlie Company location.
1340 hours
Twelfth sortie for Redleg departed.
1400 hours
Dogs with handlers and small security will go to Charlie Company location because dogs had fight and need medical care.
1430 hours
Charlie Company 1st Platoon have sightings of possible graves at YA 818808. Charlie Co 1st Platoon found two graves. One is 2’x5′ with no markings. Other is 4’x8′ with bamboo fence around it and a headpost with metal sheet containing writing. Graves approximately four to five days old.
1507 hours
Charlie Company 1st Platoon have one NVA body in a grave wrapped up in a hamlet at YA 818808.
1520 hours
LTC Larkin is airborne.
1532 hours
PZ for Bravo Company 1500 hours LZ time for Bravo Company 1515 hours. Five birds out, 18 remaining from YA 818839.
1535 hours
Six birds out of Bravo Company and 18 remaining.
1600
Bravo Company has 13 birds out and 12 remaining
1620 hours
Bravo Company has 19 birds out and six to go.
1630 hours
Bravo Company has 22 birds out and three remaining.
1641 hours
Final PZ for Bravo Company 1641 hours.
1700 hours
LTC Larkin returned to this location. (LZ Cider).
1715 hours
LRRPs completed airlift to Polei Kleng by hook [Chinook] at this time.
1745 hours
A PZ time for Recon from YA 833814 is 1746 hours.
1752 hours
Final PZ time for Recon from YA 833814.
1830 hours
A Final LZ for Recon at Mary Lou. 1830 hours.
1845 hours
Plans summary for 14 April is from present position final extraction to Mary Lou in following order. Charlie Company (concurrently hook sorties of 3-12 Inf TOC). 4.2″ Mortar Platoon, Delta Company, Alpha Company. Night locations sent to Brigade.
1900 hours
Status sent to Brigade
2005 hours
Convoy departed Polei Kleng. 1740 hours. Arrive Mary Lou 1915 hours. Final LZ time for B Co is 1700 hours.
2139 hours
Alpha Company ambush patrol (AP) 1 reports movement to his south.
2200 hours
Negative situation report all elements.