SITREP-69.
SITREP is a military acronym that stands for, Situation
report. A sitrep can be defined as; A short concise statement identifying a units
current location and tactical situation. The sitrep’s contained in this
paper are derived from S/2-S/3 daily staff journals for the 4/3 11th LIB, Americal Div. 1969. Sitrep’s highlight the activities of Alpha, Bravo, Charlie
and Delta companies as well as, Recon, Aero scouts, HHC and C&C. Read on and you will find crisis, conundrum and comedy.
If 1968 was the year of the Booby trap, the Battalion hit more than 70, then 1969
is the year of the mortar attack. One mortar attack produced 11 dead and 11 wounded. On another occasion two mortar attacks
in a 4 hour period produced 36 casualties.
JANUARY
01 Jan. 69 1805H
Co.
B reports Osness, Victor put his M-16 in his mouth and pulled the trigger resulting in his death.
02 Jan. 69
1200H
Co. C request DUSTOFF at BS847308 for 1 US WHA result of blowback
from a M-79 round.
Pfc.
Lynn L Glen.
02 Jan. 69
1910H
Co. D request DUSTOFF at BS817401 for 1 US w/gunshot wound.
Michael
Koyak.
02 Jan. 69
2010H
Battalion
strength report: Co. A-101, Co. B-110, Co. C-99, Co. D-96, Co. E-67, profiles-3.
07 Jan. 69
1115H
Co. A 2nd platoon had 1 US bitten by dog.
Sp4.
Michael Hill.
07 Jan 69
1530H
Commo
person N. of LZ Thunder said children have 15- 81mm rounds.
08 Jan. 69
1120H
Co. C short range recon patrol,(SRRP), engaged 5 VC result 1 US KHA, 1 US WHA, 1 PRC-25 destroyed.
James
Wolter-KHA.
10 Jan. 69
1230H
Co. D request DUSTOFF at BS775380 for 1 US WHA by Booby trapped
M-26 grenade.
Carlos
Otero.
10 Jan. 69
1420H
Co. C reports 2 VC KIA result of short, sharp firefight.
10 Jan. 69
Summary
4/3
elements continue mission in the southern DUC PHO AO.
12 Jan. 69
1625H
4/3
relieved of responsibility of Southern DUC PHO AO by 1/20 Inf. 4/3 under the OPCON of TF Cooksey for operation Russell Beach.
13 Jan. 69
1100H
Co. A received AW fire result 1 US KHA.
Dennis
Minkus.
13 Jan. 69
2010H
Co. A request DUSTOFF for 1 US KHA.
Patrick
Demarco.
14 Jan. 69
1220H
Co. A request DUSTOFF at BS728819 for 3 US WHA by Booby trap.
Dog handler wounded seriously. 2 A Co. em wounded.
Walter Lane
Francis
Smyezynsiki
15 Jan. 69
0620H
Co. A reported 30-40 VC evading at BS727803.
15 Jan. 69
1045H
Recon platoon airlift to FSB South, BS727812. Same location as Co. A position.
15 Jan. 69
1440H
LOH ship went down between cordon and LZ Dottie. 1st platoon from Co. B is on stand-by.
15 Jan. 69
1515H
Co. D reports receiving 2 additional APC’s from H troop
of the 17th Cav. Attached persons now total 37.
15 Jan. 69
1945H
Co. A request DUSTOFF at BS728811 for 3 US WHA result of AW fire.
Willie
J. Allen
Ulysess
Norman
Steven
Galluzzo
16 Jan 69
Summary
4/3
continues OPCON TF Cooksey and operation Russell Beach.
18 Jan. 69
1700H
FSB South received mortar rounds resulting in 2 US WHA from Co. B 4/3, 5 US WHA from 5/46 Inf.
Neil
Kobi
Merle
Leckaby
18 Jan. 69
1840H
Co. D request DUSTOFF for 1 US burnt hands on flare.
Jerome
Kircher
18 Jan. 69
2005H
1
US wounded by frag from 5/46 Inf. Grenade.
Donald
Fenton, evac at daylight.
19 Jan. 69
1900H
Battalion
strength: Co. A-96, Co. B-97, Co. C-97, Co. D-97, Co. E-74
19 Jan. 69
Spot report
At
BS734815, Co. A found bunkers made of brick or concrete w/six feet of dirt on top.
20 Jan. 69
1035H
Co. D has 439 detainees.
20 Jan. 69
1155H
Co. D has 836 detainees.
21 Jan. 69
1410H
Co. D report eng. Hit Booby trap w/1US WHA, 3 US KHA.
Davis-WHA
Habecker-KHA
Holder-KHA
Moore-KHA
21 Jan. 69
1840H
Co. D hit Booby trap at BS748810
Leonard
Cline-KHA
Terry
Hardig-KHA
Wayne
Spencer-WHA
21 Jan. 69
1940H
Co. D engaged unknown size enemy element result in 1 US WHA.
Stephen
Karpinski.
21 Jan. 69
Summary
Result of days ops are 17 VC KIA, 4 US KHA, 4 US WHA.
22 Jan. 69
1705H
Co. D request DUSTOFF at BS748811. 5 US WHA, 1 US KHA result of two
Bouncing Betty’s, one failed to explode.
Charles
Sizemore-WHA
George
Carlough-KHA
Michael
McDonough-WHA
Other
indivs. From eng.
23 Jan. 69
0001H
FSB
South received 10-11 rounds of mortar fire resulting in 13 US WHA, 2 ARVN’s WHA.
Sp4.
Anthony Wieckowicz- Co. E
Sp4.
Daniel McGraw- Co. A
Sp4.
Walter Robinson- Co. E
Sp4.
Tomus M. Mihelich- Co. A
Sp4.
Bradford Hall- Co. A
Cpl.
Dennis Riley- Co. A
Pfc.
Joseph Gersch- Co. D
Remaining
people to be evacuated at daylight HHC persons:
Ferguison
Brettelle
Spargo
Cogswell
23 Jan. 69
1000H
Battalion
SITREP:
Companies A and B the same. Co. C SITREP Neg. Co. D w/APC’s 17th Cav. Recon BS745817
23 Jan. 69
Summary
Days results: 12 US WHA, 2 ARVN WHA, 1 US KHA, 2 US injured result non-hostile action, 6 VC KIA.
24 Jan. 69
1400H
Co. D received 5 assault boats.
Co. A in contact
throughout the day. Day ops produced 8 VC KIA, 32 VCS taken to CHIC.
25 Jan. 69
Summary
Results
of the days ops were 3 VC KIA, 6 VC CIA, 8 VCS, 1 Chieu Hoi and 1 French sub-machine gun.
26 Jan. 69
1110H
Co. D request DUSTOFF for 1 US w/frag wounds from blowback of
M-79.round. Recon
Pfc.
Ronnie Pugh
26 Jan. 69
1520H
Co. A went OPCON 5/46 Inf. At 1400H
27 Jan. 69
0215H
Co. D reports 1 US from recon with frag
wounds from grenede.
Averell
Clark-will evac in morning
28 Jan. 69
2320H
Co. A has 1 US with snake bite.
Gary
R. Lavoy
28 Jan. 69
Summary
Co. A remained OPCON 5/46
Co. C and D switched places with D going to FSB South.
29 Jan 69
0005H
Co. C reports receiving AW fire
29 Jan. 69
0010H
Co. C at BS758840 reports there position has received 15 mortar
rounds followed by 10-15 VC armed with satchel charges, RPG’s, AK-47’s and a crew served weapon, possibly 51.
cal. 1 APC was hit by RPG result 9 US WHA,1 US from eng., 1 em from Co. C, Christopher Olah. 6 VC KIA, 3 AK-47’s CIA
29 Jan. 69
1645H
Battalion
strength:
Co. A-109+ 14 SRRP attached
Co. B-102+22 w/APC’s attached
Co. C-115+6 people w/dogs and 28 people w/APC’s attached
Co. D-97
Co. E-75
29 Jan. 69
Summary
Results
of the days ops were 8 VC KIA, 27 VCS detained, CIA; 3 AK-47’s, 2 30 cal MG’s, 1-60mm tube, 5- M1- carbines, 1
BAR, 1 Rocket launcher w/rocket.
30 Jan. 69
1805H
Recon
request DUSTOFF at BS721818. Shrapnel in head and feet.
Manue
M. Moralas.
31 Jan. 69
0910H
Co. B reports 1 US WHA by SA fire to foot.
31 Jan 69
0950H
Co. B receiving AW fire at BS272807. Gunships and Tac air have
been called.
31 Jan. 69
0950H
Co. C at BS721820 receiving heavy AW fire. Gunships called.
31 Jan. 69
1100H
Companies
B and C in contact.
31 Jan. 69
1300H
Co. C request DUSTOFF for 5 US WHA by Booby trap.
James
Cooper
Michael
Findura
Donald
Michaels
Thomas
Hill
Wyrick-
new person
Also 1 Co.
B person name-Cady.
31 Jan. 69
1825H
Co. D 1 US shot self in foot. Evac by C&C
Branden
Mahoney
31 Jan. 69
2055H
3 more Co.
C wounded from 1300H incident.
William
Siersema
James
Benson
Carl
Brocato
31 Jan 69
Summary
Result
of the days ops:
1
NVA KIA
11
VC KIA
4
VCS detained
10 US WHA
1 US KHA
1
US wounded by non-hostile action.
FEBRUARY
01 Feb. 69
1750H
Strength
report:
Co. A-116
Co. B-103
Co. C-122
Co. D-100
Co. E-66
01 Feb. 69
Summary
results
of the days ops were:1 NVA w/weapon KIA, 3 VC KIA, 1 VC CIA, 25 VCS detained, Misc. grenades and medical supplies.
04 Feb. 69
1555H
Co. C request DUSTOFF for 2 US WHA by SA fire.
Robert
Marietta
Thomas
J. Gildow
04 Feb. 69
1945H
Received call fron LTC. Ambrose 198th s/3. We revert back to 4/3 control and move to LZ Buf 08 Feb. 69.
05 Feb. 69 1545H
Co. C reports all APC’s hooked out of mud.
06 Feb. 69
1310H
Co. D request DUSTOFF for 1 US wounded by own 45
cal. Pistol while searching tunnel. BS676844
Ronald
L. Maruska
06 Feb. 69
1310H
Co. C request DUSTOFF for 1 US who dropped claymore blasting
cap on foot.
Donald
L Payne
06 Feb. 69
1505H
Co. C 1st platoon hailed 1 Sampan w/2 persons. Co. C received and returned fire. Later determined
persons were ARVN.
07 Feb. 69
1630H
Battalion
strength report:
Co. A-112
Co. B-106
Co. C-118
Co. D-100
Co. E-76
Attached
APC persons are 57.
09 Feb. 69
0835H
Co A request DUSTOFF for 4 US WHA result of Booby trapped grenade FSB South.
Layman
Ditsen
Carl
Godsey
John
a. Wiedman
David
J. Evens
09 Feb. 69
1845H
Co. A request DUSTOFF at BS523822 for 1 US WHA by SA fire
Edwin
Braun
10 Feb. 69
Summary
4/3 continues ops in the Buf AO with A and D companies conducting sweep and search ops. Co. C as quick reaction force at CHIC. Co. B secures Buf.
11 Feb. 69
0910H
Co. A request DUSTOFF fr 1 US WHA by SA fire at BS500832.
Rufus
