19 July 1065

From:        Commanding Officer

To:             Commanding Officer, 4^th Marines (-)(rein)

Subj:          After Action Report #11; Company (rein) Combat Patrol 17-18 July 1965. (Operation FLUSH)

Ref:     (a)            Map: Viet Nam 1:50,000 Sheet 6757 III

(b)                       3^rd MarDiv OpO 521-65

Encl:    (1)           Operation Overlay 17 July

            (2)            Operation Overlay 18 July

1.         Units Involved and Strengths.

A.                Company D (rein), 1^st Bn, 4^th Marines (rein)

(1)               1 Section (rein) 81mm mortar platoon.

(2)               Arty FO Team.

(3)               FAC Team.

(4)               S-2 Interpreter and Scouts.

(5)               One squad, 1^st Plat, B Engineers

B.                8 LVT’s from 1^st Plat, B AmTracs, in direct support.

C.                1^st Plat, B AT Co, in direct support.

2.         Time.

A.                Departed: 170715H.

B.                Returned: 181845H.

3.         Place.  Vicinity BT 4307, 4308, 4208, 4108.

4.         Casualties.

A.                Friendly.  Three (3) USMC WIA and twenty-two (22) heat casualties.

B.                Enemy.  None confirmed.

5.         Nature of Action.  Company sized combat patrol.

6.                  Narrative.  Commencing 0715H, Company D (rein) moved by LVT’s from splash point at (BT 515115) to (BT 476082), crossed beach at 170800H and moved inland to (BT 473077) to link up with 1^st Plat, Company B, 3^rd AT Bn at 170815H, for tactical motor march to dismount point (BT 440089).  Enroute to first objective at (BT 426089), one man tripped a booby trap on small hill (BT 433088) and was seriously injured.  Man nearby received minor shrapnel wounds.  Booby trap was Mark-7 hand grenade attached to trip wire.

At 1050H, Company continued up and over objective at (BT 426089) suffering several heat casualties.  One sniper round was received from (BT 424085).  At 1600H, Company occupied objective at (BT 435078) with two platoons and position at (BT 440083) with one platoon and commenced preparation of defensive positions for the night.  Section of 81mm mortars at (BT 440083) was registered and Ontos laid in with spotting rifles.  At 2015H, One platoon moved to occupy knoll at (BT 433080).  During hours of darkness ambush was set at (BT 432081) and patrols were conducted to (BT 437075), (BT 443077), and (BT 436085).  No enemy contact.

At 180445H, Platoons joined at saddle (BT 434079) and moved out in a westerly direction towards next objective (BT 417084).  At 0730H, Small arms fire was received vicinity (BT 422082), resulting one (1) WIA.  At 0855H, More sniper fire was received from (BT 416082).  No casualties.

From hill at (BT 417084) one platoon was maneuvered into position as block vicinity (BT 423093) and one platoon conducted sweep at 1150H from hill to block.  No enemy contact.

During the morning several well constructed foxholes and fighting positions were found on high ground at (BT 427082), hill at (BT 418084), and area vicinity.

Company continued to 81mm mortar position at (BT 440083), where one platoon and section of 81’s were heli-lifted at 1430H back to MLR positions.  Two platoons continued to pick up by LVT’s at (BT 440089) and moved in Ontos-LVT convoy to (BT 475082).  One LVT threw a track and another got stuck at (BT 475085), delaying return of remainder of Company to defensive positions.

7.          Lessons Learned.

A.                The numbers of heat casualties suffered on 17 July demonstrate clearly that activity must be limited during the hottest part of the day, (1100-1400).

B.                Enemy is employing booby traps in this area, which are difficult to detect.  Movement through areas previously traversed must be done with extreme awareness and alertness for all types of booby traps.

This page last corrected 19 September 2011