HEADQUARTERS

1^st Battalion, 4^th Marines (rein)

3^rd Marine Division (rein)

c/o  FPO San Francisco 96601

25 June 1965

Chu Lai, Viet Nam

From:         Commanding Officer

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

Subj:          After Action Report Company C Patrol 24 June 1965

Ref:     (a)            Map: Viet Nam 1:50,000 AMS L701 Sheet 6757 III

(b)                      3^rd MarDiv OpO 321-65

Encl:    (1)            Sketch Map

1.         Units Involved and Strengths.

A.                Co C (-) (rein), 1^st Bn, 4^th Mar (rein)

B.                Popular Forces Squad

C.                Recon Team

2.         Time.

A.                241108H

3.         Place.

A.                Vicinity GC 460061.

4.            Casualties.

A.                Friendly

1.                  2 USMC WIA

2.                  1 VN (civilian)

a.                   Small boy wounded by M-79 fragments in right shoulder and face.

b.                  Co C applied first aid, VN then treated at ‘B’ Med and returned to Ly Tin dispensary.  Patents notified.

3.                  Enemy

a.            None confirmed.

5.         Narrative of Action.

A.                Combat patrol came under enemy small arms and mortar fire.

6.         Narrative.  Patrol left Co C, CP 532087 at 240645H, made a motor march to GC 453087, arriving at 240730H.  Commenced foot patrol.  Apprehended 3 VN (civilian) in village GC 454087 at approximately 240808H for lack of valid ID cards.  Subsequently delivered to Ly Tin District Headquarters for disposition.  At 240830H received 2 rounds sniper fire (carbine) from vicinity GC 438076.  Investigated area and discovered a small hole/tunnel complex same coordinates.  Numerous new punji stakes I area.  Patrol continued moving southwest, skirting Hill 69, GC 468069.  At 241100H received small arms fire from village complex, GC 457053.  Moved across stream on bridge GC 468061, advancing towards area from which firing came.  Received 1-60mm mortar rounds to right of trail GC 459060.  Estimated firing point to be Hill 51, GC 447064 (Note: Co H, 3/12 located at ¼ OP #1 on Hill 69, GC 468069 saw puff of smoke on this position just prior to above).  At this time a small VN boy (civilian) started running from drainage ditch to left of trail., GS 4606, was fired upon by patrol.  Wounded by M-79 fragments.  Moved rapidly into heavy paddy area, GC 438058.  Receiving heavy small arms and automatic fire from various area to front and left flank.  Muzzle flashes in tree line, GC 450097.  Artillery and 81mm mortar fire called on Hill 51, GC 447064, three line and village complex, GC 458037.  Heavy fire resulted in 2 friendly WIA.  2 VN (civilians) came from village, GC 458957, following artillery fire, neither with ID cards.  Delivered to Ly Tin District Headquarters.  Estimated 10-20 VC firing.  Time element and additional mission dictated withdrawal.  Reached Route #1, GC 471078 at 241445H.  Made motor march back to defensive positions, arriving 241730H.

7.         Lessons Learned.

A.                New areas, even with aerial recon, requires relative short patrol routes to permit sufficient flexibility required for through patrolling.

G. T. Beauchamp

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