After Action Reports of 1st Battalion 4th Marines
The 1st Battalion 4th Marines came in-country, Republic of South Viet Nam, during May 1965 but did not participate in any significant action until June 1965. They were deployed at the forward Marine Base of Chu Lai, Republic of South Viet Nam and this is their story.
Bravo Company – Rein Capt. R. B. Alexander
Charlie Company – Rein Capt. L. A. Crouch
Delta Company – Rein Capt. R. N. Sweeney
Lt. J. C. Peterson 1-4 June
1st Plt, Bravo Co. 3rd Recon Lt. J. R. Gardner
1st Plt, Charlie Co. 3rd Tank Bn Lt. M. R. Massie
1st Plt, Delta Co. 3rd AT Bn Lt. A. G. Anderson
June 1
Change of command, Lt/Col Perrich replaced Lt/Col Fredericks. Aggressive patrolling continued. One overnight company size operation conducted. No enemy contact. Fast Reaction force drill. Casualties not reported, 1 WIA
Aggressive patrolling continued. Tank road patrol. Company C helo lifted to Hill 410 (GC 479999). Engineers working on future road to Hill 213 (GC 532004) with Ontos for security. Ontos also accompanied Regimental patrol to Quang Ngai and returned. No enemy contact.
Continued local and combat patrolling. Ontos conducted road recon. No enemy contact.
Company C (Rein) size operation. Company lifted from Hill 410 (GC 479999) to Tri Binh (GC 525982). Remained in defensive perimeter for night. 81mm Mortar Plt displaced 3 sections from Hill vicinity 509999 to Bn CP. One plt (+), Howtars placed in direct support. Platoon position relocated at Bn CP. Engineers continued construction of road to base of Hill 213 (532003). Ontos as security. Patrolling continued. No enemy contact.
Company C, platoon of Company D, and Recon Plt moved into blocking position at Tri Binh. Search and clear of Tri Binh village (GC555985) commenced at first light. Platoon Company B, PATS, Police Chief, CIT, Civil Affairs Officer conducted search and clear, 783 civilians, 14 sent to collection point as VCS. Two companies concentrated effort on improvement of defense positions. Two night ambushes (GC 511979 and 533997). Company C conducted overnight operation in valley in the vicinity of Tri Binh.
Company C in search operation vicinity (GC 520982). Helo lifted to Bn CP upon completion. Aggressive morning patrolling. Provided blocking force for Co. E, 2/4 sweep. Company B lifted to Hill 410 (GC 479999) cancelled, Company B CP located at 522021. Company B established three night ambushes (GC 549013, 517021 519020). Company D set ambush at GC 534995. No enemy contact.
Casualties not reported
On 8 June the battalion received a verbal warning order of
a pending shift of the battalion to the North and Northwest portion of the
Regimental TAOR. Regimental Frag
Order #7 changed the battalion’s TAOR and the operational concept.
FEBA positions would be constructed with an OPLR established.
Aggressive patrolling would continue but command emphasis would be
exercised on preparation of defensive words.
The Battalion issued Operation Order 203-65 which amplified the
Battalion’s mission at the new location.
In addition to establishing outposts and a FEBA, a Route 1 checkpoint
will be manned (GC498066), surveillance of seaward approaches will be conducted,
and liaison will be provided to Ly Tin District Headquarters.
Because of the terrain and length of the Battalion’s FEBA, the idea of
fixed outposts was changed to one of mobile fluid outposts.
On 23 June the Battalion’s TAOR was extended.
The Battalion received a verbal order to patrol to the outer limits of
the TAOR daily in company (or equivalent) size.
June 8
Bn received word of relocation of Bn. Started preparing for displacement. One Company D ambush (GC 543987) and three Company B ambushes (same vicinity as night before) established. No enemy contact. Two men, woman and child turned into Regimental collection point by Company B for being too close to our lines.
June 9
Prepared for displacement. Med Cap in Tri Binh. Advance Comm echelon displaced to future CP site at GC 526092. Platoon, Company B provided security. No patrolling. Several ambushes established (same as night before). No enemy contact.
June 10
Bn CP displacement from GC 538022 to 525092. Company A displaced from hill masses (GC 493999, 507997, 511992) to old CP location (GC 538022). Company B (-) displaced to FEBA location vicinity of Bn CP at GC 525092. Company C displaced. One platoon outposted at GC 468068 (Hill 69) sqd size and GC 499067 (Bridge) Plt (-). Company C (-) on FEBA from GC 530085 to 530071. Company D displaced to FEBA (GC 523074 to 511056). Emphasis on immediate defense.
June 11
Bn (-) adjusted along FEBA and continued immediate defense. Company A remained at the old CP location (GC 538022) to protect the trail. Med Cap conducted at An Tay (GC 518090). Bn CP shifted and split into tactical CP and logistics area.
June 12
Defensive positions continued to be improved. Company A(-) helo lifted to new positions vicinity GC 526100 to 520115. One platoon, Company A trucked to new locations.
June 13
Swim/shower party, Company D had grenade accident at the BSA. 2 - dead , 1 - critical, 1- serious, 1 - compound fracture, 17 - good to excellent, Total injured 22
June 14
Two Company (A and B) sweep with PATS, air, and artillery support. Ky Xuan Island (487100) sweep from south to north. 650 civilians, mostly women and children, processed. 16 VCS sent to regiment. Blocking position in conjunction with the island sweep was established vicinity GC 483076. Junk patrol failed to show for blocking force. Later recon showed that Junk Fleet could not patrol north and west of island because of insufficient depth of water.
June 15
Continued to improve positions. One night squad size patrol out from Company A and one from Company D. Security provided for ARVN survey team from Ly Tin. ARVN pulled all crew served weapons off Hill 69 late in the afternoon.
June 16
Planned joint sweep with 2/4 cancelled. Companies A, B, C, D had several daylight patrols conducting reconnaissance for future ambush sites. Company D had one night security patrol. 81mm mortar section displaced to Hill 69 (GC 469069) to provide support for (rein) squad, Company C. Showers opened for Bn vicinity GC 532085.
June 17
Mess hall started serving ‘B’ rations. No patrolling conducted. TD-18 cutting road between platoon positions at Company A position had near incident with locals. Knocked down trees along road. TD-18 secured from work. Recon platoon displaced from position (532085) to Bn CP.
June 18
Seven local patrols conducted with no contact. Meeting held with village chief, 1 Hamlet chief, and PF Plat cmdr. Recon improved on new positions.
June 19
Conducted six local patrols. Apprehended one man on a bike who had an ID card with no picture. He had weapon. Recon team joined with Popular Force Plt on night ambush. No contact. MCB representative at Bn CP for recon in conjunction with the establishment of a deep well site. Regiment directed the Bn to recall our unit on Hill 69 because of lack of sufficient ARVN reinforcement after the ARVN’s unannounced withdraw. Outpost pulled in.
June 20
Holiday routine for 50% of command. Church services on schedule. Construction started on deep well site. Conducted seven patrols. Negative contact. Recon team/PF Plt established ambush. No contact. Co. M relieved two squads of Co. C of airstrip security. Because of reports from Ly Tin District Headquarters and their withdrawal to 2/4 CP. The Bn was placed in 100% alert status. A reinforcing force was assembled in case the bridge outpost should be attacked. Fire team outpost Co. A received sniper fire. One Marine WIA.
June 21
Bn placed on 50% alert at 0100. Reaction force was secured at first light. Conducted eight patrols with no contact. Scout team/PF ambush established with no contact. Recon squad/SDC ambush had no enemy contact.
June 22
Conducted seven squad size patrols. A Company D patrol at 0030 received two sniper rounds. One slight Marine WIA. No contact made. Company D at 0810 received four sniper rounds and pursued 5 VCS but lost visual contact. Company C remanned Hill 69 (CG 467068) with platoon (rein). Recon team and Scout team, both with interpreters, accompanied two separate ambushes established by SDC and PF. No contact. Ontos made route recon.
June 23
Conducted 7 squad size patrols with no contact. Recon Plt conducted a beach surveillance of Ky Xuan Island. Accidental discharge resulted in Company A casualty. Received extension of TAOR. Company B Team/PF ambush met no enemy contact. Scout/SDC ambush met no enemy contact.
June 24
The Assistant Commandant of the Thailand Marine Corps visited the Bn CP at 0900H. Conducted 9 squad size patrols with no contact. Company C (-)(rein) conducted a combat patrol into the extended TAOR. Much enemy sniping resulted in three friendly WIA. Fire missions conducted in support of combat patrol. Company B team/PF and Scout team/SDC ambushes had negative contact.
June 25
Company A (-)(rein) departed at 250700H for two day extended patrol of Ky Xuan Island with no contact on 25 June. Conducted 5 squad size patrols with no contact. Recon platoon conducted reconnaissance of island GC 525145 with rubber boats. Island uninhabited. One self-inflicted casualty in Company C.
June 26
Company B (rein) and Company A (-) with support of Air and Arty seized Hill 22 (GC 425091) and supported Popular Force sweep of village 300 meters NE. There was sporadic sniper fire but hill and village not defended by VC. The village and trails had many bunkers, tunnels and foxholes. No friendly WIA or enemy dead or wounded. Company A (-)(rein) returned from island. Had no contact.
June 27
Continued to patrol with 6 squad patrols out with no contact. Continued to improve defensive positions. Company D patrol picked up 2 Vietnamese without ID.
June 28
Conducted one day sweep and clear of area surrounding GC 449053. Company C (-) (rein), 1st Plt (-), B Recon helo lifted into area. Because of sniper fire, 1st Plt, Company B was also dispatched to area in support of Company C. There was 15 minute artillery prep fire in area prior to initial landing, also air strikes and armed Hueys directed fire on selected targets. Results of operations were 2 VC killed, suspected VC wounded and 22 VCS turned into Regiment. Caves and tunnel complexes at GC 450050 were destroyed. There was one Marine WIA. Four patrols were conducted. Company D patrols found six Vietnamese inside Purchased Land area and turned them into Regiment.
June 29
The Bn was on a 50% holiday routine. Company A assumed the duties as Regimental Reserve at 290500H. Five patrols conducted with no contact.
June 30
2nd Plt (rein), Company B with AmTrac Plt (-) and supported by PF Plt conducted sweep of Northern tip of Island (GC 489100) and then patrolled South. Three VCS apprehended on the island were turned over to Regiment. Three night ambushes established on the island had no enemy contact. PF ambush at GC 516096, apprehended three VC trying to leave the island. Company A relieved of duties as Regimental Reserve at 1200H. Four patrols were conducted with negative results. The Bn XO, Major Coulter rotated and Major Romano assumed the billet. AmTracs conducted a recon of waters to the N and W of the island with the farthest point of penetration GC 415135. No enemy contact.