HEADQUARTERS

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

3d Marine Division (rein)

c/o FPO San Francisco 96601

3:IM;mef

Chu Lai, Viet Nam

26 June 1965

From:        Commanding Officer

To:            Commanding Officer, 4^th Marines (rein) (Attn: S-3)

Subj:         Weekly Operations Summary (190800H to 260800H)

Ref:           (a)            Div(FWD) 0 3100.1

1.         Operations.

A.                General Summary of Week’s Activities.  On 19 June, 4^th Marines received -------- on Hill 69 (GC 468068) to withdraw.  ARVN unit – withdraw 11 crew served weapons from their position on Hill on 15 June.  Construction of deep well began on 20 June.  Hill 69 reoccupied with reinforced platoon on 22 June.  TAOR expansion received 23 June and Company C (-) (rein) conducted operation in vicinity GS 4506 on 24 June.  Sniper fire resulted in two Marine WIA.  On 25 June, Company A (-) (rein) commenced two day operation on Ky Xuan Island.  Company B (-) (rein) and Company D (-) (rein) commenced one day operation Hill 22 (GC 424091) at 260630H.  Patrolling/ambush activity increased during the week as Regiment shifted to increased emphasis on patrolling.  Command emphasis, however, continued to be placed on improvement of defensive works.  During the week (20022 June) three separate sniper fire incidents occurred inside the OPER Line with a Marine WIA on two occasions.  Joint ambushed conducted with SDC and PF platoons, throughout the week, resulted in no enemy contacts.

B.                Summary of Activities, Narrative.

1.                  Company A (rein).

a.            On 19 June, improvement of defensive works continued with two squad size patrols out.  One VN civilian was apprehended on bike.  He had a weapon with incomplete ID card (no picture).

b.            On 20 June, two squad sized patrols conducted with no contact.  Fire team  outpost received two sniper rounds at 2130H.  One Marine WIA and squad sent to replace fire team outpost.

c.            On 21 June, conducted two squad sized patrols with no contact.

d.            On 22 June, conducted three squad sized patrol with on contact.

e.            On 23 June, conducted two squad size patrols with no contact.  Accidental discharge of .45 cal. pistol resulted in Marine casualty.

f.              On 24 June, Conducted two patrols with no contact.

g.            On 25 June, conducted company (-) (rein) operation of Ky Xuan Island to continue until 261300H.  No enemy contact.

2.                  Company B (rein)

a.            On 19 June, emphasis continued to be placed on improvement of defensive works with two squad size patrols conducted.  Negative contact.

b.            From 20 thru 23 June three patrols conducted daily with no contact.

c.            On 24 June, two squad patrols conducted and on 25 June one squad patrol was conducted with no contact.

d.            On 26 June, joint operation with Company D commenced with Company B’s landing at approximately 0700H.

3.                  Company C (rein).

a.            On 19 June, continued to protect airfield and man bridge outpost (GC 497067).  Outpost on Hill 69 was secured at 1600H on Regiments command.

b.            On 20 June, Company M (Regimental Reserve) replaced two squad defensive positions.  One squad remained in defense of airfield.  Platoon reinforced placed on alert night of 20 June and moved to a position closer to bridge outpost because of threatened attack on bridge.  No contact.

c.            On 22 June, reinforced outpost Hill 69 with platoon reinforced.

d.            On 24 June, Company C (-) (rein) conducted combat patrol into extension TAOR.  Large amount of sniper activity resulted in two WIA.  Received one incoming 60 mm mortar round.  Operation supported by 81mm and artillery fire.

e.            On 25 June, self-inflicted .45 cal gunshot wound.  Accident occurred at GC 499067 approximately 1200H.

4.                  Company D (rein).

a.            On 19 June, conducted one squad size patrol with no contact.  Continued to emphasize improvement of defensive works.

b.            On 20 and 21 June conducted two and three squad patrols respectively with no contact.

c.            On 22 June, one patrol in route from 212330H received two sniper rounds approximately 0030H.  One Marine WIA.  Contact was not made.  One patrol departing at 0800H delayed when 4 rounds fired into 1^st Platoon area.  One squad sent in pursuit of 5 VCS.  Lost visual contact.  Several VCS sighted three different occasions but contact couldn’t not be made.  Company (-) sweep of village GC 525065 that afternoon.  Negative results

d.            On 23 and 24 June, two and three patrols were conducted respectively with no contact.

e.            On 25 June, conducted two daylight patrols, one scheduled patrol was canceled because of operation which commenced 260630H.

5.                  1^st Platoon, 3d Recon.

a.            Established joint ambushes with either SDC or PF platoon on nights of 19, 20, 21, 23, 25 June with no enemy contact.

b.            On 230400H platoon departed GC 525091 to conduct beach survey of Ky Xuan Island (GC 512093 to 482117).  Mission accomplished and platoon back at 231150H.  No enemy contact.

c.            On 25 June, Recon platoon (-) conducted a recon of the uninhabited island (GC 525146) with rubber boats.  TOD was 0745H, platoon was back at approximately 1500H.  No activity on island.

C.                Statistics.

1.                  Operations by Units.

a.            On 24 June, Company C (-) (rein) was trucked to a POD (453087) and conducted a combat patrol which crossed the POD at 0730H.  The patrol was sniped at along its route (GC 438076 and 457053), received one incoming 60mm mortar round at (GC 458060), and heavy small arms fire while at (GC 458058) from front and flanks.  Artillery missions were called in on points of resistance (GC 447064 and 458057).  Two Marines WIA from sniper fire.  One additional casualty caused by numerous bee stings resulting from disturbing of hornets nest.  The route (GC 442085, 4490x3, 453076, 451075, 463061, 475062, 477060, 494068) was altered because of approach of darkness and Company C skirted Hill 69 to return to Route #1 for truck pick-up.  Operation ended late in the afternoon with no VC WIA or KIA confirmed.

b.            On 25 June, Company A (-) (rein) departed at 0630H by AmTrac for two day operation on Ky Xuan Island (GC 489100).  Patrolling activity on 25 June, night ambush vicinity (GC 483090), and patrolling morning of 26 June met with no VC contact.  Defensive perimeter formed for night on northern tip of island.

c.            On 260630H, a two company (-) (rein) operation (Cos B and D) commenced with Company D’s landing GC 435087 at 0630.  Knoll (GC 453089) seized to provide support for Company B which landed at 0700.  The operation is of one day duration to destroy emplacements on Hill 22 (GC (425090).

d.            On 230810H as a patrol from Company D was departing, the 1^st Platoon received 4 sniper rounds into their area from vicinity GC 518065.  The patrol was delayed and one rifle squad was sent in pursuit of 5 VCS sighted moving away from where the sniper rounds came from.  Helicopters were requested.  When they arrived a squad was dispatched by air in the direction the squad in pursuit had taken.  This squad spotted neither VCS nor the rifle squad from the air and returned.  The 2d platoon from one OP on knoll GC 524074 sighted two VCS, one with rifle entering An Tay (2) GC 524077.  And a little later one VCS with rifle skirting An Tay (2) heading north.  He was lost in the tree line.  Three VCS were spotted moving SW towards deserted village Thanh Tra (2) GC 524063.  Squad returned with no contact.  Sweep of Thanh Tra (2) that afternoon netted two VCS.

2.                  Patrols by Size.

a.            19 June, 5 squad size patrols were conducted.  No enemy contact.

b.            20 June, 7 squad size patrols were conducted with no enemy contact.  Co A, had a fire team outpost at GC 534125.  At 202130H the outpost received 2 rounds of sniper fire.  One Marine was WIA (leg wound).  No contact was made.  One squad was sent out to relieve the fire team which came in with the WIA.

c.            21 June, 7 squad size patrols and one fire team patrol were conducted.  Company D conducted one squad size patrol, TOD: 212330H, TOR: 220400H, Route: POD/R: 518061, 525053, 520066-POR.  At 220030H the point received two sniper rounds.  One Marine WIA from bamboo splinters.  No contact made.

d.            22 June, 8 squad size patrols were conducted with no enemy contact.

e.            23 June, 7 squad size patrols were conducted with no enemy contact.

f.              24 June, 7 squad size patrols were conducted with no enemy contact.

g.            25 June, 3 squad size patrols were conducted with no enemy contact.

h.            26 June, Up until 0800 no patrols had been conducted.

3.                  Casualties.

a.            Friendly, 4 WIA, 1 dead (accidental discharge), 1 wounded (AD).

b.            Enemy, none.

4.                  Weapons captured, none

5.                  Weapons lost, none

2.         Training.

A.                General Statement of Training Accomplished.

1.                  All training was in the form of on the job training.

2.                  Orientation lectures given to new arrivals with all sections participating.

3.                  Test firing of automatic weapons conducted by Companies A and D.

B.                Training Problems Encountered.

1.                  Requirements for patrols, security and working parties make formal training of moderate size groups impossible.

2.                  Population density in own TAOR makes live firing difficult.