Communications

Personnel/Administration/Civil Affairs

A. Summary. The command spent the entire month of September within the Chu Lai enclave. No major tattical operations were conducted which directly involved the Personnel Section. The CP was not displaced during the period; except for casualtiy reporting and limited Civil Affairs work, the Section concerned itself with strictly administrative matters.

B. Significant Events

1. Effective 1 September, all members received a substantial increase in base pay as a result of a recently approved Pay Bill. In addition to the raise in base pay, the Specail Pay for Duty involving Hostile Fire (SPDHF) was increased from $55 per month to $65 per month, for all hands.

2. A ‘free mail’ privilege was established, applicable to all members of the command. This allows all persons to dispatch letter-type mail to any state, possession, territory, APO or FPO address, without charge; it became available 1 September.

3. Conversion of all U.S. currency and coin to Military Payment certificates began on 1 September, and was completed by 30 September. Possession of ‘greenbacks’ is unauthorized to members of the Armes Forces in Viet Nam, following this date.

4. The following awards were recommended for members of this command:

a. Bronze Star – 1

b. Purple Heart – 11

C. Problem Areas/New Developments

1. This unit was initially to implement the Address-o-graph system into its personnel administration on 1 June of this year. Due to shortages (and non-availability) of certain essential equipment, the system was postponed until 1 August. Again, due to shortages, it was further postponed to 1 October. None of the supplies necessary have been received. The system has not as yet been implemented.

2. Stock levels of all administratie supplies are low. Unless such supplies are received in the near furture, efficiency and completeness of all administrative work will be markedly reduced.

3. The time delay necessary for equipment repair is excessive, and seriously affects the unit’s efficiency. Typewriter repair is almost non-existent; the number of usable typewriters has been reduced almost 20 percent. Those remaining often function improperly.

4. Personnel shortages continue to be a problem. The shortage in administratively-trained personnel is becoming more and more apparent, and will continue as such trained men rotate, and are not ‘replaced-in’king’.

5. The change in mission, and subsequent change in operations of the command, has resulted in a shifting f of certain responsibilities. The aspect of Civil Affairs/Civic Action had previously been an S-1 responsibility. This is now assumed by the Operations cesction; the Civil Affairs Officer, formerly of the S-1 section, is now under the cognizance of the Battalion S-3.

6. A Hardship and Dependency Discharge Board has been extablished, at Battalion level, to consider all cases requesting such discharges, and to submit recommendations concerning each to the Commanding Officer.

7. Previously, all Company Admin Sections had been located within the Battalion CP, though still on Company level administration. During September, the Admin sections of Company ‘A’ and Company ‘B’ have rejoined their units in the field. Admin sections of Companies ‘C’ and ‘D’ remain within the Battalion CP, since their respective units have recently displaced to outlying islands, in accordance with Operation Order 222-65.

8. A recommendation has been submitted to Division for establishing the administrative level at Battalion vice company. It is felt this would result in a grater economy of personnel, supplies and equipment.

D. Personnel

1. Monthly Strength (average)

a. USMC-Officers – 35 Enlisted – 941

b. USN-Officers –3 Enlisted – 53

2. Battle and Non-Battle casualties

a. Battle – 5

b. Non-Battle – 14

3. Rotation during month – 24

4. Replacements received – 62

5. Personnel Daily Summary – (attached)

6. Periodic Personnel Reports – (attached)

E. Discipline, Courts-Martial, Office Hours

1. Discipline within the command is good, and evidenced by the following statistics for the period:

a. Courts-Martial Pending

1. Summary – 1

2. Special – None

b. Completed

1. Summary – 2

2. Special – 4

c. Non Judicial Punishment

1. Battalion Commander – 8

2. Company Commander – 8

2. Punishments administered are felt to be fair, just, and appropriate throughout the command. Many such punishments have been partially suspended; none have been vacated.

3. There was one Article 32 investigation conducted during the period, involving assault. The case has been forwarded, recommending General Court-Martial.

F. Morale, PX, Postal Affairs, Liberty, R&R

1. The overall morale for this Battalion is very high. Events have occurred during the month which have swayed this ‘level’ of morale from good to excellent, where it is now. Morale is taken to include two aspects, and those have been affected as follows:

a. The attitude of closing with and destroying the enemy remains most evident. During this month the Battalion’s mission has been altered to preclude the major operations it was involved with before. The mission has switched from ‘seek and destroy’ to ‘pacify and control’; the men have reacted accordingly, and most satiffactorily. In this sense, morale, while it has shifted its basis, has remained very high.

b. A unit’ marale is also the result of the comfort available to that unit. In this sense, the Battalion’s morale is very high. There has been a marked increase in the availablility of personnel services; though it may only be temporary, it has had noted effect on the morale of the command. Such services are:

1. Post Exchange. For over two weeks of the period, PS supplies were almost non-existent. Necessities such as soap, toothbrushed were unavailable. Recently, supplies have become more available though not completely adequate; it is hoped that the trand will continue.

2. Postal Facilities. Unavailable toward the end of the period, due to a shortage of qualified personnel. Such a service is especially necessary followig thescheduled pay days.

3. Mail. Arriving on a more regular schedule as the month ended. This one aspect greatly affects a unit’s morale and should be made available if at all possible.

4. Liberty. None authorized for this command.

5. R&R. The program is very acceptable, and desired by all hands. The decrease of quotas during September was a disappointment; however, the quotas received for October show an increase. Here again, it is hoped the trend will continue.

G. Chaplain Support, Services, and Scheduels

1. Chaplain Activities and totals

a. Sunday Divine Services (Protestant)

1. Total number – 17

2. Total attendance – 502

3. Total communed – 60

4. Units covered:

a. 5 September

1. 1/4 CP – 64/60c

2. 2/4 CP – 27

3. ‘D’ 3^rd – 20

4. ‘A’ Co. – 13

5. ‘C’ CP – 27

b. 12 September

1. 1/4 CP – 35

2. 2/4 CP – 40

3. ‘A’ Co – 17

c. 19 September

1. 1/4 CP – 55

2. 2/4 CP – 21

3. ‘A’ Co – 16

4. ‘C’ CP –16

c. 26 September

1. 1/4 CP – 50

2. 2/4 CP – 45

3. ‘D’ 1^st – 10

4. ‘A’ Co – 20

5. ‘C’ CP – 26

b. Weekday Divine Services (Protestant)

1. Total number – 17

2. Total attendance – 325

3. Total communed – 38

4. Units covered:

a. 1 September

1. B Co. – 50 (Memorial Service)

2. D 1^st – 14/10c

b. 3 September

1. F 2/4 – 9/9c

2. C Bridge – 9/9c

c. 6 September

1. G 2/4 – 17

2. H 2/4 – 23

3. A Hill 69 – 13

d. 8 September

1. E 2/4 – 14

e. 9 September

1. D 1^st – 25 (Memorial Service)

2. 4^th Reg CP – 55 (Memorial Service)

f. 13 September

1. D 3^rd – 13

2. C CP – 23

g. 14 September – G 2/4 -16

h. 16 September – A Hill 69 - 17

i. 20 September – G Co. - 7

j. 22 September – D 3^rd - 10

k. 29 September – E 2/4 – 10

c. Field visitation