The Beginning Story
Of
Hill 484
At 051710 March, Charlie/1/4 commenced an assault on LZ Mack proceeded by an extensive fixed wing and artillery preparation. The assault elements were pinned down fifty meters from the objective by a stubborn enemy entrenched in a complex of mutually supporting bunkers. The enveloping platoon from Charlie/1/4 destroyed the bunkers and continued the assault through the objective. During the consolidation on the objective Charlie/1/4 had to rapidly redeploy to facilitate a CH-46 helicopter making an emergency landing. The helicopter was resupplying India/3/4 and received a hit from an 82mm mortar round while in an adjacent zone. The helicopter caught fire almost immediately upon lift off and diverted to LZ Mack, which was still under attack by Charlie/1/4. The helicopter was landed and all crew members evacuated from the flaming aircraft suffering only minor burns.
At 051735H March, the Alpha Command Group and Charlie/1/4 at LZ Mack received two enemy RPG round resulting in two casualties KIA. An NVA soldier walked into an observation post manned by Charlie/1/4 and was promptly fired upon and killed.
At 061235H March, a patrol from India/3/4 discovered a bunker complex containing twenty-two recently constructed bunkers and assorted equipment and ordinance. Almost simultaneously Alpha/1/4 observed two NVA running across a bomb crater and took them under 60mm and 81mm mortar fire with one confirmed KIA. Later this same evening the Alpha Command Group along with companies Alpha and Charlie/1/4 and Lima/3/4 came under mortar fire. At 061900 March, Mike/3/4 also came under command of the 1st Battalion 4th Marines.
On 7 March, Alpha, Bravo (minus one platoon) and Charlie Companies of 1st Battalion 4th Marines and India, Lima and Mike Companies of 3rd Battalion 4th Marines became operational under the command of the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines. The Alpha Command Group prepared to be helilifted to Vandegrift Combat Base (VCB) and was completed by 071600 March.
The following day Charlie/1/4 returned to VCB and became operational under the 1st Battalion 4th Marines from the command of 3rd Battalion 4th Marines.
Chronology
On 26 February 1969 at 1030H, Lima/3/4 made contact with NVA and Charlie/1/4 was alerted at the reactionary company force. At 1130H this date Alpha-3/1/4 was transferred from 1st Battalion 3rd Marines back to their parent unit 1st Battalion 4th Marines. At 1315H Bravo-1 was alerted as reactionary platoon to provide security for the 81mm mortar platoon in 3rd Battalion 4th Marines area of operations. At 1400H, Charlie/1/4 was released to 3rd Battalion 4th Marines per reference operational order dated 261520H. At 1526H Bravo-1 was detached to 3rd Battalion 4th Marines effective per reference operational order dated 261520H.
On 27 February 1969 at 1200H, Alpha/1/4 and Bravo-2/1/4 was detached to Task Force Hotel and Alpha/1/4 assumed the duties of reactionary company per reference order 271331H February 69.
On 3 March 1969 at 1000H, Alpha/1/4 was detached back to it’s parent unit 1st Battalion 4th Marines. At 1655H Alpha Command Group established its Command Post in vicinity of Hill 484 (Grid XD973615). At 1800H Alpha Command Group assumes command of Charlie/1/4 along with Lima and India Companies of 3rd Battalion 4th Marines.
On 5 March 1969 at 0553H the Alpha Command Group received fifteen incoming mortar rounds which impacted on perimeter. At 1215H, a patrol of India/3/4 also received incoming mortar rounds which resulted in several casualties. And again at 1430H receiving two more casualties. All incoming mortar rounds, sniper fire and enemy actions of this date were from vicinity of Hill 484.
At approximately 1710H, 5 March, Charlie/1/4 commenced the assault of Hill 484 after extensive fixed wing, which included napalm and High Explosive (HE) bombs, and artillery preparation. At approximately twenty meters from the Charlie/1/4 objective hell broke loose with a heavy volume of accurate fire from two enemy bunkers.
Base fire from Alpha Command Group and 2nd Platoon Charlie/1/4 enabled position to be destroyed by grenadier. Charlie then secured the objective but had to continue the attack to destroy a series of fortified positions.
A resupply helicopter for India/3/4 was hit at the Landing Zone (LZ) by incoming mortar fire and managed to become airborne, but the resulting mortar fire caused an emergency landing on Hill 484. After crash landing copter burned and resulted in five member crew being injured and later med-evaced out. Charlie/1/4 completed consolidation of the objective at 1755H, with one platoon of Lima/3/4 reinforcing them.
While reinforcing their position on Hill 484 Charlie/1/4 received two RPG rounds resulting in two casualties at approximately 1735H.