Operation/Training

A.        Mission.  During the period 1-30 November the 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines prepared for and conducted a movement from Dong Ha to Phu Bai, RVN.  Missions assigned were as follows;

            1-2 Nov            Preparation for and movement to Phu Bai.

            3-30 Nov         (1)       Relieve 2^nd Bn 4^th Marines, coordinate and control the Phu Bai Vital Area defense.

(2)               Conduct offensive operations within the TAOR

(3)               Maintain Sparrow Hawk on 5 minute alert.

(4)               Provide one rifle company as Rough Rider reserve.

(5)               Maintain COP’s within the TAOR and conduct extensive patrolling.

(6)               Assume operational control of the Combined Action Company.

10-12 Nov       Provide one rifle company (rein) to conduct search and destroy operations in grid squares YD 9795, YC 9897, YC 9896, YC 9895 and YC 9995.

B.        Summary of Operations/Activities

During the period of 010600H to 020600H November this Battalion made preparations for movement from Dong Ha to Phu Bai Combat Base by airlift and motor convoy.

At 020745H November the first elements of this Battalion departed Dong Ha for Phu Bai by air and chop OpCon to 3^rd Marine Division.  Upon arrival of first elements of 1/4 at Phu Bai the relief of 2/4’s outlaying units in the Phu Bai TAOR was started.  The last elements of 1/4 arrived at Phu Bai at 021700H Nov 66 by air flight.  The relief of 2/4’s outlaying units within Phu Bai TAOR was completed at 021800H November.

At 031245H November 1966 this battalion assumed OpCon of Phu Bai TAOR.  At 032130H November radio station at YD 793197 was probed by unknown number of VC.  The Radio Station received sporadic small arms fire and two grenades.  VC broke contact departing in an unknown direction.  Negative casualties or equipment damage was reported.

At 040940H November 1966 the rear echelon of 1/4 departed Dong Ha by Rough Rider for Phu Bai.  At 041400H November 1966 they arrived in Phu Bai, no incidents occurred during the movement.  At 041000H 1/4 assumed OpCon of Company F, 2^nd Battalion 26^th Marines.

At 050700H 1^st Platoon Company D, 1/4 provided one squad for security of a survey party.  At 051120H, CAC 10 requested med-evac for two Vietnamese females.  The Vietnamese females were injured by a booby-trapped grenade submerged under water at YD 962108.  At 051505H November one incoming grenade reported at YD 894146.  One Marine of Company B 1/4 received slight wounds from the fragments.  One VCS apprehended in close vicinity of incident and turned over to ITT for interrogation.

At 051800H November two PF’s from CAC-6 unit ambushed by unknown number of VC at YD 827177.  One PF KIA and PF WIA.  CAC-6 sent patrol to check area of ambush site and evacuated casualties.  Search of ambush site by CAC-6 unit conducted with negative results.

At 060830H November 1966, Company F 2/26 began relief of Company B 1/4, relief completed by 061600H.  At 061945H November CAC-10 reported one of their patrols ambushed by 6 to 8 VC. Marines and PF’s returned fire and swept ambush site.  No casualties of any type were inflicted.  The VC ambush had several automatic weapons and one grenade.

On 7 November Company C was constituted from within other units of the battalion.  At 070100H November 1966, 22 VC entered Phu Bai 1 and kidnapped 7 villagers.  All VC armed with carbine, sub-machine guns or AK-47’s.  At 070715H information received from Division COC that a train was mortared at ZD 006034 and directed a patrol be sent to that area.  CAC-10 patrol was sent to area where train was reported mortared and reported that the enemy had one 81mm mortar, two 60mm mortars and one 57RR rifle.  Casualties reported were one friendly KIA, one WIA friendly, all Vietnamese. This information was obtained from two villagers who were captured and escaped during friendly incoming artillery fire.  The two villagers stated 20 VC were KIA.  VC WIA was unknown.  CAC-10 patrol found no bodies, and reported VC fled southwest into mountains.  At 071155H one platoon, Company F 2/26 reported that one Ontos hit a mine three feet from edge of road at YD 817179.  Two Marines members of F 2/26 were listed as WIA’s; Air med-evac utilized.  Ontos sustained loss of one track and all bogie wheels on one side of the vehicle.

A warning order was received at 081430H from Division COC to have one Company put on 30 minute alert and prepared to be lifted to reinforce a recon team who had made heavy contact with unknown number of VC. Company B was designated.

At 082130H a PF patrol walked into a VC ambush at YD 852178.  5-9 VC were in ambush, S/A fire returned by PF unit.  No casualties were sustained either by PF’s, VC unknown.

At 090940H a dump truck from MCB-7 hit a mine at YD 885148.  No casualties sustained.

At 100743H helo lift of Company B (rein) 1/4 commenced, assigned the mission to conduct search and destroy operations in Grid Squares, YC 9795, YC 9897, YC 9896, YC 9995: all elements of Company B (rein) completed helo lift into unopposed LZ at YC 976995.  At 100850H search of assigned area competed with negative contact with VC forces with the exception of the Company receiving two rds S/A fire into night defensive position at 112100H.  No friendly fire returned or friendly casualties sustained.  Extraction by helo lift to return Company B (rein) to Phu Bai Combat Base area began at 121110H and was completed 121305H.  Extraction of Company was necessary due to the rain-swollen river.

At 150215H, CAC-10 unit came under attack by an estimated VC Company.  VC broke contact at 150302H.  CAC-10 sustained one PF WIA, two U.S. Marine WIA’s nine civilian WIA’s.

At 141340H, 1^st 155 Gun Battery captured one VCS in possession of one hand illumination forward of their position approximately 800 yards.  The VCS was turned over to ITT.  At 142155H November CAC-6 received 50 rds S/A fire from unknown number of VC at YD 814187.  Uniform and direction of retraction of VC unknown.  CAC-6 returned S/A and M-79 fire, no friendly casualties reported.  At 150030H November approximately 70 VC surrounded bridge at YD 980053 and took bridge under S/A fire.  Popular Forces guards at the bridge returned S/A fire and artillery fire was requested and adjusted.  No damage to bridge sustained.  VC broke contact at 150138H and moved toward mountains.  At 150215H November CAC-10 received heavy S/A fire and 12 rds of 81mm mortar.  VC broke contact at 150308H, departing in an unknown direction.  CAC-10 unit sustained four WIA’s U.S. Marine, two WIA’s PF’s and nine WIA local Vietnamese villagers.  At 150915H CAC-6 patrol found that eight inches of RR track were blown at YD 816184.

At 162302H, Company F 2/26 patrol discovered two VC personnel moving east to west at YD 813146.  The patrol fired 44 rds of S/A at VC, searched area with negative results.

At 170750H November, an engineer sweep team located a M1A1 ChiCom mine in center of road at YD 843151.  The mine was upside down and wrapped in utility cloth.  EOD deactivated the mine.  At 171000H November Engineer team sweep found communication wire attached to a bamboo stick at YD 820179.  Six BA-30 batteries were attached to communication wire along with several blocks of TNT.

At 171030H November one M-422 hit a mine of unknown type at YD 949135, destroyed the vehicle and resulted in one KIA and three WIA, Marine personnel of this battalion.  Vehicle retracted by helicopter on 18 November 1966.

Company B, 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines on 19 November 1966 relieved Company F 2^nd Battalion 26^th Marines of outlaying positions, Company F returned to Phu Bai Combat Base and assumed a sector of the defensive perimeter.

On 19 November one platoon from Company A provided security for a survey party in Grid Square YD 8724.  No enemy contact.  Company C platoon size patrol conducted on 20 November, negative contact.  Patrol terminated on 21 November due to rising waters in stream.  One M-14 rifle was lost while fording a stream (YD 9101).  Patrol from Company C returned to the area on 22 November and recovered the lost M-14 rifle.

On 22 November CAC-8 and 10 with an FO team from this battalion provided security for relocation of a Hamlet in Loc An Village (YD 9604).

On 232310H a Company B ambush received one 60mm mortar round and one grenade resulting in one WIA USMC.  Med-evac was not required.  Fire missions were conducted at suspected positions with unknown results.

At 251740H an estimated 6-9 VC at YD 785119 fired 80 rds S/A fire at a Company B platoon patrol.  200 rds of S/A fire and 21 rds of artillery were returned.  No friendly casualties received.  VC casualties unknown.

On 27 November at the Company C forward position in the Truoi area, (YD 931059) 10 Vietnamese, later identified as Special Forces captured and released by the VC, were taken into custody and delivered to Division MP Compound.  Company C received five more captured Special Forces personnel at their position on 28 November.

At 290140H Company F 2^nd Battalion 26^th Marines received one hand grenade (dud) thrown at their perimeter positions.  Ten rds of S/A fire returned with negative results.

On 29 November Company D assumed Rough Rider Reserve responsibility and maintained a 15-minute alert status.  Company C received seven additional Special Forces prisoners, two of which required med-evac to A-Med.

On 30 November Company D again assumed the Rough Rider reserve alert responsibility and was placed on a 15-minute alert status for convoys moving from Dong Ha to Phu Bai.

An inspection team from FMF Pacific Headquarters arrived at 300730H for a inspection of this battalion.

At 301410H a platoon size patrol from Company B discovered heavy underbrush with several large holes and passageways cut through the brush.  Patrol leader called for neutralizing fires.

C.        Training.

(1)              All units FAM fired weapons including 106 RR, 81mm, M-79, M-60, 3.5, .45 pistol and 60 mm mortar.  Each Company and section used the Dong Ha Ranges at Phu Bai on Sundays to the fullest extent.

(2)              50 cal. Machine gun weapons platoon, H&S Company conducted firing exercises for familiarization of gunners and assistant gunners from Hill 180 and 225 where they were deployed.

(3)              Company C conducted extensive patrolling in order to train newly joined personnel and junior NCOs as well as fulfill their mission in the Truoi Area.

(4)              Intrasection training was conducted by all sections within H&S Company.

(5)              Timely reliefs of COP’s allowed rifle Companies and attached units of H&S Company time to make use of the Dong Ha Range and conduct other company training.

(6)              On 30 November 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines sent 24 personnel to a 2 day familiarization school on the M-16 rifle conducted by the Division training Section.

(7)              Due to the shortage of trained personnel in MOS 0341, extensive school was conducted on the 81mm mortar gunnery and techniques of fire.

(8)              OpCon units conducted training on the same level as units within the Battalion.

D.        Training Problem encountered:  The Dong Ha ranges are used throughout the week by ARVN units.  Sundays are the only day these ranges are available for other use.

1.                  Commitments allowed only one company to use the ranges at any one time.

2.                  Heavy rain prohibited training on several occasions during November.

This page last corrected 25 August 2011