Narrative Summary

1.                  General overview of all activities.

As the month of September commenced, the Battalion was employed with one company (-) defending Fire Support Base (FSB) Cates with the remaining platoon defending Hill 950.  Operations within the Battalion were generally two Companies sweeping through Rocket Valley west of Vandegrift, with the fourth Company being OPCON to the unit having responsibility for Vandegrift Combat Base (VCB) Area of Operations (AO).  Companies were relieved in the field on an average of six days, spending one to four days at VCB, then relieving the Company on the Fire Support Bases.

On 20 September, an AO change was effected giving this Battalion responsibility for the entire Georgia Tar AO including VCB, Signal Hill, FSB Cates, Hill 950, security for Mobile Construction Battalion (MCB) from VCB North to the 53 east-west grid line, and security for Engineer Teams sweeping Route 9 south to Ca Lu and north to Elliott Combat Base (ECB) from VCB.  With the change in AO, the Battalion assumed OPCON of Companies, E and H, 2/4, I and K, 3/4.  During the last week of September the Battalion was assigned the missions of destruction and closing Hill 950, FSB Shepherd, and FSB Cates, missions assigned on 20 September, and preparation to evacuate Signal Hill and VCB in the near future.

2.                  Command Relations.

The Battalion remained under the operational control of the 4^th Marine Regiment throughout the month. There were several different Companies OPCON to the Battalion during the month, while Organic Companies were periodically chopped OPCON to other organizations.  Specific units, dates and times are delineated in the Sequential Listing of Significant Events portion of this Chronology.

3.                  Missions Assigned.

For most of the month, the mission of the Battalion was to defend FSB Cates, Hill 950, and to continue Reconnaissance in Force Operations in the Rocket Belt and along Route 9 south and west of VCB, to provide a Reserve Force for the 3^rd Marines Operation south of DMZ, to provide security for MCB workers who are improving the road between ECB and VCB.  During the last ten days of the month, the Battalion assumed responsibilities for the entire Georgia Tar AO, and the Sparrow Hawk/Bald Eagle Reaction Force.  The special mission of evacuating, destroying, and closing FSB Cates, FSB Shepherd and Hill 950 was assigned late in the month.  Preparations are underway to evacuate, destroy and close Signal Hill, and Vandegrift Combat Base in the near future.  When this mission is completed the Battalion will retrograde to an area within Quang Tri Combat Base (QTCB).