Vietnam War Timeline

45
21 January 1969
1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div
Bn (1/35) Forward Fire Base
LZ Tango ZA035663

Unit Locations:
A 1/35 YA950662
B 1/35 YA926721
Snoopy Baron 008657
C 1/35 YA954687
D 1/35 YA951679
Recon Plt, LZ Tango ZA035663
4.2" Mortar Plt, LZ Tango

Summary: Log opened at 0001 hours 21 January 1969. Unit locations: At LZ Tango ZA356637, Battalion Headquarters (Forward), E Company, C Battery 2/9 artillery, A Company YA950662; B Company YA926721; C Company YA954687; D Company YA951679; At LZ Oasis; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Support (S-4 Forward), E Company; At Base Camp (Camp Enari); Battalion Headquarters (Rear).

At 1025 hours 21 January 1969 D Company reported that they saw one (1) individual in front of them and they took him under fire, the entire company came under fire immediately with an unknown size enemy force. At 1050 hours D Company reported that they had 1 US WHA and that they the enemy had broken contact at 1045 hours, they regained contact at 1047 hours approximate locations for D Company were grid YA939685. At 1140 hours the Bde S-3 informed the Bn S-3 that A Co 1/14 Inf will become OPCON to the 1/35 Inf at 0800 hours 22 January 1969. Unit will CA from LZ Oasis to a LZ just south of LZ Stud. At 1215 hours the Bn CO reported that D Company has 3 WIA and that they were receiving sniper fire at this time. At 1255 hours C Company reported that they were receiving incoming mortar rounds. At 1340 hours D Company reported 4 WHA, 1 KHA and receiving incoming mortar fire, Company also reports one enemy KIA. At 1505 hours D Company reported one (1) KHA and 11 WHA, 2 seriously. At 1612 hours D Company reported two (2) KHA and 11 WHA 4 seriously. At 1730 hours D Company reported 2 KHA and 14 WHA. At 1803 hours A & D Companies reported that they were both receiving incoming mortar rounds at that time, the rounds appeared to be coming from grid YA925695, the attack stopped at 1815 hours. At 1920 hours an unconfirmed report that A Company had 3 KHA and 6 WHA. At 1934 hours D Company again reported that they were receiving small arms fire and incoming mortar rounds. At 2100 hours A Company reported 4 KHA, 8 WHA.

0055 hours (C) Major Losey informed B Co of the present location of A, C, D, CSF and also informed them that for 21 Jan 69, they are to hold in place, develop the positions and place out SRP's, 1/35 is preparing for a sweep against B Co and the CSF.

0210 (C) Bde informed us that the 24 STZ has requested permission to land the 23rd ARVN Ranger battalion, 2/46 ARVN regiment at LZ B 21 Jan 69 and pass through our AO to reenter the 24 STZ AO and attack to the west. The HHC authorizes direct coordination for this movement between the 1/35 Inf and the ARVN elements; CO is designated to have an officer coordinate with the ARVN element at LZ B.

0615 hours (C) DELAYED ENTRY-0520 hours 21 Jan 69- At 0520 hours we received a message from Bde: Reference the intelligence report received by Bde Hqs on 210320 hour Jan, message from the Bde S-3 to the 1/35 S-3; we received an agent report from the Division level that there is an underground NVA bunker (Hqs complex) with 4 rooms in the vicinity of grid ZA048689, the complex is commanded by a Colonel by the name of Lu-Xi, he has a staff of 1 Major, 6 Captains and numerous interpreters, the complex also has a dispensary and one antiaircraft machine gun, 4 caches re said to be in the area, this intelligence is categorized as C-3 and possibly true, based on the fore going information you are directed to send your Recon platoon to the vicinity of grid ZA048689 to Recon the area and Sitreps will be turned in every hour.

0725 hours (C) To Bde from the S-3: Be advised that at LZ Tango we have only 1/35 Inf TOC personnel 20 personnel from 4.2" guarding the LZ and 2/9 artillery now that the mission has been given to Recon.

0845 hours (C) Inverse Morse informs us that he had a platoon in contact with a platoon of NVA at grid 073686, the enemy fled to grid 056678.

1025 hours (C) D Co reports that they saw one individual in front of them so they fired at him.

1030 (C) Requested gunships for C Co.

1030 hours (C) Inverse Morse repots one platoon of NVA at grid 053694, he request to move on of his units into this location, S-3 negative and to keep his element in his own AO.

1050 hours (C) D Co reports that they have one friendly WIA, they broke contact at 1045 hours, they regained contact at 1047 hours.

1140 hours (C) From the Bde CO to S-3; Under OPCON 1/35 A Co 1/14 will CA 220830 Jan from Oasis to an LZ just south of LZ Stud by bend in river, Company Commander will coordinate with us, LTC Buckner is to make a Recon for an LZ.

1215 hours (C) Bn CO informs us that D Co has three friendly WIA and they are receiving sniper fire at this time.

1255 hours (C) C Co is receiving incoming rounds at this time, they request gunships.

1340 hours (C) CSM says that D Co now has 4 WHA and 1 KHA.

1350 hours (C) D Co reports that they are receiving incoming 60mm mortar rounds at this time, also D Co reports on enemy KIA.

1420 hours (C) From the Bde S-3 to the Bn S-3: Suspected enemy location is in the vicinity of grid 926693, can you place artillery fire on this grid immediately, can you sweep the area following the artillery, Bn S-3 says negative on sweeping the area, Bn CO says negative on the artillery also.

1435 hours (C) D Co received small arms fire from the ridge to the north.

1501 hours (C) Shamrock 1/10 Cav has one gunship en route to the area of contact at this time.

1505 hours (C) D Co has one KHA and 11 WHA, 2 wounded are serious.

1612 hours (C) D Co reports that they have 2 KHA, 11 WHA and 4 of them are serious.

1730 hours (C) D Co now has 2 KHA and 14 WHA from the CSM.

1750 hours (C) D Co is receiving enemy mortars at this time and they are requesting gunships.

1755 hours (C) D Co 2 KHA, 14 WHA, A Co unknown NVA WIA.

1803 hours (C) A & D companies are receiving mortar fire at this time, enemy grid is 4700 mils, 1,000 meters 925695.

1815 hours (C) D Co reports that the mortars have ceased.

1816 hours (C) Elliot 14 (FAC) is putting in an air strike at grid 925695.

1817 hours (C) Requested Spooky from Bde.

1837 hours (C) Enemy KIA; 84 killed 2, 81 killed 1.

1857 hours (C) Dust-Off 32 is on station.

1920 hours (C) Not confirmed A Co has 3 KHA, 6 WHA.

1931 hours (C) Dust-Off is returning to Base Camp as he feels he cannot make the pickup, (Dust-Off 32).

1934 hours (C) D Co is receiving mortar and small arms fire at this time.

2020 hours (C) DELAYED ENTRY-2000 hours 21 Jan 69- Informed Bde that Recon found no bunker complex nor did they have any significant findings in general.

2100 hours (C) B Co reports hearing tubes shooting at grid 909715, received information from arty that there are ARVN elements in that area.

2110 hours (C) A Co reports 4 KHA, 8 WHA (2 serious), D Co reports 2 KHA, 14 WHA, the 2 wounded from A Co can wait until the morning for extraction.

2118 hours (C) A Co report that they have movement and one trip flare went off, employed one hand grenade and the movement stopped.

2119 hours (C) A Co is all on the perimeter at this time as reported by Major Laird, says that he is pinned down in this area and he is awaiting further orders so that he can make plans for tomorrow.

2130 hours (C) C Co reports that they have not received any resupply and that they have only a limited supply of C-rations remaining, they are in critical shape for resupply and they only have enough to last until tomorrow.

2140 hours (C) Passed the following messages to A, B, C, D Companies: To A Co and Major Laird; Use squad action to kill the snipers, meet D Co with the equipment to build an LZ; To B Co; Develop your positions, acknowledged; To C Co; Hold; To D Co; Make LZ's for the Dust-Offs, a squad from A Co will bring the equipment to help. The CSF are to stay in place.