Headquarters and Headquarter Company
May 11, 1968
Forward Area 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Ross for Operation WHEELER-WALLOWA and are OPCON to the 198th Light Infantry Brigade. At 0630hrs 198 Brigade received hit in Plexiglas, 1 Gun Ship down round severed hydraulic line. Other Gun lost Rocket pod while coving Dust Off for Recon 1-20 Infantry. Now down to ½ of its gun ship captivity. 2 Muskets were sent to LZ Baldy. Fire Birds will come back from Chu Lai for repairs. As the 196th Light Infantry Brigade moves north to support the Marines. At 1118hrs Alpha Company 4-21 Infantry located 5 graves with NVA bodies recently KIA. At 1210hrs LZ Ross reports personnel evacuating KHAM DUC Special Forces Camp started to arrive at LZ Ross. At 1320hrs Delta Company is lift into LZ Ross to take over the Security Mission. At 1410hrs that Saber 6 is going to bring in 1 Company from 4-3 Infantry to OPCON to the 1-20 Infantry to work area south of LZ Ross. At 1640hrs 1st lift for Delta Company 4-3 Infantry completed at 1643hrs and will work south of LZ Ross. At 1635hrs Alpha Company 4-21 Infantry at coordinates BT010350 (1) US shot his finger off with M-16, believed to be deliberate action, will be evacuated to 1-20th Infantry LZ Ross by re supply ship. At 2220hrs Alpha Company 4-21 Infantry at AT999349 report seeing 30 people moving toward their location, will keep observing them. The have received 3 60mm mortar rounds outside perimeter and also received 20-30 rounds of automatic weapons fire, will keep under observation with negative casualties. At 2240hrs Alpha Company 4-21 Infantry at AT999349 observed movement to east and engaged with M-79 and presently firing artillery on that location and working back.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco.
Alpha Company
May 11, 1968
Alpha Company continued to move in the direction of Nui Hoac Ridge and start to make a move to support Delta Company which had been ambushed that morning and then continued their mission.
Bravo Company
May 11, 1968
Bravo Company continued their movement toward Nui Hoac Ridge using Recon in Force and moving with Alpha Company. Bravo Company started to move south to link up with Delta Company, which was ambush. Bravo Company has returned to their mission, as the mission was filled by Bravo Company 1- 6th Infantry.
Charlie Company
May 11, 1968
Charlie Company started the day by sweeping the contact area from yesterday. Charlie Company is doing a detail search of the area and set up a OP to check the area. AT 1455hrs Charlie Company vicinity BT058270 will move south to the high ground believe to be Hill 375 northeast of LZ Center at BT 058270 and Charlie Company is in place.
Delta Company
May 11, 1968
At 0840hrs Delta Company hit the ambush at BT067257, pinned down and receiving heavy automatic weapons fire, small arms fire and grenades and our lead elements were cut off from the main body reports 3 KIA and 2 WIA (E). Fire was returned and we maneuver to get our WHA and KHA out and form up again as a unit against some very close combat. Gun ships on the way and Dust Off was requested, 1 Gun ship on the 1 gun ship hit by 50 caliber round and is trying to return at this time, 198 Infantry requested another gun at this time. At 0910hrs another gun ship was sent at 0910hrs. Alpha Company 1-20 Infantry started to move east to assist and Bravo Company 1-20 Infantry started to move south to assist Delta Company. At 1005hrs Delta Company where able to dust off our WHA and most of our KHA after cutting out a wench landing zone on the side of the ridge at 1040hrs under heavy automatic weapons fire one gun ship was hit in the fuel tank by .51 cal fire. Dust Off just sat in position on the side of the ridge unable to set down or move under heavy fire (vicinity BT068251) and wait for us to load up our personnel, they where the best. At 1015hrs 1-6 Infantry utility ship reports received 15 to 20 automatic weapons fire took 1 hit in blade, going to Chu Lai for repair. Delta Company then broke contact and was able to move down into the valley. Alpha Company and Bravo Company 1-20 Infantry then continued on their objectives. After a long march to the west to BT044248 and then we were able to make our way back up the west ridge and into LZ Center. Delta Company 1-20 Infantry had a man who refused to go any further and Platoon leader give him a direct order to follow. He pointed his weapon and said no one can make me go. The element moved out and they heard small arms fire and look for the man with negative results, later he was picked up by PF at Que Son. We where unable to recover 3 of our KHA and at 1148hrs Alpha Company 26 element 1-6 Infantry has made contact at BS065254, have 2 WHA at BS067253, received automatic weapons and small arms fire. They where able to recover 2 of the bodies of Delta Company 1-20 Infantry. In 6 days of constant contact Delta Company was able to evac. 4 head medics, hard to do when you start going in with only three medics. Wrap up of Day Contact Delta Company reports results KHA-6 and WHA-7, 1 WHA from Headquarters and Headquarter Company Medic. PFC. RONALD DAVIS GALPIN - SP4 RICHARD CURTIS JACKSON- SP4 BOBBY JOE MARTINEZ- SGT MICHAEL DAVID MUELLER (recovered later)- PFC. ARCHIE JAMES ROBERTS JR.- PFC. KEITH DAN VINCENT- PFC. DAVID CLAUDE WELLS KHA. Also LT Michael G Low, SSGT Washington Warren, SGT Alvin Adkins, SP4 James B Vicars, PFC Marvin J. Collins, PFC Melvin A. Warr, PVT Harold M. Day all attached to NSA Hospital Da Nang. Also SGT JERRY LEON PETTY (Headquarters Company Medic was wound on that day and died of wounds on May 18, 1968. He was our acting head medic). "SP4 CLIFFORD DA VAN ARTSDALEN LISTED AS KHA LISTED AS KHA is listed as KHA/MIA. "I believe he was not KHA/MIA not on May 9, 1968, but in ambush on May 11, 1968 - Charles Seketa".
Echo Company
May 11, 1968
Echo Company is located at LZ Ross where Battalion Forward, is located and coordinates with the Battalion Rear Elements and the Base Defense on LZ Ross. The 4.2 Platoon is located on LZ Ross where they continue to provide direct fire support for the Battalion. 1-20 Infantry Recon Platoon manned OP Tiger, Cobra and Dragon. SP4 Danny N. Peterson was attached to NSA Hospital Da Nang.