Headquarters and Headquarter Company
December 12, 1969
Battalion Forward: 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Liz and will continue their working with the ARVN units in their Area of Operations. At 0925hrs 1-20 infantry vicinity BS783433, 3 M Boats off shore at this time with one of the Beach and one Salvage ship on station and one dossier still on the beach. At 1937hrs LZ Liz received 2 incoming mortar or rockets rounds, which landed near bunker 10. At 1945hrs received 2 more rounds. At 1954hrs Sharks on station, checked grid BS767423 a possible enemy grid with negative finding. Weather force Sharks off station. At 1955hrs we have one EM WIA with frag wounds PFC Palmer and at 2024hrs Shadow 45 on station will evac WIA later. At 2155hrs 1-20 Infantry withdraw the IPW point if no results by tomorrow around noon. PFC Ronnie L. Palmer was evac to the 27th Surgical Hospital (11C10 see Echo Company December 13, 1969).
Battalion Rear: Battalion Rear continued their Mission for providing general support for the Battalion.
Alpha Company
December 12, 1969
Alpha Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Liz. At 1308hrs Alpha Company at BS732448 with National Police the 12 element detained 3 Vietnamese had ID Cards and they have information on the mining incident on LZ Liz access road. They say the people that placed mine the road are at BS746444 bring in the 2 of the detainees to LZ Bronco. At 1945hrs 1-20 Infantry reports the 6 rounds received at LZ was 120 rockets from the south, southeast. At 1955hrs 1 EM with frag wounds PFC Palmer, possible a total of 8 rounds.
Bravo Company
December 12, 1969
At 0625hrs Bravo Company the 75 element has a new mission with 6 PF to grid BS782418. At 0645hrs Bravo Company has closed on BS704450 and the 16 element closed on BS783433 and the 45 closed on BS782418 and at 0700hrs Bravo Company 75 element with the PF have moved to BS782418 with negative results. At 0725hrs Bravo Company Late Report at 2130hrs the Rangers captured 1 VC inside of their perimeter. Inside the VC bunker they found 1 claymore, M57 firing devices, and other US equipment. They also found 1 40 pound shaped charge, 1 foot of detonate cord, and some ½ blocks of C-4, also 15 canteens and canteen cup, 4 to 5 ponchos and 1 rucksack (not ours), were found. At 0725hrs Bravo Company the Rangers are moving to their blocking force at BS782462. At 0735hrs Bravo Company and the 15 element is at Checkpoint 1 at BS811417. At 2130hrs Bravo Company Ranger element CIA, one VC inside of their Night Defense Position, VC had one hut in area, searched and found a claymore. Also one 40 pound, shape charge, detonated cord, C-4, 1 M57 firing device and assorted military equipment, will evac to Bronco. At 1810hrs Bravo Company at BS722725 came in contact with unknown size VC force with results 2 VC KIA, 2 Chi Com hand grenades, and documents CIA, also 1 RF KIA. Reference Bravo Company at BS778445: 1 RF from RF 147 and his 24 (year old) Draft Dodger brother. RF moved ahead of RF and Bravo Company and warned the VC. The RF and his Brother are now at MACV location.
Charlie Company
December 12, 1969
At 0010hrs Charlie Company 72 snake had movement to their front, 5 NVA/VC engaged with small arms fire, M-79 fire and Automatic Weapons fire are firing Artillery rounds, negative finding at this time. At 0710hrs Charlie Company the 72 element, part of the 32 element and the main Command Post are moving out to BS7945, part of my 32 stayed back as a back up force at (BS794476). At 0755hrs Charlie Company we are moving into the target area and have spotted movement. Helix 38 is checking out the area. At 0757hrs Charlie Company reports M-Boat push 71.00, the 12 element has 3 M-Boat on station. We still have 1 M-Boat grounded, also have one salvage boat so they have a total of 5 boats on station. At 0800hrs Charlie Company is located at BS794476. At 0805hrs Charlie Company at BS795356 requested Urgent Dust Off for 4 VC they were in a bunker hiding and they were told to come out and they wouldn’t so they threw a grenade with results 4 VC WIA CIA. They had negative ID and the Dust Off was completed by Dolphin 588 at 0810hrs to LZ Bronco. After searching the Bunkers add 2 VC KIA. At 0911hrs Charlie Company the 32 element will be remaining behind in the Night Defense Position for securing the back haul at grid BS794458. At 0958hrs Charlie Company when moving into grid BS794458 we had 4 to 5 males evading. We did not engage because we could not identify them as enemy. We engaged this last male with negative results. We also had negative results so far with the mine detector. We request charges to be used in the area. At 1050hrs Charlie Company at BS833437, the salvage boat has hooked up with the stranded boat will free it shortly. At 1500hrs we now have one M Boat ashore and it also got stuck, so there area two (M boats) stuck now and they won’t be able to get the bulldozer out because of the rough waters. Charlie Company established their Night Defense Position at BS793455. At 1805hrs Charlie Company today we managed to blow 5 bunkers. Tomorrow’s operations will be much the same as today’s we will continue to concentrate on blowing bunkers. Tonight the 32 will remain at BS792474 and the 12 element will stay at BS833437 securing the vehicles and boats. The remainder of the 32, 72, Command Post and the 22 element will stay at BS794458.
Delta Company
December 12, 1969
At 0630hrs Delta Company reported that 14 element closed their location vicinity of BS704450. At 0926hrs Delta Company the 32 and 72 elements are moving on their patrols to BS690480 and BS693467 respectively. At 1057hrs the 32 element closed at BS704450 and at 1140hrs the 72 element closed at BS704450. Delta Night Defense Position is located at BS709450 and Delta Company reports SSGT Mack H. Franks was evac to the 91st Evac Hospital.
Echo Company
December 12, 1969
Echo Company headquarters and 4.2 Mortar Platoon is location on LZ Liz, where the 4.2 Platoon providing direct fire support for the Battalion. At 0615hrs 4.2 Platoon reports we had Schedule Fires 17, Observed Missions 3 for a total expended of 108 HE, 1 WP and 14 Illumination rounds. Echo Company Headquarters has the responsibility for Base Defense. Recon Platoon reports their location at Chu Lai for their Stand Down and will continue their Security with the (1-20 Infantry TOC).