Headquarters and Headquarter Company
October 12, 1970
Forward Area: 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Liz and will continued to work with ARVN units in their Area of Operations. At 0100hrs TMF at 0052hrs String 68C has sighted stationary target, negative clearance due to proximity of friendly. At 0145hrs Blue Ghost 41 Nighthawk unable to fly due to the weather. At 0700hrs AMC and all lift and gun ships on station Battalion Commander departed LZ Liz for Surge Operation. At 1315hrs 1-20 Infantry Surge Operation complete, contact shill going on PZ and LZ as follow: 1. PZ 0705hrs Delta 84 LZ at BS7255610, 2. PZ 0730hrs Delta 34 LZ at BS735614, 3. PZ 0740hrs Delta 54 LZ at BS734621, 4. PZ 1744hrs Delta W LZ at BS734621, 5. PZ 0758hrs Alpha 84 LZ BS741473, 6. PZ 0800hrs Alpha 54 LZ at BS740466, 7. PZ 0817 Alpha 34 LZ at BS747465, 8. PZ 0819hrs Alpha W LZ at BS747465, Broke to Refuel 0825hrs on Station 0845hrs. Part II: 9. PZ 0900hrs Bravo 54 LZ BS755583, 10. At 0916hrs the Bravo 84 LZ is at BS754557, 11. PZ 0930hrs Bravo 34 LZ is at BS754567, 12. PZ 0936hrs Bravo W. at BS754567, 13 PZ 0955hrs Recon Platoon LZ Liz, 14 PZ 1006 Alpha 84 LZ Liz, 15. PZ 1011hrs Alpha 54 LZ Liz, 16. PZ 1018 Alpha 34 LZ Liz, 17. PZ 1025hrs Alpha W. LZ Liz, All Ships on weather hold 1030hrs lifted 1145hrs. Part III: 18. PZ 1201hrs Charlie Company 54 LZ is at BS656575, 19. PZ 1210hrs Bravo 54 LZ is at BS660584, 20. PZ 1223hrs Bravo 84 LZ is at BS665586 LZ HOT, 21. PZ 1244hrs Bravo 34 LZ is at BS668587, 22. PZ 1300hrs Bravo W LZ at BS668587 Surge Operation is completed. At 1120hrs MACV Priority Dust Off for 1 US ambulatory, eye severely swollen, in severe pain, grid of pick up BS733652, ground contact, E-8, completed at 1142hrs. At 1255hrs Bravo Company 34 element inserted ships, they also took fire, Colonel Lynch requested Helix on station for an Air Strike. At 1440rhs 1-20 Infantry Air Strike put in contact area, continuing to check the area at this time BS675592 and at 1500hrs 2nd Air Strike put in the contact area BS375593. At 1555hrs to 1600hrs Both sharks, and Air Calvary worked out in the contact area. At 1620hrs 1-20 Infantry XO was put into the contact area, to be in charge of all elements on the ground, received word from Colonel Lynch to get a jump Command Post ready. At 1700hrs 1-20 Infantry Colonel Lynch went to LZ Dragon to coordinate move of the 4 Regiment troops in support of Bravo and Delta Company, Delta Company 34 element is picked up and inserted at LZ Snoopy. At 1730hrs 1-20 Infantry Jump Command Post moved to LZ Snoopy. At 1800hrs 1-20 Infantry Wrap Up: of KIA and WIA, Bravo Company 4 KIA and 7 WIA. At 1930hrs 1-20 Infantry Battalion interpreter, 1 estimated platoon of uniformed soldiers, possible NVA hiding in this area, BS784465. There was also 1 squad of VC, but they left the area, TOT shot 2017hrs, additional H and I will be fired on the area through out the night, TOT expenditures 12 105 HE Artillery and 12 rounds 155 Artillery and 8 rounds 8" Artillery. At 2130hrs Brigade the Area of Operation extension for 4-21 Infantry to 172400hrs, approved by Lt Dimuerio. At 2135hrs Brigade requests Area of Operation extension for ARVN Recon, 130300hrs to 171800hrs October 1970, 4 ARVN 13 LRRP #1 Upper Left BS6852 and Lower right BS7248 approved by SFC Mason. At 2200hrs TMF has fire mission called 2139hrs, String 72 Target B a Stationary target, with metal confirmation and engaged at 2157hrs with 6 HE rounds 105 Artillery. At 2250hrs Brigade Area of Operation extension for 4th Regiment Date/Time/Grid 130600hrs to 171800hrs October 1970 BS617620 to BS667620 to BS670586 along river to BS627567, purpose Combat Operations, approved CPT Parker. Legend: 1st Platoon 54-59, 2nd Platoon 84-89, 3rd Platoon 34-39, 4th Platoon 04-09 and CO 12.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. PFC Richard Miller was evac to the 91st Evac Hospital (see Bravo Company).
Alpha Company
October 12, 1970
Alpha Company air-lifted to LZ Liz backhaul for Combat Assault, have take over the Security Mission for LZ Liz with the Access Road.
Bravo Company
October 12, 1970
Surge Operation Schedule for today, at 1132hrs Bravo Company 84 element found 2 rolls of trip wire/ 3 coke cans full of lead and a small amount of Petna, and three pressure release devices, location BS748579, all items destroyed in place. At 1229hrs Bravo Company 84 element set down in a hot LZ at BS665586, element in contact, have personnel wounded trying to get them out at this time. The Bravo Company 34 element inserted ships, they also took fire Colonel Lynch requested a Helix on station for an Air Strike. At 1315hrs Bravo Company Command Post inserted behind the 34 element to sweep, received heavy volume of AK fire and RPG fire, received word that 3 ships were shot down and 1 down due to mechanical failure. With gun ships flying cover, Bravo Company continued to get the 84 element out of the wood line, so Artillery and air strikes could be put in. At 1315hrs to 1440hrs Bravo Company continued to clear the battlefield and at 1500hrs 2nd air strike put in contact area at BS67559. At 1605hrs Delta Company 1st LZ for Delta Company into the contact area was completed. At 1637hrs 2nd LZ for Delta Company into the Contact area 5 ships and a shark taking fire, shark broke contact for Bronco to check aircraft, crew chief and door gunner WIA. At 1640hrs Battalion XO put into the contact area to be in charge of all the elements on the ground. Colonel Lynch told S-3 to get a jump Command Post ready and he then went to LZ Dragon to coordinate moves of the 4th Regiment troops in support of Bravo and Delta Companies. Delta Company 34 element picked up and inserted at LZ Snoopy and the Jump Command Post moved to LZ Snoopy. 1-20 Infantry wrap up of KIA and WIA, Bravo Company 4 KIA and 7 WIA. At 1435hrs Bravo Company request Urgent Dust Off at 1435hrs for 4 US hit in leg and foot. Dust Off will also pick up crew of downed shopper crew, and the crew of the rigging chopper, completed 1450hrs. At 1515hrs Bravo Company Urgent Dust Off for 4 US personnel, 3 with exhaustion and 1 Combat fatigue completed at 1530hrs. At 1845hrs Delta Company at BS670590 requested Urgent Dust Off for 1 US who was hit in left shoulder by sniper fire completed at 2015hrs. At 2030hrs Bravo Company reported recovering 2 US KIA, and 1 PRC 25, could not recover the third body, 2 PRC 25 believed to be in NVA hands, and monitoring Bravo Company was changed to Alpha Company frequency. Wrap up CPL JOHN START HUNT, CPL JERALD STEVEN DE LONG (see October 13, 1970), CPT FRANCIS EDWARD POWERS, AND SGT CLIFFORD IVAN WRIGHT is LISTED as KIA with multiple frag wounds entire body. Bravo Company reports that SP4 Lopez C. Cortes evac to 91 Evac with gun shot wound to left hand, PFC William W. Henney evac to 27 Surgical with multiple frag wounds to abdomen, PFC Richard A. Miller medic from Headquarters and Headquarter Company evac to 27 Surgical, SGT Harley T. Sandberg where evac to the 91st Evac Hospital with multiple frag wounds both legs abdomen, face and neck, SP4 Bernard Flythe evac to 91 Evac with gun shot wound left foot and PFC Douglas J. Lamdry treated and released from 23 Medical with gun shot wound right side of eye.
Charlie Company
October 12, 1970
Charlie Company 54 element takes part in the Surge Operation PZ 1201hrs and LZ 1206hrs at BS656575. Charlie Company is sweeping the contact area.
Delta Company
October 12, 1970
Delta Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Liz. Delta Company Combat Assault started at 0705hrs to 0751hrs at the 54 element LZ BS734621 found footprints made prints made recently, also several bunkers, which they destroyed. At 0905hrs Delta 54 element at their LZ BS735614 found 1,000-1500 pounds of rice, requests 30 100 pounds rice bags. Rice found in bins and buried in holes under hooches, wrapped in plastic, unpolished, good condition this year harvest. At 0940hrs Delta 54 element sent out a patrol from their LZ site at BS734621, to check out the area. They took an estimated (25-30 rounds) of sniper fire from 3 personnel vicinity BS729624. They also took a few rounds at their LZ and now checked area with negative results. At 1229hrs Bravo Company 2nd LZ into BS665586 was hot and have made major contact with unknown size force. Delta Company was pick-up and inserted into the contact area at 1st LZ completed at 1605hrs. The 2nd Lift into the contact area with 5 ships and sharks taking fire, Shark broke station for Bronco to check out the Aircraft Crew chief and door gunner WHA. At 1640hrs Battalion XO (Major Honjiyo) was put into the contact area, to be in charge of all elements on the ground, received word from Colonel Lynch to get a jump Command Post ready. At 1820hrs Delta Company 54 element while attempting to sweep into the contact area drew fire and at 1840hrss Delta request Dust Off for 1 US with gun shot wounds to the left shoulder. At 1845hrs Delta Company Delta Company at BS670590 requests Urgent Dust Off for 1 US who was hit in left should by sniper fire and completed at 2015hrs. At 1940hrs Delta Company Dust Off completed 1 US. Delta Company set up defense positions and blocking positions will continue sweep in the morning. SGT Jack D Craig was evac to the 91st Evac Hospital.
Echo Company
October 12, 1970
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. Echo Company Headquarters has the coordination responsibility for Base Defense. At 0905hrs Recon element receiving fire from BS760597, they are receiving fire from BS760597, they are receiving fire, approximately 25 to 30 rounds automatic, from their east about 300 meters, from a estimate 3 personnel the Recon element is location at BS757597. At 0955hrs Recon is PZ and at 1002hrs Recon Platoon is back hauled to LZ Liz in Surge Operation.