Headquarters and Headquarter Company
March 16, 1968
Forward Area: 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Thunder and will continued to work with ARVN units in their Area of Operations.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco.
Alpha Company
March 16, 1968
Alpha Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Thunder with a Recon in Force patrol and a couple of ambushes at night. At 2300hrs Alpha Company at BS837393 had 3 VC who entered ambush position with results 3 VC KIA has 1 M-1 carbine rifle SN# 3743889, web gear equipment and documents with maps which they will turn in. Alpha Company reports SP4 William E. Wanzer attached to the 67th Evac Hospital.
Bravo Company
March 16, 1968
Bravo Company continued their Recon in Force and Search and Destroy operations in their Area of Operations.
Charlie Company
March 16, 1968
Charlie Company was up at 0530hrs as they made final preparation for their Combat Assault with Alpha Company 3-1st Infantry as the blocking force with the Aero Scouts as a reaction force able to assist in closing off the area. At 0740hrs 11th Brigade reports Charlie Company 1-20 Infantry Combat Assault begins 1st Lift PZ 0715hrs to LZ at 711791 LZ Cold, 2nd Lift PZ to same LZ at BS711791 2nd LZ was hot, helicopter received fire from southeast of LZ Combat Assault is completed at 0750hrs. At 0758hrs Charlie Company 1-20 Infantry at BS714794 reports at 0730hrs 1 VC KIA. At 0759hrs Charlie Company at BS714794. At 0740hrs vicinity BS709788 Sharks engaged 3 VC with weapons and web gear with results 3 VC KIA with 3 Weapons CIA, weapons where not found reported at 1921hrs. At 0806hrs 11th Brigade reports 174 Aviation gunships vicinity BS709788 at 0755hrs observed and engaged 1 VC with weapons results 1 VC KIA and 1 Weapon CIA which was not found and deleted at 1921hrs. At 0806hrs Aero Scouts reports 1 VC KIA and 1 weapon CIA which was not found and deleted at 1921hrs. At 0807hrs Aero Scouts vicinity BS705768 and at 0750hrs observed and engaged 2 VC with weapons with results 2 VC CIA and 2 weapons CIA, 2 weapons CIA was deleted at 1921hrs in summary of events. At 0808hrs 11 Brigade reports Charlie Company 1-20 Infantry vicinity BS716788 at 0750hrs located documents and equipments and reported 14 VC KIA. At 0815hrs Charlie Company vicinity BS716788 reports at 0830hrs vicinity BS716788 captured short wave radio set on frequency of 7.3, documents and a complete medical bag. At 0837hrs 11th Brigade reports Bravo Company vicinity BS728777. At 0827hrs Combat Assault is completed and LZ cold. At 0830hrs (Delayed) 11th Brigade reports Task Force Barker vicinity of BS708779 at 0805hrs detained 2 VC evading. At 0845hrs Alpha Company 3-1 Infantry vicinity BS719807 at 0840hrs trip Booby Trap results 2 US WIA. Dust Off Call at 0825hrs Changed to 3 WIA and at 1208hrs Alpha Company 3-1 Infantry reports should read 1 KHA and 2 WHA. At 0905hrs 11 Brigade 123 Aviation vicinity BS718788 at 0855hrs found 20 60mm mortar rounds. At 0938hrs 11th Brigade reports Charlie Company vicinity BS716788 at 0820hrs detained 23 VC for questioning. At 0905hrs 11 Brigade TOC reports reference 0830hrs Task Force Barker 2 VCS that where detained turned out to be captured ARVN Troops captured by VC 15 March 1968. They say there a lot of VC in area vicinity BS708779 and reference to 23 VC detainees are being interrogated by Military Intelligence and they say there a lot of VC in area vicinity BS716778. At 0940hrs 11th Brigade reports Bravo Company 4-3 Infantry vicinity BS734794 at 0930hrs 3 US WHA evac as a result of Booby Trap. At 1005hrs 11 Brigade reports Bravo Company 4-3 Infantry BS742786 at 0955hrs engaged unknown number of VC with results 11 VC KIA. At 0940hrs (Delayed) 11 Brigade reports Charlie Company 1-20 Infantry at BS714794 at 0930hrs elements counted 69 VC KIA (as a results of Artillery fire this morning) and in process of policing up weapons and equipment with addition bodies from previous counts. At 0910hrs 11 Brigade Charlie Company at BS716788 reports at 0757hrs found 3 weapons 1 M-1 SN#192771 and 2 carbines SN#29915453 and # 400763. At 1030hrs 11th Brigade Charlie Company at BS716788 1 US WIA shot in foot has been dusted off. At 1155hrs 123 Aviation reports in reference vicinity BS718788 at 0855hrs should be changed 20 to 40 60mm mortar rounds. At 1430hrs 11Brigade Bravo Company 4-3 Infantry at BS742789 at 1420hrs engaged unknown # VC in tunnels, results 8 VC KIA, had head gear, Chi Com hand grenades and assorted small arms ammo, will destroy. At 1815hrs 11 Brigade Charlie Company 1-20 Infantry reports weapons SN M-1 Rifle SN192771, 2 carbines #2915453 and 400763. At 1930hrs Alpha Company 3-1 Infantry at BS725822 at 0640hrs 1 US WHA from small arms fire (M).
Division Daily S-2/S-3 Journals Summary in Muscatine Area of Operation: Charlie Company Conducted a Combat Assault at 0751hrs to vicinity BS7180 received small arms fire vicinity of LZ, Bravo Company 4-3 Infantry at 0837hrs to vicinity BS7281 while these 2 units conducted Search and Destroy Operations. Northeast Alpha Company 3-1 Infantry was in block position BS7281 with Artillery and Gun Ships were employed with the results of 128 VC KIA with 3 weapons CIA, 2 US KHA, 10 WHA (E) and 1 US WHA (M).
(Researcher Note: "I believe there was a major breakdown in Command and Control along with Discipline for a period of time after two orders over the radio were given to stop all unnecessary shooting brought some control, but it wasn’t until the Charlie Company Commanding Officer entered the Village around 1100hrs and, only then, was Command and Control along with Discipline restored by his presence.")
Delta Company
March 16, 1968
Delta Company continued their multiple patrols and Search and Destroy operations in their Area of Operations.
Echo Company
March 16, 1968
Echo Company and 4.2 platoon where located on LZ Thunder to provide direct support to the Battalion. Recon Platoon has returned from their Stand Down to LZ Thunder to continue their Security Mission.