Headquarters and Headquarter Company
May 17, 1968
Forward Area 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Ross for Operation WHEELER-WALLOWA and are OPCON to the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. Reports Charlie Company manned OP vicinity 0527 and Alpha 4-21 Infantry swept southwest to AT9935 and Delta Company 3-1 Infantry secured Fire Base Rider and conducted a platoon sweep to AT9232. At 0630hrs 1-20 Infantry reports road sweep and security departing at this time. At 1427hrs Convoy to LZ Ross left LZ Baldy and Convoy closes at LZ Ross at 1530hrs. At 1716hrs Air Force reports FAC are grounded due to weather, Division reports for warning and info only.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. SGT JERRY LEON PETTY WAS LISTED AS KIA (died of wounds See Delta Company May 11, 1968).
Alpha Company
May 17, 1968
At 0330hrs Alpha Company 1-20 Infantry and 1 platoon Delta 1-6 Infantry are at vicinity BT 074226 and are Alpha sending an element to the top of hill 352, no enemy has been made contact at this time. 0410hrs Probe element 1st Platoon of Alpha Company and the FO are putting in precision Artillery on the enemy crew served weapons all elements within outer perimeter of the top of hill 352. The probe element is 90 meters from the top and if contact is made, probe with engage with Hand grenades and M-79 from the main body on the flanks. At 1415hrs probe team was in trench line on top of hill. At 0452hrs report received a burst of automatic weapons fire from 15 meters and returned with hand grenades with results 1 NVA KIA. At 0456hrs exchanging hand grenades and now in contact with 3 WIA (M). At 0456hrs received AK 47 and hand grenades change 1 WIA and 1 WIA (E). 1-6 Infantry informed that Dust Off and Gun Ships are in route at this time. At 0450hrs Alpha Company 1-20 Infantry begins assault on Hill 352. At 0515hrs, 1-6 Infantry requested gun ships escort for Dust Off into Alpha Company for 1 Urgent Dust Off, 1 US with sucking chest wound and at 0558hrs 1 US KHA and 4 US WHA and also 12 WHA (M). At 0544hrs Alpha Company reports the Company is on the hill and have not received fire for the last 10 minutes with 1 US KIA and found 60mm tube. At 0630hrs Alpha Company 1-20 Infantry has negative further casualties and has not received any fire for the past 10 minutes. At 0710hrs Charlie Company 1-20 Infantry Hill 352 reports receiving mortar fire and gun ships received 50 caliber fire and artillery is being fire with Helix is on station. At 0722hrs and Bravo Company 1-20 Infantry and Delta Company 1-6 Infantry at BT0522 and BT0622 respectively. Alpha Company 1-6 Infantry is returning to LZ Center means of travel walking. The results were 28 NVA KIA, 7 weapons captured. Alpha Company reports the following PFC Gerry H. Fash, SPC Timothy Townsend, and PFC Gerald T. Rudolph where evac out to the 95th Evac Hospital. Alpha Company reports that SGT George E. Shepard, SGT Richard B. Raphiel, SSGT Bruce F. Thomas, SP4 John N. Vossers where attached to the 95th Evac Hospital. Also Alpha Company reports that PFC Frederick Brown and PFC Jerome Burke with frag wounds of chest and both arms where attached to the NSA Hospital DA Nang.
Bravo Company
May 17, 1968
Bravo Company 1-20 Infantry will remain on the hill vicinity at 0522hrs for Security and in reserve. SFC ABRAHAM AHUNA LISTED AS KHA HOSTILE, DIED OF WOUNDS (Clark Air Force Base Hospital). (See Bravo Company May 14, 1968)
Charlie Company
May 17, 1968
Charlie Company will remain at OP vicinity at BT0526 and began later in the day to move into the 1-6 Infantry Area of Operation and become OPCON to the 1-6 Infantry.
Delta Company
May 17, 1968
Delta Company has the Security Mission for LZ Ross. At 1142hrs Delta Company at BT078384 found 1 mine on north side of road, helite type with electrical firing device, destroyed in place, left crater 8’ X 4’ road is passable.
Echo Company
May 17, 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. Recon Platoon 3 OP at BT050384, BT002370 and BT998313.