Headquarters and Headquarter Company
January 18, 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 0005hrs LZ Liz IOS we spotted 1 light at BS727447, we engaged with 105 and 155 artillery. At 0240hrs Radar sighted 4 to 5 personnel at grid BS721449 we engaged with155 artillery and Shadow 48 was on station and at 0245hrs Shadow 48 broke station. At 0345hrs IOS sighted 1 light at grid BS773456, negative clearance due to the close proximity of Bravo Company. At 0350hrs Shadow 47 broke station at 0405hrs with negative firing because of the poor weather and at 0515hrs IOS sighted 1 light at grid BS803448, we engaged with 105 artillery 12 HE were expended. At 0805hrs Helix (FAC) 37 we are putting in an Air Strike into grid BS767513. Bomb Damage Assessment 2 huts destroyed, 2 fighting positions destroyed and 3 secondary fires were observed. At 0935hrs Warlord we will work from the 50 grid and north 2000 to 3000 meters. At 0950hrs S-2 we snatched 1 female on the Gaza Strip, she had no ID, age 26, and was either covering or uncovering rice buried in the ground she was dressed in black pajamas at grid BS823433. At 0950hrs Brigade the Brigade Commander arrived at LZ Liz was briefed and departed at 1010hrs. At 1035hrs Warlord we picked up 3 female detainees at grid BS783508, they were evading into a bunker, there was a total of 4 females and the 4th female remained inside the bunker and we could not get her out, so the detainees will be brought to LZ Liz. At 1342hrs 1-20 Infantry the Assistant Division Commander arrived at LZ Liz, was briefed by the Battalion Commander and visited the Artillery and left at 1425hrs. At 1430hrs Warlord Lead is on station at 1405hrs and has now broken station. At 2015hrs Radar sighted 4 to 6 personnel to the northeast at grid BS748443, negative clearance due the close proximity of Alpha Company. At 2030hrs IOS and Radar targets are at 1905hrs radar spotted 4 to 6 personnel at grid BS746403, we engaged with the 105 artillery from LZ Bronco. At 1950hrs IOS sighted 1 light at grid BS745437 we fired 81 mortar rounds at the target. At 1950 Radar sighted 7 to 10 personnel at grid BS781466 and we fired 20 HE from Bronco. At 2000hrs Radar sighted 5 to 7 personnel at grid BS724440, negative clearance was given and at 2025hrs Radar sighted 5 to 7 personnel at grid BS74604587, we engaged with 4.2 Mortar and expended a total of 12 HE. At 2115hrs Radar sighted 8 to 10 personnel at grid BS738467 we fired the 105 artillery at the target.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco.
Alpha Company
January 18, 1970
Alpha Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Liz. At 0636hrs Alpha Company the 94 element has closed on LZ Liz. At 0825hrs Alpha Company all snakes have closed on LZ Liz. Alpha Company all snakes are in location the 53 at BS752443 with the 93 at BS765436, 55 at BS769441 and 86 at BS775442.
Bravo Company
January 18, 1970
At 0555hrs Bravo Company the 56 element closed on BS794380 and the 51 element is moving to BS796401. At 0832hrs Bravo reports the 84 snake is moving is moving out to BS780458 with the 81, 82, 94 and 53 snakes have closed. At 1325hrs Bravo Company the 54 is moving to BS783396, the 51 element is moving to BS777408. At 1445 Bravo Company the 54 element is moving to their blocking position at BS783396. They spotted eight VC wearing light shirts and shorts and all are males and were of military age. They evaded to the north, the 54 element took them under fire with negative results. At 1545hrs Bravo Company the 51 element while moving back from their operation found a (500 pounds) booby casing with all the explosives removed. The case was blown in place grid BS783405. At 2100hrs Bravo Company reports all snakes are in their location, 95 at BS800440, 55 is at BS788426, the 86 at BS787445 and the 83 at BS775452.
Charlie Company
January 18, 1970
At 0834hrs Charlie Company conducts a Combat Assault from grid BS778402 to grids BS714479 and BS703482 1st PZ 0746hrs and Last LZ at 0834hrs and all LZ were Cold. At 0938hrs Charlie Company the entire element has linked up at grid BS710478. At 1045hrs Charlie Company we spotted 3 VC/NVA in the open at BS704490, we are calling in Artillery. At 1230hrs we found fresh footprints and we had a dog alerted at grid BS711473. At 2025hrs Charlie Company 54 element spotted one personnel to their south at grid BS717453 and we are calling in Artillery with negative finding. At 1255hrs Charlie Company our Night Defense Position is at BS717467. At 1400hrs Charlie Company the Artillery is complete and we are moving out. At 1630hrs Charlie Company the 81 and Command Post is at BS717466 and the 51 and 01 elements is at BS714464. At 1922hrs Charlie Company their Night Defense Position 53 is at BS752443, 93 is at BS765436, 44 at 769441 and the 86 element is at BS775442, 85 snake is at BS712461 with 54 snake at BS718458. At 2025hrs Charlie Company the 54 element spotted 1 personnel to their south at grid BS717453, we are calling in artillery with negative results.
Delta Company
January 18, 1970
At 0633hrs Delta Company the 82 snake is moving back to BS759378. At 0707hrs Delta Company the 82 snake has closed on BS759378. At 0925hrs Delta Company the 81 element PZ location is at BS754400. At 0925hrs Delta Company the 81 element is moving to BS756391, the 91 element is moving to the Day Logger at BS747391 and the 51 element is moving to Day Logger at BS753375. At 0915hrs 1-20 Infantry to Delta Company the LZ for you 81element will be at BS722448. Tonight have your element ambushes at the following grids BS720450, BS728450, and BS729448, for the next two days they will lay low in the day and continue to ambush in the same general area. At 1035hrs Delta Company location of the Command Post is BS756374 and the 91 element is at BS744383. At 1310hrs Delta Company the 91 Night Defense is at BS749393, the 93 snake is at BS744385, the 79, 01, and 51 elements Night Defense Position will be at BS748372. The 53 snake is at BS744385, the 81 snake is at BS729448, the 82 snake is at BS728456 and the 83 snake is at BS720450. Tomorrow is the 91 element is moving east to BS760395 and the Command Post is moving north to BS777408. At 1755hrs Delta Company conducts a Combat Assault of Delta 81 from BS754400 to BS722488 1st PZ at 1755hrs and the last LZ at 1809hrs. Shark 9 was on station at 1757hrs and broke station at 1810hrs. At 1835hrs Delta Company the 91 element is moving to BS749393 and Command Post is moving to BS748372. At 1920hrs Delta Company the Command Post Night Defense Position is at BS748372, the 53 snake is at BS756374, the 93 snake is cancelled, the 91element snake is cancelled, and the 91 element is at the Night Defense Position at BS749393. At 2000hrs Delta Company the 83 snake is at BS720450, the 81 snake is at BS729448 and the 82 snake is at BS726453. At 2130hrs Delta Company we spotted 4-5 personnel about 100 meters to the east of our perimeter. We engaged with claymores and small arms fire, there was no body count and we will search out the area in the morning we did find 3 100 pound bags of Rice, hams and assorted canned foods. We also found several articles of Vietnamese pajamas, sweaters, and towels. At 2137hrs IOS sighted 1 stationary light at grid BS787488, we have negative clearance due to the close proximity of friendly and at 2215hrs Radar sighted 15 to 20 personnel at grid BS77774029 we engaged with Artillery 155.
Echo Company
January 18, 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. At 0613hrs 4.2 Platoon reports Observed Mission 3 for a total expended 37 HE and 4 CS rounds. Echo Company Headquarters has the coordination responsibility for Base Defense. At 0901hrs Recon we have destroyed 4 more gardens and 1 bunker at BS787495. At 1245hrs Recon we just destroyed 3 bunkers and at 1250hrs report today we will be working between grids BS787495 and BS791487. Tonight Night Defense Position is at BS792482. Tomorrow we will be working between the Night Defense Position and BS797474. We will be destroying gardens and running the people out of the area. At 1420hrs Recon 1 bunker and seven gardens were destroyed. At 1450hrs Recon our Night Defense Position is at BS793485 and our present location is at BS791491. At 1655hrs Recon we destroyed 9 gardens and 2 bunkers today. At 1930hrs Recon we are in our Night Defense Position at BS793485. Delta Company Morning Report reports PFC Dennis H. Ellis sick to Company B 23rd Medical Battalion 1320hrs and then evac to the 91st Evac Hospital (11B10).