Headquarters and Headquarter Company
January 18, 1971
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 0707hrs 26 Engineers mine sweep is completed and Access road is open. At 0950hrs Warlord 31 is on station requesting clearance APD BOX cleared LT Capps, no friendly in the box. At 1028hrs Warlord 31, in APD Box 38 sighted a cave at BS711488, sighted home type of equipment in the cave and requests clearance to prep the area with their organic guns. Cleared LT Capps, also will insert blues at that location to check it out. At 1134hrs extracting Blues, found 1 cave at the above grid with 1 old hat, cigarette lighter and 1 old skeleton with ribs on the left side caved in. At 1340hrs S-4 Dolphin 223 is on station for re supply. At 1330hrs Warlord 31 vicinity BS680485, is on station to check out the area, broke station at 1345hrs with negative findings. At 1615hrs S-5 LZ Dragon purchased 1 Chi Com and 2 M-79 rounds for 150 piasters Vietnamese from 2 Vietnamese children and rounds destroyed. At 1615hrs Helix 37 is on station, sighted 1 group of approximately 40 civilians at the base of the Mountains vicinity BS720450. All trails on eastern slope have had frequent heavy use. Saw opened wooden crates at BS720470, broke station at 1635hrs. At 1855hrs TMF at 1840 Sting 312 B spotted 2-3 personnel that where moving southeast to northwest metal confirmed and engaged at 1855hrs with 8 VT Artillery 105mm. At 2100hrs Blue Ghost 40 is on station for Box 52 negative findings. At 2135hrs Alpha Company vicinity BS729448, 3rd Platoon element sent out to react of radar sighting. Blue Ghost 40 diverted to area, took 2 to 3 rounds of enemy fire at 2210hrs. Element and Blue Ghost checked out the area with negative findings. At 2240hrs Blue Ghost back on station after refueling, expended on BS726448, (Bunker) also expended on BS720453, broke station at 2300hrs with negative further expenditures or findings. Legend: 1st Platoon 34-39, 2nd Platoon 04-09, 3rd Platoon 94-99, 4th Platoon 54-59, CO-16.
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, 1971
Alpha Company is using Patrol Bases and heavy saturation patrolling in their Area of Operation. At 0731hrs Alpha Company 3rd Platoon is moving out to check out contact area. They found 1 bush hat believed to be NVA at BS714436. It was 6’ off the trail in a dry rice paddy. Trail was heading into the mountains and the patrol believes 1 or 2 personnel had used it recently and no blood trails were spotted and Patrol closed on BS722436. At 0736hrs Alpha Company 1st Platoon in Patrol Base vicinity BS724398, 2nd Platoon in Patrol base vicinity BS705422. At 0858hrs 2nd Platoon patrol moved out to check area where artillery was fired into last night vicinity BS7143, checked area BS713433 and found 2 sets of tracks, 1 near the river vicinity BS712426 and 1 at BS712432, both headed to mountains. At 1145hrs Alpha Company Command Post with 3rd and 4th Platoons at BS728427 for resupply and at 1159hrs reports purchased from 3 Vietnamese children 8 to 12 the following. 1 155 round VT fuse, 1 105 Lot # Negative with VT fuse, paid 6 meals of C Rations for the rounds and they were all destroyed in place. At 1740hrs Alpha Company routine Dust Off for 1 US with sprained ankle vicinity BS724425 Rasmussen and completed at 1753hrs. At 1835hrs Alpha Company 1st Platoon patrol closed vicinity BS724398 and 2nd Platoon patrol closed at BS705422. At 1940hrs Alpha Company Command Post 3rd- 4th Platoon in location BS727447, 1st Platoon Night Defense Position ambush BS724471 and 2nd Platoon ambush BS702426. Alpha Company at 2135hrs is sent out to react to Radar sighting with negative results. Blue Ghost 40 diverted to area, took 2 to 3 rounds of enemy fire at 2210hrs. Element and Blue Ghost checked out the area with negative findings.
Bravo Company
January 18, 1971
At 0713hrs Bravo Company vicinity BS683536, PF Platoon at OP Pax spotted 10 VC/NVA with weapons US spotted personnel but could not confirm weapons. Fire Mission was passed to 155’s at Dragon then checked the area with negative findings. At 0902hrs Bravo Company multiple patrols in their Area of Operation with 1st Platoon Patrol moved out for BS693538, 2nd Platoon at checkpoint 1 at BS673572 and 3rd Platoon patrol at checkpoint 1 vicinity BS699562. At 1101hrs Bravo Company 1st Platoon patrol closed at BS693538, 3rd Platoon patrol has closed at BS699562 and 2nd Platoon patrol closed BS673572. At 1550hrs Bravo Company at OP Woodstock bought 1 Custer bomb with orange firing device from Vietnamese Child 10, paid 1 C-Ration meal and destroyed bomb in place. At 1915hrs Bravo Company Command Post with 3rd and 4th Platoon at BS699562 OP Wink, 1st Platoon at BS693538 at OP Pax, 2nd Platoon at BS673572 OP Woodstock with ambush at BS666575 and 3rd Platoon is at BS703560. At 1958hrs Bravo Company OP Pax vicinity BS693538, had 1 of the Mechanical Ambushes go off and sending a element to check it out and are firing 81mm and Artillery Illumination found 1 Vietnamese hat, will check again at first Light.
Charlie Company
January 18, 1971
Charlie Company is at LZ Bronco for their Stand Down.
Delta Company
January 18, 1971
Delta Company (-) is on LZ Liz and will continued their Security Mission. At 0605hrs Delta Company 1st Platoon ambush closed vicinity BS750564 and at 0630hrs 1st Platoon patrol is moving out for BS737576. At 1325hrs Delta Company 1st Platoon patrol closed on BS753568.
Echo Company
January 18, 1971
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 responsibility for Base Defense. Recon Platoon continued their Security Mission for 1-20 Infantry.