Headquarters and Headquarter Company
July 18, 1969
Battalion Forward: 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Liz and continued their working with the ARVN units in their Area of Operations. At 0840hrs Charlie Company 39 Engineer at BS790416 mine sweep team ambushed, received 6 60mm Mortar rounds and small arms fire from east, Gun Ships are on station and Command and Control Helicopter 1-20 Infantry is over area and firing stopped at 0855hrs. At 0927hrs Recon 1-20 Infantry conduced a Combat Assault from PZ BS827370 to LZ at 794415 with 29 Pax completed at 0955hrs, LZ was cold and report at 1405hrs negative results on sweep of the area. DELAYED REPORT 39 Engineer at BS716566 reports at DATE/TIME 171615hrs July 1969 a Platoon from Alpha Company was ambushed by estimate VC squad while crossing bridge, 2 US were wounded and apparently fell into river. After contact a search was unable to locate the 2 US that were wounded and apparently fell into river with results 2 US MIA. At 180730hrs July 1969 Battalion Commander 39 Engineer, S-3 1-20 Infantry will meet at LZ Dragon with 4 Regiment to plan search of area and future Security for Engineer work parties. At 1410hrs Recovery team for 2 US MIA was inserted at 1410hrs. At 1430hrs Alpha Company and ARVN effort to recover the 2 US MIA with results 1 US found KIA (I believe that PFC JAMES E. LEACH AS HOSTILE DROWNED IS THE MIA).
Battalion Rear: Battalion Rear continued their Mission for providing general support for the Battalion.
Alpha Company
July 18, 1969
At 0617hrs Alpha Company with the 15 snake closed on Night Defense Position and started moving out at 0900hrs, and Alpha Company set up their Day Logger at BS745449. Alpha Company 83 element continued their multiple patrolling in their Area of Operation. At 1925hrs Alpha Company Night Defense Position site is BS736447, we are in location and the snake is the 83 element at BS729447. At 2024hrs Alpha Company spotted lights at grid BS7145, putting Artillery fire on it. While the 83 elements in snake location spotted some VC/NVA coming up the trail with weapons, Blew claymores and got 3 VC/NVA KIA. Alpha Company the 83 element has closed on Night Defense Position. The 83 element is going back out to check out the area at grid BS729447. At 2215hrs Alpha Company our 83 element checked out, the area where they got 3 NVA KIA, and found: 1 AK47, 2 pack, pistol belt, 4 chi com frag grenades, medical supply and documents and the 83 element has closed. Again at 2225hrs our Night Defense Position is going to check the area again in morning. Serial # of weapon is (19972), year 1954. At 2325hrs Alpha Company our perimeter spotted a couple of VC/NVA moving outside of perimeter, toward the ambush site. The personnel just passed through ambush site heading east along 515, putting in Artillery grid is BS729447. At 2355hrs Alpha Company had trip flare go off fired claymores, negative results.
Bravo Company
July 18, 1969
At 0835hrs Bravo Company are now in their Day Logger at BS765412 with the 16 and the 83 element will provide the security for the bulldozers. The 23 and the 63 element remained in the Day Logger location. At 0920hrs the 83 element at BS764407 are in saturation patrolling of the area, working to the north and south. Bravo Company at 1725hrs spotted 10 packs 500 or 600 meters to our East appear to be men women and children dressed in white clothes, the 63 elements moving out to check it out. At 1750hrs these people turned out to be 4 women and 5 children going to Duc Pho. We believe these people may be leaving because the VC where moving in the area. At 1950hrs Bravo Company in their Night Defense Position at BS764410 and the B66 element snake is moving out to their location.
Charlie Company
July 18, 1969
Charlie Company has the Security Mission for LZ Liz.
Delta Company
July 18, 1969
At 0955hrs Delta Company is located at BS797474. At 1600hrs Delta Company is moved by vehicle to LZ Bronco with Recon at 2015hrs Delta Company at LZ Bronco with the 81element at BS813482 and the 84 element at BS805484.
Echo Company
July 18, 1969
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 0700hrs 4.2 reported 6 observer missions and expended 110 HE and 9 WP rounds. Echo Company Headquarters has the responsibility for Base Defense. At 0645hrs Recon is moving out of Night Defense Position for their Day Logger, will call in location when we arrive. At 0945hrs Recon conduct a Combat Assault starting at 0935hrs 5 Lifts and completed at 0955hrs LZ cold at BS791415. At 1145hrs Recon Platoon reports their Day Logger at BS802411. At 1330hrs Recon plans for tonight and tomorrow our snake will be at BS834390. Tomorrow Recon will sweep from BS834390 to the Blue at BS844390. At 2155hrs Recon Platoon reports that they are in position at this time.