Headquarters and Headquarter Company
May 18, 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. At 0930hrs 1-20 Infantry reports Late Entry had a POW escape when they were at 100% Alert and have not found him as of 0930hrs. At 0933hrs Delta Company moved out to the area northwest of Alpha Company 4-21 Infantry, LTC Beers and colonel gelling have discussed the location at 0035. Bravo Company Lift completed at 1128hrs with 17 sorties. Delta Company 3-1 Infantry will sweep south from Fire Support Base Ryder to AT9332. Alpha Company 4-21 Infantry will sweep south to vicinity AT9932.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. At 0057hrs 11th Brigade Bravo Company 4-21 vicinity BS930224 at 0038hrs received 9 rounds 60mm mortar rounds at the same time lost contact with Track on a bridge near there at BS920233 no casualties or damage reported at this time. 3 WHA was reported on LZ Charlie Brown, 762 Transportation reports 1 KHA, 1 MHA and 11 WHA (E). At 0630hrs sent out patrol to track and track had been hit by recoilless, destroyed radio communications, 1 WHA (M). At 1310hrs Bravo Company vicinity BS930224 at 0038hrs reference entry at 0057hrs received unknown # of RPG-2 and RPG-7 rockets with 1 bunker destroyed also a mess hall in the area received a direct hit from a mortar round. The 264 Transportation Company TS they attached to at Naval Base a SA Hyunh reports SP4 MARK JERALD CARTER DOW, SP4 CHRISTOPHER J. SCHERER AND SGT CARL EUGENE SHIRLEY LISTED AS KHA.
Alpha Company
May 18, 1968
At 0415hrs Alpha Company 1-20 Infantry on Hill 352 (BT075222) receiving heavy probe small arms fire from the north northwest side with 3 WIA with 1 WHA (E) return fire with claymore and small arms fire and 81mm Illumination and requests gun ships, if available, 0530hrs probed again with automatic fire. At 0530hrs Alpha Company reports being probed again receiving automatic weapons fire. Dust Off for Alpha 12 4-31 Infantry at 0635hrs with Warlord gun ships where not able to make Dust Off for Alpha Company 4-31 Infantry and made Alpha Company1-20 Infantry. At 0847hrs Delta Company 1-6 Infantry is combat assaulted into Hill 352. At 0859hrs Alpha Company Infantry is air lifted out and returned to LZ Ross completed and return to the control of the 1st Battalion 20th Infantry and took over the Security Mission for LZ Ross. SP4 David L. Thompson was evac to 95th Evac Hospital.
Bravo Company
May 18, 1968
Bravo Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Ryder and will be conducting local Security Patrols in their Area of Operation. At 1435hrs Bravo Company with 88 packs is airlift out of LZ Center area at BT056227 to LZ Ryder starting at 0907hrs 8 sorties and returned to control of the 1-20 Infantry finished 1128hrs. Bravo Company takes over the Security Mission for LZ Ryder.
Charlie Company
May 18, 1968
Charlie Company remains OPCON to the 1-6 Infantry and their location is 057270. Charlie Company reports the following PFC Ronald L. Scott and SP4 Howard Holland where evac to the 27th Evac Hospital.
Delta Company
May 18, 1968
Delta Company conducts a Search and Destroy operation to the Northwest of LZ Ross to at position at 0035 area. Delta Company Night Defense Position is at 008217. At 2109hrs Delta Company on LZ Ross reports received 2 CS grenades inside perimeter on south side also 2 82mm mortar rounds no casualties or damage and fire counter mortar fire. At 2114 Delta Company received automatic weapons fire and 1 60mm round from 175 degrees approximately 500 and return fire with 81mm Mortars. PFC James R, Smith was attached to the 95th Evac Hospital.
Echo Company
May 18, 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. At 1809hrs Recon Platoon reports engaged 20 NVA with weapons and packs moving east fire Artillery killing four at 003388.