Headquarters and Headquarter Company
May 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 0415hrs 1-20 Infantry TOC Radar at 1945hrs 3 to 5 stationary personnel were sighted at BS809427 and engaged with 8 HE were sighted at BS809427 and engaged with Artillery 105mm. At 2010hrs TMF sighted personnel were sighted at BS788468 with negative clearance and Charlie Company at 2035hrs 12 to 15 stationary personnel were sighted at BS788468 and engaged with 14 HE of Artillery 155mm. At 2145hrs 6 to 10 stationary personnel were sighted at BS782391 and negative clearance was given with Charlie Company. At 2355hrs 10 to 15 stationary personnel were sighted at BS707414 and engaged with 46 HE of Artillery 105mm. At 0545hrs 2 to 6 stationary personnel were sighted at BS815458 and engaged with 16 HE of Artillery 105mm. At 0810hrs Charlie Company 4-3 Infantry we are in our security location at BS765513. At 1155hrs 26 Engineer at grid BS771409 we found 1 body it was starting to decompose, was dressed in black, and was 24 to 25 years of age, will bury it. At 1200hrs 26th Engineer 1 dossier hit a dead tree, the top fell off and hit him on the left shoulder he was sent in for X rays from grid BS770510. At 1515hrs 26 Engineer we destroyed 9 bunkers, 8 fighting positions, 1 62mm round and assorted ammo with 50 rounds of 50 caliber and 20 round of AK ammo. Along with 50 pounds of rice also destroyed at present there are 5 D7 operational and 1is deadline. Tractors working hours were 35 for 18 May 1970. We used 50 gallons of fuel and used 3.5 pounds of C4. At 1645hrs Charlie Company 4-3 Infantry all element are in the night logger at BS795525. At 1745hrs Commanders will limit vehicular traffic outside the base areas to only traffic required for operations. At 1903hrs 1-20 Infantry we request a routine Dust Off for 1 US with a temp of 105, completed at 1908hrs Name Donald White of Alpha Company. At 1955hrs Charlie Company 4-3 Infantry the mine dogs need switched tomorrow and the change to be made at the working site. At 2000hrs Alpha Company was informed they could fire Defense Targets and H & I on the access road. At 2315hrs the mine dog will be at the southeast pad at 1100hrs to go to LZ Dragon and to pick up the other dog. Brigade will call when the dog is at LZ Bronco.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. At 1050hrs Bravo Company on the road to the 34 location a dump truck hit a 155mm or 8" booby trap in the road. 1 US has minor wound and the truck was destroyed Engineer. I have a PFC Charlie Company 26 Engineer PFC James R. (SP can’t read), treated and released Bn Aid Station Frag wound knee.
Alpha Company
May 18, 1970
Alpha Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Liz. Americal Division announced a temporary cease of offensive operations from 181200 to 191200 May 1971 in honor of Budda birthday. US forces will not initiate offensive operation during the period but will take all action necessary for self-defense. At 1903hrs 1-20 Infantry request routine Dust Off for one US with a temp of 105 completed at 1908hrs name, is Donald White of Alpha Company from LZ Liz. At 2000hrs Alpha Company was informed they could fire Defense targets and H& I on the access road and at 2030hrs Alpha Company snakes on access road are in location.
Bravo Company
May 18, 1970
At 0120hrs Bravo Company the 54 element received a couple of small arms fire and some sort of incoming, one round and fired Illumination and checked out the area with negative findings, grid BS778445, the fire came from the west possibly Kim Giao. Bravo Company continued to use multiple patrolling as they Search and Clear in their Area of Operation. Americal Division announced a temporary cease of offensive operation from 181200 to 191200 May 1970 in honor of Buddha’s birthday. US forces will not initiate offensive operation during the period but will take all action necessary for self-defense. At 1050hrs Bravo Company on the road to the 34 location a dump truck hit a 155 or 8" booby trap in the road. One US had a minor wound (Engineer) and the truck was destroyed. Bravo Company Base defense grids are one clear and 2nd was not and the Bravo Company 35 element is in location. At 2330hrs Bravo Company Command Post reports they took 5 rounds of incoming 2 were duds with 3 explosions believed to be 81mm, with negative casualties or damage. The mortar position was a BS793436 and landed west of our perimeter.
Charlie Company
May 18, 1970
At 0720hrs Charlie Company all snakes are in their location with 54 still moving to BS774386, 74 moving to BS786377, and 34 is moving to BS784384. At 0830hrs Charlie Company we want you to stop at your present location at the main gate of Bronco. At 0820hrs Charlie Company a Vietnamese child walked into the 84 Night Defense Position with an old 60mm round, we paid 250 Vietnamese dollars for the round on the VIP fund at grid BS774386. At 0835hrs Americal Division announced a temporary cease of offensive operation from 181200 to 191200 May 1971 in honor of Buddha’s birthday. US forces will not initiate offensive operations during the period but will take all action necessary for self-defense. At 1220hrs Charlie Company the Night Defense Position for the Command Post is at BS790383, the 38 element is at BS782384, the 78 element is at BS784376 and the 58 element is at BS786394. At 1815hrs Charlie Company we found 1 NVA rucksack about a week ago it was buried. In it was a pair of black pajamas and a US towel which we found it in our Day Logger. At 1910hrs Charlie Company is moving into their Night Defense Position at BS786388 with 56 moving to BS782396, 38 to BS778386 and the 78 going to BS785680 and at 2130hrs Charlie Company spotted one mortar flash at 786370 and engaged with Artillery 105mm and 81mm Mortar. We also spotted a mortar flash at BS794361 and working over the area with 155mm. The 78 element has movement to their front and is moving forward to engage and at 2210hrs the 78 heard movement and metal clanking moving west from the suspected mortar position at BS786370 and we are walking artillery into the area.
Delta Company
May 18, 1970
At 0240hrs Delta Company all elements are moving to their block locations, the 34 from BS748442 to BS755443 and the 74 block from BS754447 to BS746445 and all elements in position by 0350hrs. At 0605hrs Delta Company the sweep force has started in moving to BS757448 to BS755444 by 0700hrs Delta Company completed with negative findings and all elements are returning to our Night Defense Position. At 0835hrs Americal Division announced a temporary cease of offensive, from 181200 till 191200 May 1970 in honor of Buddha’s birthday. US forces will not initiate offense operations during the period but will take all action necessary for self-defense. At 0835hrs Delta Company the 39, 54 and the 94 elements are at BS753459, the 34 element is at BS768465 and the 74 element is at BS756458. At 0930hrs Delta Company the 39 and 94 had a Vietnamese Child give them a 60mm for which they paid 200 Vietnamese dollars which they blew in place. At 2045hrs Delta Company reported all elements in their snake location and their Night Defense Position.
Echo Company
May 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 4.2 Platoon reports Fires Mission 1 for a total expended of 10 HE rounds. Echo Company Headquarters has the coordination responsibility for Base Defense. At 0650hrs Recon the 53 element is at BS768507, the 54 element is at BS771508 and the 55 element is at BS773510. At 0835hrs Americal Division announced a temporary cease of offensive, from DATE/TIME 181200 till 191200 May 1970 in honor of Buddha’s birthday. US forces will not initiate offense operations during the period but will take all action necessary for self-defense. At 0850hrs Recon Platoon we will have snakes tonight 53 at BS788461, 54 at BS793472 and the 55 at BS785461. At 1631hrs Recon the 53 snake is at BS781461, the 54 element is moving to BS793472 and the 55 snake is moving to BS785461. At 1900hrs the Kit Carson Scout was checking a tunnel when a VC popped up and threw a Chi Com grenade resulting in 1 VC KIA, approximately 25 and wearing a gray shirt and blue pants at grid BS784465, negative casualties. At 2045hrs Recon the 55 element engaged 2 VC with packs at BS785461 and found 2 VC KIA in checking out the area. Two flash lights, 2 pistol belts, 2 ponchos and 1 45 Caliber pistol. 1 of them said he was VC before he died. Recon thinks they were officers. The 55 element is in their position and spotted 2 VC with packs through their starlight and they walked into the kill zone.