Headquarters and Headquarter Company
January 19, 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 0815hrs Helix 34 is on station, will check Eastern part of the Iron Mountain and Gaza strip south of Nui Ong Do. At 0820hrs MACV Mo Duc requested a Urgent Dust Off for 2 PF and 1 Vietnamese child with small arms wounds to body, completed at 0833hrs US were with the ground element. At 0843hrs 26 Engineers report Access Road is open. At 0844hrs Helix 34 vicinity BS719377 sighted bunkers and wood stacked up against the trees. Also at BS714372 sighted a trail that seemed to be heavy used and headed to the west. At 0845hrs PF 164 ambushed an unknown size VC Unit, results 3 VC KIA, 1 SKS CIA, 2 PF and 1 Vietnamese civilian female WI with gunshot wounds. Dust Off was completed at 0833hrs, 1 of the wounded died while on the ship, 1 female civilian was taken to Quang Ngai. No US witnessed the ambush it is given a F-3 rating Total results 1 PF KIA, 1 PF WIA, 1 civilian injured, 3 VC KIA and 1 SKS CIA. At 0923hrs Helix 34 breaking station and at 0945hrs Primo 4 is braking station with 1 Hour Command and Control Helicopter. At 1125hrs MACV Mo Duc has 2 Hoi Chan, they were picked up by RF 103 element. Both are males, I believed to be district level culture cadre, age 29. I believed to be village finance cadre age 27, also had 1 AK 47. They are at Mo Duc MACV now. They were picked up at 1030hrs and arrived at Mo Duc at 1105hrs. At 1223hrs TMF at 1211hrs String 314 B, unknown number of stationary targets, metal confirmed and at 1213hrs negative clearance because of RD Zone. At 1352hrs S-4 Dolphin 284 is on station for re supply. At 1400hrs Med Cap started, completed at 1530hrs, treated 102 for minor medical ailments and 26 for dental problems, US and Vietnamese dentists, the XO of 23rd Medical was observer. At 1520hrs Mo Duc MACV called Urgent Dust Off for 1 RF, gunshot wound in chest and possible arm fracture. Dust Off called at 1520hrs and completed at 1535hrs. At 1545hrs 2nd Company RF 103, at 1350hrs while on patrol the 2nd Company of 103 RF Battalion received heavy small arms fire from the east. They were temporarily pinned down by an unknown number of VC. There were no US personnel in the area, however a MACV advisor was in a helicopter overhead and estimated approximately 10 VC. The area was engaged with 10 rounds of ARVN 105 artillery from LZ Dragon. After fire mission the contact was broken. An RF LT was wounded in the chest and arms and the company pulled back, evac him to Mo Duc where he was Dusted Off to B 23rd Medical, negative enemy results. At 1720hrs Senior District Advisor MACV Mo Duc, east of LZ Dottie Major Whitt and CPT Odams of MACV were coming from Chu Lai passing a village to the east of LZ Dottie 198th Area of Operations. When they were flagged down by a GI (negro) in Korean fatigues, minus any identification. He asked for a ride to MACV Quang Ngai. He said he was in the US Army and produced a ID card. When asked what unit he was in, he said 1-20 Infantry. Major Witt informed him that he could give him a ride to 1-20 Infantry. He said no thanks that he did not need the ride. When ordered into the jeep by Major Witt he pointed his loaded weapon at them and told them to drive on up the road. They drove off a short distance and called the Military Police. When the Military Police checked the area, they found that the man had been in the village all day and had told them he was with Charlie Company 1-20 Infantry. He had jumped into the back of an ARVN 2 ½ ton truck that was going south just before the Military Police came. At 2225hrs Blue Ghost 44 is on station for Box 52. 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 19, 1971
At 0840hrs Alpha Company 2nd Platoon in Patrol Base BS714435, 1st Platoon BS737404, 3rd Platoon ambush at BS724441 and using some patrolling. At 1057hrs Alpha Company 2nd Platoon patrol closed on checkpoint 1 at BS724435, 3rd Platoon is moving out for BS735436 and 1st Platoon patrol closed vicinity BS737404 and 3rd Platoon patrol closed at BS737404. At 1305hrs Alpha Company 1st Platoon patrol closed at BS737404, 2nd Platoon patrol closed at BS728446 and 3rd Platoon Day Ambush in location at BS745438. At 1935hrs Alpha Company Command Post 3rd and 4th Platoon Night Defense Position BS724444, 1st Platoon BS740393, BS746396, BS738394, 2nd Platoon BS714427, BS724426 and 3rd Platoon BS715427.
Bravo Company
January 19, 1971
At 0940hrs Bravo Company 1st Platoon vicinity BS693537, upon further investigation of the area where Mechanical Ambush detonated last night the 1st Platoon found a pound of rice, Vietnamese cigarettes, assorted shred of clothing and remains of a body. Claymores detonated about 4’ from the body, it was dressed in black over green results l enemy KIA by Mechanical Ambush. At 1046hrs Bravo Company 1st Platoon patrol closed at BS693538, 2nd Platoon moving out for BS735436 and 1st Platoon patrol closed at BS737404. At 2025hrs Bravo Company the Command Post and 3rd and 4th Platoon at BS699562, OP Wink, 3rd Platoon ambush BS699569, 1st Platoon BS693538 OP Pax ambush BS692534, 2nd Platoon BS673572 at OP Woodstock.
Charlie Company
January 19, 1971
Charlie Company is at LZ Bronco for their Stand Down.
Delta Company
January 19, 1971
Delta Company (-) is on LZ Liz and continued their Security Mission. At 1005hrs Delta Company 1st Platoon patrol closed on OP Frag vicinity BS753568. At 1103hrs LATE REPORT Delta Company on DATE/TIME 181300 to 1500hrs, Delta Company Medics from 1st Platoon and Mortar Platoon had a Med. Cap program vicinity BS754574 has treated 30-35 Vietnamese personnel, mostly children who had sores and infection. At 1320hrs Delta Company 1st Platoon patrol is moving out for BS748563, called and had them return to OP Frag. At 1645hrs Delta Company vicinity 755588, 1 US urgent Dust Off, gun shot wound to the lower part of the back toward the right kidney, PFC Scogerboe, completed at 1702hrs. At 1643hrs Delta Company 1st Platoon vicinity BS755588 while on patrol sighted 1 individual with pack dressed in black pajamas. They pursued him he evaded to the northeast, the fired at him and accidentally hit one of the members of the patrol in the back (lower right) he was dusted off at 1702hrs. The Platoon swept the area and had negative finding. The patrol was moving to the east when they sighted the individual paralleling them. They swept toward him, fired a warning shot. He evaded and they engaged, hitting 1 of their own people. Witnesses: 27R, 120M, 124N, 131D, 136R, 104H and 141S was the wounded man. At 1938hrs Delta Company 1st Platoon ambush in location vicinity BS758576. PFC Larry R. Skogerboe was evac to the 91st Evac Hospital.
Echo Company
January 19, 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. At 0955hrs Recon minus returned to LZ Liz.