Headquarters and Headquarter Company
September 20, 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 0010hrs TMF S-63C was activated 5 to 6 stationary personnel at BS742607 and with negative clearance due to proximity of friendly. At 0100hrs Brigade Air Calvary Box 50 is clear. At 0115hrs TMF S-68C at BS743622 8 to 10 stationary personnel, negative clearance due to proximity of friendly. At 0645hrs 1-20 Infantry Battalion Commander and AMC departed LZ Liz for Combat Assault. At 0620hrs 1-20 Combat Assault is being 1st PZ was at 0733hrs and last 4th LZ and last at 0758hrs Combat Assault was completed, Battalion Commandeer is in bound to Task Force Honijyio. At 0902hrs 1-20 Infantry Battalion Commander returned to LZ Liz. At 1150hrs Warlords 200900hrs to 201145hrs: 1. at BS695577 found camouflaged sampans, inserted blues at 0930hrs found 300 pounds of rice in jars near streams, destroyed both rice and sampans, 2. At BS694578 found trail leading to base of tree, inserted blues at 0950hrs, found 200 pounds of rice in jars destroyed rice, 3. At BS698577 found camouflaged bunker with fresh boot prints, blues were inserted and followed boot prints and observed 1 NVA and 1 VC, engaged with small arms fire resulting in 2 KIA. CIA 2 Chi Com grenades and documents, Kit Carson Scout believes 1 Document is a diary and the other is information from NVA higher, sending documents to Military Intelligence. At 2130hrs MACV Mo Duc Reference to 2 American POW (collaborators), Report follows: Mr. Dam Man who was the individual captured by the VC came back to his village last night and Bravo Company detained him this morning (unknowingly) and he was evac to Mo Duc for intense questioning. He related that between 1600hrs and 1700hrs on 19 September 1970, 6 VC approached him while he was working in his rice paddy. They forced him to walk to BS729611 where the VC leader and head tax collector questioned him. The VC leader asked him how many rice fields he had he answered that he had 1, the VC asked him how many people in the family, he stated 2, 1 PF and 1 son (11 year old). The VC told him he could keep his rice, but he would have to pay them 15,000 Piasters as down payment. Mr. Nam stated he could not possible raise this much money, the VC dropped the price to 11,000 Piasters as down payment. The VC wrote a note to the local villagers stating that unless they raised 10,000 Piasters they would kill Dam Man. They gave the note to the son and the boy raised 7,000 Piasters from the local villagers and returned to the grid where the VC held his father. The VC stated that Mr. Man would have to raised the remaining 3,000 Piasters and until he did they would keep his ID card, he said that while he was held captive. He spotted 2 Americans coming up from a tunnel in the area, 1 was a Caucasian with long brown hair moustache and sideburns the other was a Negro with short hair and a long face. The Caucasian was wearing a green T-shirt he did not notice what the Negro was wearing. He did not see the Americans carrying a radio however other villagers stated they did see them carry a radio. The total VC group consisted of 6 VC males and 2 VC females and they were armed with 1 pistol, 4 M-16 rifles and 1 M-79. At 2320hrs TMF 2258 S-76 sighted a Stationary Target and engaged at 2315hrs with 16 HE rounds 105 Artillery. MACV at BS766473 requests Urgent Dust Off for 12 civilians, with multiple frag wounds the VC threw a satchel charge into the Thach-Tru Market place. Legend: 1st Platoon 54-59, 2nd Platoon 84-89, 3rd Platoon 34-39, 4th Platoon 04-09 and CO 12.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco.
Alpha Company
September 20, 1970
Alpha Company at 0715hrs 24 element spotted and engaged 1 male VC KIA age 20, 1 M-2 carbine CIA, 1 chi com grenade, documents, 2 personnel evaded to the west. The Documents will be sent in on resupply bird. At 0900hrs Alpha Company (Late Report 1405hrs 19 Sept 70) at 1405hrs at BS665576, 34 OP briefly spotted 2 individuals believed to be US. They were moving from West to East. One Caucasian with sandy hair, the other was a Negroes wearing a helmet, believed to be carrying something, distance was approximately 500 meters, the 34 element moved in their direct and engaged 3 NVA, resulting in 1 NVA KIA. At 1010hrs Alpha Company 12 requested Dust Off at BS675571 for 1 US with fever of unknown origin Temp 103, completed at 1057hrs. At 1200hrs Alpha Company 36 element at BS670580 area where got the KIA checked body, found 2 clips of 10 rounds each of M-16 ammo, rounds weren’t beside body the day before. At 1745hrs Alpha Company at BS675571 at 1645hrs a attached dog handler in Alpha Company Day Logger location spotted a large tan dog through binoculars, on a hill looking over Alpha Company Location. The weight of tan dog appeared to be 35-40 pound; the dog looked to his rear as if to be looking at a hander or a person talking to it then went into brush. The US Dog handler stated the dog was large for being a local dog also appeared to be well disciplined. At 1800hrs Alpha Company 87 element OP at BS66505745 at 1600hrs spotted 1 Negro male at BS665576 moving east to west wearing a steel helmet with camouflage cover, US fatigues with sleeves rolled down and carrying a M-16 rifle. Same as Same location spotted at 1605hrs, a Caucasian male, sandy long hair wearing US fatigues, with no head gear, unknown type weapon, he was moving west to east. They’re where 3 member of the Observation Post, but one 1 made the sighting.
Bravo Company
September 20, 1970
At 0140hrs Bravo Company 54 element has 1 male KIA with M-2 Carbine brown top and green bottoms moving west to east, engaged at 40 meters, 35, also believe to have 2 more KIA will check as soon as possible. At 0835hrs Bravo Company the 54 element has 3 male detainees pick up at BS727613, age 42 and 2 45 all with no ID. At BS724613, 1 male age 40 no ID PR with 54 element engaged 1 female age dressed in pick and black she was evading, results 1 KIA, negative ID PF stated that she was VC. At 0955hrs Bravo Company 34 element received 20 to 30 rounds of small arms fire from BS735607 and request clearance for 81mm and after the 81 has fired check area with negative results. At 0910hrs Bravo Company 55 element found 155 booby-trap with trip wire at BS728610, destroyed in place.
Charlie Company
September 20, 1970
At 1200hrs Charlie Company 57 found 1 dud (155mm) round at BS732414 was destroy in place. At 1510hrs Charlie Company reports the 86 element is moving out for BS727434. At 1710hrs Charlie Company 88 closed on BS722427 and Charlie Company 56 element is moving to BS745405. At 1930hrs Charlie Company 12 element is moving out to BS722425, the 34 element in location at BS730452 and at 1945hrs Charlie Company 26 element is moving out for BS728468 and 38 is moving to BS722449 with 12 at 722425. Also Charlie 57 element is moving to 730422 and 54 in location at 731413. At 2000hrs Charlie Company the 38 element in location at BS722449. At 2040hrs Charlie Company 57 element in location at BS730422, 36 in location at BS728408, 86 element in location at BS717429 and all Mechanical Ambushes in location at BS734465, BS728460, BS720450, BS724445 and BS728443.
Delta Company
September 20, 1970
Task Force Honjyio conducts a Combat Assault and at 1125hrs Delta Company vicinity BS775584 request Routine Dust Off to Delta Company 54 1 US high fever completed 1145hrs use patrolling in their Area of Operation. At 1950hrs Delta Company 84, 12 and 04 elements in location at BS753571. At 1955hrs Delta Company the 54 element in location at BS775584 with 34 in location at BS759565.
Echo Company
September 20, 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. Echo Company Headquarters has the coordination responsibility for Base Defense. PFC Charles J. Bass was attached to 91st Evac Hospital (11B10). Recon Platoon will continue their Security Mission for (1-20 Infantry) TASK FORCE HONIJYO in upcoming Operation.