Headquarters and Headquarter Company
July 21, 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 0002hrs TMF at 2349hrs String 68B was activated on a stationary target with metal confirmation. They shot at 2354hrs a total of 8 VT 105 Artillery rounds, Visual Recon team was requested at 0430hrs but no team was available. At 0500hrs 1-20 Infantry MACV Mo Duc was given second and final summary of Area of Operations events of 1-20 Infantry for 20 July 1970. At 0840hrs 26 Engineer at 0800hrs at grid BS737674 HQ 137 hit a 155mm round booby trapped with pressure release with no damage or casualties. At 1015hrs FAC 32 spotted 1 Vietnamese in black pajamas at BS771368 evaded into the tree line. Spotted 3 Vietnamese in black pajamas at grid BS774369 evaded into the tree line. Civilians in the area did not evade and lead to believe the 4 person were VC requested Visual Recon Team from Brigade and negative available. At 2000hrs TMF at 1955hrs String 66 was activated on target Bravo, 6 people moving northwest to southeast at 3 miles per hour, with metal confirmation. Engaged with 8 HE VT 105 Artillery rounds were fired at 2003hrs Visual Recon Team requested but negative from Brigade available. At 2008hrs Brigade all Combat Assault requests will be to Brigade, no later then 1000hrs the day prior to the execution day. At 2100hrs MACV Mo Duc conversation with Major Whitt Mo Duc, reference combined operations with Delta Company and PF/NPFF at 100hrs today- 3 VC KIA consisted of 1 VCI and 2 VC local guerallas-1 suspected VC and 1 suspected VC that was WIA was later classified as an innocent civilian. Only 5 of the 13 civilians in Major Bassett’s area were taken to Mo Duc District for questioning. At 22030hrs Brigade Intelligence at grid BS774422 and BS774417 C-4 rating, comes from DIOCC at above grids there are 40 VC of the C 219 unit, are well armed Mission to harass AN-Nam "H" at BS789419 in next few nights. LEGEND: 1st Platoon 24-29, 2nd Platoon 34-39, 3rd Platoon 54-59, 4th Platoon 14-19, CO 20.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. SP4 Kenneth Jones was attached to 91st Evac Hospital Medic with Bravo Company with Frag Wound to left to left shoulder.
Alpha Company
July 21, 1970
At 1018hrs Alpha Company at BS613494 found 1 Bunker with 21/2’ entrance with room 6X8 with what appears to be negative use. At 1029hrs Alpha Company is located at BS613494 and notified that they would be returning to 1-20 Infantry control possible in morning. Alpha Company continued their Day and Night ambushes and Search and Clear Operations in their Area of Operation.
Bravo Company
July 21, 1970
Bravo Company continued their joint Operations with PF and RF units on their Hamlet Pacification and security of Highway 1. At 0605hrs Bravo Company 38 element is in their Day Logger at BS722639. At 0825hrs Bravo Company 34 element at BS739674 found in several hootches and area around them, 1 small tunnel, 3 bunkers (5 X 7), 1 camouflaged well, 1 bog of 81mm explosives. Also 1 bandoleer M-16 ammo with 7 magazines, 1 bag of metal frag pieces, 25 pounds of corn with 1 booby trap pull release type Chin Com in hole. An additional tunnel was 45’ long 3’ wide horseshoe shape, inside were 2 booby trap pits (Chi Com grenade pull type release) disarmed, enemy possible there last night. At 0915hrs Bravo Company and 26 Engineer at BS741676 received 2 books (1 full of medical records) and other (full of political records) from RF Company #143. At 1002hrs Bravo Company the 34 element Propaganda team found 2 AK-44 single shot type rifles in fair shape at grid BS738674. 1 member of the team had intelligence of weapons in area, checked area turned in the weapons, the Vietnamese RF unit will keep both weapons. At 1130hrs Bravo Company at BS742611 the 34 element found 1 250 pound bomb empty of explosives with pull type booby trap in hole- approximately 21 pounds of explosive, 40 to 50 M-60 rounds, 1 bayonet for AK-47 and 1 bunker 6 X5 X 3. At 1245hrs Bravo Company at BS742677 the 34 element has found 1 rocket 2.5’ long and 5" in diameter, shipping plug still in it #H337, Engineer say it is a navy 5" round. At 1305hrs Bravo Company Routine Dust Off for 1 Vietnamese child at BS733653 gunshot wound to the upper leg. Also 1 US bit by an unknown type of insect at the 34 element location at BS741680, Line # 19 Bird # 81 will pick up both and Dust Off was completed by 1355hrs. At 1730hrs Bravo Company the 26 and 27 elements took sniper fire small arms and M-79 fire from 300 meters to the northeast from 5 to 8 enemies. Gun ships requested at 1740hrs and on station at 1755hrs broke station at 1815hrs. Gun Ship did expend into the contact area and the 26 and 27 elements returned small arms fire and swept the area with negative findings. At 1840hrs Bravo Company the 26 and 27 elements today along with propaganda team finding 2 AK44 rifles, the 26/37 elements received sniper fire. Results 1 US shot in the back HHC medic for Bravo Company (I believe it was SP4 Kenneth Jones from Headquarters and Headquarter Company was Dust Off to 91 EVAC Hospital with Frag Wound Left Shoulder ) Dust Off with gun ships requested then cancelled. As Primo 5 said he’d make the Dust Off, element is still taking the returning small arms fire, Dust Off was completed to LZ Bronco at 1847hrs. At 1850hrs Bravo Company reports 1 PF from 144 PF Platoon received gun shot wound to arm and back also 1 US SGT 1st Platoon Cobbs, twisted ankle also 1 medic WIA, Dust Off to LZ Bronco as Primo returned and made Dust Off completed at 1905hrs to LZ Bronco SSGT Robert W. Cobbs, treated at 23 Medical for twisted right leg SP4 Kenneth Jones from Headquarters and Headquarter Company was evac to 917. At 2025hrs Bravo Company Command Post at BS733653, 1 VC Chieu Hoi age 21, wearing all black, female walked into their perimeter. The PF brought her to the US. He name is Trinh Thi Mia. She was a mess steward or cook for the local VC force in Duc Heai. Passed to LT Bainbridge that Chieu Hoi will go to Military Bronco on 220730 July 1970 by (1-20 Infantry ) LOH. At 2213hrs Bravo Company 35 element patrol in morning to grid BS752674 to investigate the Vietnamese kids’ report of booby traps in area, time 0700hrs Patrol will move out. At 2240hrs Bravo Company initial readout read out from Chieu Hoi at Bravo Company Individual is a mess steward/cook for three enemy units C-19, C-45 and 83 Battalion, stated that C-19 has 20-25 men armed with AK and M-79, the 83 Battalion has 1 82mm mortar. The C-45 and 83 Battalion have left the area, is moving north, individual thinks but is not sure, that these elements will return at the end of July to attack some area in the Area of Operation. The rear area of C-45 and 83 Battalion are kept, it location in Nui Cay, at Duc Luong 22 men are located at Duc Heai 20 men with M-16, individual weapons, green uniforms are located. These are guerrillas at Duc Heai, individual stated that the VC in area of Nui Cay are planting mines there in tall trees because this is the area where the Engineers will move next. The Individual said she rallied because 1. She has been separated from her family (her home is Chou Me in Mo Duc) 2. She believed that the recent and future operations of the engineers would discover her hiding place in Nui Cay.
Charlie Company
July 21, 1970
Charlie Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Liz with the security mission for the Access Road.
Delta Company
July 21, 1970
At 0610hrs Delta Company the 34 elements is moving to BS741676 with all mechanical ambushes taken in. Delta Company Combat Assault at 1130hrs Delta Company and PF unit from BS753565 to BS718567 and at 1140hrs Delta Company 38 moving out of LZ vicinity BS718567, has one VC KIA green uniform and 1 M-16 CIA. Also 1 WHA gunshot to leg, WIA has some type of pouch with him. He approximately 50 meter in front of Delta Company 38 will check him out when the element reaches him. Delta at BS718567 we have 1 KIA the PF identified as Uncle of one of the PF and 1 bandoleer of M-16 ammo and 1 WIA which PF are taking care of (flesh wound) along with 10 female detainee age 18-25 and MACV S-2 have 3 CIA. Delta Company they have 1 KIA at BS716565 green uniform 35years old, with US web belt, diary. At 1330hrs The PRU said he is definitely VC, No weapon. At 1900hrs Delta Company at BS763575 the 14 element found 1 M-16 found in hedgerow and covered by vegetation, also 5 full magazines, and 1 US Frag. The Chieu Hoi led Delta Company to a weapon (serial # 1539608) will attempt to pay for weapon under VIP. At 2325hrs Delta Company at grid BS752571 the 34 element received sniper fire 300 meters southwest of Night Defense Position from wood line. The 34 and 54 spotted mussel flash in tree and both elements returned fire. Called for artillery illumination to check area out, couldn’t get illumination close enough because of approximately to Ville for canister impact, negative findings, will check in the morning, there were 25 to 30, sniper rounds fired, found 3 spider holes 2 months old in tree line.
Echo Company
July 21, 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. At 2314hrs Recon Platoon the element is moving out, delayed because of a bad tire also had to wait for Vietnamese.