Headquarters and Headquarter Company
February 23, 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 0105hrs MACV, LZ Max, reports receiving small arms fire, hand frag grenades and 60mm mortars, 4.2 Platoon fired Illumination in support. Fire came from south and southeast and southwest. At 0145hrs LZ Max has requested Nighthawk as enemy is breaking contact. (further Read Out) The OP west of LZ Max came under ground attack and Max, Thach-Tru received Mortar attack, Results 2 VC KIA, 1 AK47 CIA, 3 friendly RF KIA, 6 RF WIA and 2 RF MIA. At 0230hrs Saber 45 is on station for Box 60. At 0140hrs MACV vicinity BS764472 request Urgent Dust Off for 1 RF with chest, back and arm wounds received during contact, also 1 priority with wounds arms and legs. As a result of sweep of area after contact broke, Dust Off completed at 0258hrs. At 0305hrs Saber 45 has broke station. At 0320hrs Saber 45 is on station for Box 69. At 0355hrs Saber 45 at vicinity BS655585 and is breaking station after checking out Box 39. Above grid sighted straw cut and bundled, 3 or 4 fields worth and a lot of activity in the area. At 0430hrs Mo Duc vicinity BS764472 request Dust Off for 2 Urgent and 3 Priority, completed at 0258hrs. At 0812hrs Primo 6 is on station for Command and Control Helicopter. At 1130hrs MACV has estimate from Thach Tru village chief, approximately 60 VC in the attack. Strike force came from vicinity BS768507 south to BS788473 moved west to BS773468 where contact was made at 2000hrs with RF 103. Results of this contact were 2 VC KIA, 1 M-16 CIA, 3 RF WIA. The VC then broke into 3 groups and moved to BS769465, BS753466 and BS760468 and conducted their attack at 0200hrs with mortar support from BS748465. OP on west end of Max was overrun resulting in 3 RFKIA, 7 RF WIA, 2 RF MIA, 5 VC KIA, 1 AK 47 CIA, 2 M-16 CIA, 22 VC hand frag CIA. Mortaring of village resulted in 9 houses destroyed 1 Vietnamese civilian KIA, 7 Vietnamese Civilian WIA (Dusted Off to Quang Ngai by Lambretta). Attacking force, which over ran OP was estimated Platoon size, approximately 25 persons. Initial estimate was either sapper Platoon or Recon 38 Battalion, KIA were all 18 to 20 years old, short hair, wearing sapper briefs and very healthy. At least 1 RPG –2 was in evidence. Sappers/Recon moved west after contact to Iron Mountain area, other elements moved back base vicinity BS788472. Between 0200hrs and 0300hrs VC set up loudspeaker in the area of "Shell Station" and broadcast propaganda and music while attack was going on vicinity BS769429. At 1615hrs Q Company left hill 103 Nui Vong at 1615hrs arrived at LZ Snoopy at 1730hrs, were picked up by trucks and moved to LZ Liz Access Road. At 1640hrs 4th ARVN Command Post and 1 company 3-4 ARVN is at BS659500 and 2 Companies 200 to 300 meters around Command Post locations, (West) is B-29 1 Company at BS689508. At 1720hrs Primo 4 is braking station (time 30 minutes). At 1810hrs Helix is on station. Legend: 1st Platoon 02-07, 2nd Platoon 42-47, 3rd Platoon 92-97, 4th Platoon 52-57, CO-01.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco.
Alpha Company
February 23, 1971
At 0730hrs Alpha Company 2nd Platoon ambush closed vicinity BS710489. At 0940hrs Alpha Company 2nd Platoon patrol is at BS712460, Day Ambush in location at BS710489. Also the 3rd Platoon is moving out for Patrol Base vicinity BS675507, 1st Platoon is moving out for Patrol Base vicinity BS689499. At 1735hrs Alpha Company 2nd vicinity BS712467 on patrol found a fresh grave, 1-2 days old off the side of a trail. They dug up the grave and 1 NVA LBA with large shrapnel wounds to the neck and face. He was dressed in green uniform and had 1 empty rucksack and (empty) ammo pouch. Possible incident for KBA location was (21 February 71 2125hrs Radar Mission BS715460, 3-5 stationary). At 1845hrs Alpha Company all patrols closed, Command Post, 2nd, 4th Platoon in location at BS717466. At 1935hrs Alpha Company located vicinity BS689501, 3rd Platoon requests Urgent Dust Off for 2 US who hit booby trap with a hand frag (unknown type firing device) will check it further at first Light. Element was in Night Logger Position got dark quickly and the people stepped on it moving around the position, results multiple frag wounds upper body and face Melin M-7921, Gonzales G-0719 multiple frag wounds to left leg, broken below knee (Bad) and Dust Off was completed at 1952hrs. At 2031hrs Alpha Company Command Post, 1st, 4th Platoon at BS717466, 1st Platoon BS705483 and 2nd Platoon ambush at BS712467 and 3rd Platoon at BS705483. The booby trap was believed to be a coke can with a 4" stake tied to a bush with black nylon trip wire. SP4 Anthon Gonzales and SP4 Jon H. Melin was evac to the 91st Evac Hospital.
Bravo Company
February 23, 1971
Bravo Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Liz.
Charlie Company
February 23, 1971
At 1835hrs Charlie Company 1st Platoon patrol moving to vicinity of BS675540. At 2030hrs Charlie Company 1st Platoon ambush BS675540, 3rd Platoon in Night Logger Post vicinity BS707552. At 2125hrs Charlie Company OP Wink vicinity BS703562, had a Mechanical Ambush go off approximately 300 meters to the east of their perimeter, engaged the area with small arms fire and M-79. Will check the area at first light also engaged with 81mm HE rounds.
Delta Company
February 23, 1971
At 0733hrs Delta Company 1st Platoon is moving to BS7254387 as Delta Company continued their multiple patrolling in their Area of Operation. At 1210hrs Delta Company 3rd Platoon patrol at checkpoint 2 vicinity BS735430 and 2nd Platoon patrol is at checkpoint 2 at BS699429. At 1500hrs Delta Company 2nd Platoon patrol closed at BS701422, 1st Platoon patrol closed on BS721439 and the 3rd Platoon has closed on BS720420 and BS735430. At 2001hrs Delta Company Command Post, 1st and 4th Platoon is at BS722472, and 1st Platoon ambush is at BS721437, 2nd Platoon ambush BS708426 and 3rd Platoon ambushes at BS747433 and BS745423.
Echo Company
February 23, 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.