Headquarters and Headquarter Company
July 23, 1968
Forward Area: 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Thunder and will continued to work with ARVN units in their Area of Operations. At 0200hrs MACV Mo Duc received 25 rounds 60mm mortar rounds and 4.2 mortar returned counter mortar fire. At 0300hrs E Troop dispatched 4 tracks to MACV compound to pick up wounded PF for transport to A & D MACV reports 1 PF KIA and 7 WIA with 4 serious. At 0600hrs for Information at 1715hrs 22 July 1968, LZ Tom at vicinity BS699083 received 10 81mm or 82mm mortar rounds. For Information: Charlie Company 19th Engineer had 7 or 8 vehicles ambush with B-40 and 50 caliber results 14 US KHA, 13 from Engineer, 1 from 173rd Airborne, 1 US WHA 173rd Airborne, 1 ARVN KHA, Trucks damaged, all radios and weapons taken. ARVN on bridge 200 meters away would not go down with tracks to help out the vehicles. Gun ships from LZ Ton came in to aid and repel the attack, with negative assessment. At 0820hrs 1-20 Infantry CPT Robb request a snatch mission to be conducted at 1830hrs from vicinity BS7226 or BS7326 or BS7325. At 1130hrs Message from I Corps classification C3 Intelligent reports indicate VC will launch general attack on cities of South Vietnam starting at 231200hrs. The regular forces will attack from outside of cities and the under ground with sapper units will attack from inside the cities. At 1200hrs Brigade S-3 to 1-20 Infantry have your Charlie Company to continue their mission today, however if a Brigade needs reaction force is required Charlie Company will be used. Inform the TOC as to the number of PAX to lift you would have 9 slicks for lift. At 1200hrs 1-20 Infantry TOC request Swift Boats off coast at BS9129 at 0600hrs tomorrow contact 1-20 Infantry Command frequency purpose to SOP fishing boats from leaving area when operation is started. At 1330hrs 1-20 TOC Command and Control Helicopter at BS836321 detained 1 VCS led them to a hole where they found a VC sewing machine and clothing, will evac sewing machine and destroy clothing. At 1455hrs Colonel Henderson to E Troop sends 4 APC to Bridge 112 at BS811368 each night until further notice. APC may return to Bronco during daylight hours. At 1600hrs 1-20 Infantry TOC request 6-8 PRU from MACV in Duc Pho to work with Delta Company on the 24 July 1968 will pick up at 1300hrs from Duc Pho. At 1700hrs S-2 1-20 Infantry request 2 dogs and handlers to work with Bravo Company for 3 days and will pick up will be 0800hrs 24 July 1968 at Southeast pad. At 2013hrs Late Entry 1-20 Infantry TOC Delta Company 19th engineer found a B40 rocket approximately 500 meters south of bridge 104. Round was complete and in good condition. PF said VC dropped rocket and evaded to west upon approach of mine sweep team found at BS886284. On July 22, 1968 Charlie Company 19 Engineer reports the following KIA PVT GEORGE NATHAN DAVIS, SSGT HUGH MOZELL DAVIS, 1LT DAVID MICHAEL DROB, CPT SIEGFRIED LOUIS, SP4 DAVID BRUCE KELLY, SP5 ROGER DALE SHAFER, SP4 JERRY LEE SHULTZ, SSGT VALENTINE TUCKER PFC MARC GREGORY VAN DALSEN AND SGT GARY ROBERT WILLEKE FROM 137 ENGINEER 19 ENGINEER LISEDED AS KIA.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. At 0155hrs MACV Duc Pho received 4-6 satchel charges or mortar rounds and small arms fire from BS820367. 11th Brigade scrambled Fare Ship and Sharks and fired on suspected position, with negative assessment. Bronco Base Defense placed on yellow alert stood down from yellow alert to green at 0220hrs.
Alpha Company
July 23, 1968
At 0800hrs Alpha Company is located at BS848316. At 0944hrs Alpha Company at BS824326 detained 1 VCS says he will show Alpha Company where 3 VC area hiding in a hole. At 1045hrs Alpha Company at BS832327 found a tunnel goes down 3’ 2’ in diameter, goes left for 8’ will destroy. At 1200hrs Alpha Company has closed on LZ Thunder and taken over the Security Mission for LZ Thunder.
Bravo Company
July 23, 1968
Bravo Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Thunder. At 0735hrs Bravo Company at BS847324 found a dead VC killed by artillery approximately 30, with white PJ shirt and black bottoms, the body had been dragged into a hootch. Artillery had been fired on that location last night where Alpha Company received small arms fire would check out further. At 0800hrs Bravo Company at BS826335 and at 1200hrs Bravo Company is at BS867342. At 1610hrs Bravo Company at BS832331 detained 6 VCS which Military Intelligence interrogated in field and classified VCS. At 1750hrs Bravo Company located at BS879342 detained 1 VCS, no ID, and gave interpreter 3 different ages. At 1821hrs Bravo 10, Command Post at Night Defense Position at BS879345, 22 at BS874350, 31 at BS871342 and 32 at BS875339.
Charlie Company
July 23, 1968
At 0800hrs Charlie Company is located at BS822398. At 1200hrs Brigade S-3 to 1-20 Infantry have your Charlie Company continue their mission today, however if a Brigade reaction force is required Charlie Company will be used. Inform TOC as to the number of PAX to lift. You would have 9 slicks to lift. At 1821hrs Charlie Company reports their locations 20, 30, with Command Post in their Night Defense Position at BS826397 with ambushes at 11 BS804407, 12 BS817402 and 13 BS843394.
Delta Company
July 23, 1968
Delta Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Charlie Brown. At 1430hrs 1-20 Infantry TOC to Delta Company: 1 Platoon of Delta Company will be picked up at Charlie Brown by Mike Boat at 0500hrs will move to BS925275 and go into a blocking position at BS918281 and will be in block NLT (no later then) 0600hrs then at end of day will be moved back to Charlie Brown by APC. At 1600hrs 1-20 Infantry TOC request 6-8 PRU from MACV in Duc Pho to work with Delta Company on the 24 July 1968 will pick up at 1300hrs from Duc Pho. At 1821hrs Delta 3rd Platoon and Command Post is at Charlie Brown, Delta 1st Platoon at BS907206, and Delta 20 at BS920204. At 1948hrs Delta 10 ambush at 914208, Delta 2nd Platoon ambush at BS918206 and BS922206. SP4 Ted L. Casey was sick and at 1730hrs evac to the 2nd Surgical Hospital and was attached.
Echo Company
July 23, 1968
Echo Company is located at LZ Thunder where Battalion Forward is and coordinates with the Battalion Rear Elements and Base Defense elements on LZ Thunder. The 4.2 Platoon is located on LZ Thunder where they continue to provide direct fire support for the Battalion. At 0815hrs Recon Platoon extraction was completed to Minh Long Special Forces Camp.