Headquarters and Headquarter Company
October 28, 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 0644hrs TMF Fire Mission called 0640hrs String 61, Target B stationary personnel with metal confirmation, negative clearance due to RD Zone. At 0925hrs SITREP from MACV Mo Duc: Vietnamese Civilians vicinity BS725604 (Kum Kuong) state 5 US from Charlie Company were involved in a manhandling incident which injured 5 Vietnamese males (3 currently on Highway 1 and 2 other at grid of incident). Major Witt at scene of incident continues investigation. CPT Donovan informed of accusations continues to investigate his elements. At 1010hrs S-5 CPT Garofino at scene and reports investigation being conducted on Delta Company (see Delta Company). At 1127hrs Request Area of Operation Extension for 4-21 Date/Time/Grid ASAP to 292400hrs October 1970 from BS790413 along highway 1 to BS783430 to 4-21 Infantry present Boundary, Approved by CPT Parker. At 1220hrs Area of Operation Extension for the 4 ARVN Regiment Date/Time/Grid 281800hrs to 102400hrs November 1970 Company 1-4 Battalion BS723580 to BS757480 to BS775440 to BS720445 with the 4 Recon BS760508 to BS795524 to BS813476 to BS775470. At 1230hrs MAJ Witt request this message be sent: to Brigade Provost Marshall: While traveling south on highway 1 at 35 miles per hour through snipers gap when a convoy lead by an MP vehicle passed him going over speed limit. Talked with SGT Anderson of Vehicle X129 who said the reason they were going so fast is because he was in snipers gap. MAJ Witt told SGT Anderson the speed limit was same for convoys as anyone else and told him he would report this incident to Provost Marshall. MAJ Witt states convoy was not going too much over limit, but was over the limit. Legend 1st Platoon 03-08, 2nd Platoon 53-58, 3rd Platoon 83-88, 4th Platoon 63-68 and CO 02.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. 2LT Francis Robinson was attached to 91st Evac Hospital.
Alpha Company
October 28, 1970
At 0815hrs Alpha Company is moving into LZ Liz to take over Security Mission at 1640hrs. Alpha Company reference SPOT REPORT of 27 October 1500hrs, 53 element found a booby trap of unknown type with pressure type device was a mound of fresh dirt with firing device sticking up about one inch above the dirt. Weather conditions caused an immediate extraction of the element and their prisoners before the Booby trap could be destroyed in Place. 42 rounds of 155mm were fired into the area after extraction at grid BS673506.
Bravo Company
October 28, 1970
Bravo Company has an Urgent Dust Off for 1 US with multiple frag to the legs PFC Westover. Dust Off completed at 1335hrs. He hit a booby trap at grid BS739614 while walking point for the 03 element. Booby trap was pressure release on a trail, unknown size. Dust Off chopper took 10 rounds of AK fire 200 meters northwest of PZ. The 03 element returned fire with unknown results, and at 1855hrs Bravo Company 84 at BS732620, 04 at BS726628, and the 54 element is at BS730615. SP4 Kelly B. Westover was evac to 91st Evac Hospital.
Charlie Company
October 28, 1970
At 0925hrs Vietnamese civilians vicinity BS725609 state 5 US personnel from Charlie Company were in a manhandling incident which injured 5 Vietnamese (3 currently on highway 1 and 2 others at grid of incident. Major Witt at scene of incident continues investigation, was not Charlie Company involved but Delta Company. At 1920hrs Charlie Company element locations as follows 03 at BS740621, 53 at BS720625 and the 07 element at BS743614.
Delta Company
October 28, 1970
At 0555hrs Delta Company is moving to Day Logger to start their saturation patrolling. At 0621hrs Delta Company has all elements in pre planned locations Command Post at BS759559, 55 at BS740569 and 03 at BS727587. At 0925hrs SITREP from MACV Mo Duc states Vietnamese civilians vicinity BS725604 (Kim Kuong) state 5 US form Charlie Company were involved in a manhandling incident which injured 5 Vietnamese males (3 currently on Highway 1 and 2 others at grid of incident). Major Witt at scene of incident continues investigation. CPT Donovan informed of accusations continues to investigate his elements. At 0930hrs CPT Randall, assistant DSA Mo Duc called and stated 20 Vietnamese civilian laborers standing by at above grid ready to ready to carry supplies to Charlie Company Request payment in advance. However, if they don’t accomplish their resupply mission they will reimburse the S-5. At 1010hrs S-5 CPT. Garifine at scene of incident reports the following Information: Last night at 1700hrs a US Squad placed their packs on the ground vicinity BS727575. They moved out and returned to the area finding their equipment missing. The squad then moved to the 2nd grid BS733581 and entered a village. The Vietnamese state the US squad then proceeded to check out the hootches and drag out the people. Then for some reason they proceeded to beat them with their hands and or rifle butts, 6 Vietnamese civilians (3 female ages 50-60 and 3 males ages 50-60) were injured. At this time 4 males have been evacuated and 2 more are being brought to the road for treatment and further evacuation if necessary. CPT Ross had been informed of the incident as well as the accusations. It would appear from the grids and times that the 1st squad 1st platoon of Delta Company was in the area. CPT Ross is initiating an investigation and will give a stirrup ASAP. The laborers are hesitant to move out to resupply Charlie Company due to the reported incident; however, CPT Garefino has dissuaded their fears and assures the TOC that they will move out to resupply points as requested. At 1245hrs CPT Ross conducted an investigation of the accusations in referenced spot reports with the following results: 1st Squad, 1st Platoon Delta Company vicinity grid BS727575 at 261800hrs October 1970 had dropped their packs in a village and were preparing for an ambush. They left their packs in the village unsecured. When the 1st Squad returned the following morning they discovered 2 bandaleers of M-16 ammo and 1 pistol belt missing. The 1st Platoon leader moved to scene of the theft and after offering the villagers cigarettes and 100 piasters the villagers returned the missing items. The following narrative is furnished by the 1st Squad, 1st Platoon of Delta Company: At 1735hrs on 27 Oct 1970 1st sqd moved out on scheduled patrol at the above grid of BS734582. They entered a village and found what appeared to be two green NVA uniforms. They began questioning the villagers and received a negative response. Since the villagers were uncooperative, the 1st Squad used "unnecessary force" to solicit answers to their questions. This also met with negative results. The unnecessary force consisted of slapping the civilians in the face. The patrol then departed the village. Their finding or actions were not reported to their company commander. At 0730hrs 28 October a RF soldier entered the 1st Platoon Patrol Base and reported that there were 6 civilians beaten at grid in question and they needed medical assistance. The 1st Platoon leader dispatched his Kit Carson Scout and his assistant Platoon Leader to the village to investigate. The patrol went to the village and was informed that 3 of the injured civilians had already be evacuated to Highway 1; the patrol returned to the 1st Platoon patrol base with 2 other injured civilians. The 1st Platoon medic treated both of the injured civilians and escorted them to highway 1. Note there were a total of 6 civilians, treated not five (5). Extent of injuries ranged from bruised legs to broken jaws and moderate to severe facial lacerations. This confirmed by S-5 (1-20 Infantry) CPT. Ross is moving to 1st Platoon location and will initiate full (scale) investigation. At 1805hrs Delta Company in patrol base at grid BS759559 element 63-83-02 took 3 M-79 rounds from west approximately 300 meters away. 83 element returned fire with M-79 and moved to west to check out the area. At lack of control and discipline which last about 15 minutes before so kind of control was regained. At 1030hrs Delta Company 86 and 56 closed 86 on BS759559 and 56 on BS741570. At 1505hrs Delta Company 03 was moving to BS727587 and at 1600hrs Delta 87 moving to BS753552 and 55 to BS730572. At 1805hrs Delta Company in patrol base at grid BS759559 elements 3, 83 and 02 took 3 M-79 rounds from west approximately 300 meters away. The 83 element returned fire with M-79 and moved to west to check out the area, with negative findings. At 1934hrs Delta Company reports in their Night Defense Position at BS756553.
Echo Company
October 28, 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 1745hrs Recon reports it is moving to BS725435.