Headquarters and Headquarter Company
December 29, 1969
Battalion Forward: 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Liz and will continue their working with the ARVN units in their Area of Operations. At 0732hrs Brigade the Engineer will be blowing a mine at BS797401. At 0750hrs 1-20 Infantry we request an Area of Operation extension for grids 8140 and 8340 for period of 29045 to 291800 December 69 for the purpose of checking the results of the Artillery Fire. At 0800hrs The Battalion CO has departed at 0800hrs for Delta Company. Time of arrival is 0807hrs and the time of arrival back at LZ Liz was 1120hrs. At 0816hrs 1-20 Infantry to Recon Platoon be in position in vicinity of coordinates BS774380 no later than 300700hrs December 69. Be prepared to select a LZ for a hook and provide security. The S-3 will be at your location today to discuss the details of your operation. At 0817hrs Brigade S-2 Three VC go every night to pick up intelligence and food. They normally return to BS780381 about 0400hrs. They follow a trail in coordinates BS799395, BS783398, BS780388 and BS780381. At 0945hrs Brigade Commander time of arrival is 0945hrs and briefed by the S-3, time of departure was 1005hrs. At 1025hrs Helix Bomb Damage Assessment we dropped 16 500pounds bombs, one machine gun fired from the aircraft, 100% exploded and 70% of the target destroyed one trail was cut. At 1050hrs 1-20 Infantry in regard to the fishing operation there was no count available as to the number of able bodied fisherman. The S-5 estimates there are 50 able bodied fishermen and that the Ville for fishing will be inoperable until May 1970. At 1105hrs Helix we checked out the grid BS755380 and had negative movement and digging. We checked out grid BS772378 and saw movement and people carrying rice bails, found negative bunkers or tunnels.
Battalion Rear: Battalion Rear continued their Mission for providing general support for the Battalion. At 0750hrs Charlie Company 26 Engineer at BS752532 found 1 105mm round rigged as a Booby Trap was marked with 3 bamboo sticks, destroyed in place and left crater 7’ X 5’. At 1115hrs Charlie Company 26 Engineer at BS753532 ARVN and PF on Security Force on MO Duc Road construction, detonated 1 mine located in the Wood line pass the 2nd Bridge with results 2 RF KIA and 2 RF wounded, evac to LZ at Duc Pho at 1235hrs.
Alpha Company
December 29, 1969
At 0545hrs Alpha Company 83 element observed 33 VC/NVA moving along a tree line with weapons, we request clearance for Artillery to fire on grid BS824400, have checked the area with negative finding. At 1217hrs all elements are moving to our Command Post at grid BS828422. At 1245hrs Alpha Company the 12, 22 and 82 element have closed on BS828422 and at 1630hrs Alpha Company the Command Post is moving to BS811452, the 82 element is moving to BS800450, the 83 element moving to BS820458 and the 12 element moving to BS794475. At 1800hrs Alpha Company in vicinity grid BS810450 spotted 5 personnel evading. We were moving to out Night Defense Position when we encounter five persons immediately started to run when they were spotted some wearing green clothing and we closed in on personnel we open fire WIA 1, he was wearing blue shorts. His friends dropped 1 pair of khaki shorts, 1 pair green short, we also found a fresh grave the body dug up was shot in the head dressed in black shorts and a white shirt. Alpha Company personnel will escort the WIA prisoner on the Dust Off and is carrying the documents found in the grave with him for 1-20 Infantry rear. Alpha Company 83 is moving to BS820448, the 82 element is at BS800450, and at 2145hrs Alpha 12 is at BS794475.
Bravo Company
December 29, 1969
At 0630hrs the Bravo Company 25 element has closed on BS783433. At 0815hrs Bravo Company the 83 element received 4 founds of small arms sniper fire at grid BS788368, we are checking out the area. At 0825hrs Bravo Company the 12 element picked up 1 Vietnamese civilian detainee, female. She was wearing blue shorts and a black shirt, age 25 and had no ID card. She was sitting around some hootches in which the 12 element found a tunnel. The tunnel entrance was covered with bamboo and straw and we are now digging up the tunnel at grid BS788459. At 0910hrs Bravo Company the 83 element that received sniper fire and the 83 element was instructed to break contact and move back to their location. At 0920hrs Bravo Company reports there are Vietnamese cutting bamboo at grid BS777430. At 0928hrs Bravo Company Priority a Dust Off for one Vietnamese female civilian who is unconcerned and appears to have some kind of disease completed 0938hrs. At 1017hrs Bravo Company 22 has closed on BS783433, at 1045hrs the 85 closed on BS787424 also 83 closed on BS794380 and 12, 13 elements have closed on BS776446. At 1230hrs the 13 element found 1 bunker at grid BS782458, the bunker was covered with a culvert and bamboo. It was 2’ high and 6’ long, we found 1 female near the bunker, age 25, wearing a blue blouse and black pants. The Vietnamese have this female at this time. At 1421hrs Bravo Company Routine Dust Off is Request for 1 Vietnamese child the Child may have brain damage, pick up site BS787424. Dust Off was completed at 1435hrs. The brain damage is believed to have be caused, by a possible claymore incident. At 1455hrs Bravo Company Bravo Company Reference incident at 0825hrs and 1230hrs on the tunnel and bunker. The entrance to the tunnel was not large enough to enter. The 12 element blew the entrance with a claymore the tunnel was 2’ wide and 6’ long and lead to a bunker. The 12 element made the female go into the bunker and all that was found was 1 US canteen. The 12 element then destroyed the bunker completely. The female will be turned into Military Intelligence at Duc Pho from the Bravo Company Command Post. At 1900hrs Bravo Gorilla element is at BS777432 and at 1955hrs Bravo Company the Ranger element is in position at BS807430 with the 86 element at BS784408. At 2142hrs Bravo Company the western OP at our Command Post location at BS783433 reports taking one 60mm round, 20 meters out of the OP. They did not hear the round leave the tube so the enemy location is unknown. The Gorilla element reports taking one sniper round at grid BS777432 negative casualties. At 2205hrs Bravo Company the 17 element is moving to BS788445 and the 13 element is moving to the same location.
Charlie Company
December 29, 1969
Charlie Company will continue their Security Mission for LZ Liz. At 0855hrs Charlie Company the 14 element has closed on LZ Liz. At 1940hrs Charlie Company reports the 85 element is located at BS777432, the 25 element is at BS763436, the 16 element is at BS770439 and the 15 element is at BS768412. At 2030hrs Charlie Company reports Bunkers are all OK and all have plumb bobs, inspected by CPT Donovan.
Delta Company
December 29, 1969
At 0835hrs the S3 made at grid BS740455 fly over and saw some new hootches, rice paddies an a lot of people in the area, request Delta Company to check out the area. Delta Company is moving at 1015hrs report their location a BS741460. At 1215hrs report their location is BS729437. At 2000hrs Delta Company report moving to BS729431, the 14 element is at BS731429, the 84 element is at BS734432 and the 24 element is moving to BS741429.
Echo Company
December 29, 1969
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. At 0640hrs 4.2 Platoon reports Supporting Missions 16, Observed Missions 1 with total expend 67 HE with 5 WP rounds. Echo Company Headquarters has the responsibility for Base Defense. At 0845hrs The Little John element is moving out to grid BS775450. At 0955hrs Recon Platoon we will be moving to grid BS768412 with in the hour and will keep you informed. At 1000hrs Recon Little John location is at BS792449. At 1205hrs Recon Little John was 1st PZ at BS778444 at 1215hrs and 1st LZ Liz at 1217hrs. At 1230hrs Recon our tentative snake location for tonight is BS782485. At 1420hrs Recon reports the Recon Little John insertion 1st PZ 1412hrs with LZ at 1416hrs into grid BS768412. At 1510hrs Recon Platoon we are moving out from grid BS772408. At 1920hrs Recon Platoon we are at grid BS782386. At 2030hrs 1-20 Infantry Bunker report all bunkers are OK and all have plumb bobs.