Headquarters and Headquarter Company
January 5, 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 0617hrs Weather, Continued Cloudiness with occasional rain, Winds from northwest 10 to 18 knots, temperature 62-66, humidity 80 to 98%, outlook slow improvement. At 0752hrs S-4 Dolphin 676 is on station for re supply. At 0900hrs 26th Engineer, reports Access Road is open at this time. At 0900hrs Primo 4 on Station for Command and Control Helicopter and they reports they broke station at 0953hrs. At 1140hrs Helix 34 is on station and sent to Charlie Company. At 1950hrs TMF Sting 312 Target B spotted stationary target with metal confirmed and fired 8 VT HE Artillery 155mm. At 2230hrs North OP, patrol from Charlie Battery set up in ambush location vicinity BS752433 blew ambush. Thought they saw 2 personnel engaged with small arms and checked out area with negative findings. Legend: 1st Platoon 71-76, 2nd Platoon 91-96, 3rd Platoon 41-46, 4th Platoon 01-06, CO-08.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. PFC Otis Thomas was attached to the 91st Evac Hospital medic.
Alpha Company
January 5, 1971
At 0825hrs Alpha Company vicinity BS741567, routine Dust Off for 2 US with swollen and inflamed feet, Hightower and Soto cancelled and extracted by re supply bird. At 1050hrs Alpha Company 2nd Platoon vicinity BS765548 found booby trap, consisting of an M-26 hand frag in a bush along the trial. Had found a nylon fishing line on a booby trap 2" off the ground and on trail, booby trap was destroyed in place. At 1445hrs Alpha Company 3rd Platoon on patrol vicinity BS763580 was engaged by 1 command detonated booby trap, located by a bush beside a trail. Explosion was approximately the size of a can of Petna. Searching the area found approximately 40 meters of fishing line, leading north from the booby trap site. They spotted 1 suspected VC evading northeast. They engaged and continued to search with negative results, 2 US received minor wounds, but did not require evac minor wounds Carretti, SSG Blue. At 1515hrs Alpha Company 2nd Platoon on patrol vicinity BS756541, found near an old church. 1 rice bag containing 3 M-16 magazines, 1 AK-47, 1 Vietnamese plastic canteen, 1 notebook with writing, 1 plastic spring loaded with firing device, all will be back hauled to Liz. At 1515hrs Alpha Company WRAP UP 9-M-16 magazines, 1 AK47 magazine, 1 Vietnamese plastic canteen, with 25loose M-16 rounds and 6 firing devices. Also 8 blasting caps, 1 pair of sandals, 2 tubes tooth paste, 10 lantern mantels, 2 notebooks, 1 with writing inside, 1 smoke grenade fuse, 1 sandbag with 1 pound of Petna, 1 can of C Rations. Along 2 green and 1 pair of black pants, 2 shirts, 2 Illumination parachute and 1 M-26 hand frag. At 1800hrs Alpha Company vicinity of BS766543 request 1 routine Dust Off for 1 US with severe pains to side, possible appendicitis, #W-8115 PFC Walter, Frontis completed 1810hrs. At 1615hrs Alpha Company 1st Platoon vicinity 744558, on patrol found a medical cache located in a rice bin inside a hootch, contained 1 vial Unknown type pills, 1 hypodermic syringe. Also 1 spool of suture, 6 bottles of iodine, 2 bags of tea, 1 measuring cup, 1 tube of salve, 1 PF Shirt, 1 NVA pants, 1 black uniform, 2 women in hooch in hooch will be sent to Mo Duc. At 1910hrs Alpha Company Command Post, 1st and 4th Platoon 753568, 3rd Platoon BS768586, BS764580, BS765583, 1st Platoon BS746553, BS741556, 2nd Platoon Bs754546, BS768543, BS741554. At 1940hrs Alpha Company 2nd Platoon vicinity BS754545 had 1 Mechanical Ambush detonate they are firing ill and sweeping the area found I pair of sandals with blood all them followed the trail, but negative finding. Alpha Company reports that SSGT Richard P. Blue Minor frag wounds and SP4 Michael J. Carrietti and burns to legs and trunk were treated by Battalion Aid and PFC Frontis Walker was attached to the 91st Evac Hospital.
Bravo Company
January 5, 1971
Bravo Company used Patrol Bases and multiple patrols in their Area of Operation today with multiple night ambushes tonight. At 1020hrs Bravo Company 1st Platoon patrol is moving out for BS744416, at 1020hrs 2nd Platoon is moving out to BS724404 and 3rd Platoon at 1032hrs is moving out for BS711420. At 1150hrs Bravo Company 3rd Platoon patrol has closed on BS733414 and is moving to BS718413 and the 1st Platoon patrol is moving out for BS743411. At 1200hrs Bravo Company 2nd Platoon patrol closed vicinity BS746409 and 2nd Platoon patrol is moving out for BS726395. At 1348hrs Bravo Company 3rd Platoon patrol is moving out for BS735423 and 2nd Platoon is moving out for BS733396. At 1905hrs Bravo Company Command Post with 2nd Platoon and 4th Platoon is at BS731405, 3rd Platoon BS724412, BS725413, BS718413, 1st Platoon at BS743401, BS742402, BS743399 and 2nd Platoon at BS729405 and BS730404.
Charlie Company
January 5, 1971
At 1037hrs Charlie Company 3rd Platoon Patrol is moving out for BS698571. At 1315hrs Charlie Company 3rd Platoon vicinity BS702553 with RF 468 Company detained 2 Vietnamese 1 female 30, no ID, RF questioned and released her she was one of their cousins. The Vietnamese Male, 32, had ID but being detained as a draft dodger. At 1525hrs Charlie Company 3rd Platoon reports they have closed on BS699563. At 1855hrs Charlie Company reports 1st Platoon ambush moving out for BS689528. At 1900hrs Charlie Company 2nd Platoon OP Wood stock vicinity BS672572, received 20 rounds of automatic weapon fire from 3 weapons, enemy location BS672578. Area was engaged with Artillery and small arms and will be searched at first Light. Charlie Company reports their locations Command Post, 3rd and 4th Platoon vicinity BS699563, 3rd Platoon ambush BS702557, 1st Platoon BS693538, BS689528, 2nd Platoon at BS673572 and BS679572.
Delta Company
January 5, 1971
Delta Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Liz.
Echo Company
January 5, 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. At 0945hrs Recon at their night ambush location vicinity BS715451, put out a Mechanical Ambush approximately 300 meters from the position, when they went out to take up the Mechanical Ambush they found the trip wire had been cut and 2 claymores removed. At 1600hrs Recon Platoon in their Night Defense Position vicinity BS713453. At 1845hrs Recon Platoon from their Observation Post at BS714451 spotted 15 VC moving east at BS712452. They called a Fire Mission and observed 2 direct hits. Sharks were scrambled to area and Shark 2 spotted 1 VC in hedgerow, engaged resulting in 1 VC KIA. At 1725hrs Dolphin 10 was diverted from re supply to insert Recon into the contact area. At 1735hrs Recon began search and found 2 KBA. A bunker was spotted at 200 meters south of LZ. Shark expended collapsing the bunker, searching the area of the bunker. Recon engaged which resulting in 2 VC KIA. Recon engaged 2 more VC, resulting in 2 KIA, 1 AK47 CIA, 2 rucksacks CIA. Total results 1 AK47 CIA, 2 rucksacks and documents, Recon 4 KIA, Shark 1 KIA and 2 KBA. At 1936hrs Recon Platoon in their location vicinity BS723443.