Headquarters and Headquarter Company
March 5, 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 0116hrs 1-20 Infantry reports Security Element at LZ Charlie Brown received 20 to 25 rounds of small arms fire from an azimuth of 1200mils. At 0650hrs 1-20 Infantry Security Platoon hit a mine 3 US WIA none serious, Dust Off called for at 0650hrs and completed at 0703hrs grid BS835227. At 0935hrs Bravo Company 19 Engineers, vehicles are still leaving Duc Pho before the road is open. Vehicle HQ 79 found on the road, says the Military Police mad no attempt to stop him. Also this is the 3rd day we have found barricades at BS774455, it takes more than 4 or 5 people to make these barricades. At 0950hrs Delta Company reports the road is clear from LZ Bronco to Bong Song. At 1259hrs (late entry) Security Platoon at BS936234 found some empty misc. cartridges, 1 M-26 grenade, a book with an ID card in it, looks like a 201 file a portable radio that can tune into our frequency and pick up our transmissions. Also found 2 ammo boxes of documents, 2 rolls film unused, VC flags, material to make them with, a bottle of pills, a sand bag full of rations. Along with sack of batteries, 1000, 000 to 200,000 dong, blankets, a sweater, 1 box of rations and medicine. The LZ will be at BS934233, tunnel was found by hooch, an old man went down into tunnel and brought out a sack full of stuff we went down in and found the portable radio. We went down in and found the portable radio and found a secret passageway. In this passage way under the floor we found the money and documents found most of the stuff down there, along with a old World War II entrenching tool. At 1940hrs Headquarters and Headquarter Company 4-3 Infantry at BS565877 at 1910hrs bought a Zenith cigarette lighter. Silver had written on it "Fighter by day, Lover by night, Drunkard by choice, Army by Mistake bought from Vietnamese woman in Chu Lai. The triggering device was the wick. As it burns to a certain length it explodes, 1 US WIA (M). At 2152hrs 1-20 Infantry E Troop 1st Calvary has tracks on bridges 106, 106A & 108. The Track for Bridge 107 has commo trouble and will post as soon as repairs are made.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. SP5 Jay B Wright was attached to 67th Medical Evac (See Alpha Company February 5, 1968). At 1840hrs Gun ships from 174th Aviation made Visual Recon of perimeter with negative results. Flare ship on top of Montezuma and all bunkers manned. At 1910hrs E Troop 1st Calvary was given permission to test fire 50 caliber Machinegun. At 2127hrs 6th support received 4 rounds of sniper fire from vicinity BS806393, Bunker 17 returned fire. At 2340hrs Bunker 17 observed 4 personnel moving at BS870395, MACV gave permission to fire illumination in R&D area. MACV requested we fire close to the personnel and observe what happens. Fired small arms and personnel jumped into a ditch and fled with negative results. Notified MACV and they gave permission to return fire.
Alpha Company
March 5, 1968
At 0825hrs Alpha Company (-) and Command Post at BS828302, with 1st Platoon at BS833301, 2nd Platoon BS833304, and 3rd Platoon is at BS825302. Alpha Company continued their Security and Destroy operations in their Area of Operation. At 1910hrs Alpha Company Command Post and 1st Platoon at BS839299, 2nd Platoon at BS837302 and 3rd Platoon at BS828200.
Bravo Company
March 5, 1968
Bravo Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Thunder. At 0825hrs Bravo Company reports their location 2nd Platoon on LZ Thunder, 1st Platoon on Bridges. At 1845hrs Bravo Company received sniper fire at BS915245, 1 US WIA was hit in the stomach. At 1920hrs Bravo Company ambushes located at BS884324 and BS890327.
Charlie Company
March 5, 1968
Charlie Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Dottie and using multiple patrolling in their Area of Operation.
Delta Company
March 5, 1968
Delta Company put together as much equipment we could and moved out by 0900hrs to search area’s where the mortar attack may have come from last night with negative results and prepare for a Combat Assault 3 lifts beginning at 0700hrs March 6, 1968. At 1225hrs Delta Company vicinity BS819399 detained 1 VCS with no ID. At 1845hrs Delta Company detained another VCS with faulty ID and released the 1st VCS.
Echo Company
March 5, 1968
Echo Company and 4.2 platoon where located on LZ Thunder to provide direct support to the Battalion. At 0825hrs Recon Platoon report their location is now at BS793316 as they are working their way back to LZ Thunder. At 1255hrs Recon reports location at BS803315. At 1910hrs Recon is at BS802316.