Headquarters and Headquarter Company
May 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 0455hrs LZ Liz, Bunker Inspection Bunkers 14, 13, 9 and 8 inspected could not find any personnel in bunker 14 or that general area. The bunker looked like had not been manned. Bunkers 13, 9, 8 were alert and had commo with Command Post. At 1035hrs TO Brigade S-3 from S-3 1-20 Infantry: 1. Request authorization for Recon 1-20 Infantry to operate out of 105 howitzer range vicinity BS6352, BS6651, BS6649, BS66349, and BS6352. 55-howitzer fire is within range of box in paragraph. 3. Area in paragraph 1 is heavily traveled by VC/NVA. 4. If artillery adjusted to cover, please be advised. At 1225hrs To Commanding Officer 11 Brigade from Commanding Officer 1-20 Infantry at 051045hrs May my Recon Platoon observed 3 VC with packs in open at grid BS648497 and called a fire Mission A WP round was fired and was right on target, fire for effect was requested. 6-11 Artillery called for ground commander and asked if they had weapons. The proximity was 1200 meters and grounded commander could not verify weapons, 6-11 Artillery cancelled the mission. This is unacceptable. The grid is outside of the RDA. It is close to the area where we killed 2 VC the night before. Political and Military clearance had been granted. In sum there was no friendly personnel in the area, no populated areas, and they had packs on. Rules of engagement do not require seeing weapons and that area is definitely no friendly. At 1305hrs 4 ARVN made contact at BS749613 resulting in VC KIA, 2 M-16’s CIA. At 1305hrs Primo 2 is on station for Command and Control Helicopter. At 1424hrs Dolphin 23 is on station for re supply. At 1-20 Infantry Helix 39 is on station at this time. At 2017hrs 1-20 Infantry Mechanical Ambushes out Delta 3, Bravo 4, Charlie 4 and Recon 1 for a total of 12 out. At 2100hrs 1-20 Relayed MACV Mo Duc, OP 53 requested 1 routine Dust Off for 1 Vietnamese RF 103 who stepped on a M-14 mine, PZ BS763471, frag wounds to foot. Cancelled by MACV at 2255hrs at 060717 May the man was extracted by vehicle to Duc Pho. At 2205hrs MACV Mo Duc Combat Assault approved for PF 153 and 158, 5 slicks, 2 guns, 1 AMC, PZ time 1100hrs May 6, 1971. At 2230hrs LZ Liz Bunker Inspection MSGT Flores inspected bunker line Bunker # 3 No personnel on bunker, #2 did not know password or if defense were out, #1 OK, #16 did not know passwords or sectors of fire all had negative Situation Reports (SITREP). Legend: 1st Platoon 58, 2nd Platoon 16, 3rd Platoon 83, 4th Platoon 42, CO-07.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco.
Alpha Company
May 5, 1971
Alpha Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Liz. At 0455hrs LZ Liz bunker inspection could not find any personnel in Bunker 14 looked like it had not been manned rest inspection satisfactory. At 2230hrs LZ Liz Bunker Inspection MSGT Flores inspected bunker line Bunker # 3 No personnel on bunker, #2 did not know password or if defense were out, #1 OK, #16 did not know passwords or sectors of fire all had negative Situation Reports (SITREP).
Bravo Company
May 5, 1971
At 0705hrs Bravo Company Command Post and 2nd Platoon moving to BS666525 to line up with 4th Platoon 1st Platoon is moving to OP Wink and at 0730hrs Bravo Company 3rd Platoon is in Patrol Base at BS705477. Bravo Company continued to use multiple Patrolling in their Area of Operation. At 1003hrs Bravo Company 3rd Platoon patrol is moving to BS683500. At 1045hrs Bravo Company and Recon observed 3 VC with packs 1400 meters away, at grid BS648497 and called in a Fire Mission, Personnel were in the open going up hillside with negative friendly, civilians within 5 miles, VC had packs with distance unable to see if they had weapons. WP was fired by Artillery but Fire Mission was cancelled because weapons could not be verified. TAP initials, 6-11 Artillery cancelled, clause some problems between 1-20 Infantry Headquarters and 11th Brigade. At 1947hrs Bravo Company all elements are in their Night Defense Position Command Post, 2nd Platoon, 4th Platoon at BS664528, 3rd Platoon at BS681506 and 1st Platoon at Nui Vong with 4 Mechanical Ambush out. 1LT Gregory Studdard was attached to the 91st Evac Hospital.
Charlie Company
May 5, 1971
Charlie Company is using Patrol Bases and multiple patrolling in their Area of Operation. At 1208hrs Charlie Company 1st Platoon hit a booby-trap vicinity BS711400, Urgent Dust Off requested Line #s33 Stevens, Earl W. and #A314 Atchison, Charles R. multiple frag wounds to body Dust Off completed at 1217hrs, Bird # 58. Booby-Trap was a Chi Com with trip wire on trail. At 1808hrs all patrols closed on their locations. At 1820hrs Charlie Company 3rd Platoon ambush at BS723452, Mechanical Ambush at BS722449, 1st Platoon Night Defense Position at BS712404, 1st Platoon patrol at BS719388 and 2nd Platoon Night Defense Position at BS71452. At 2130hrs Charlie Company 3rd Platoon ambush had 1 Mechanical Ambush detonate 300 meters to their south (Dragon MACV initials RRC, Negative ARVN in or around area of detonation) the sweep area at 2150hrs with 4.2" Illumination being fired results cat tripped Mechanical Ambush. Charlie Company reports the following SGT Charles R. Atchison and SP4 Earl C. Stevens where evac to 91st Evac Hospital (11C20).
Delta Company
May 5, 1971
At 0730hrs Delta Company locations is Command Post and 2nd Platoon in Patrol Base at BS697472, 1st and 4th Platoon in their Patrol Base at BS705477. At 0825hrs Delta Company 3rd Platoon is moving to Patrol base at BS707500. At 1635hrs Delta Company while on patrol 2nd Platoon tripped a booby trap consisting of a can of Petna with trip wire. It was located off a trail in heavy vegetation, results 1 US line #B8759, Backley, Danny, Dust Off completed by Dolphin 23 at BS1700hrs. At 1802hrs Delta Company all patrols have closed for day. At 1945hrs Delta Company location is 2nd and Command Post Night Defense Position at BS698473, 3rd Platoon at BS704503 with 3 Mechanical Ambush out Delta Company 1st and 4th Platoon is at BS704472.
Echo Company
May 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 1045hrs Bravo Company reports Recon observed 3 VC with packs at 1400meters away, at grid BS648497 and called a Fire Mission at grid BS648497. Personnel were in the open going up a hillside with negative friendly civilians with 5 miles. VC had packs with distance weapons could no be seen. WP was fired by Artillery but Fire Mission was cancelled because weapons could not be verified. TAP initials, 6-11 Artillery cancelled. At 1820hrs Recon has changed their Night Defense Position to BS676517 and closed on position at 1949hrs.