Assuming Operational Control
Headquarters and Headquarter Company
January 7, 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 0030hrs LT Bloom, Duc Pho MACV called and stated 1 PF platoon is located at BS860316. At 0500hrs 1 Platoon will move to BS870313 turning west to BS861309 and BS879300 and would be returning (Time/Date/Grid) 071900, January, grid BS860316 and the Dust Off, Officer passed information to 1-20 Infantry. At 0956hrs 1-20 Infantry reports 1 Air Calvary Division landing south of Alpha Company north of grid line 25. Unit out of Area of Operation extension request info contacted Division TOC. Unit out of Area of Operation extension request info contacted Division TOC, Attempted to establish contact thru representative at LZ Bronco (Major Dart) contact established informed him to relay to 1 Air Calvary Division to establish contact with 1-20 Infantry, received 0925hrs. At 1920hrs 1-20 Infantry report of Recon getting 1 ton of rice form BS864317. This rice was not picked up, but left as it was claimed by the Village chief, had always checked out, it was probably, just as well rice was left. At 1925hrs 1-20 Infantry CPT Hicks S-2 the Village Chief at BS864317 informed the interpreter, working with Recon and 52nd Military Intelligence, that the VC Battalion listed working I that area, was planning to attack LZ Thunder or another big installation between 10 and 20 January. Info above was passed to Duc Pho CPT Smith who stated the info fit with other intelligence they had. Mr. Webster would be made aware of this tomorrow. At 2050hrs 1-20 Infantry reports several rounds automatic weapons fire on bridge location 106A, fire came from south. At 2300hrs Message sent by RTT through 3rd Brigade 4th Infantry Division to 1st Air Calvary Division advised that Alpha Company was operating in requested area.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. S-4 section, establish small team in Chu Lai SGT and 1 to 2 personnel to coordinate Ammo, supplies and operations from Chu Lai.
Alpha Company
January 7, 1968
At 0956hrs Alpha Company reports elements from 1st Air Cav Division landing just south of Alpha Company, North of grid line 25. Unit out of Area of Operations extension request information contacted Division Tactical Operations Command, attempted to reestablished contact through representative at Bronco. (Major Dart) Had contact established and informed him to relay to 1 Air Cav Division to establish contact with 1-20 Infantry. At 1015hrs Alpha Company 1-20 Infantry found high large tunnel and big enough to walk around in and still searching, 2300hrs 1st Air Cav Division advised that Alpha Company 1-20 infantry was operating in requested area.
Bravo Company
January 7, 1968
Bravo Company is still working their area in a Search and Destroy mission for the area with negative results. CPT Ralph C. Clark takes command of Bravo Company. Bravo Company reports that PVT Clifford J. Miller was attached to the 67th Evac Hospital.
Charlie Company
January 7, 1968
At 1130hrs Charlie Company found tunnel containing a cot and misc. items of lumber still searching with negative results and vicinity BS813274. At 1235hrs Charlie Company found tunnels with spider hole at BS783281. At 1314hrs also found a tunnel extending into mountains at BS813274. At 1423hrs Charlie Company found another large tunnel and searching with negative results and destroyed both tunnels.
Delta Company
January 7, 1968
Delta Company on Bridge 105 requested Dust Off for EM Bitten by spider. Evac to Bronco OK and was returned to unit this morning. Delta Company conducting Search and Destroy operations in their Area of Operation, found a 4X4 tunnel with a steel bedding floor at BS819274 time 1423hrs. At 1345hrs Delta Company reported from LZ Bronco that Dale Payne was released and will return to duty. At 1449hrs Delta Company found a 4 X 4 tunnel with a steel bedding floor at BS819265.
Echo Company
January 7, 1968
Echo Company and 4.2 platoon and radar platoon where located on LZ Thunder to provide direct support to the Battalion. At 0402hrs Recon element getting ready to move out and continued their Sweep and Clear operation with the 52 Military Intelligence with interpreter. Recon Platoon located 1 Ton of Rice at BS864317 and Village Chief claimed it and Recon Platoon left the rice. At 1400hrs Recon will be picked up at BS847258 and send to LZ Thunder to take part in the Security Mission for LZ Thunder. At 1548hrs Recon Platoon located a ton of rice. (more Info, see HHC January 7, 1968).