Headquarters and Headquarter Company
December 8, 1969
Battalion Forward: 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Liz and continued their working with the ARVN units in their Area of Operations. At 0620hrs 1-20 Infantry we request tracker dogs for the Delta 74 element. At 0830hrs the Access Road will be open from 1000hrs to 1100hrs and 1500hrs to 1600hrs 8 December 69 for 2 ½ ton vehicles and heavier only. At 0935hrs Helix FAC we are putting in an Air Strike at grid BS703462. At 1-20 Infantry to Bravo and Charlie Companies grid BS795458 is cleared for naval gunfire until 2400hrs. At 1115hrs 11 Brigade reports PF at Duc Pho BS808377 PF employed Booby Trap 81mm Mortar rounds in wire and failed to disarm it. Children playing in the area detonated it with results 1 KIA and 20 wounded. All children were from Duc Pho School and all evac to LZ Bronco.
Battalion Rear: Battalion Rear continued their Mission for providing general support for the Battalion. At 13158hrs Bravo Company 39 Engineer reports the road from BS626846 to BS627842. During mine sweep found road obstacles of cut wire and stone between the grids, checked for Booby Traps with negative results, Road is cleared. At 1500hrs Charlie Company 26 Engineer at BS777445 report vehicle for Charlie Company 26 Engineer, struck a Vietnam male civilian with results 1 Vietnam with broken leg and minor cuts. Dust Off completed at 1530hrs, evac to Duc Pho the driver was not be charged.
Alpha Company
December 8, 1969
Alpha Company will continue their Security Mission for LZ Liz. At 0521hrs the 74 SRRP has closed on Liz. At 0850hrs all elements are closed on LZ Liz. At 1355hrs Alpha Company AJAX report 3 medics, 2 dog handles and 2 Artillery Forward Observers for a total of 97 personnel.
Bravo Company
December 8, 1969
At 0655hrs Bravo Company the 37 element is moving from their snake to their sweep to grid BS775457. At 0720hrs Bravo Company the Gorilla element, while moving back from its ambush, came across a Ville 100 meters from their snake location (BS790445). So far we found their snake location (BS790445) also we found 2 Vietnamese adults and 4 children. The Ville appears to be in the process of being rebuilt the Gorilla is still checking it out and will blow any bunkers in the area. The residents are being brought back to my location for the RD Cadre to relocate. At 0805hrs The Bravo Company 34 element will provide security for the road paving crew also the Gorilla element has closed on BS783433. At 0825hrs Bravo Company we will have some Vietnamese cutting bamboo at grid BS766440 and at 0934hrs Bravo Ranger are moving out to checkpoint BS765452. At 1040hrs Bravo Company the 16 element is at checkpoint 3 BS773441 and the Rangers are now moving southeast. At 1305hrs Bravo Company 34 reports the paving has been completed for today. We stopped 200 meters north of Twin Ville, grid BS777446 on the western side of the road only. Bravo Company will be using multiple patrolling in their Area of Operation today.
Charlie Company
December 8, 1969
At 1300hrs to Bravo and Charlie Companies at grid BS795458 is cleared for naval gunfire, Charlie Company Ajax 130. At 1530hrs Charlie Company reports vicinity grid BS833437 we have 2 M-Boats on station and they are trying to pull the damaged M-Boat off the beach. At 1710hrs Charlie Company we have 1 M-Boat beached and one dozer left on shore. Another M-Boat will come back tomorrow. They don’t want to put dozer on the M-Boat because they are not sure the boat will float with the dozer on board. The other dozer will be extracted when the other M-Boat comes back. Charlie Company is stills working Security Mission for the Pacification Program Operation and Marines and Navy.
Delta Company
December 8, 1969
Delta Company at 0515hrs the 74 elements said they heard people moving around to the south of their location. They heard the sound of metal rubbing against metal as if someone was loading an RPG round into its launcher. The 74 elements attempted to fire a claymore, which was directed toward the movement but the wire was cut. We put 4.2 Mortars in on the grid (BS732430) all is quiet at this time. We would like to request tracker dogs to check out the area our grid is BS732432. Delta Company reports the 12 element will start to move south and the 32, 72, 22, and 42 elements will move to the northeast. The 12 elements reports they have one (1) US who has injured his hand while cleaning his M79. He had his hand over the end of the barrel and it discharged. The round did not go off but cut the man’s hand. Command Control helicopter will dust him off. Dust-Off was complete at 0845hrs. Delta Company day logger is at grid BS735435. At 1520hrs Delta Company reported one US was bitten by a scout dog at LZ Liz on the left leg. The dog’s name is Brutus, and the handlers name is A.G. Delta Company the 12 elements is moving to their Night Defense Position at BS736446.
Echo Company
December 8, 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 0553hrs 4.2 Platoon reports Defense Targets 1 Supporting Missions 17, Observed Missions 2 with total expend 46 HE and 2WP rounds. Echo Company Headquarters has the responsibility for Base Defense. We saw 8-10 sampans tied up at dock at the above grid and Broke Station at 2040hrs with negative results. At 2050hrs Flare ship and Shark, we came on station at 2030hrs and checked out grid BS786477. At 2055hrs Recon from LZ Liz PZ (5 ship) Combat Assault to LZ at 2155hrs into vicinity BS794420 and at 2200hrs Recon Platoon we are in position at BS789422.