Headquarters and Headquarter Company
May 9, 1968
Forward Area 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Ross for Operation WHEELER-WALLOWA and are OPCON to the 198th Light Infantry Brigade. As the 196th Light Infantry Brigade moves north to support the Marines. At 0930hrs Alpha Company 4-21 Infantry OPCON to 1-20 Infantry reports 4 US WHA at BT025355, Dust Off called at 0930hrs and completed at 0943hrs 3US WIA (E) and 1 Kit Carson Scout WIA (E). At 1155hrs Bravo Company 26th Engineer with 1-20 Infantry located mines buried in road with bamboo firing device and blew in place left crater 5’ X 5’ mine was buried 4" below ground, road is out. At 0510hrs The Convoy from LZ Baldy to LZ Ross arrived at 1510hrs and at 1800hrs Convoy from LZ Ross closes on LZ Baldy.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco.
Alpha Company
May 9, 1968
Alpha Company continued to use their Search and Clear operations in their Area of Operation and move southward to the LZ Center area to support the 1-6 Infantry and Battle for NUI HOAC RIDGE.
Bravo Company
May 9, 1968
Bravo Company continued their Search and Clear operations in their Area of Operations as they continue to move southward into the LZ Center area of operation and the Battle for NUI HOAC RIDGE.
Charlie Company
May 9, 1968
Charlie Company continued to use their Search and Clear operations in their Area of Operations. Charlie Company is moving in a southward direction to be able to support if need Alpha and Bravo Companies.
Delta Company
May 9, 1968
At 0100hrs Delta Company in the morning received 3-4 mortar rounds that fell short about 400 meters outside perimeter with negative results. Delta Company was up the hill again for one more shot at Hill 352, assaults with 2 platoons and 1 platoon providing coving fire and Reserve force. At 1110hrs Helix 25 spotted 30 VC dug in bunker positions, Has jets on station and calling in Air Strike. Delta Company is 400 meters on north side of the Hill at BT072229, conducted a assault on Hill 352 with results KHA 1 (Platoon Leader) and WHA 2. Helix 25 put artillery and 250lbs bombs on the position, which looked like an old US Fire base receiving heavy volume of automatic weapons fire. After the assault the Helix put napalm down to cover our breaking contact. At 1210hrs Helix 25 has Air Strike put in at BT075225 with 250pounds. We’re never able to get closer the 250 meters of the perimeter. LT. DURWOOD WAYNE VERRETT listed as KHA leading the 3rd platoon, which was giving support fire and then acted as reaction force as they try to move to flank the position. He was the last man to leave the field was hit in the head as he was insuring the last men were off the field and out of danger. The volume of small arms fire and automatic weapons fire was just too great to try and continue the assault on the position by Delta Company. We again moved down the hill with our WHA and KHA and evac later. At 1335hrs Delta Company reports we have 1 KHA and 3 WHA. 1LT. DURWOOD WAYNE VERRETT AND SP4 CLIFFORD DA VAN ARTSDALEN LISTED AS KHA/MIA LISTED AS KHA (Believe SP4 CLIFFORD DA VAN ARTSDALEN was KHA/MIA on May 11, 1968 see May 11, 1968). Delta Company reports SGT John J. Henthorne, PFC Joseph R. David and PFC Louis R. Voelk attached to NSA Hospital Da Nang. (on May 9, 1968 at 1400hrs, Journal entry changed our KIA on May 9, 1968 to 2).
Echo Company
May 9, 1968
Echo Company is located at LZ Ross where Battalion Forward, is located and coordinates with the Battalion Rear Elements and the Base Defense on LZ Ross. The 4.2 Platoon is located on LZ Ross where they continue to provide direct fire support for the Battalion. 1-20 Infantry Recon Platoon manned OP Tiger, Cobra and Dragon. At 1830hrs Recon on OP Dragon received Small Arms fire and returned fire 4.2 Mortar fire and stopped at 1840hrs. At 2100hrs Recon 26 at 894313 received small arms fire from northeast had 1 US WIA and called for Dust Off.