SUBJECT: Combat Operation After Action Report ( VERNON LAKE II )
03 Nov 68:
A-1-20 Inf. airlifted from LZ PEPPER to FSB CORK AND FSB PEPER was closed out.
A co departed Cork to conduct a combat
sweep to the north.
06 Nov 68:
1-46 Inf became OPCON and conducted a combat assault from QUANG NGAI Airfield
into an LZ vic BS455588. At the completion
of the CA the 1-46 Infantry conducted a combat sweep to the NW.
09 Nov 68: D-4-3 Inf conducted a combat assault into LZ Amy (BS473525) to secure it for future use as a fire support base,
10 Nov 68:
1-46 Inf air lifted from VERNON LAKE II AO into QUANG NGAI Airfield ceasing
operations in VERNON LAKE II and returned
to OPCON of the 196th Inf Bde effective 101800 Nov 68. D-4-21 was air
lifted from QUANG NGAI Airfield to LZ Amy to secure the LZ. D-4-3,
after being replaced conducted a CA to LZ Warrior (BS383528) to secure the LZ
for the 4-3 Inf for further operations.
11 Nov 68:
4-21 (-) D co air moved from QUANG NGAI Airfield to MINH LONG SF Camp to prepare
for deployment into the VERNON
LAKE II AO.
12 Nov 68:
4-21(-) D co conducted a CA into VERNON LAKE II
AO to commence operations. The following LZ’s were used: A co BS435518,
B co BS445519, C co BS409527. D co continued to secure LZ Amy for the
emplacement of the 4-21 Infantry CP Group and D-6-11 Artillery.
LZ Amy was now established as Fire Support Base (FSB) Amy.
19 Nov 68: A-6-11 Arty air moved to LZ CAM (BS393501), secured by Recon Co 22d Bn., 2d ARVN Div to establish an FSB for future operations.
20 Nov 68: 3-1
Inf: B, D co’s and recon 3-1 Inf. participated in VERNON LAKE II for a one day
operation by conducting a CA into multiple
LZ vic BS3547 to conduct a recon in force in the Song Re Valley. C co moved to
LZ CAM as a reaction force while A co remained at
MINH LONG as a reaction force. Upon termination of the operation at the end of
the day all elements of the 3-1 Inf. were extracted to
MINH LONG SF Camp terminating their operation in VERNON LAKE II at the time.
21 Nov 68: A-6-11 Arty displaced from LZ CAM to MINH LONG SF Camp closing out LZ CAM as a Fire Support Base.
02 Dec 68:
B-1-20 Inf. Conducted a CA to BS320593 and
C-1-20 Inf conducted a CA to BS317593 to conduct a recon in force in the upper
Song Re Valley, Recon Plt conducted a CA into LZ VOLUNTEER (BS348594) and
secured the LZ for the 1-20 Inf CP Group. D co air lifted
into LZ Volunteer. A co at FSB Cork for security.
10 Dec 68:
4-21 Inf (-) B co ceased operations in
VERNONLAKE II AO BEING EXTRACTED to MINH LONG SF Camp for future
deployment in the western DUC PHO AO, B co remained on FSB
Amy for security.
13 Dec 68:
1-20 Inf. ceased operations in the Song RE Valley, closing out their OP at LZ
VOLUNTEER and moving back to FSB Cork continuing
operations in that area.
17 Dec 68:
1-20 Inf. concluded operations in the VERNON
LAKE II AO conducted an air lift into the northern DUC PHO AO to assume
responsibility of the AO. 3-1 Inf. replaced 1-20 Inf. at FSB Cork and commenced
operations in Operation VERNON LAKE II assuming
responsibility for the area around FSB Cork. B-4-21 Inf. remained at FSB AMY for
security,
19 Dec 68:
4-21 Inf. (-) B co deployed into the VERNON LAKE
II AO with a combat assault into an LZ vicinity BS488441 and conducted
a recon in force in the area. B co continued to secure LZ Amy.
18 Dec 68:
4-21 (-) D co ceased operations in the VERNON
LAKE II AO and was air lifted to LZ Buff (BS540825) for further operations.
3-1 Inf. (+) D-4-21 Inf. continued operations in the area around FSB Cork and
FSB Amy.
11 Feb 69:
4-21 Inf. (-) rejoined VERNON LAKE II conducting
a CA in the AO extension to VERNON LAKE II and the establishment of the
FSB CEDAR MOUNTAIN (BS580655) for Recon in force operation into the AO extension
to VERNON LAKE II and establishment of FSB
CEDAR MOUNTAIN.. 4-21 Inf. retained BSB Amy A co for security.
14 Feb 69:4-21
Inf. (-) ceased operations in the VERNON LAKE II AO extension conducting a CA
into the DUC PHO AO and closing FSB
CEDAR MOUTAIN. A-4-21 Inf. became OPCON to 3-1 Inf. and remained on FSB Amy for
security, 3-1 Inf. (+) A-4-21 continued limited
operations throughout the VERNON LAKE II AO securing both FSB Cork and FSB Amy
until the termination of the operation, 282400 Feb 1969.
11 EXECUTION: See Annex E
12 RESULTS:
A. Friendly casualties for VERNON LAKE II:
22 109 24
b. Enemy total results for VERNON LAKE II (See Annex C, Intelligence)
13 LOGISTICS: See Annex B, Logistics
2 November 1968- 28 February 1969
1 Enemy Losses
a. Personnel
NVA/VC KIA 143/313
NVA/VS PW 4/7
NVA/VC HOI CHANH 3/0
CD 18
AK-47 36 Pistol 4
K-44 28 CHICOM MG, Type 56 3
SKS 21 Crossbow 3
Sub MG 16 12 Gauge Shotgun 2
US Carbine 9 M-16 2
MAS-36 6 German Rifle 1
M-1 6 LAW 1
BAR 1
B-41 Rocket Launcher 2 RPG 1
Recoilless Rifle Rounds Rocket Rounds
75mm 17 B-41 43
57mm 115 B-40 197
3.5 inch __3_ 240
135
Mortar Rounds Bicycles and Parts
82mm 824 Bicycles 76
81mm 19 Bicycle Frames 15
60mm 410 Tires 230
1253 Inner Tubes 530
Handlebars 100
Sprockets and Pedals 2 Bags
Reflectors 2 Bags
Documents 4,000 pounds
AK-47 10,507
30 cal 4,580
K-44 4,060
7.62 (link) 3,000
5.56 1,118
51 cal 400
23,665
Medicine 578 Assorted Containers
First Aid Dressings 254
Plasma 28 Bottles
Surgical Masks 8
Medical Gauze 75 pounds
Commo Equipment Miscellaneous
Transistor Radios 4 Binoculars (Czech) 2
Panasonic AM Radios 2 Periscope (German) 1
Amplifier 1 Flashlights 5
Antenna Base for PRC-25 1 Typewriters 2
TA 3112 Telephones 3 60mm Mortar Bipod 1
Radio Power Packs 2 Spears 11
Long Bows 1
Material M-16 Cleaning Kits 3
Holsters 2
Gray Cloth 550 yards Vises 2
Cheese Cloth 400 yards Air Pumps 2
Black Cloth 140 Yards Grease 35 Gallons
Black Linen 75 yards Oil 5 Gallons
Green Plastic 75 yards Towels 13 Bundles
1240 yards Shirts 48
NVA Flags 7
Sewing Machines VC Flags 2
Russian Flags 1
Singer 3 NVA Banners 2
Mitsubishi 4
7
Uniforms
Green 123
Khaki 137
Gray 61
Nurses 50
Rain Suit 1
964
(2) Destroyed:
Food: Commo Equipment:
Rice 121 tons Commo Wire 5.5 miles
Salt 1 ton Radio Tubes 10
Surgar 1 lb PRC-25 Batteries 12
RA-30 Batteries 47
Military Equipment:
Packs 170 Canteens 17
Helmets 17 Canteen Cups 13
Pistol Belts 49 Canteen Covers 12
Ammunition Pouches 16 Mess Kits 22
Ammunition Belts 12 Entrenching Tools 23
Ammunition Magzaines 67 Gas Masks 6
Ponchs 15
Miscellaneous:
82mm Bore Brush 1 Water Cans 3
M-14 Bolt 1 Sampans 109
Mines 2 Canoes 3
Bear Traps 1 Fishing Poles 5
Explosives 510 lbs Blankets 10
Trip Wire 75 feet Concertina Wire 1 Roll
Wire for Claymore 100 feet Hammocks 34
Plows 1 Hats, Bush 22
Shovel Blades 44 Smoking Jackets 2
Engineer Stakes 250 Barber Chippers 1
Leg Chains 1 Set Cigarette Lighters 2
Stoves 6 Cotton 1 Box
Gas 50 Gallons Feed Bags 11
Charcoal 300 lbs
Structures:
Bn Size 31 POW Camps 2
Co Size 48 Foxholes 278
81 Huts 1359
Bunkers 257
Trench line 1,040 meters