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Tet 69 Counteroffensive, 23 February to 8 June 1969

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Late Feb
 - Intelligence:In the North, the 268th,88th, and 101st VC Regiments of SR-1 had withdrawn into the Boi Loi/Ho Bo Woods area (XT5333-XT6228) and across the Saigon River into thr Trapezoid (XT5837).The Quyet Thang Regiment was dispersed in the Ho Bo Woods and throughout the Saigon River Corridor between the Trapazoid and the Hoc Mon area (XT7604). From 2nd Bde Combat After Action Report.
 - LT Wells assigned to 3rd Platoon.
 - Reconnaissance-in-force operations in Boi Loi Woods.
 -  Troop operates without M48 Tanks that have been turned in at Cu Chi for replacement by M551 Sheridan tanks. Tank crewmen given option to transfer to other tracks or troop headquarters.  M551 trained crewmen had started arriving as replacements as early as the last week of December 68.
 - M551s picked up at Long Bhin and driven back to A Troop motor pool. Tank crews undergo M551 training for several weeks.  See article on M551 training in the Mar 3 issue of the Tropic Lightning News. See a crew qualification patch here given to crews on completion of training.
 - Crews modifiy vehicles to meet the needs of the field. Bustle racks were constructed and welded on with help of 65th Engineers.  Additional racks added to hold more 50cal ammo. Mounts for a 2nd M2 50 cal machinegun added to the front of the loaders hatch. The TC's overide was moved up to the right side of the TC hatch so it could be fired by the TC riding high in the cupoloa. The gunners rode in the bustle rack on the outside and guarded the rear of the vehicle with an M16 rifle. 
Feb 24
  - LT Moore returned to duty from 12th Evac Hosp and reassigned to Troop XO.
Feb 26
From 25th Division Operations Summary:  A Trp located at XT413241 will sweep Hwy QL1 from XT483196 to Go Dau Ha, sweep Hwy QL22 from Go Dau Ha to XT349336, and sweep alternate MSR from Go Dau Ha to XT453288.
 - 0353 hrs Cu Chi Base Camp under rocket, mortar, and ground attack by elements of the B 16th Sapper Bn COSVN,  1st Front Division, and the 9th Div.  One of the enemy objectives is to destroy the M48 tanks from the squadron which were parked between A Troop and the perimeter.
- 0405 hrs Cu Chi under mortar attack.
- 0441 hrs mission to 3/4 Cav to alert one troop for possible commitment to Cu Chi area.
- 0510 hrs D Troop moving aircraft out of Cu Chi to other airfields.
- 0553 hrs A Trp stand to is complete.
- 0605 hrs Maj Maharry reports that 3 of A Trp tanks took direct RPG hits while in secondary position (M48A3s awaiting turn-in).
- 0610 hrs update from Cu Chi they have 3 body count between bunkers 69 and 70, 3 WIA friendly (2 minor & 1 to 12th Evac Hosp), A Trp supply and S-2 hit with RPG rounds and severely damaged.
- 0657 hrs 2nd Plt A/3/4 Cav starting sweep.
- 0703 hrs 3rd Plt A/3/4 Cav starting sweep.
- 0710 hrs 2nd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 19.
- 0714 hrs 3rd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 05.
- 0720 hrs 2nd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 07 & 3rd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 21.
- 0721 hrs 1st Plt B/3/4 Cav at CP 05 to relieve 1st Plt A/3/4 Cav on the bridge.
- 0725 hrs 3rd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 04 & 2nd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 19.
- 0732 hrs 3rd Plt A/3/4 Cav sweep to CP 22 is complete.
- 0740 hrs 3rd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 04.
- 0751 hrs 1st Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 05 & 3rd Plt A/3/4 Cav has a vehicle with a blown engine.
- 0755 hrs 2nd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 06.
- 0804 hrs 2nd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 18.
- 0806 hrs 1st Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 06.
- 0810 hrs A Trp at CP 18.
- 0826 hrs 3rd Plt A/3/4 Cav on the move.
- 0828 hrs 3rd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 05.
- 0838 hrs 3rd Plt A/3/4 Cav at CP 18.
- 0842 hrs A Trp elements moving out they are in contact with 2/12 In Bn.
- 0912 hrs A Trp elements at XT475303.
- 0947 There are 16 sappers still on Cu Chi Base Camp: notify your people and conduct a thorough search of your area and bunkerline.
- 0957 hrs A Trp elements at XT489301.
- 1000 hrs A10 has 1 NVA helmet at XT503307 dug up in a possible graveyard area.
- 1215 hrs A Trp apprehended one NVA soldier at XT523308.  PW had one hand grenade & one AK47 rifle.
- 1038 hrs A Trp has a 155mm HE dud at XT506308, not booby trapped.
- 1051 hrs A Trp located at XT510310.
- 1055 hrs A Trp has fighting positons at XT511306 located 10 meters off of trail, running SW to NW with no overhead cover or recent activity.
- 1220 hrs SPOTREP A Trp has POW at XT523308, 3 fighting positions w/no overhead cover, 3 tunnels, POW in NVA clothing, has a US canteen & pistol belt, 1 Chicom grenade, 1 AK47, poncho, helmet, food collecting items, calling in dustoff for POW, threw grenades into tunnels.
- 1300 hrs SPOTREP A Trp blew dud 105mm round in place at XT523308.
- 1537 hrs A Trp lead at XT526313.
- 1610 hrs A Trp needs dustoff for 1 man with kidney problems.  Dustoff ETA 14 minutes at FSB Hampton.
- 1620 hrs A Trp lead at CP 18.
- 1735 hrs A Trp at NDP.
- 2205 hrs A Trp radar section 5423 mills, 6200mills, 7777mills, 5000 meters.
- 2256 hrs A Trp radar section at XT338216, 2623 mills, 3500 mills, 4477 mills, 5000 meters.
- 2340 hrs A Trp reports movement on 75 degree azimuth at 100 to 150 meters outside of perimeter.  Engaged with main gun on Sheridan with unknown results.
- 2340 Division summary: (......) The results of the action are as follows: 14 US KIA, 9 Ch-47 helicopters were destroyed & 2 more have moderate damage, 31 NVA KIA (BC) 8 PWs.
Feb 27
 - At 1345 hrs Troop inserts LRRP Team 22 from F Troop, 75th Ranger at grid XT499271 near southern edge of Boi Loi Woods.

Early Mar
- Reconnaissance-in-force operations continue in Boi Loi Woods.
Mar 2
 - At 1730 hrs Troop extracts LRRP Team 22 from grid XT499269 near X. Rugg Cay.
Mar 3
 - At 1100 hrs Troop inserts LRRP Team 15 while on the move at grid XT496312 in southern edge of Boi Loi Woods.
Mar 4
 - Troop conducts reconnaissance-in-force vicinity grid XT496298 near southern edge of Boi Loi Woods.
Mar 5
 - D Troop picks up LRRPs from A Troop in the Boi Loi Woods. (photo)
Mar 6
 - At 1500 hrs Troop inserts LRRP Team 22 while on the move at grid XT546348 in the Boi Loi Woods.
Mar 7
 - 0910 hrs A Trp 30, well used trail XT554284, Trail had NVA sandle prints, OX trails 8-12 Hrs old moving NE to river.  This is the first combat action of the M551 by A Troop.
 - 0921 hrs C Trp Skylark (M551) hit mine at CP 36 Dustoff will be made by Centaur 30 1 ARVN WIA.
 - 0938 hrs C Trp XT373421, Skylark (M551) hit 30 lb mine blew off 4 road wheels, road arm, and track on right side left hole 3x3.
 - 1300 hrs A Trp received 3 to 5 60mm mortars, returning w/ organic wpns, calling in LFT, and dustoff ship from Centaur XT568303.  Call in airstrike. (photo)
 - 1417 hrs Re: 1300 A trp also had small arms fire, ran into mine field, 1 veh. hit a mine.  Dismounted elements check tunnel complex. (photo)
 - 1440 hrs A Trp, XT548307, requested dustoff for 7 ambulatory, shrapnel wounds Centaur 63, ETA 15 Min.
1453 hrs Dustoff to 12th Evac Hosp completed for PFC Clapp, CPL Davenport, SGT David Cohn, SP4 Zareski, SP4 Manley, SP4 Sarrica  & SGT Donnelly WIA.
 - At 1615 hrs Troop extracts LRRP Team 22 at grid XT546347 in the Boi Loi Woods.
 -  2029  hrs A Trp closed NDP.                     
Mar 8
 - At 1545 hrs Troop inserts LRRP Team 22 while on the move at grid XT467338 near abandoned hwy LTL 26 in southern edge of Boi Loi Woods.  Troop establishes NDP near the turn to Dau Tieng on the alternate MSR.
Mar 9
 - Troop continues reconnaissance-in-force operations south of Dau Tieng.  Returns to NDP established previous night.
Mar 10
Troop continues reconnaissance-in-force operations south of Dau Tieng. Troop returns to NDP established previous night. (photo of NDP)
 -  3rd platoon establishes OP.  OP reports large scale NVA movement towards NDP.
 - OP returns to Troop perimeter.  Troop quickly and silently goes to full alert.
 - M551 Sheridans use passive sights to scan area.
 - M551 Sheridans observe a large group of advancing NVA.
 - 3rd platoon M551 orients main gun toward a NVA recoilless rifle crew and engages the NVA gun position.
 - Entire Troop opens fire.  M551s fire canister rounds into NVA positions.
 - NVA break ranks and run after 15 minutes of sustained fire by the Troop. Very little returned fire from NVA.
- Troop has 2 troopers who received minor wounds (SGT Patterson & SP4 Lingafelter WIA).
 - This was one of the first major combat actions of the M551 in Vietnam. (see"Mounted Combat in Vietnam", by Gen. Starry
Mar 11
 - Sweep of area from March 10 action finds over 40 enemy dead including a company and battalion commander. (photo1, photo 2) (view Tropic Lightning News article)
Mar 13
 - At 1200 hrs Troop conducts sweep to extract LRRP team 26.  LRRP team in contact at grid XT465336 near abandoned hwy LTL 26 in southern edge of Boi Loi Woods.
 - At 1240 hrs Troop sweeps through area of enemy contact.  Negative results.
 - At 1300 hrs Troop links up and extracts LRRP team 26 at grid XT465334 in southern edge of Boi Loi Woods.
Mid Mar
 - 3rd Bn 13th Arty conducts 15 hours of mortar training for mortar crews. Because of a shortage of qualified personnel, mortar crews had been filled with other MOSs.
Mar 19
 - At 1445 hrs Troop inserts LRRP Team in woodline while on the move at grid XT482434 near hwy LTL 19 in northern Boi Loi Woods south of Dau Tieng.
Mar 20
  - At 1420 hrs Troop inserts LRRP Team 15 while on the move at grid XT415424 in wooded area south of Hwy 239 southwest of Dau Tieng.
Mar 21
 - Troop is reaction force to LRRP Team 15 in contact at grid XT414421 south of Hwy 239 southwest of Dau Tieng.
 - LRRP Team had encountered trench line and receives fire from all around position.
 - At 1545 hrs Troop reaches area of LRRP Team 15 and places suppressive fires on enemy position.
 - At 1640 hrs LRRP Team 15's personnel secured on Troop tracks at grid XT413417.
Mar 22
 - Troop extracts LRRP Team 25 at grid XT482434 near hwy LTL 19 in northwestern Boi Loi Woods south of Dau Tieng.
Mar 24
 - At 1545 Troop inserts LRRP Team 24 while on the move at grid XT487425 in northwestern Boi Loi Woods south of Dau Tieng.
Mar 25
 - At 1015 hrs Troop extracts LRRP Team 24 near Rack Cau Noan River in Boi Loi Woods at grid XT487425.  No enemy activity.
 - At 1030 hrs 2 scout tracks from Troop insert LRRP Team 15 at grid XT487425.
 - Troop begins a reconnaissance-in-force in the Boi Loi Woods.
 - Late morning Division resupply convoy reports being ambushed by 3d Bn, 101st NVA Regt force near the villiage of Uio Cao at grid XT4528 on highway LTL 19 northwest of Trang Bang.
 - Troop along with D Troop Aerorifle platoon sent as reaction force to assist convoy.  Convoy under heavy fire.
 - Troop reaches road moves east and deploys with platoons on line moving north into the NVA force set up in the bamboo woodline.
 - Troop maneuvers between convoy and NVA positions providing covering fire as convoy passes safely.
 - 1520 hrs A Trp dustoff 1 NVA litter XT464280, urgent.
 - SSG Bender from A Troop KIA (photo) and PFC Flores from D Troop Aerorifles KIA.
 - 42 NVA killed during battle and 5 POWs captured.
 - Elements of 2/34 Armor and 2/14 Infantry deployed in support of A Troop.
 - At 1705 Troop inserts LRRP Team 24 while on the move at grid XT455372.
 - 1900 hrs Flare Ship being sent to A Trp also dustoff for 2 US WIA urgent
 - At 1915 hrs LRRP Team 24 reports force of 15 NVA sweeping towards their position firing automatic weapons.
 - At 1920 hrs Troop begins to sweep towards LRRP Team 24 while firing illumination rounds.  Enemy fire on LRRPs cease.
Mar 26
 - Sweep of Mar 25 battlefield results in 44 additional NVA bodies, 4 30mm machingues, assorted rifles, 51cal ammo, 82mm mortar rounds, and 2,000 rounds of rifle ammo.
Mar 27
- Troop establishes 3 platoon NDPs on the alternate MSR.
Mar 28
 - 0615 hrs A Trp stand to complete.
 - Troop conducts sweep of MSR towards Tay Ninh.
 - At 0900 hrs 2 scout tracks from Troop extract LRRP Team 15 at grid XT487425.
 - 3rd Platoon links up with 2nd Platoon and Troop HQ.
 - As Troop approaches Troung Mit on Hwy LTL 26, lead elements report an absence of civilians and animals in the village.
 - Information passed to platoons to alert everyone.
 - At the intersections of Hwy 239 and Hwy LTL 26, 2nd Platoon moves off the road to the right and begins to sweep in line parallel to the road.
 - 3rd Platoon moves into the rubber trees on the left side of the road.
 - 2nd Platoon receives fire on lead vehicles and is in a heavy firefight.
 - SGT Poggi (photo) and PFC Browning (photo) KIA during initial contact.
 - 1055 hrs Dustoff complete.
 - 3rd Platoon executes a 90 degree right turn and moves upon the road to the left of the 2nd platoon.
 - 3rd platoon upon reaching the road receives a hail of heavy automatic weapons and RPG fire.
 - 1st Platoon moves up and reenforces the Troop.
 - Full fires from the Troop being placed on the enemy positions.
 - NVA try to mount the damaged 2nd Platoon ACAV to use the 50 cal machinegun.
 - M551 fires a canister round to clear the NVA off of the abandoned track.  NVA on the track killed.
 - 3rd Platoon M551 takes a RPG igniting the white phosphorus rounds for the grenade launchers.  M551 catches fire and burns.
 - Artillery and gunships called in on enemy positions.
 - 1100 hrs Up date, Div will bring in CS drop, 4/23 has two elements coming to reinforce, A Co. 2/22 is in the area, B trp will be relieved by 1/5 to react to A Trp 1 Track has been hit, 1 airstrike has gone in-2 more are on station 3 KIA 11, WIA.
 - Mech infantry company from 4/23 Infantry supported by 2 Vulcan automatic cannons link up with the southern elements of the Troop.
 - Combined units assault wood line, advance into the rubber trees and clear the ambush site of enemy.
 - 82 NVA killed during the action.
Late March
 - Late in March elements of the 3rd Squadron,4th Cavalry,2nd Bn,34th Armorand 2nd Bn, 12th Inf preempted two attempts by the 101st VC Regiment of SR-1 to ambush the Saigon/Tay Ninh convoy on Highway 19 just Northwest of Trang Bang (XT4819), The 101st Regiment had maintained it's base camp in the Trapezoid,sending battalion size elements Southwest with this specific mission, There were 108 NVA soldiers KIA in the two battles and documents and prisoners captured indicated that both the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were involved. (See March 25 and March 28 above). From 2nd Bde Combat After Action Report. Early April
- M551s return to Cu Chi to be fitted with belly armor and mine kits to provide crews with greater protection.

Apr 12
 - SGT Robertson dies from wounds received on Mar  25. (photo)

May 2
Trps A & B of 3/4 Cav, performing a reconnaissance mission, located a group of bunker complexes near the Boi Loi Woods at XT475325, and engaged an unknown size enemy force with organic weapons.  NVA soldiers in bunkers returned fire with small arms, automatic weapons, & RPG's.  Trps A & B moved their Sheridan tanks forward and pounded the bunkers with 152mm main gun fire.  Helicopter gunships pinned the enemy down.  Trps A & B moved back to allow artillery and air strikes on the well-fortified bunkers.  On a sweep through the area, Trps A & B recovered 28 enemy bodies and captured 2 VC as prisoners-of-war.

May 10  
- 1040 hrs Trp A along with Trps B & C seven km northeast of Go Dau Ha conduct a reconaissance & search operation engaging an enemy company.  3/4 Cav was supported by gunships, artillery & airstrikes killing 25 enemy.  One M551 was destroyed.  Three cavalrymen were wounded in the action.
May 20
 - 1515 hrs A Trp searching an area at XT512324 located a 30 bunker hospital complex which had recently been used.

Jun 4
- 1708 hrs A Trp elements have closed NDP at XT494353 ,the donut.
Jun 5
 - 0001hrs Journal Opened.
 - 0012 hrs A Trp had 10 incoming mortar rds,getting azimuth,calling in Arty, receiving small arms,in contact. 3-4 rds landed about 10 feet in the right front of A-15 and went down the right side wounding Doug Clapp seated in the cupola and severly wounding Kenny Kendall and Carl Brunner blowing them off the back deck as they struggled to get on the tank, more rds went on into the NDP)
 - CPL Milford Wensel (A15) is KIA. (photo)
 - 0035 hrs a LFT flare ship and dustoff on way to A Trp,XT493353.
 - 0040 hrs Spooky or Shadow could not come on station because of weather 
 - 0045 hrs Flare ship enroute to A Trp.    0102-Dusoff complete.
 - 0118 hrs A Trp has 1 KIA, 2 WIA critical and 15 more w/various wounds.
 - 0122 hrs A Trp reports neg fire at this time,also Diamond head flare ship on station.
 - 0136 hrs LFT #2 on station.
 - 0140 hrs Nighthawk on station.
 - 0205 hrs A Trp reports Nighthawk receiving ground fire from 175 deg az 200M from A Trp.
 - 0231 hrs A Trp rap up, they received 15-20 61mm mortar rds, 1 KIA , 3 WIA , AK-47 or RPG fire from east side of perimeter.
 - 0412 hrs A Trp LP has movement moving away from perimeter, called in Arty,LP observed personnel running from perimeter, also 3 secondary explosions.
 - 0736 hrs A Trp requests dustoff for 6 ambulatory,1 litter, Doug Clapp.
 - 0905 hrs Resupply of Ammo complete to A Trp.
 - 1201 hrs A Trp breaking for class I.
 - 1247 hrs A Trp completed class I, continuing mission.
 - 1337 hrs CPT Fullerton called and said that he had 26 illumination rds in Cu Chi. He wanted to know if A Trp would need all of these rds, also he said that 178 rds were being sent from Long Binh. A Trp said that in order to reach max. illum. they'll need 160 rds. They have 55 rds on hand.
 - 1350 hrs Maj.  Singleton informed S-4 to send all illumination rds that area had on hand (26) to A Trp. When resupply from LB arrives, A Trp will receive what ever else needed.
 - 1700 hrs Late entry: A Trp closed NDP.
 - 1954 hrs A Trp receiving incoming mortars.
 - 2005 hrs A Trp received approx 3 rds 82mm mortars outside berm, neg cas, Arty going in, rds at 30 deg Az 300M out.
 - 2104 hrs A Trp LP has picked up 4 personnel, LP being pulled back & A15 going to open up.
 - 2123 hrs A Trp reports fired cannister and had a Mad Minute 360 deg, unknown results.
 - 2126 hrs Trp LP says 4 persons, seemed to be setting up recoiless rifle of unknown cal, firing more cannister to be safe.
 - 2217 hrs A Trp LPs out.
 - 2230 hrs A Trp LPs 160 deg 30M,  355 deg 60M,  120 deg 100M.   Summary: A Trp secure Rome Plows, also at 0012 received incoming rounds, small arms, RPG fire from East side of perimeter. Engaged with organic weapons and LFT, Arty. Results 1 US KIA, 15 US WIA, unknown enemy results.   Michael D. Jackson, CPT, S-3 AIR.
Jun 8
 - CPT Wells last day of command.  CPT Hogue assumes command the next day.

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