This is a small scale sketch map of the area near the destroyed village of Gia Mon. It depicts the manuvers of the companies of TF 1/61 before and during the battle near Kinh Mon.
A copy of the actual BN net radio log kept by the S 3, TF 1/61 is presented below the sketch map.
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DAILY STAFF JOURNAL OR DUTY OFFICERS LOG
S-3 1-61 INF - Log - A-4 0001 25 0CT 68 - 2400 25 OCT 68
ITEM
NO IN OUT INCIDENTS, MESSAGES, ORDER, ETC
1. 0001 OPENED LOG
2 0025. CIPHER CHECK WITH S-3 RTO
3. 0055 0059 BN SIT REP NO CHANGE
4. 0130 BN SIT REP NO CHANGE
5. 0130 0135 FROM BDE G-2, EN ACTIV INCREASED
YD 199 785 BELIEVED MOVING SOUTH
MAY BE SPENDING NIGHT. BUNKER
COMPLEX IN VIC FIRING ON IT
6.-13. 0158 TO 0600 BN SIT REP NO CHANGE
15. 0645 D 1/11 PATROL LEFT WIRE
16. 0700 DELAYED ENTRY B 1/77MS LEFT 0605
17. 0700 DELAYED ENTRY MS CLEAR TO H2O PT 0640
18. 0710 FAC 16 TO BN CO - ARCAS INTERESTED IN
(180764, VO40004 AND VO054015 - YOU
KNOW ABOUT CHANGE OF MISSION AND
ROUTE - LOOK OVER AREA
19. 0725 BDE HAVE B 1/77 PLOTTED AT 158738 WHERE
DO YOU AT A-4 THINK THEY'RE GOING? NOT
TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, WILL HAVE S-3 CALL YOU
20. 0732 FAC 16 TO BN CO AREAS SEEM TO BE OUT OF
AREA INTEREST CONFIRM COOR. V040004 AND
VO54015 (PT OF INTEREST STILL ALONG THE
BLACK LINE)
21. 0732 BDE FROM LNO - RE LAST CIPHER. B 1/77 REMAINING
A-4. D 1/11 HAS THAT MISSION CLEAR AREA VIC 149732
SENT TO BDE RTT YESTERDAY, (SEE FRAG 2 OPLAN
RICH OPORD 9/68, D1/11 CLEAR ROAD. IN CASE IT
BECOMES A MISSION, FOR B1/77
22 0740 BDE BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY FIRING TOT WITHIN NEXT HR.
YD 193 782 NOTIFY PEOPLE ON GROUND. SEE IF THEY CAN
OBSERVE SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS
23. 0800 B1/61 HAS RUN INTO A COMPLEX AT THE BLUE WILL SEND MORE
24. 0810 B 1/61 TO B Co AT 154760 FOUND COMPLETE BUNKER COMPLEX.
HOOCH, FURNITURE, DOCUMENT SOME IN PLASTIC. INTERR SAY
COL LIVED HERE GET ACCURATE LOC
25. 0811 A Co BAG 160 777
26. 0826 A Co CROSSED RIVER
27. 0839 A Co ARTY GETTING MORTAR. (BRACKETTING)
28. 0839 B Co FOUND MORTAR POSITION. (ARTY FIRING AT 169769)
29. 0841 B Co FROM CO. GET ARTY ON THAT MORTAR
30. 0846 A Co STILL GETTING INCOMING
31. 0846 B Co, FROM BN CO, MOVE IN ON THAT MORTAR
32. 0847 A Co TO FAC 18, MORTAR BEHIND HILL 124
33. 0855 A Co TO FAC 18, COOR: MORTAR 157 758
34. 0857 A Co TO FAC 18, ENGAGING MORTAR POSITION WITH SMALL ARMS
35. 0901 A Co TO BN CO MOVING TOWARDS MORTAR (GET MORTAR ON IT)
36. 0901 B Co FROM BN CO GET MEN NEAR HIM
37. 0902 A Co FROM BN CO, MOVE MEN AWAY CALL ARTY
38. 0903 S-3 TO BN CO, 2 MORTAR POSITIONS
39. 0903 A Co SUSPECTS INCOMING FROM HILL 24 VIC 152 771
40. 0925 A Co ON RAILROAD TRACK. TAKING AUTOMATIC WEAPONS
AND MORTAR FROM N AND E
41. 0926 A Co TO BARKY [NB - USAF O-2], AIRSTRIKE ON 1ST PLAT
ELEMENT, STOP IT.
42. 0929 BN CO PUT BDE S-3 ON MY PUSH NOW
43. 0930 A Co TO BARKY AIRSTRIKE ONE ELEMENT ½ PLT. HIT. POSSIBLY
LOST NEED IT 1500 EAST
44. 0930 DELAYED AIRSTRIKE WENT IN AT 0925
45. 0933 BN CO TO XO, GET ME A CHOPPER OUT HERE, AND CRANK
UP MEDEVACS TO GO WELL NORTH
46. 0939 A Co TO BARKY - GETTING SMALL ARMS AND MORTAR FROM
NORTH OF THE RIVER (SCRAMBLING FIGHTERS)
47. 0939 A Co MOVING DOWN THE BLACK LINE
48. 0939 FAC 18 TO BN CO - GOT A Co LOCATION 173766
49. 0940 A Co ON AIRSTRIKE 2 LIGHTLY WOUNDED
50. 0941 BN CO TO XO - RELAY BDE 2 LIGHTLY WOUNDED ON AIRSTRIKE,
CONTINUING AS PLANNED
51. 0943 A Co TO FAC 18 - AIR ON WAY HERE IN 10 MIN - FIRE FROM
NORTH STOPPED TEMPORARY
52. 0944 A Co TO FAC 18 GETTING MORTARS CAN'T LOCATE IT.
53. 0945 FAC TO A Co AIRSTRIKE WENT IN AT 171768 AND 172 766
54. 0947 XO TO BN CO - LOH CAN GO UP MYSELF SULTAN SHIP 5.
HAVE LOH ON STANDBY. TELL ARTY Co TO GET FIRE HERE
FASTER, TOOK 20 MIN FOR LAST.
55. 0956 BN CO TO A Co GETTING SMALL ARMS AND MORTARS
FROM N. DON'T CROSS RAILROAD LINE UNLESS NECESSARY,
FOR SAFETY (INCOMING FROM NORTH)
56. 1000 A Co TO FAC 18, GET SOMETHING IN NORTH TAKING 60MM
AND SMALL ARMS
57. 1001 TO FAC 18, ARTY GOING INTO THERE SOON
58. 1007 CG 3RMAR (RELAY BDE) NEED TO KNOW IF ANY FORDING SIDES
OR CROSSING POINT ON THE BEN HAI. ASAP MESSAGE
RECEIVED FROM COMUS MACV THRU 3RD MARDIV
(FOR FOOT TROOPS)
59. 1015 CONTACT ARTY HAVE FAC COME UP TO MY FREQUENCY
60. 1019 BN CO TO FAC 18. THINK HE IS BEING FOLLOWED. CHECK IT.
61. 1019 A Co TO BN CO. MY CO HIT BAD. BAD SITUATION FIRE FROM THREE SIDES
62. 1019 A Co TO BN CO AND A Co GET AG AND HELP HIM
63. 1023 XO TO BN CO - GOING AIRBORNE (BE MY RELAY
64. 1022 BN CO INFORM BDE, NEED MEDIVAC WITH GUNSHIPS
65. 1023 BN CO TO B MOVE FAST THEY ARE CLOSING IN ON THEM
66. 1024 BN CO TO A Co, ANY WAY YOU CAN PULL OUT (SEPARATED
FROM ONE OF MY ELEMENTS)
67. 1030 A Co LOC 143 760, 143 760 NOT FAR OFF ARTY LOC 173 760
68. 1033 BN CO BDE CO NEED MEDEVAC WITH GUNSHIPS WITHIN 30
MINUTES. TIDES SITUATION BAD PINNED DOWN WITH AUTO
WEAPONS AND MORTAR B Co TRYING TO RELIEVE PRESSURE.
A Co 6 WIA
69. 1043 BN CO TO B Co. LINK UP WITH A Co AND MOVE BOTH ELEMENTS SOUTH
70. 1045 XO TO A Co, WHERE FIRE (TO MY REAR - SMALL ARMS)
71. 1050 XO TO MAR FAC SPOTTER [NB - HANDWRITTEN 'SPOT REPORTS' IDENTIFY
'MAR FAC' AS CATKILLER 12] MOVEMENT NORTH OF LAST
AIRSTRIKE MOVING TO RIVER. (DIDN'T RECEIVE)
72. 1055 BN CO TO MAR FAC [CATKILLER 12]. GO TO A Co
73. 1056 A Co TO MAR FAC [CATKILLER 12] LOC 170 760 IN BOMB HOLE
74. 1101 MAR FAC [CATKILLER 12] TO A Co SPOTTED MACHINE GUN AND
10 MEN IN BUNKER 400 METERS. FROM AIRSTRIKE THINK
IT IS UNFRIENDLY POSITION. CHECK YOUR POSITION.
75. 1108 WOUNDED 12 - 14 THROUGH ARTY ESTIMATE
76. 1108 BN CO TO B Co HELD UP SNIPERS. 1 - 81MM, 2-60MM CAPTURED.
SPIDER HOLES COULD BE FIRING AT EACH OTHER. MACHINE
GUN BETWEEN US APPROX 200M APPART B Co FIRED FLARE
BN CO TO A Co - SHOOT FLARE TO HELP LOCATION HIM. TELL A Co
TO HAVE PEOPLE ON WEST SIDE STOP FIRING)
77. 1110 BN CO TO A Co - CEASE FIRE SO HE CAN MOVE IN CEASING FIRE
ONLY TO WEST.
78. 1117 171 758 MACHINE GUN POSITION POSSIBLE MORTAR TUBES
(BY FAC DEFINITE BUNKER)
79. 1119 BN S-3 MEDIVAC 155 762 TACTICAL URGENT DROWNING ONE
80. 1120 S-3 MEDIVAC FAST, 1 AMB, (SHOCK) 1-POSSIBLE OTHER. NO
ENEMY NEED ETA FAST
81. 1121 FAC MAR [CATKILLER 12] MACHINE GUN POSITION 168757, MEN IN FOXHOLES
OTHER DEFENSES FACING FRIENDLIES
82. 1122 BN S-3 TO [CATKILLER 12] CHECK WITH B Co
83. 1123 [CATKILLER 12] TO B Co OVER POSITION - MY TROOPS ARE IN
BOMB CRATER, PASS OVER MARK.
84. 1130 BN TO RELAT BDE CO OR S-3 RECOMMEND A LEAST A DEMONS)
RATION FROM C1 HEAD UP THIS WAY
85. 1130 TO S-3 BDE CHOPPER ON WAY FOR MEDIVAC.
86. 1131 A Co TO BN CO RECEIVING WHAT LOOKS LIKE RPG'S. LEFT
INTO DEFENSIVE POSITION
87. 1135 A Co MARKING A POSITION WITH FLARE FOR AIR
88. 1139 BN CO RELAY BDE CO, SEE IF HE CAN GET GUNSHIPS IN HERE
89. 1141 BN CO TO BDE CO 1. NEED GUNSHIPS
2. START SOEMTHING OUT OTHER WAY.
3. CAPTURED TWO MORTARS HERE NOT DOWN THERE.
4. WEATHER CLOSING IN. DEMONSTRATION YOU KNOW
WHAT TIME IT TAKES. OTHERS I HAVE REQUESTED.
90. 1148 BDE CO TO BN CO B1/77 PLAN FROM YESTERDAY COMMENCING
NOW COULD GET INTO TROUBLE
91. 1151 FAC A TO S-3 HAVE MEDIVAC WHERE DO YOU WANT IT.
CHECK A Co, ROGER.
92. 1158 FAC 14 TO A Co HAVE MEDIVAC, CAN YOU ACCEPT HIM AT THIS TIME
93. 1201 BN CO TO A Co- LINKED OP3 NEG- 2 HIT TIED DOWN
94. 1206 BN CO TO A Co 200 METERS S OF SMOKE RD RVN IN WOOD LINE
95. 1210 BN CO FROM A Co MEDIVAC 165-755, 2 WIA'S 1-EMERGENCY
96. 1210 SNIPER ON RD BETWEEN A4 AND C2 BRIDGE. ROAD CLOSED
97. 1215 B 1/77 TO BN CO JUST PASSED NELL
98. 1215 B Co TO FAC (BN S-3 COMNNECTED THEM) MEDIVAC SHIP
99. 1217 TO BN CO RTO MEDIVAC DUSTOFF 502 ETA 15
B745 CONTACT B Co
100. 1226 BN CO TO A Co WIA'S, 10 WIA'S EMERGENCIES
101. 1227 BN CO AND A Co SHOUTS TAKING BAD. C Co MOVE RIGHT FLANK,
MARK FLANK WITH SMOKE
102. 1227 BN CO ASK BDE CO IF I CAN USE HIS CHOPPER
103. 1227 B 1/77 TO BN CO - HIT 2 MINES
104. 1228 BN CO FROM BDE CO - USE THE LOH YOUR XO HAS
105. 1230 BN CO ADVISE S-6 TO USE SOMETHING FROM 1/77 TO RECOVER DOWNED TANKS
106. 1232 DUST OFF 502 - B Co ETA 02 OR 03 ENEMY 2 LIT SITUATION NONE
107. 1235 A Co FROM BN CO. HOW IS CHARGE LINKED UP NO (ESTABLISHED PERIMETER)
OTHER TWO UNITS B AND C WEST CLOSE. SMALL ARMS AND MORTARS STOPPED.
108. 1238 A Co FROM BN S-3 - CAN YOU MOVE WEST NEG #WIA'S 12
109. 1240 B 1/77 TANK BURNING WILL BLOW UP. PINNED DOWN SNIPER
110. 1241 BDE S-3 WANTS ALL AIR WEST OF 20 GRID ELEMENT FIRED WEST
111. 1242 A Co TURNED BACK MEDIVAC, TOO HOT
112. 1246 S-3 A Co HAS 5 EMERGENCY CASUALTIES 12 TOTAL NOTIFY STIFF
GRANDPA OF THIS
113. 1300 NEED ACCURATE LOCATION OF OUR ELEMENTS
114. 1300 B 1/77 HAS WIA, WILL TAKE BACK TO WHERE C Co HAS MEDIVAC PICKUP
115. 1312 A Co 172762 B Co 164 C Co 159756 B 1/77 140727
116. 1347 B 1/77 MOVING OUT, LINKED UP WITH D 1/11
117. 1415 BEING JAMMED
118. 1440 B 1/77 HIT MINES AT 168 749
119. 1453 WILL NEED AMMO AND CHOW, PROBABLY AT B 1/77 LOCATION
120. 1500 BDE CO INFORMS BN CO TO GROUP UP FOR TONIGHT ON B 1/77
AND MOVE OUT AT FIRST LIGHT ON SAME OPERATION TOMORROW.
121. 1620 S-3 INFORMED US THAT THEY ARE LINKING UP WITH A Co, ALSO
NEED MEDIVAC FOR 5 EMERGENCY AND 11 LITTER PATIENTS. WILL
NOTIFY LATER WHEN WANT MEDIVAC
122. 1633 SEND MEDIVAC WITH GUNS TO A Co
123. 1635 A Co 9 WIA, 2 KIA
124. 1653 C Co HAS ONE POW AND 2 WEAPONS WITH XO
125. 1705 PRIORITY SECRET (IMMEDIATE) 251643 OCT 68, FROM 3 MAR DIV, G-2.
INTEL REPORT #10-25 PARAGRAPH 1. (RELIABLE SOURCE) UNIDENTIFIED
NVA ELEMENT, UNKNOWN SIZE, WITHIN 300 METERS OF YD126629, B-3
126. 1737 A Co LINKED UP WITH B Co AND BRING 3 MEDIVACS WITH THEM.
128. 1835 60MM LEFT ON AIRCRAFT PICK IT UP.
129. 1842 B 1/77 HIT A MINE 148 758
130. 1852 LOCATION OF BATTALION 168 757
131. 1912 1/77 YOU HAVE 3 TANKS DOWN, ONE WHICH IS REPAIRABLE. WE
NEED A RECOVERY VEHICLE. NO TROOPS BETWEEN A-4 AND
DOWNED VEHICLES.
132. 1931 D 1/11 147725 WITH DOWNED VEHICLES OF B 1/77
133. 1942 0730 HRS. CHOPPER WILL BE HERE TOMORROW AS REQUESTED
134. 2013 BDE WANTS ESTIMATED NVA KIA BY GRID, KILLED BY AIR, ARTY
AND TOTAL - CONSULT AIR PERSONNEL.
135. 2018 WEATHER FORECAST
136. 2027 BATTALION SPOT REPORT
137. 2050 C Co HAS POW WILL INFORM US MORE LATER. SENT SPOT REPORT
138. 2055 THE ARVN OPERATION WILL BE DELAYED UNTIL 1/61 OPER. IS
COMPLETED. HOWEVER THEY WILL STAND BY IF WE NEED HELP.
139. 2100 BDE SIT REP NO CHANGE
140. 2110 D 1/11 SIT REP NO CHANGE
141. 2145 POW IS IN 4TH Co, 3RD BN, 0 DIV
142. 2210 BDE SIT REP NO CHANGE
143. 2212 C 1/11 TRIGGERED AN AMBUSH AT 168712
144. 2230 C Co HAVE 1ST SGT CALL CAPT MUTTEN
145. 2250 9 PEOPLE FOR DUST OFF TOMORROW.
146. 2305 BN SIT REP NO CHANGE
147. 2400 ////////////////////LOG CLOSED//////////////////
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