FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY HEADQUARTERS 1st Antitank Battalion 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF FPO San Francisco, California 96602 3:JJB:rc 5750 5 April 1967 From: Commanding Officer To: Commanidng General, First Marine Division (Rein), FMF Subj: Command Chronology for period 1 March 1967 to 31 March 1967 Ref: (a) MCO 5750.2A (b) FMFPacO 5750.8 (c) DivO 5750.2B Encl: (1) March Command Chronology 1. In accordance with the provisions of references (a), (b) and (c), enclosure (1) is submitted. [Signature] J. J. BURKE, JR. By direction FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY _______________________________________________________________________ |
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 5750 5 April 1967 HEADQUARTERS 1st Antitank Battalion 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF FPO San Francisco, California 96602 COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 1 - 31 March 1967 INDEX PART I - ORGANIZATIONAL DATA PART II - NARRATIVE SUMMARY PART III - SEQUENTIAL LISTING OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS PART IV - SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ENCLOSURE (1) 1 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY _________________________________________________________________________ |
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 5750 5 April 1967 PART I ORGANIZATIONAL DATA 1. DESIGNATION COMMANDER 1st Antitank Battalion Lt Col J. J. KEEFE SUBORDINATE UNTIS Company A Capt G. J. FORBES Company B Capt A. R. GREEN Company C Capt R. J. ESPOSITO H&S Company 1 - 8 March 1967 Capt M. H. COLLIER H&S Company 9 - 31 March 1967 2ndLt L. C. BEARD ATTACHED UNTIS (None) 2. LOCATION 1 - 31 March 1967: DANANG, RVN. 3. STAFF OFFICERS Major J. L. SAUL 1 - 6 March 1967 Executive Officer Major J. J. BURKE Jr. 7 - 31 March 1967 Executive Officer SgtMaj C. S. SAWYER Sergeant Major 2ndLt M. L. ELL S-1/Adjutant Capt C. H. STALCUP S-2 Major J. J BURKE Jr. S-3 Capt D. M. HUTSON S-4 Capt C. H. STALCUP S-5 GySgt D. F. HELMS 1 - 28 March 1967 Supply Officer 2ndLt J. A. VAN DOREN 20 - 31 March Supply Officer 2ndLt J. C. HANCOCK JR. Comm-Elect Officer 2ndLt D. D. DIXON Motor Transport Officer 2ndLt V. C. DAVIS Ordnance-Maintenance Officer HMC T. O. MICHEL (Chief Corpsman) 4. AVERAGE MONTHLY STRENGTH USMC USN OTHER OFF ENL OFF ENL OFF ENL 23 392 0 8 0 0 ENCLOSURE (1) 2 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY __________________________________________________________________________ |
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 5750 5 April 1967 PART II NARRATIVE SUMMARY 1. Throughout the reporting period, subordinate units of this Command were assigned missions as follows: Company A, Direct Support of First Marines Company B (-), First Platoon OPCON, Company C Second Platoon, OPCON Second Battalion, Fifth Marines Third Platoon, OPCON Third Batalion, Seventh Marines Company C (Rein) OPCON Seventh Marines 2. 1 -23 March 1967. The Civil Affairs Program for the month of March in KHANH SON HAMLET, HOA KHANH VILLAGE, HOA VAN DISTRICT, QUANG NAM PROVINCE consisted of treating 211 Vietnamese people in our MEDCAP Program. The following material was delivered to the Hamlet Chief for the construction of a Hamlet Headquarters Building: Three (3) truck loads of sand Two (2) truck loads of rock Lumber of all sizes Twenty (20) pieces of rod (reinforcing) 23 March 1967. This Battalion moved its Command Post from AT 958757 in the Northern Sector Rear Area Defense to AT 989708 in the Southern Sector Rear Area Defense. 1- 23 March 1967. The Battalion continued its role of supporting the Zone B Northern Sector Defense by continuous active security patrolling. 23 - 31 March 1967. This Battalion entered Southern Sector Rear Area Defense and initiated aggressive patrolling of the assigned area of re- sponsibility and reorganized the existing perimeter defenses. 1 - 31 March 1967. During the month of March, there was an increase in the employment of Ontos in Search and Destroy Operations, Mechanized Patrolling, Convoy Escort and security of Engineer Sweep Teams. See Companies A, B and C Command Chronologies. ENCLOSURE (1) FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 3 ______________________________________________________________________ |
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 5750 5April 1967 PART III SEQUENTIAL LISTING OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS 1 March First Platoon, Company A fired 2 106mm rounds in direct support 3/1 from BT 050675 to BT 050675 enemy fire ceased. Thrd Platoon, Company A fired 2 106mm rounds in direct support 1/1 from BT 119634 to BT 117635. 2 March First Platoon, Company A fire 10 106mm round in direct support 3/1 from BT 055676 to BT 054667. 1 VC WIA probable. 5 March At 1030, Lance Corporal J. M. DONOVAN First Platoon Company C at BT 324181 had an accidental discharge while cleaning his M3A15 Sub-Machine Gun which resulted in his death. 6 March Second Platoon, Company A fired 2 106mm rounds in direct support 1/26 from AT 996633 to AT 996627. Enemy fire ceased. 9 March 091030H Light Section Third Platoon, Company C at BS 536925 was dispatched with one infantry squad to reinforce fire team at BS 536925. Spotted approximately 10 VC in house at BS 568928. Fired 1 106mm round at house. Search of area revealed three blood trails and one chinese bolt action rifle. Three VC KIA probable. 11 March Second Platoon, Company B participated in a search and destroy mission from PHU LOC (6) at AT 926527 to LA THAP (1) at AT 945516. Ontos B-22 hit an anti-personnel mine at AI BAN (3) at AT 947526. No injuries to personnel and light damage to vehicle. 11-13 March First Platoon, Company C in direct support of Company B 1/5 COUNTY FAIR in vicinity of BS 329?72 at BICH NGO VILLGE. Negative contact. 13 March At 1445H Light Section from First Platoon, Company B in direct support of Company A, 1/7 at BT 661031 received 15 to 20 rounds small arms automatic rifle fire from two snipers at BT 665034. Ontos fired 4 106mm rounds and 50 rounds .30 caliber ammunition. Fire ceased. Infantry searched area with inconclusive results. 15 March Second Platoon, Company A in direct support 2/1 set blocking position at AT 995635. ENCLOSURE (1) 4 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY ______________________________________________________________________ |
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 5750 5 April 1967 At 151000H infantry squad from Company A, 1/7, Platoon Commander and Three Ontos Commanders from First Platoon Company B at BS 635979 were making a trafficability study and reconnaissance in grid square BS 6379 whey they received heavy small arms fire from unknown number of VC at BS 643474 which resulted in 3 USMC WIA Medevac. Patrol returned 200 rounds 7.62 caliber ammunition. Reaction squad from H&S Company, 1/7 accompanied by Light Section Ontos sent to reinforce squad. VC broke contact. Later search of area revealed 1 pair black pajamas with several bullet holes. Results 1 VC KIA probable. 16 March Second Platoon, Company A in direct support 2/1 received enemy fire. Fired 16 106mm rounds from BT 003606 to BT 003609. Enemy fire ceased. Third Platoon, Company A on patrol at BT 005565 sighted enemy movement at BT 005562. The Ontos fired 4 106mm rounds. A search of the area revealved two VC KIA confirmed. 17 March Third Platoon, Company A on patrol at AT 493579 received 20 rounds small arms fire from treeline at AT 996584. The Ontos fired 4 106mm rounds. Enemy fire ceased. Heavy Section from First Platoon, Company C at BS 337170 supported platoon size ambush from CAC 115. Negative con- tact. 21 March Third Platoon, Company A on patrol fired 7 106mm rounds from BT 028577 to BT 023578 result unknown. No search was made. At 1530H Heavy Section First Platoon, Company C is sup- port of a Platoon from CAC 115 occupied blocking position at BT 338165. The CAC Platoon came under fire the Ontos began deploying to better firing position when Ontos C-15 struck a 250 pound bomb rigged as a mine. The Ontos was totally destroyed. Two marines KIA and two WIA Medevac. At 1615 Ontos received heavy small arms automatic fire from an estimated Company of VC. Fired fire (5) 106mm rounds at two buildings at BT 348167 where five (5) VC were seen firing. Four VC KIA probable. At 1621H Ontos again received small arms and automatic fire from BT 346162 from an undetermined number of VC. Ontos fire three (3) 106mm rounds and destroyed two buildings. Fire ceased. Two VC KIA probable. ENCLOSURE (1) 5 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY _____________________________________________________________________ |
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 5750 5 April 1967 At 1625H Ontos fired 300 rounds .30 caliber ammunition at VC moving across rice paddy at BT 346122. Observed two VC fall. Two VC KIA probable. At 1650H Ontos fired fifty .30 caliber ammunition at VC in rice paddy at BT 345157. Observed the VC fall. Results 2 VC KIA confirmed. At 1710 three VC were observed setting up what appeared to be a recoilless rifle behind a stone wall at BS 357153. Ontos fired four 106mm rounds and wall was completely de- destroyed. Ontos Commander surveyed the area through binoculars and could not observe VC or weapon. Three VC KIA probable. 23 March Third Platoon, Company A on patrol in direct support Company A, 1/1 at BT 005583 received ten rounds small arms fire from treeline at BT 005585. The Ontos fired 4 106mm rounds enemy firing ceased. Search was made with negative results. Third Platoon, Company A on patrol in direct support Company A, 1/1 at BT 005584 received five rounds small arms fire from treeline at AT 994005. The Ontos fired 4 106mm rounds. Firing ceased. Search was made with negative results. At 0715 Heavy Section Second Platoon, Company C departed on Rough Rider to Danang. 25 March Third Platoon, Company A on patrol in direct support of Second Platoon, Company A, 1/1 at BT 004578 received fifteen rounds small arms fire from treeline at AT 998575. Ontos fired 5 106mm rounds. Firing ceased. No search was made due to mission. |