Headquarters and Headquarter Company
February 19, 1968
Forward Area: 1-20 Infantry Headquarters is located at LZ Thunder and will continued to work with ARVN units in their Area of Operations. At 0001hrs Ba To Special Forces came under ground attack at 0030hrs and Spooky dispatched situation unknown. At 0110hrs Ameical Division G-2 information Hanoi ordered an attack on Central Vietnam DATE/TIME 190200 February Quang Ngai will be attacked from Northwest Ngai Hanh from Southwest. They will use regiment size coordination attack consisting of the 20th Montagnard Company, 8th VC Battalion and 95 VC Battalion force attacking Quang Ngai is reported to the 401st VC Regiment. At 0713hrs Commanding General left LZ Bronco to observe the 1-20 Infantry, Combat Assault. At 1605hrs 1-20 Infantry request 2 sharks in vicinity BS9026 at 1605hrs, Mike Forces engaged with estimate platoon of VC. At 1613hrs Charlie Company tripped a booby trap resulting in 1 US WHA (M) and 1 US (E) was Dust Off called and at 8th Support Clearing Station and died of wounds. At 2030hrs (late entry) 1-20 Infantry Security element detected 10-15 VC vicinity BS936222, engaged with 2 81mm result OP received 4 hand grenades withdrew from LP location and back to perimeter with negative casualties.
Rear Area: Battalion Rear continued their Mission of general support for the battalion and continued their Security Mission for LZ Bronco. At 2145hrs 6-11 Artillery, blocked the following grids for 81 HE firing BS8038, BS8042, BS8342 and BS8338, 81 HE can be fired in these grids only if contact is made and they are approved by 6-11 FDC. At 2130hrs Bunker 58 receiving sniper fire returned fire with negative results. At 2250hrs Bunkers 18-19 receiving small arms fire from their front, returned fire, received more fire from Village BS837388, returned fired and firing stopped.
Alpha Company
February 19, 1968
Alpha Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Thunder with one element running a Search and Destroy operation in their Area of Operation. At 0915hrs Alpha Company has 2 US WHA hit by sniper fire, rounds went through upper left leg of both men, appeared to be a BAR fire line #223 and #229, Dust Off is completed at 0925hrs. Alpha Company (-) is at LZ Thunder and 2nd Platoon at BS840309. At 1115hrs Alpha Company searching area found hut with old man in it, expended 7.62 round, women ID, and a green uniform wrapped in poncho, but did not detained. At 1510hrs Alpha Company made contact with unknown number VC results WHA, received gunshot to leg Dust Off, completed at 1540hrs. At 1745hrs Alpha Company at BS844303 found a booby trap Chi Com grenade with trip wire, will destroy in place. At 1900hrs OP on Tripoli has negative SITREP. At 2005hrs Alpha Company has Security Mission on LZ Thunder with ambush at BS755374.
Bravo Company
February 19, 1968
Bravo Company continued their Search and Destroy operations and prepared for a Combat Assault to take advantage of POW information with Military Personnel looking for a VC Base Camp. At 0845hrs Bravo Company reports their Combat Assault 1st Lift PZ at 0725hrs and 4th and last Lift LZ at 0840hrs will LZ at BS734347, BS747349 and BS758342 all LZ were cold. At 0915hrs Bravo Company, reports their location at grid BS747336. At 1015hrs Bravo Company found tunnel with a lot of holes 3’ wide and 1’ deep. At 2005hrs Bravo Company reports their Night locations Bravo 1st and 3rd Platoon at BS757348 with 2nd Platoon at BS745355.
Charlie Company
February 19, 1968
Charlie Company continued their Security Mission for LZ Uptight. At 0955hrs Charlie Company conducts a Combat Assault 1st Lift completed at 0945hrs and 2nd Lift completed at 0955hrs LZ cold to BS785863. At 1144hrs Task Force Barker Command and Control Helicopter took 3 rounds small arms fire with 1 hit with negative casualties. At 1130hrs Charlie Company reports their location at BS777862. At 1410hrs Charlie Company at BS775860 engaged 1 VC with results of 1 VC KIA found 2 Chi Com hand grenades and 1 M-26 hand grenade with Chinese fuse. At 1430hrs Charlie Company reports their location at BS775860. At 1320hrs Charlie Company reports had a POW guide escape. At 1945hrs Charlie Company reports their location at BS712872.
Delta Company
February 19, 1968
Delta Company continued their Search and Destroy operations and multiple patrolling in their Area of Operation, which was West of Duc Pho and just before you really move into the mountains. At 1015hrs Delta Company at BS872348 found 1 VC grenade and 8 81mm dud, blew in place. At 1330hrs Delta Company at BS872347 found a 155mm round with 2 or 3 pounds of TNT around it again destroyed in place. At 1945hrs Delta reports had a man WHA by small arms fire at BS864345 and evac.
Echo Company
February 19, 1968
Echo Company and 4.2 platoon where located on LZ Thunder to provide direct support to the Battalion. At 0955hrs Recon Platoon reports their location at BS778341, 1 Recon at BS783346 and 2 Recon at BS789342. At 1030hrs Recon Platoon at BS744366, found abandoned huts and 5 M-79 rounds, huts looked like start of base camp. At 1430hrs Recon Platoon at BS747368 requested Dust Off for 2 men who walked into a hornets nest, 1 was stung about 1000 times, the other face was covered with stings, Dust Off completed at 1445hrs. At 1620hrs Recon at BS747368, man fell, has possible fracture or broken knee, Dust Off requested. At 2005hrs Recon Platoon reports their night locations BS745376 with ambush at BS743373 and BS746364.