03/12/1969 SItRep Hotel 2/501st + 2/17th Cav

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From:  HQ 2/17^th Cav Armd, CP Hotel 2/501st

To:. (S3) Operations Col Eyles. 2/502nd. (CO ACTING) 2nd Brigade HQ 101st Division

CC (S2) Intel (S3) Ops 101^st Division HQ

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

DATE/TIME: 03/12/1969

WEATHER 19 °c 39°c Sunrise: 05:29 AM Sunset: 06:04 PM

Moonrise: 03:10 AM Moonset: 03:38 PM

Precip: 97%  Wind: 1 mph from ESE

Humidity: 99%  Pressure: 1010 mb Cloud Cover: 16%  Visibility: 9 km

03/12/69 06:00hrs

2/17th Squadron HQ, A, C & D (Air), Troops

2/501st Hotel Company, (Transported by 2/17^th)

Set out from NDP 180 799 at 0700hrs making slow steady progress toward The Nipple, FAB STONEWALL. Rome ploughs leading way

1700hrs 195 383, 3^rd Plt Hotel 2/501^st engaged by sniper suffer 3 WIA, 1 serious

Ground units engaged location then pushed forward, blood trails found but then disappeared heading (E.) 2 x WIA treated in the field, 1 x WIA serious enough that needed MedEvac.

Finally lead elements reach the Nipple and set up NDP.

Will begin construction of FAB STONEWAL:L tomorrow

D Troop (Air) To Provide Air Cover and CAS Rotary

Provided top cver while ground units moved to The Nipple provided recon for sniper but nothing spotted and while MedEvac called in provided top cover and escort duties.

389th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Call sign SHADOWFAX) CAS to be requested.

1^st Platoon 538th Land Clearing Company

       EYES ONLY