LRRP Teams F Co. 58th Inf. Arrived at Battalion HQs

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YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: TOC F Company 58th Infantry, Camp Eagle

To: HQs 1/501st, 2/501st, 1/502nd Inf

CC:(S1) PERSONNEL, (S2) INTELLIGENCE, (S3) OPERATIONS 2^nd Brigade, 101^st DIVISION HQ, BIEN HOA

RE: OPERATION RAPIDSTRIKE III – TRANSFER OF OPERATIONAL CONTROL

Be Advised that LRRP Teams are are now available for tasking from your HQs

Teams 2-6 call sign CYCLONE 2 & 6 respectively attached to 1/501st

Teams 7-12 call sign TYPHOON 7-12 respectively attached to 2/501st

Teams 21-23 call sign HURRICANE 21-23 respectively attached to 2/502nd

The Teams are currently located in the rear at your Bn HQ Locations, awaiting your orders to move to staging areas in the AO Rapidstrike III or directly in to patrol ops in the field

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Sitrep 03/11/1969 2/17th Cav (Armd) Hotel 2/501st.

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YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

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

To:. HQ 2/501st, (S3) Operations Col Eyles. 2/502nd. (CO ACTING) 2nd Brigade HQ 

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

DATE/TIME: 03/07/1969

Sunrise: 05:35 AM Sunset: 06:02 PM Moonrise: 04:40 PM Moonset: 04:14 AM

Precip: 0%  Wind: 2 mph from ENE

Humidity: 91%  Pressure: 1012 mb Cloud Cover: 2%  Visibility: 10 km

03/11/69 06:00hrs

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

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

Movement conducted

Reach 150 783 1230hrs

Rome ploughs start breaking Trail 1300hrs

Make slow but steady progress Reach 180 799 and set NDP

Will Make push to site FAB STONEWALL tomorrow  

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

Top cover and Recon for ground movement no contacts

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

1^st Platoon 538th Land Clearing Company

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SItRep 03/11/1969 FSB LEE

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YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: TOC FSB LEE

To:. (S3) Operations 1/501^st, Cyclone 6 Actual

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

DATE/TIME: 03/11/1969

Sunrise: 05:35 AM Sunset: 06:02 PM Moonrise: 04:40 PM Moonset: 04:14 AM

Precip: 0%  Wind: 2 mph from ENE

Humidity: 91%  Pressure: 1012 mb Cloud Cover: 2%  Visibility: 10 km

Night 10-11 Passed quietly

Infantry units to Push out and recon the surrounding area and provide security for FSB LEE

Bravo 1/501^st –

2^nd & 3^rd Platoons Ordered to patrol W. of FSB LEE to Hill 662 218 597 Establish NDP overnight and send out LP/Ambushes

1^st Plt + HQ Remain FSB LEE

LP’s GR 235605 & 235 625 set and Radio check made 1600

Delta –

2^nd & 3^rd Platoons Ordered to patrol over river to Hill 676 and set NDP and overnight and send out LP/Ambushes

1^st Plt and Co. HQ Stay FSB LEE

1/B/326^th Engr On going FSB construction and assistance of “A Battery” 2/319 work

Bravo 2/17^th Cav

Send out Platoon strength Route patrols to maintain route security

1^st Plt Patrol Route QL 21 to 207 690 then RTB

207 687 Contact with squad sized enemy unit 8 men. Brief fire fight, enemy fled W. pursued found blood trails but no bodies then lost but discovered well-worn trail running E.–W. E. in to marshy ground and W. approx.. 300 meters. RTB

2^nd Plt Patrol Route 244 S. to 209 559 then RTB No encounters

3^rd Plt + Trp HQ Remain FSB LEE

“A Battery” 2/319

Day Spent Building and strengthening firing positions FDC etc. No Missions  requested

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Orders for 03/11/1969 2/17th Cav Armd & Hotel 2/501st

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YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

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

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

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

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

DATE/TIME: 03/07/1969

03/11/69 10:00hrs

2/17th Squadron HQ, A, D, & C Troop

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

Ref Map sheet 6534 II

Travelling in AO along QL14 (Northern boundry of expanded AO)

Cross Ea Kring at Xa Tho Thanh

Leave QL14 at 149 929 on to Route 427

At 139 856 Turn West (W.)

Ref Map Sheet 565 331I

Leave Route 427 at 065 819

Follow Fair weather road East

136 816 Turn South (S.)

150 783 Turn of road East (E.)

Make use of attached Rome Ploughs to break trail onto the plain area with the intention of establishing a Forward Armour Base (FAB STONEWALL) around the Chu Rluk nipple, 205 808.

D Troop (Air) To Provide Air Cover and CAS 

Support:

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

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PR Problems and Hearts and Minds

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To HQ 2nd Brigade, 101st division

CC LTCs A, Eyl;es, P, Lewis, J. Mitchell

From Brigadier General M Zias.  CO 101^st DIvision

Re PR and hearts and minds

Gentlemen

I previously sent a copy of a letter I have received from some REMF do-gooder down in Saigon.

Now personally this kind of shit chafes my nuts... but this is the crap we are now dealing with and once it becomes official it lands on my desk and I am expected to deal with it...

Gentlemen there are undeniable laws of physics one of which is that shit rolls downhill... this steaming pile of shit has landed on my desk and is now on its way down hill to you.

Now I know soldiers need to let off a little steam and thankfully this didn't turn into more of a cluster fuck. But we need to make sure that we look like choir boys when some chicken shit Associated Press dofus is around...

Which leads me to a second point... what the Sam hill was this photographer doing running around with free reign able to take these kind of shots. When we have these people in the field they need to be assigned a chaperone. Now this warning goes to you all as the battalion commanders... however in this case LTC Lewis it seems that someone in your command screwed the goose.... I especially want that tit grabber realising what it is to feel like a tit... and to find out who was assigned as chaperone to the Jimmy olsen and give him some lessons on being a chaperone.... preferably by chaperoning my boot up his ass.

Now Paul currently you may be likely to get more of this as you are looking after the accessible fsb Lee. .. let's not have a repeat of this and LTCs Eyles  and Mitchell I'll be looking to you both to have your procedures screwed down tight so if a fool with a Nikon turns up we won't have a repeat  of this.

Gentlemen let's remember which way the shit rolls.

I trust that other aspects of the operation are progressing well.. Let’s make sure the 1/4 2nd do some good work... let's not them butchered.. god only knows what would happen should they get chewed up on your watch.

I look forward to positive updates.

Good day.

Bgde Gen Melvin Zias

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PR Problems

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From the office of the U.S. Mission's Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs, Mr Barry Zorthian,

B Evergreen. Public Information Officer (PIO) Saigon

Joint United States Public Affairs Office (JUSPAO)

To: Brigadier General M Zias. Commander 101st Division

Good day General Zias,

I have been asked to contact you on a matter of some delicacy. As you will know from previous briefings from our office, that it is the objective of the military and civil missions here in Vietnam to begin the process of 'handing back control' to the South Vietnamese Government. General Westmoreland has been very clear that before he leaves operational command later this year that this process will be well on its way to successful completion.

The thrust of this policy has many prongs General. From the purely military and advisory elements that you and your staff supply, to very great effect I may add, to the more esoterical that my department concerns itself with.

My task here is to present a certain aspirational mirage if you will; a wishworld imagery that fully fits our inspirational intentions. This involves many tasks that I won't waste your precious time describing. However, one of my main duties concerns briefing and controlling the media output from an increasingly fractious and belligerent press corps.

To this end, this office receives images taken during US operations in an increasingly difficult attempt to control what media corporations publish both in country, and perhaps more importantly, back home stateside.

I have sent you copies of photos taken during a recent village resettlement conducted by the 1st battalion 501st ABN. While I and indeed this office, commend you on allowing a photo record being taken that could assist in reinforcing a positive image of our mission; I have to call into question an apparent lack of briefing on public relations to your subordinates on the ground.

Don't get me wrong General, we are not talking about another My lai and some of the images are very positive. However; an unedifying picture of an officer 'titty grabbing' a local female is not the enduring image MACV would wish to use as a poster campaign. I have managed to stifle the less flattering photos and prevent their publication; for now. However, I would recommend that the battalion Co is reminded that what we do day to day is shown in homes around the world day after day.

My kindest regards to you Sir.

Byron Evergreen. PIO, Saigon.

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RE Associated Press Liaison

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To LTC Eyles Acting CO, 2nd Bgde, Ltc Lewis CO 1/501st

From Brigadier General Melvin Zias Commander 101st Division

Gentlemen,

It seems that you will shortly have at least one journo, joining your troops, more specifically LTC Lewis, your battalion.

Needless to say I expect that you will be keeping your men on the straight and narrow in the conduct of operations. I don't think I need to point out the clusterfuck and shitstorm that would happen should anything untoward happen while AP man be present at the wrong time!

I also understand from my briefings that you're about to do a village relocation from near FSB LEE. I might suggest that you do this as quickly and painlessly as possible and preferably before our friend from AP gets anywhere the AO.

BgdeGen Zias

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Associated Press

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To To Brigadier General Melvin Zias Commander 101st Division

From Pete Hamill. Head of Associated Press (Saigon)

Dear General,

I'm writing to request one of our reporters joining Bravo Company 1/501st on their current mission in Boon Tsuk. Eddie Adams is one of our finest photographer and reporter. He is also an ex Marine so can look after himself. We are covering the CORDS initiative and its impact on civilian life. We hope to document the great work our boys are doing in the pacification mission so heralded by General Westmoreland.

Eddie can hitch a lift on the next company airlift.

Pete Hamill

To Pete Hamill. Head of Associated Press (Saigon)

From Brigadier General Melvin Zias Commander 101st Division

CC LtC Paul Lewis CO 1/501st Inf

Mr Hamill

We will do what we can to accommodate your reporters. Due to his attachment to the 1/501st, I will leave the specifics of the liason to the CO LtC Lewis, though I'd like you to keep my office updated.

LTC Lewis. I trust that you’ll do all you can to accommodate the former leatherneck and show him how the Airborne do things

Bgd Gen Zias

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4th PSYOP Gp Arrive

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To: Brigadier Melvin Zias Commander 101st Division

From Col Eyles 2nd Bat 502nd Inf, Acting CO 2^nd Bgde 101^st Division

Private and Confidential

Hey Duke,

My eggs Benedict were rude interrupted this morning by the arrival of members of the 4th PSYOP Group, JUSPAO, With orders to join our happy band on operations. They were introduced to me as:

Mia

Ingilton

Chow

Kelvin

Eto

Yao

As my staff sergeant so eloquently said, "ya got to be shitting me!"

AL

To: Col Eyles 2nd Bat 502nd Inf, Acting CO 2nd Bgde 101st Division

From: Brigadier Melvin Zias Commander 101st Division

Private and Confidential

Well Al...

They are a motley bunch... the powers that be think this stuff works so we have to play along. .. if the next bunch can spell mouse..... I'll be checking my trousers and underpants....

Melvin...

Ps get your chef to do you another serving of a eggs.

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4th PSYOP Group, JUSPAO Vietnam

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To Brigadier General Melvin Zias Commander 101st Division

From Major General R Deitch, commander 4th PSYOP Group, JUSPAO Vietnam

General Zias Sir,

You will no doubt be aware of the work carried out by the PSYOP branch of the Joint US Public Affairs Office and the faith General Westmoreland has in that work. In the light of the J5 PSYWAR analysis, It is hoped that our efforts will be more embraced by the whole of the military presence in theatre. The emphasis of our fight is pacification and giving CORDS our unflinching support.

We have been running 'Frantic Goat' ops in the boarder region for several months now and have been looking for an opportunity to follow up on this operation to assess its effect on the PAVN and VC in the area.

It has come to our notice that a Battalion size insertion of the 2/502nd will take place in the next few days into an area that is ripe for such a recon by one of our teams.

Please inform Colonel Eyles that a five man unit from the 6th PSYOP battalion will be joining the 2/502nd until further notice. His companies will facilitate their operations toward the CHIEU HOI programme by running MAGIC EYE and Wandering Soul missions when ever possible.

The unit will report directly the 4th PSYOP Group.

You may be interested to listen to the attached tape.

To Major General R Deitch, commander 4th PSYOP Group, JUSPAO Vietnam

From Brigadier General Melvin Zias Commander 101st Division

General Deitch.

I will pass on the warning to LtC Eyles and order that he accommodate your team as fully as possible.

I certainly hope that these theatrics offer an extra weapon the arsenal we can physically bring to bear on the enemy. I'll reserves judgement on what it does to them until I get reports back from the field, though it put the shivers on me.... The next thing you know the Japanese will be making horror movies like this.

I'll also inform my S2 and S3 section of this

Bgde Gen M Zias CO 101^st DIvision

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Correspondance BG Duke Zias & LTC Eyles

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To: Brigadier Melvin Zias Commander 101st Division

From Col Eyles 2nd Bat 502nd Inf

Private and Confidential

Hey Duke,

How's the new desk fitting? Well I hope. I overheard a two star saying that he'd seen a man digging a big hole in the 18th green at Cam Ranh Bay Officers Club with a 9 iron the other day. Sure sounded like it fitted your description.

How are Peggy and the boys? Two West Pointers Melv, you must be so proud. I had three wonderful days with Betty in Honolulu the other week. Seems like a long time ago now. I sure miss her and the kids.  Buck's in his sophomore year. Can you believe it. I sure hope he stay away from this mess.

I don't mean to use back channels Duke, but I guess if you can't ask your old foxhole buddy to do you a favour, then who can you? It's nothing much.

On my way back from state side I happened to get talking with a old pal of mine from my Germany days. He's S2 over at the 1st Air Cav. Seems he was with the 1/42 ARVN when they went into the An Loa Valley back in '67. He says Colonel Lu Yong Dat is a stand up guy. French educated and a good fighter. Seems he lost his parents to the Vietnam Minh sometime around '53. Has no love of Nathaniel Victor. Thing is, this feller Ged says that during the operation they got to thinking there was a rat on Dat's staff. Says it seemed like a virtual conduit to the Gooks. They ran some kind of false trail and mis-information stuff and the whole thing went quiet. Operation ended and that was that.

Now you know my feels about our indigenous friends after Lam Son. I'll go along with having ARVN along for the ride of course, but I just don't trust them. What I'm asking for Melv is for you to cover my ass when I keep them in the dark about certain things. We've got to many dicks swinging in the grass on this one to have Ho Chi's brother in law along with us. I'll tell Dat what he needs to know but no more. I hope that's ok old friend.

Say hi to Peggy and the boys. And, if you ever want to loose your shirt Melv, bring your clubs over and we'll do the Bien Hoa back nine for old times sake.

Col Charlie Eyles 2/502

From: Melvin Zias. General Commanding 101st

To: Lt Col Alan Eyles 2/502nd

Private And Confidential

Good to hear from you Al

It wasn’t my bad golfing skills….I'd heard they were going to drop some mortar rounds on us so I thought I'd dig a fox hole... the ground keeper didn't like it and I realised the 9 iron wasn't really up for the job.

Yeah the boys are doing well... west point is great though I'm  just glad they weren't the pointer sisters. Though pegs not best pleased... more men in uniform...

Thanks for the heads up. I hear what you are saying. Not all of the apples in the barrel are bad but once you've tasted a rotten one it kind of spoils it for the rest...

To be honest this is a PR exercise... we do the donkey work and Washington can send in the the press to film Marvin 'doing the job and taking over'.

You run the show as you see fit... we know that most of their set ups have more leaks than a sieve.. just try to make sure that you don't end up with egg on your face and not making the locals look too corrupt... the chiefs have been on my neck about improving the image of the locals so we don't seem to be holding dicks  and shaking off the drips over here...

I'll do what I can from my end and give me a shout if you need something extra...

Get this thing wrapped in good time and maybe you can get back to the islands again soon.

Take care old friend

Yours

Duke

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Sitrep FSB LEE 03/10/1969

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YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: TOC FSB LEE

To:. (S3) Operations 1/501^st, Cyclone 6 Actual

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

DATE/TIME: 03/10/1969

Night 09-10 Passed quietly

Bravo –

Ordered Platoons to patrol W. of FSB LEE as security screen during insertion of A 2/319^th Arty

1^st Plt to 210 630 & RTB

2^nd Plt to 210 615 & RTB

3^rd Plt to 220 600 found tracks of 30+ individuals then lost, RTB

LP’s GR 235605 & 235 625 set and Radio check made 1600

Delta –

Assigned FSB Security and assist construction and “A Battery” 2/319signed Deployment

1/B/326^th Engr Construction continues, Fire control center and artillery firing positions set and prep begun awaiting arrival of artillery tomorrow

Bravo 2/17^th Cav

Send Out Platoon strength Route patrols to maintain route security and to provided screen while Artillery inserted

1^st Plt Patrol Route 344 North to its end 182 678 RTB

2^nd Plt Patrol trail West until marshy ground stopped progress at 195 622 RTB

3^rd Plt Patrol Route 344 South to B. Dring Deung 245 576 On approaching Ville spotted group of 10 (?) VC Fleeing South, opened fire on them and dismounts went in pursuit but lost them and decided to call back. RTB

“A Battery” 2/319

Day Spent inserting in to FSB. Lead team located positions for FDC and firing positions, Engineers begin building Blasting ground for FDC and Firing positions. 105s brought in. 1800 All guns and Btty personnel on ground and gun ready to receive Fire Missions

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