4th PSYOP Group, JUSPAO Vietnam

CLASSIFIED

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

EYES ONLY

URGENT Revision Request Daisy Cutter MIssion

 CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: (S3) OPERATIONS 2nd Brigade HQ, 101^st Division

To: S2 & S3 Division HQ

 03/03/1969
RE OPERATION RAPDISTRIKE III – REVISED BLU-82 DAISY CUTTER MISSION

Be advised: Change to mission coordinate... Repeat change to mission coordinates. 

(8)2045-(13)7335 repeat (8)2045-(13)7335 supersedes previous coords

In support of the 2nd Brigade 101st Divisions operation RAPIDSTRIKE III in the K14 AO (Yok Nam Loa Massif) a Sikorsky CH54, BLU-82 (Daisycutter) mission is requested for 07:30 03/12/1969. Please refer request to:
Major Warren Silva

273rd AVN Co. (HH)

12th AVN Group

Long Binh

Confirm, Coordinates are (8)2045-(13)7335 Designated as CHU DOURDLON, US Army Map series L7014-sheet 6533. 

Please advise confirmation of availability ASAP.

Col Eyles Co 2/502nd.

FROM: S2 INT & S3 OPS 101st Division HQ
TO: 2nd Brigade HQ S2 INT & S3 OPS

RE: OPERATION RAPDISTRIKE III – REVISED BLU-82 DAISY CUTTER MISSION

Change of coordinate, received, understood and logged

EYES ONLY

Communications 2

CLASSIFIED 

To -Divisional Assets command

From - 2nd Bgde HQ

Re Recon flights and LRRP teams reports for end of day 26 Feb

Roger that command and thank you for your two days with us, happy hunting. Good news about WIA and extraction of all personnel, I've radioed Camp Eagle to personally commended the actions of LRRP team 21 to SSG P W McClutchy on their bravery in the face of an unknown enemy force. This action directly lead to the safe extraction of themselves as well as the Air crew. McClutchy said that their spirits were high and they were stoked to get back in the field soon as.  

The 389th TFS are to remain on call but not on station. Call sign SHADOWFAX. Flight time from Da Nang Air Base. 30 minutes. 

Once the LRRP teams have finished their individual patrols and have rested and resupplied, they will be assigned to the three primary Battalions involved in RAPIDSTRIKE III. Primary mission will be to scout battalion advance route and points of concern. I envisage them departing from Battalion NDP's as no further Arial Recon is planned to cover LRRP infiltration.  

Looks like we've found the  enemy Sir. The "O Deuce" and I'm sure our brothers in the 501, Can't wait to get them in a good ol' stand up fight.

Brigade comms planning updates

CLASSIFIED

Hurricane 6

Gentlemen,
As you will know, LRRP team 21 experienced heavy resistance on their LZ earlier this morning. Immediate disengagement was ordered and dustoff Ricky Tick. I have not committed any troops from 502nd or 501st as a RRF. I feel that units would be preparing for RAPIDSTRIKE and we need to complete the planned Arial and LRRP recon to gain a better understanding of the NVA troop numbers in the area before engaging the enemy. The overview for RAPIDSTRIKE was to enter the AO in stages to guarantee self-supporting FSB cover for the area as we move westward. Typhoon 6, be advised that the hot LZ was 10# mikes due south of you intended AO.

Please advise of your feel to early commitment of Battalions to engage sooner. This would rely on air assets that might be committed elsewhere.

Hurricane Actual out........

Cyclone 6

Gentleman

My sense is we have unintentionally hit a sensitive spot on the enemy and we should look to poke again with immediate effect - using units to be inserted close too Team 21's insertion point with a blocking force some 6 kilo mikes to the south - both units would need fire support on immediate call.

Hurricane 6

Roger that. As the LZ site is In between 2/502nd and 2/501st, elements of these units should respond.

Cyclone 6 the 1/501st were to move into the AO first along highway 344 to the south east corner of the AO. Suggest we stick to this part of the plan as far as we can just move departure date forward. Await report from second days Arial Recon tonight before movement orders.

Departure from mission plan: order Gunship fire support from 7/17th Air Cav supported by fighters from 389th (Danger Close) for LRRP and air crew on LZ "CHIEF" (004-685) Division airlift will transport C Company 2/502nd to set up a defensive perimeter at 019-695 (designated LZ EASY) and a company 2/501st to join at same Pos ASAP. Once both companies are landed, C/2/502 will Recon east to LZ CHIEF to secure LRRP and Air crew at the crash site.  They will form a defensive perimeter around the crash site and await support from D/2/592. WIA and Air crew to be escorted back to LZ EASY by a squad from D/2/502 and extracted ASAP . LRRP team 21 to remain with 2/502 at LZ CHIEF and await further orders. D/2/502 to be air lifted  to LZ EASY ASAP. D/2/502 to move east and link up with C/2/502 after arrival. Further orders to be issued from there.

Typhoon 6

Solid copy

The mothers and wives of LRRP team 21 appreciate the swift withdrawal of their sons and husbands.  Recon is best option so that we face enemy on our terms as much as possible.
 Request radio contact with area commanders to discuss option of new AO or possible aggressive entry
Typhoon 6 actual  out