Order Bombing 273rd AVN Co. (HH) 12th AVN Group BLU-82 (Daisy Cutter)

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

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

To:.  273rd AVN Co. (HH) 12th AVN Group

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

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

DATE/TIME: 03/07/1969

07:30hrs duration 3hours start at 06:00hrs

273rd AVN Co. (HH) 12th AVN Group

A BLU- 82 order issued for FSB (MASON) Confirm, Coordinates are (8)2045-(13)7335 Designated as CHU DOURDLON, 

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Orders for 03/12/69 FSB LEE 1/501st

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: S3 Ops 1/501^st Inf

To:. TOC FSB, Bravo & Delta 1/501st

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

DATE/TIME: 03/011/1969

Orders for 03/12/69

Weather

Patchy rain nearby

Max:       34°c | Min: 19°c

Rain:     15.70 mm

Sunrise: 05:29 AM

Sunset:   06:04 PM

Cloud      15%  - 100%            

Wind       2-4mph primarily from S.

Humidity  49% - 98%   

Pressure   1008mb - 1010 mb      

Bravo - 2nd Platoon to provide Point with flanking security from 1st Platoon (left) and 3rd Platoon (right) ,  Wpns & Co Platoon to be rear of Platoon Diamond formation and conduct patrol North West of FSB perimeter for up to 4KM  - Duration 6hrs plus 2 x 20 min stops – Area to be patrolled GR 201 621 to GR 19629 continue searching for any obvious trails/signs of the enemy. Maintain use of Hill 524 as OP

Delta – all Platoons to provide security to FSB build and to send out two LP’s to the following two co-ordinates at 1600 hrs  GR 235605   & 235 625 – send out 3rd platoon on an aggressive patrol to Hill 662 GR 219 608

326^th Engrs - to continue FSB Lee construction – advise on insertion of Artillery Batteries and Support Units

A 2/319 Arty – Continue to improve firing positions and to provided fire support as necessary

Once all units in FSB Lee we will commence aggressive Operations utilising our LRRP’s to ascertain enemy held areas and then apply Hammer and Anvil Tactics

Cyclone 6 Actual Out

LtC P D Lewis 

        

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

CLASSIFIED

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.

CLASSIFIED

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

CLASSIFIED

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

CLASSIFIED

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

CLASSIFIED

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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