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DEPARTMENT
OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS, 1ST BATTALION, 92D ARTILLERY
APO 96318
AVGG-BJ 5
August 1969
SUBJECT: Operational
Report of the 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery for Period Ending 31 October
1969, RCS CSFOR-65 (R1) (U)
See Distribution
1. (C) Section 1,
Operations: Significant Activities.
a. General:
(1) The 1st Battalion,
92d Artillery remains attached to the 52d Artillery Group, I Field
Force Vietnam Artillery, with its headquarters at Pleiku, Republic
of Vietnam and its Forward Command Post in Tan Canh, Republic of Vietnam,
operating in general support of US/RVNAF and FWMAF. The organization
has been continuously engaged in action against hostile forces in
the Area of Operations of the 24th Special Tactical Zone, Republic
of Vietnam.
(2) Location, status
and mission of each unit organic to or OPCON to this battalion are
as follows:
(a) Forward Command
Post: Grid ZB053217 (42nd ARVN Regiment Compound), Organic; Coordinates
all types of fire support for Dak To and Dak Sut subsectors, tactically
controls organic and OPCON units and tactically directs fires.
(b) Battalion
Headquarters: Grid ZA226535 (Artillery Hill, Pleiku); organic; General
Support.
(c) Battery A(-):
Grid YA898357 (LZ Bison II): OPCON to 3rd Battalion, 6th Artillery,
General Support.
(d) Battery A
Platoon: Grid ZB876456 (LZ New Plei Djereng); Organic; General Support.
(e) Battery B(-):
Grid YB934187 (Fire Support Base 6, 7 KM west of Dak To); Organic;
General Support.
(f) Battery B
Platoon: Grid YB869256 (Fire Support Base 12, Ben Het, 15 KM northwest
of Dak To); Organic; General Support.
(g) Battery C
Platoon: Grid YU514432 (LZ Susan), OPCON 5th Battalion, 22nd Artillery;
General Support.
(h) Battery C
Platoon: Grid YU581548 (LZ Kate), OPCON 5th Battalion, 22nd Artillery;
General Support.
(i) Battery C
Platoon: Grid YU883769 (LZ Mike Smith), OPCON 5th Battalion, 22nd
Artillery; General Support.
(j) Service Battery:
Grid ZA226535 (Artillery Hill, Pleiku) Organic: General Support.
(k) Battery B,
6th Battalion, 14th Artillery: Grid YB869256 (Fire Support Base
12, Ben Het), OPCON 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery; General Support.
(l) Two (2) M-42's,
Battery B, 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery (AW): Grid ZB053217 (42nd
ARVN Regiment Headquarter Compound, Tan Canh), Direct Support of
1st Battalion, 92nd Artillery forward command post.
(m) Two (2) M-42's,
Battery B, 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery (AW): Grid ZB869256 (Fire
Support Base 12, Ben Het), Direct Support Battery B, 6th Battalion,
14th Artillery.
(n) Metro Section:
Grid ZB053217 (42nd ARVN Regiment Compound, Tan Canh, 4KM east of
Dak To), Organic; Supports Artillery and weather service in Dak
To/Ben Het area. Moved to LZ Plantation (ZB109165) on 30 Oct 69
to support artillery and weather service in the Kontum/Tan Canh
area.
(o) 254th Radar
Detachment: Grid ZB053217 (42nd ARVN Regiment Compound, Tan Canh),
OPCON to 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery; Provide countermortar surveillance
for Dak To area.
(p) 4th Radar
Section, 8th Battalion, 26th Artillery (TAB): Grid YB869256 (Fire
Support Base 12, Ben Het) OPCON 1st Battalion, 92nd Artillery, provide
countermortar surveillance for Ben Het area.
(3) The battalion
is organized under TO&E 6-425G, dated 31 October 1966, as modified
by MTO&E 6-425G dated 13 November 1968.
OFF
WO EM TOTAL
(a) Authorized 37 6 555 598
(b) Assigned 32 6 515 553
(4) A total of
7 people were wounded during this reporting period. Sgt. Max Williams
and Sp4 William Gillery were injured when their vehicle hit a mine
enroute to Tan Canh from Pleiku. 1Lt Michael Smith, 1lt John Kerr,
Sgt James Caldwell, Sp4 Robin Turnage and Pvt Charles Clemons received
fragment wounds from enemy mortar and recoiless rifle fire.
There were no deaths during the reporting period.
b. Intelligence:
(1) Ground observations:
Ground observation was performed by the following forward observer
teams deployed with maneuver elements:
(a) Two (2) forward
observer teams were deployed on 15 August 1969. One team was with
the 3d Mobile Strike Force Battalion and the other team with a Duc
Co CIDG Company.
(b) One (1) forward
observer team was deployed on 20 Aug 69 with a Dak Pek CIDG Company.
(c) One (1) forward
observer team was deployed on 26 Aug 69 with a Ben Het CIDG Company
plus one Combat Reconnaissance Patrol Team.
(d) One (1) forward
observer team was deployed on 29 Aug 69 with a Duc Co CIDG Company.
(e) One (1) forward
observer team was deployed on 12 Sep 69 with a Duc Co CIDG Company.
(f) On 21 Sep 69
one (1) forward observer team was deployed with the 2d Bn, 42d ARVN
Regt. (ARVN).
(g) On 3 Oct 69
one (1) forward observer team was deployed with a Dak Sang CIDG Company.
(h) On 21 Oct 69
one (1) forward observer team was deployed with the 24th STZ.
(i) On 21 Oct 69
one (1) forward observer team was deployed with the 3d Mobile Strike
Force Battalion.
(2) Aerial observation:
Aerial observation was accomplished throughout the reporting period.
(3) Radar: Radar
was employed to assist the battalion in its operations. A MS-4, a
Q-10 and a Q-4 were employed. These gave the battalion countermortar
and personnel detection capabilities. In addition the Q-4 and Q-10
aided greatly by increasing the battalion's registration capabilities.
c. (C) Operations
and Training Activities:
(1) Operations
(a) At the beginning
of the reporting period, Battery A(-), 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery,
was located at LZ Elaine, YA863265, with the mission of General Support
and priority of fires to the 1st Sqd, 10th Cav. On 3 Aug 69 Battery
A Platoon moved by road from FSB #1, ZB005217, to Pleiku with a mission
of General Support FWMAF. On 7 Aug 69 the platoon continued by road
to LZ Bison II, YA 898357, where they became OPCON to the 3d Battalion,
6th Arty with the mission of general support. On 9 Aug 69, Battery
A(-) moved by road to LZ Bison II, YA 898357, to rejoin the platoon
and make the Battery complete once again. On 26 Aug 69, Battery A
Platoon moved by road to New Plei Djereng, YA 876456, with a mission
of General Support. On 02 September, Battery A Platoon moved by road
to New Plei Djereng, YA 876456, to form the Battery (-). On 24 September
Battery A (-) moved by road to LZ Bison II, YA 898375, with a mission
of General Support. On 24 September Battery A Platoon moved by road
to New Plei Djereng, YA 876456, with a mission of General Support.
On 28 September Battery A Platoon moved by road to Old Plei Djereng,
YA 858350, with a mission of general support. On 05 October Battery
A Platoon moved by road to LZ Bison II, YA 898375, with a mission
of general support. On 07 October, Battery A Platoon moved by road
to New Plei Djereng, YA 876456, with a mission of general support.
Battery A has been OPCON throughout the entire reporting period to
the 3rd Battalion, 6th Artillery. The Battery has expended a total
of 7,105 rounds for the reporting period.
(b) Battery B, 1st
Battalion, 92d Artillery was located at Fire Support Base 6 (YB933188)
throughout the reporting period. On 05 August, Battery B rear element
moved to LZ Mary Lou. On 07 September Battery B Platoon moved to LZ
Mary Lou, ZA 223829, by air with a mission of general support. On
08 September Battery B Platoon moved by road to LZ Action, BR 266470,
with a mission of general support. On 09 September Battery B Platoon
moved by air to LZ Mattie, BR 224238, with a mission of general support.
On 25 September Battery B Platoon moved by road to Camp Radcliff,
BR 466466, with a mission of general support. On 26 September Battery
B Platoon moved by road to Artillery Hill, ZA 225536, with a mission
of general support. On 26 September Battery B Platoon moved by road
to FSB 12, YB 873250, with a mission of general support. Battery B
Platoon remained at FSB 12 throughout the remainder of the reporting
period.
(c) At the beginning
of the reporting period, Battery C (-) was located at LZ Bass, ZA029937,
with mission of GS FWMAF. C Platoon was located at Ben Het with the
mission of GS FWAMAF priority for the defense of the Ben Het Area.
On 15 August Battery C (-) moved by road from LZ Bass to LZ Mary Lou,
ZA 232812, where they remained overnight OPCON to 6th Battalion, 14th
Artillery.
On 16 August Battery (-) moved by road to Plei Mrong, ZA 117673, where
they assumed the mission of GS 4th Infantry Division. On 31 August
1969 Battery C (-) moved by road to Artillery Hill where they were
placed OPCON to 3rd Battalion, 6th Artillery. The following day, 1
September, one (1) platoon moved by C-130 to Ban Me Thuot East, AQ883018,
and was placed OPCON to 5th Battalion, 22d Artillery. The rest of
the battery (-) left Artillery Hill 2 September and joined the platoon
already at Ban Me Thuot East the same day. On 5 September, one (1)
platoon displaced from Ban Me Thuot East for LZ Ursula, BQ 078331,
where they had the mission of GS FWMAF priority of fires MSF operating
in area. The remaining platoon at Ban Me Thuot East left there on
8 September for Duc Lap, YU 871775, and assumed the mission of GS
FWMAF priority of fires MSF operating in the area. On 21 September
the remaining platoon left Duc Lap for LZ Susan, YU 514432, and assumed
the mission GS FWWMAF priority of fires MSF operating in the area.
All moves subsequent to arrival in Duc Lap were by air. On 29 September,
C platoon at Ben Het moved by road to Artillery Hill where they were
OPCON to 3rd Battalion, 6th Artillery and had the mission of GS to
the Letrung District. They remained there until 11 October the platoon
moved by C-130 to Ban Me Thuot East, AQ 882018, where they were OPCON
to 5th Battalion, 22d Artillery and had the mission of GS FWMAF priority
of fires to MSF operating in the area. On 31 October they moved by
road to LZ Mike Smith, YU 883769, OPCON to 5th Battalion, 22d Artillery.
Their mission was unchanged. At the end of the reporting period, one
(1) platoon was at LZ Mike Smith, one (1) platoon at LZ Kate and one
(1) platoon at LZ Susan.
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(d) At the beginning
of the reporting period, the enemy offensive in the Ben Het/Dak To
area came to a complete halt. During the next two (2) months, the
only enemy activity in this area were minor attempts to disrupt pacification.
Towards the middle of October, intelligence indicators pointed to
a build up of enemy forces in the Ben Het/Dak To/Tan Canh area. On
13 October 1969, Ben Het received B-40's. During the next few days,
Dak To had 4 attacks by rockets. Tan Canh also took incoming on two
(2) occasions. During the reporting period, sensor devices were in
place in strategic spots along the border. Lately, heavy readings
have been picked up by these sensors. Both troop and vehicle movement
have been detected, which tends to indicate a build up in this area.
(e) The Fire
Support Coordination Center at the 1st Battalion, 92nd Artillery Forward
Command Post at Tan Canh ensured the best effective engagement of
ground targets by coordinating the employment of artillery, chemical
strikes, automatic weapons fires, tactical air strikes, and B-52 strikes.
It also ensured the safety of friendly aircraft, troop population
and properly posting air advisories over the air warning coordination
center station, Toll House Lima, and 1st Battalion, 92nd Artillery
liaison section was collocated with ARVN Artillery Liaison Officers,
and a District Representative with the power to grant political clearances.
Within the same tactical operations center, the 1st Battalion, 92nd
Artillery Operations and S-2 Sections were located. Through the Fire
Support Coordination Center, the two forces were combined and coordinated
enabling successful artillery support to the ground elements located
in the area.
(f) At the close
of the last ORLL, the Forward Command Post was in the process of moving
to Tan Canh to be set up in the 43d ARVN Regimental Compound. The
1st Battalion, 92d Artillery was given two (2) building to set up
the Forward Command Post and living quarters. With the help of the
Regimental Commanding Officer and Executive Officer, on the 2d of
August, we obtained another building for the forward mess hall to
feed all US personnel in the Dak To/Tan Canh area to include the convoy
personnel. On 6 August 1969, Maj Anh fave the use of another building
for living quarters and mess storage area. On 20 August 1969, a survey
team from the 20th Engineers arrived at Tan Canh to look the site
for the living bunkers and new TOC. On 8 September 1969, the first
bunker was completed except for sand baggin and flooring which will
not be completed until all bunkers and TOC are completed. On 16 September
1969, Bunker #2 was completed except for flooring. On 9 October 1969,
work started on bunkers number 3 and 4. As of the closing of this
report, work is continuing on the Engineer project and as soon as
they are completed, the present buildings will be returned to the
42d ARVN Regiment.
(g) The following
assistance was provided during the reporting period in conjunction
with the ARVN Assistance Programs.
(1) A fire direction
center and firing battery assistance team was sent to Dak Seang.
(See Training)
(2) A Fire Direction
Center and Firing Battery Assistance Team was sent to Dak Pek. (See
Training)
(3) During the
reporting period, eighteen RF/PF Offensive Operations were supported
by US Artillery nder control of 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery.
(4) Of eighty-six
valid targets planned, fourty-two were fired.
(5) Metro Support
was provided to the 37th Artillery (ARVN) and 63rd Artillery (ARVN)
during the reporting period.
(6) Artillery
support has been provided to the 42d ARVN Regiment, which is located
at Tan Canh and to other elements opcon to 24th Special Tactical
Zone in the Dak To/Ben Het area.
(7) Forward Observer
Parties have been provided to accompany ARVN Maneuver Elements on
1 operation and CIDG Maneuver Elements on 8 operations.
(8) Combined Artillery
operations were planned and conducted during the reporting period.
(9) Survey was
provided for the 37th ARVN Artillery and 63rd ARVN Artillery at
FSB #1.
(2) Training
(a) The battalion
set up a Battery Evaluaton Team to go to each Fire Base to check and
give help to the FDC and Firing Battery.
(b) The battalion
had 3 Officers and 1 EM who attended Forward Observer School this
quarter.
(c) The Battalion
had 5 Officers and 1 EM who attended Fire Direction School this quarter.
(d) On the job training
continued for personnel in all Batteries during the reporting period,
with emphasis on Maintenance, Fire Direction Center, Crew Drill and
Communications.
(e) Two classes,
of two weeks, were held for the Dak To Subsector in the adjustment
of artillery fire.
(f)
Fire Direction
and Firing Battery Assistance teams at Dak Seang and Dak Pek reported
good progress in training CIDG Personnel in "Fire Direction and
Firing Battery Prodedures.
(g) During the reporting
period the Special Forces Camp at Ben Het received two (2) 105MM Howitzers.
1st Battalion, 92d Artillery was assigned the task of training personnel
from the camp on these Howitzes. This training is still going on at
the present time.
(h) During the reporting
period, the 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery gave classes to personnel
from the 63rd ARVN Artillery on procedures used for rigging for air
movement.
(i) During this
reporting period, new.y arrived personnel attended the Orientation
Program taught by members of each battalion and 52d Artillery Group.
This consists of a four day block of instruction.
d. (C) Logistics:
(1) Battery A moved
798 tons of supplies by helicopter during the reporting period.
(2) Battery B moved
826 tons of supplies by helicopter during the reporting period.
(3) Battery C moved
714 tons of supplies by helicopter during the reporting period.
(4) The battalion
total for supplies moved by air is approximately 2339 tons.
(5) All firing elements
of the Battalion are resupplied by internal or external helilift with
the exception of Battery C Platoon at Le Trung District Headquarters
and Battery B Platoon at Ben Het which are able to be supplied by
convoy.
(6) Projects accomplished
were:
(a) The 20th Engineer
Battalion is presently constructing two 155MM Howitzer bunker positions
at Ben Het and one tactical operations center (TOC) and six living
bunkers at Tan Canh. It has been requested that one of the living
bunkers from Tan Canh originally intended for the meterological section
be constructed at LZ Plantation as the Metro section has been directed
to move to LZ Plantation by the end of the reporting period.
(b) The 20th Engineers
have been requested to build an observation tower for Battery C Platoon
at the Le Trung District Headquarters. The tower is required to increase
the security of the Platoon position by enabling the secruity elements
to adequately observe the commanding terrain that surrounds the Platoon
position.
(c) A combination
bunker/observation tower has been constructed at Artillery Hill under
the self help program to replace the old one which was unsafe.
(d) A Medical bunker
located next to the TOC was condemned due to old age and was dismantled.
(7) Maintenance
(a) The First Logistical
Command CMMI Team inspected Headquarters Battery on 11 September 1969
and rated the Battery with an overall score of 89%. The CMMI Team
also inspected Service Battery on 12 September 1969 and rated the
Battery with an overall score of 95%.
(b) The relocation
of all the Battery rear elements to Artillery Hill has eased maintenance
support problems and has resulted in increased efficiency in vehicular
maintneance.
(c) The closing
of May Lou, Dak To and LZ Oasis has greatly alteed the organization
for logistical support within this unit. These locations were all
used as forward staging areas for the Battery Rear Areas. Our Forced
evacuaton has brought about a slow withdrawal to Artillery Hill where
all of our Firing Battery rear areas are now based.
e. Civil Affairs.
(1) Civic Action
Projects and Programs by the 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery in Dak To
District have been and will be in the area of education and social
welfare which were supported by the Battalion. The Battalion S-5,
Captain Jacobs, has provided some items to the school children and
school which is located in Tan Canh. A voluntary contribution by personnel
of the 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery of $25.00 will be used to buy
notebooks for some of the school children attending school in the
Dak To District. The most well received and most rewarding civic action
program that the 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery has performed and will
perform in the future is that of giving medical assistance to the
people of Dak To District who want it. The Medical Aid Station at
the 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery Forward Command Post located at 42d
ARVN Regiment Compound in the hamlet of Tan Canh provided medical
assistance to 433 people of the district. Medcap conducted by the
Battalion Surgeon and medics of the 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery have
accounted for 243 people receiving medical assistance. Total number
of people treated by the Battalion this period is 779 whose medical
needs ranged from serious to minor. The Battalion Surgeon, Doctor
Spencer, and Battalion S-5, have visited and provided the civilian
hospital located at Old dak To with needed medical supplies that are
used for treatment of Montagnards and Vietnamese. The Battalion has
provided this hospital food which is used to provide the patients
of the hospital better nutrition which they need to recover from whatever
illeness they have. Things such as soap, cigarettes, pipe tobacco,
chewing tobacco and candy have been provided to the 3rd Battalion,
42d ARVN Regiment which has been working in the area of Kon Horing
in a pacification mission. These were used on Medcaps by the medics
when visiting different hamlets.
(2) Rolls of plastic
material have been provided to the hospital at old Dak To and the
hamlet of Dak Tung.
(3) During this
period, phase one of the defensive targets for the Dak To district
has just about been completed. The Vietnamese Artillery Units located
in Dak To district have fired a total of 83 targets. A representative
from District Headquarters, Forward Observers from Vietnamese Artillery,
and Captain Jacobs from 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery have fired in
these defensive targets. This program consists of firing US Artillery
to reinforce the Vietnamese defensive targets and provide backup for
the hamlets within the Dak To District.
f. Personnel: Key
personnel changes which took place during the quarter were:
(1) Major Richard
R. Bolt was reassigned to the Fort Hood, Texas area upon his departure
from the Battalion on 15 October 1969.
(2) Major Jose A.
Riovo Jr. assumed the duties of Battalion Executive Officer on 15
October 1969.
(3) Major James
J. McDevitt was reassigned to the Headquarters,1st Army area upon
his departure from the Battalion on 18 August 1969.
(4)
Major John T. Bergman Jr. assumed the duties of Battalion S-3 on 30
September 1969.
(5) Captain Robert
P. Feiock replaced Captain James Sterrett as Commander of Battery
B on 14 August 1969. Captain Sterrett was reassigned to the 2nd Battalion,
44th Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
(6) Captain Klaus
M. Adam replaced Captain Thomas J. Gill as Commander of Battery C,
on 14 August 1969. Captain Gill was reassigned as the Battalion Motor
Officer within the Battalion.
(7) Captain Cecil
W. Smith Jr. the S-1, departed the command on 12 September 1969 for
reassignment to Fort Benning, Georgia.
(8) First Lieutenant
Edge assumed the duties of S-1 on 12 September 1969.
(9) The Battalion
lost, through normal rotation or reassignment, the services of nine
officers during the reporting period.
(10) The Battalion
received twelve new officers during the reporting period.
(11) Personnel in
the Battalion, during the reporting period, received two Silver Stars,
thirteen Bronze Stars, six Air Medals, sixteen Army Commendation Medals,
seven Purple Heart Medals and twenty-four 1st Field Forces Vietnam
Certificates of Achievment.
g. Artillery:
(1) During the quarter,
elements of this battalion made a total of 28 tactical moves; 22 by
road, 6 by air.
During the reporting period the battalion fired 2953 rounds in support
of tactical and pacification operations. In addition, the battalion
in the Ben Het/Dak To/Tan Canh area controlled batteries which fired
1,132 rounds of light artillery and 3,583 rounds of heavy artillery.
h. Other: Visits by
General Officers and other VIP's.
(1) During the quarter
the battalion received 11 visits by VIP's.
3 August 1969
(a) Brigadier General W. Sidle; Commanding General 1st Field Forces
Vietnam, Artillery.
(b) Battalion Tactical
Operations Center, Tan Canh, Republic of Vietnam.
{c) Briefed and
given short rout of the facilities at Tan Canh.
5 August 1969
(a) Brigadier General James S. Timothy, Deputy Senior Advisor II Corps.
(b) Battalion Tactical
Operations, Tan Canh, Republic of Vietnam.
(c) Briefed on the
disposition of US Artillery in the Dak To/Ben Het area.
6 August 1969
(a) Lieutenant General Charles A. Corcoran, Commanding General, 1st
Field Forces.
(b) Ben Het
(c) Briefed on Engineer
progress of artillery positions.
18 August 1969
(a) Douglas Committee, composed of Mr. Gullion (Tuffs University),
Mr. J. W. Hanes, Mr. Thorne and Mr. Tyroler.
(b) 42d ARVN Regiment
Tactical Operations Center, Republic of Vietnam.
(c) Briefed on the
battle of Dak To/Ben Het.
20 August 1969
(a) Brigadier General Winant Sidle, Commanding General, 1st Field
Forces Artillery.
(b) Tan Canh
(c) Toured the Tan
Canh Area and had lunch in the Battalion Mess Hall.
26 August 1969
(a) Stanley R. Resor, Secretary of the Army
(b) Ben Het
(c) Toured Ben Het
and was briefed on the battle of Dak To/Ben Het and progress of CIDG
Firing Battery.
2 September 1969
(a) Brigadier General Morris, Commanding General, 18th Engineer Brigade.
(b) Tan Canh
(c) Inspected proposed
Engineer Projects at Tan Canj and was briefed on the disposition of
artillery in the Dak To/Ben Het Area.
4 September 1969
(a) Colonel Anderson, Head of the Gunnery Department at Fort Sill.
(b) Tan Canh
(c) Briefed on the
disposition of friendly troops and artillery in the Dak To/Ben Het/Tan
Canh Area.
13 October 1969
(a) Major General Joseph R. Russ, Deputy Commanding General, 1st Field
Forces, Republic of Vietnam.
(b) Tan Canh
(c) Briefed at the
42d ARVN Regiment Tactical Operations Center.
16 October 1969
(a) Brigadier General Morris, Commanding General, 18th Engineer Brigade.
(b) Tan Canh
(c) Inspected progress
of the engineer project at Tan Canh.
2. (C) Section 2,
Lessons Learned: Commander's observations, Evaluations and Recommendations.
a. Personnel: None
b. Intelligence: None
c. Operations: None
d. Organization: None
e. Training: None
f. Logistics: None
g. Communications:
None
h. Material: None
i. Other: None
Clarence L. Stearns
Lieutenant
Colonel, FA
1 Incl Commanding
1. Unit Organizational
Chart
INCLOSURE 1
ORGANIZATIONAL
CHART
1st Battalion, 92d Artillery
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