It all started on 21 May 1967 at 10:00 hours (10 a.m.) when Company A reported they were
in area with two UH1E helicopters reconning by fire when they spotted 10 to 15 enemy at grid 753450. They fired 60mm mortars
and 105mm missions. Upon completion of the mission, the CO said they would search the area for results. Ten minutes later, they
found 6 fighting holes facing Hill 881, camouflaged but not reinforced. The company found expended 7.62mm (Russian Mauser)
ammo cartridges, rice,
and blood stained cloth.
At 1035 hours, the company had a patrol out in vicinity of 752448. Twenty-five minutes later, the company patrol received 15-20
rounds of small arms fire from direction of 752453. They returned fire with 110 rounds of 5.56mm caliber weapons as well as 10
rounds from M-79 grenade launcher. At this time, two Hueys on station to join in.
At 1125 hours, the company spot reports shows they received 25-30 rounds of small arms fire and the Hueys also received fire from
same area as earlier. The Huey fired all their ordnance. Fire mission included 6 rounds of White Phosphorous (WP) and 6 rounds of
High Explosive (HE) from supporting 105mm Artillery.
The next journal entry at 1815 hours, was a daily summary - "SpotRep- A-3 received small arms and mortar fires from unknown number of NVA from
direction of 756454, resulting in 2 KIA and 8 WIA, 5 evacuated. Called Artillery and requested fixed wing on station."That was
the extent of the journal spot reports.
The full report contained the following information. Company A patrol #3 (3rd Platoon), moved
into area where Air Strikeds had been run, and artilery missions were fired. Found a trail freshly marked by knife marks cut into
trees. Trail ran east to west. Found where Napalm had landed along the trail and fresh footprints leading to tunnel. Checked out tunnel
with negative results. Patrol moved along trail to edge of woodline, point man spotted 6-8 NVA moving around a fortified position.
At that time, patrol called in artillery mission and pulled back from the area. They recalled a precision fire mission. Observed one 155mm
artillery round land on a bunker with 3 NVA inside. Immediately after bunker was hit, A-3 received 10 incoming mortar rounds, resulting in
4 WIA. They could not spot mortar position. 3 minutes after incoming mortars, received 500 rounds of auto and semi-auto fire from
758460, resulting in 1 KIA and 2 WIAs. At same time, received 1000 rounds machine gun fire from 4 different positions, resulting in
1 KIA and 1 WIA.
Estimate 250 rounds from each position located at 750465. Returned heavy small arms fire and M-79 fire into area where fire was
received from, resulting in 10 NVA KIA (Confirmed). Received more incoming from vicinity of 758460 resulting in 1 WIA.
Friendly artillery stopped incoming from direction of 758460 resulting in 15 confirmed NVA KIA. Continued to receive
machine gun fire from 750465 direction. Definite lull in incoming for approximately 5 to 8 minutes.
Med-evac started to come in, received 200 small arms rounds and could not land. Air strikes continued in
area. Med-evac finally able to pick up 4 WIA. A-3 commenced withdrawal as directed. Fixed wing continued to strike area and receive
automatic weapons fire. A-1 (1st Platoon) moved in support of A-3, while A-3 continued to withdraw. Med-evac picked up remaining WIA's
and KIA's. 3rd Platoon estimated enemy force to be an NVA Company (Reinforced). The enemy lost 25 KIA and 27 WIA (estimated).
The platoon lost two men killed, and 8 wounded, with 5 being evacuated. Those two men killed were:
