Americal Daily News Sheets information
for 23 INF DIV
14 CAB
C/7/17 CAV
11 BDE 23 INF

For date 680318


23 INF DIV was a US Army unit
14 CAB was a US Army unit
C/7/17 CAV was a US Army unit
11 BDE 23 INF was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Quang Tin Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Chu Lai
Description: The following is an edited version from the Americal Daily News Sheets Vol. 1 No. 334 dated March 19. AMERICAL DIVISION NEWS CHU LAI (AMERICAL IO) - Forces of the Americal Division reported 29 enemy killed and 122 individual weapons captured in a day that saw fighting throughout southern I Corps. Americal units suffered three soldiers killed and 13 wounded and evacuated for further medical care. Enemy contacts in the 196th area of Operation Wheeler/Wallowa resulted in 11 enemy killed by units of the Americal's "Charger" Brigade. A company of the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry commanded by CPT Larry R. Byers (Des Moines, Wash) found graves containing four NVA bodies while on a search and destroy mission. The graves also contained two Chicom hand grenades, one NVA gas mask and two AK-47 magazines. Another company of the battalion commanded by CPT Daniel R. Mellon (Fairbanks, AL) spotted 21 VC moving north of the company's position. Artillery was called in killing three VC. Members of a company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry commanded by CPT Ian E. Prather (Lubbock, TX) killed one VC and captured 2,000 pounds of rice which was evacuated to "Charger Hill." Another 6th Infantry company led by CPT Robert D. Leinen, Sr. (Auburn, NY) found a complex of bunkers and trenches containing 718 rounds of carbine ammunition, 248 rounds of 30 caliber ammunition, 14 NVA uniforms, two VC flags, assorted web gear, medical supplies and documents. In the only other actions of the day, a company of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, commanded by CPT Jose R. Feliciano (Baltimore, MD) killed two evading VC. A company of the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry commanded by CPT James F. Humphries (Pacific Grove, CA) called artillery on two VC, killing one. In other Wheeler/Wallowa Operation action near Tam Ky elements of Americal's 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry reported killing seven VC. A troop of the 1st Cavalry was responsible for four of the Viet Cong killed as cavalrymen conducted a reconnaissance mission seven miles northwest of Tam Ky. "C" Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry flying in support of the troop recorded VC kills. "Jungle Warriors" of Americal's 11th Brigade killed ten VC, detained 14 suspects and captured 13 weapons in action in the Duc Pho and Operation Muscatine areas yesterday. Infantrymen of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry encountered an estimated 50 VC in bunkers and tunnels late yesterday. Two separate contacts resulted in nine enemy killed, ten suspects detained and 11 weapons captured. Action 13 miles northwest of Duc Pho began late Sunday for the company of the "Always First" Battalion commanded by CPT Robert Dickson (Decatur, Ga). As the unit moved to a night position, they received small arms and automatic weapons fire. The company returned fire with negative results. Yesterday morning the company again received enemy fire and detained five suspects in the troublesome area. One of the suspects told the company that there was a large number of VC in the area and five weapons were hidden nearby. A force commanded by CPT Michael Haymes (Columbus, GA) engaged three VC killing one and detaining two. Three weapons, a K-44 and two M-1 rifles, were also captured. The unit continued to search the area and come upon the bunkers and tunnels. The ensuing firefight lasted over an hour and the "Warriors" pushed close enough to throw hand grenades into the enemy positions. When contact broke eight enemy were dead, two had been detained and five K-44s, two carbines, and a BAR were captured. One other suspect was detained for questioning north of Duc Pho. One evading VC was killed in the morning five miles southeast of Duc Pho by a company of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry. The "Syke's Regulars" unit led by CPT Sario Caravalho (Ewa Beach, HI) also captured a Walther P-38 pistol. Four suspects were detained in the Operation Muscatine area yesterday. A company from the 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry found and evacuated 3,000 pounds of rice. A reconnaissance helicopter from "Primo Aviation Limited", the brigade's aviation section, spotted ammunition cans and other camouflaged field equipment ten miles northwest of Duc Pho. Automatic weapons fire and grenades were used to destroy the enemy cache. One enemy soldier was killed in Americal's 198th Brigade area yesterday during light and scattered activity. The command and control ship of the 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry spotted two VC seven miles west of Chu Lai and killed one. Civic action soldiers of the "Brave and Bold" treated 367 Vietnamese; during two area medical visits yesterday. Americal's 14th Aviation Battalion flew 1,338 sorties, carried 1,413 combat troops and hauled 183 tons of cargo in support of the division yesterday.

The source for this information was NEWS6803.AML & AVN supplied by Les Hines


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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023