Americal Daily News Sheets information
for 23 INF DIV
174 AHC
F/8 CAV

For date 690109


23 INF DIV was a US Army unit
174 AHC was a US Army unit
F/8 CAV 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. 3. No. 10 Friday January 10. CHU LAI (AMERICAL IO) - Two units led the 198th Inf. Bde. in its heaviest day of action in almost two weeks as contact with enemy troops increased yesterday in southern I Corps. Americal Division forces reported killing three NVA and 25 VC, detaining three VC suspects, and capturing one individual weapon in the fourth largest day of action since Christmas. A recon element of the 1-52 Inf., led by 1LT Barry Luther (Orange Park, FL), engaged 12 enemy soldiers and killed seven, while A/45-46 Inf., commanded by CPT Herbert A. Walter, killed four VC in three encounters to account for the 198th's total. The recon unit barely had time for lunch before launching a busy afternoon. Shortly after noon southeast of Tien Phuoc, the unit took on a mixed group of seven enemy soldiers and killed two NVA and one VC while capturing 200 pounds of rice. After moving another 2-3 miles from Tien Phuoc, the recon group engaged four VC at 1840 hours and won a brief firefight with four VC killed and no friendly casualties. CPT Walter's company made life hectic for small groups of VC operating southeast of Chu Lai. One company element opened the day at 0758 hours by surprising and killing a fleeing VC four miles southeast of Chu Lai. In subsequent actions, Co. A killed three VC five miles northeast of Binh Son. Meanwhile, the medical platoon of the 5-46 was treating 141 Vietnamese in MEDCAP visits to Nuoc Mau and Chau Tu Three. The 1-6 Inf. treated 45 patients at Ky Chanh. Three units accounted for one NVA and 10 VC killed as 196th Inf. Bde. troops saw more action than in the past four days. Operating effectively at the platoon level, B/3-21 Inf., led by CPT Robert Wahl, killed four VC in two actions 11-12 miles northwest of Tam Ky. At 1500 hours, the first platoon saw three VC in black and green clothing and killed two with small arms fire. A half hour later, the second platoon caught two evading VC and killed them a mile away. Co. C added to the 3-21 total by killing a VC at 1700 hours 15 miles west of Tam Ky. Even farther west, the 4-31 Inf. killed three VC in two encounters, with Co. D surprising and killing one 25 miles west of Tam Ky. D/2-1 Inf. adjusted artillery fire on four VC moving near its defensive perimeter and killed two 28 miles northwest of Tam Ky. Later, Co. D killed an NVA and got his AK-47 rifle five miles nearer Tam Ky. The NVA also yielded a pack containing rice and clothing. Units of the 11th Inf. Bde. spent a relatively quiet day and reported only six incidents in which five VC were killed and three VC suspects detained. C/1-20 Inf. located the graves of three VC killed in a firefight Wednesday night near a trail six miles west of Duc Pho. D/4-21 Inf. spotted 15 VC with packs moving near a stream 19 miles west of Duc Pho and called in an artillery burst from D/6-11 Arty. to kill one. Ninety minutes later, Co. B called on the same battery to kill a VC wearing an NVA pistol belt in a draw 25 miles west of Duc Pho. The VC suspects were detained in separate incidents by D/1-20 Inf., working with the 174 AHC north and northwest of Duc Pho, and by C/4-3 Inf. south of Duc Pho. "Blue Ghosts" gunships of F Trp., 8th Cav., flying in the 1st Sqdn., 1st Cav. area, killed on VC at 1145 hours 8 1/2 miles southeast of Hoi An. Despite the increased action no Americal Division soldiers were reported killed. Two were wounded and evacuated for medical treatment, according to an initial report.

The source for this information was NEWS6901.AML & AVN supplied by Les Hines


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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023