Army Reporter information
for 39 ENG 23 INF

For date 690113


39 ENG 23 INF was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
South Vietnam
Location, LZ SNOOPY
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Cong, NVA force 'evidence' of title" dated 13 Jan 1969. In recent weeks the enemy has given the 39th Engr Bn ample opportunity to live up to the combat in its title. After a relatively quiet period, broken only by an occasional sniper rounds, both local VC units and NVA regulars unleashed their forces in a sudden burst of activity against the 39th. The first major move was an early morning attack on LZ Snoopy, base camp of C/39th. Mortar rounds began striking the area during pre-dawn hours, as enemy forces of an undetermined size moved against the compound , coming from the north-northeast in the helipad area. The action swung around to include the southeast corner on Co. C's perimeter, neighboring on the nearby ARVN unit, which also was under attack. In this area two bunkers set up a deadly crossfire against the attackers, accounting for nine VC kills. CPT Torrence M. Wilson, the commanding officer, called for gunships and flareships to open up on the VC. By dawn, the enemy had retreated, leaving 14 men dead and two captured. Co. C. suffered only light casualties. While still recuperating form this attack, the 3rd Platoon of the 603rd Light Engr Co, attached to Co C, was ambushed on the way to a work site a few days later. An estimated enemy force of platoon size fired on the engineers from 50 to 100 meters east of the road. Lt. L. E. Erdmann, the platoon leader, deployed his force directed a large volume of fire power, and called for gunships. After the artillery placed round within 75 meters of the road, the gunships went into action. As activity from the east began to die down, small arms rounds came in from the west. Artillery and APC fire was immediately directed on those enemy positions. To complete the action, a Montagnard company swept the area. In all nine VC were captured and 14 killed in this encounter. Twelve hours later, LZ Snoopy received 20 mortar rounds, as if to let Co C know that Charlie was still around. During the same period, Co B encountered an increasing number of enemy road mines in its daily minesweeps. In all the line companies at least one or two sniper incidents have been reported with each minesweep. Friendly losses however, have been confined to light wounds. Co B also has received a large amount of ordnance turned in through the VIP program-during this period.

The source for this information was 6901AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines


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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023