Southern Cross information
for 196 BDE 23 INF
4/31 INF 23 INF
71 AHC

For date 700619


196 BDE 23 INF was a US Army unit
4/31 INF 23 INF was a US Army unit
71 AHC was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Operation FREDRICK HILL
Quang Tin Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Tam Ky
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "DIV RECAP: ACTION LIGHT THROUGHOUT" by the Americal IO. Chu Lai - In support of Operation Fredrick Hill, the 196th Infantry Brigade encountered the heaviest enemy activity in the Division's area of operation. A squad of VC strolled into view of an Echo Recon platoon of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry mortar team set up on an observation post northwest of Tam Ky recently. "We could see at least 15 of them," said PFC Charles Boswell, Omaha, Neb. "We opened up and saw the rounds drop right on top of them." Five were confirmed killed in the brief action. B Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, while on a search and clear mission 23 miles northwest of Tam Ky recently found 300 pounds of rice and 100 pounds of corn in an empty hooch. Late one afternoon, a team of Firebird gunships from the 71st AHC, working nine miles northwest of Tam Ky, fired on twenty to thirty VC. The gunship's action brought death to five of the enemy. Alpha Co., 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry while on a recon-in-force mission 12 miles southwest of Tam Ky, recently uncovered a substantial ammo cache while checking a tunnel complex in the dense highlands. The find included 155 CHICOM grenades, 9 RPG rounds, 600 AK-47 rounds, six unknown-type Communist explosives, one carbine, four flares and one box of detonating fuses. A Viet Cong grenade factory was uncovered recently by Alpha Co., 2nd Bn., 1st Inf. while they were on a sweep in an area 10 miles northwest of Tam Ky. Found in the area were 60 pounds of explosive, six blasting caps and a diagram explaining how a grenade is made. Later, small arms fire killed one VC in the area. He was carrying two packs of rice and personal items when killed. For the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, one day was profitable and busy as the infantrymen killed 12 enemy soldiers, and suffered no friendly casualties. Early morning found Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry operating 20 miles northwest of Tam Ky. The "Gimlets" encountered a lone NVA with a pack. Engaging him with small arms fire, Delta killed him and confiscated the pack. In a late morning action, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry operating in the same area, engaged and killed one VC. A short time later, the infantrymen observed and engaged 10-12 NVA soldiers. The NVA fled into the thick vegetation. B Company, not to be out-maneuvered, quickly surrounded and pinned down the enemy. Soon, however, the "Bushmasters" received five to six incoming mortar rounds and small arms fire. Undaunted, they held their ground and directed artillery fire mission from B Battery, 3rd Bn., 82nd Arty., along with gunships on the location. Four NVA were confirmed killed in the action. Meanwhile Bravo Company received two more incoming mortar rounds from the new enemy position. Six more NVA were confirmed in the action.

The source for this information was 7006_322_scr supplied by Les Hines 12/17/2000


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Last updated 12/24/2000

Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023