Americal Daily News Sheets information
for 23 INF DIV
123 AVN
F/8 CAV
174 AHC
For date 681018
23 INF DIV was a US Army unit
123 AVN was a US Army unit
F/8 CAV was a US Army unit
174 AHC 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. 2. No. 183 Saturday October 19.
CHU LAI (AMERICAL IO) - Americal Division units accounted for 40 VC and one NVA killed, 24 VC suspects detained, and six individual weapons captured in souther I Corps yesterday.
Action in the 11th Inf. Bde. area of operations picked up sharply yesterday. "Jungle Warrior" infantrymen killed 26 VC, detained 10 VC suspects and captured four individual weapons. The action took place on the Song Ve 12 miles south of Quang Ngai City.
In action beginning just before noon yesterday, "Shark" gunships of the 174th Avn. Co. operating with 3d Bn., 1st Inf. soldiers engaged a group of approximately 15 enemy soldiers, killing three VC.
A short time later a 3d Bn., 1st Inf. company commanded by CPT James O'Herron (Winona, MN) killed one VC fleeing their combat sweep in the same area. The action picked up as the 3d Bn., 1st Inf. command and control helicopter engaged three fleeing VC, killing two and detaining the third. At the same moment, a 3d Bn., 1st Inf. company led by 1LT Larry Birchfield (Albuquerque, NM) reported contact with a company-size enemy element across the Song Ve opposite their position. The "Always First unit called for gunship support. The company then initiated the action by killing seven VC and capturing two AK-47 rifles. During the course of the long afternoon battle, the "Always First" unit detained three suspects and captured a K-44 rifle. Meanwhile, the 3d Bn., 1st Inf. company led by CPT James O'Herron had maneuvered into a blocking position, killing two VC. A short time later the company killed a lone evading VC. Then a second VC was killed when he tried to recover the first VC's body. "Shark" gunships accounted for one more VC killed during the afternoon.
"War Lord" gunships from the 123d Avn. Bn. flying in support of the 3d Bn., 1st Inf. killed five VC.
In other action a 1st Bn., 20th Inf company led by CPT George M. Robb (Strongsville, OH) killed two VC and detained three suspects 11 miles northwest of Quang Ngai City.
A 4th Bn., 3d Inf. company commanded by CPT Grady Middleton (Quincy, FL) killed one VC, captured an M-1 carbine, and detained three VC suspects five miles southwest of Duc Pho.
"Charger" units of the 196th Inf. Bde. killed 12 VC and captured one individual weapon in Operation Wheeler/Wallowa yesterday.
A 4th Bn., 21st Inf. company killed two VC in two separate incidents seven miles south of Hoi An. Another 4th Bn., 21st company killed one VC nine miles south of Hoi An. Another 4th Bn., 21st Inf. company killed one VC nine miles south of Hoi An. A 4th Bn., 21st Inf. recon. plt. spotted a group of VC southwest of Hoi An. The group of VC were engaged with small arms fire, resulting in three VC killed. Later the unit killed another VC in the same area.
A 2d Bn., 1st Inf. company uncovered a small cache of ammo and equipment, including one AK-47 rifle, 17 miles west of Tam Ky.
A 3d Bn., 21st Inf. company, 13 miles west of Tam Ky, observed a small group of VC moving north. The "Gimlets" called an artillery fire mission, resulting in one VC killed.
A reconnaissance element from the 3d Bn., 21st Inf. killed one VC 12 miles west of Tam Ky.
Three VC were killed seven miles west of Tam Ky by a 2d Bn., 1st Inf. company yesterday.
The 1st Sqdn., 1st Armored Cav. reported two VC killed and three VC suspects detained 10 miles northwest of Tam Ky by "F" Trp., 8th Cav. yesterday.
Units of the 198th Inf. Bde. killed one NVA, detained 11 suspects and captured one individual weapon yesterday.
A 1st Bn., 6th Inf. recon. plt. led by 1LT George Wright (Lake Geneva, WI) detained one VC suspect west of Chu Lai yesterday morning.
Two VC suspects were detained south of Chu Lai by a 5th Bn., 46th Inf. company led by 1LT James J. Frazier (Decatur, IL). The two suspects were carrying medical supplies and documents. Later the company captured an AK-47 rifle while on a searching mission.
Late yesterday morning a 1st Bn., 6th Inf. company led by CPT Robert L. Hicks (Boise, ID) detained two VC suspects while sweeping an area south of Chu Lai. The "Regulars" also found and destroyed one home-made mine in the same area.
"Professionals" of a 5th Bn., 46th Inf. recon. plt. led by 1Lt William G. Mullen (Falmouth, MA) killed one NVA west of Chu Lai yesterday afternoon.
"Aero Scouts" of the 123d Avn. Bn. detained six VC suspects in the Chu Lai area.
In the Burlington Trail area a 1st Bn., 46th Inf. company led by CPT Roger Dimsdale (Washington, DC) captured 300 pounds of rice and 100 rounds of .50 cal. ammo while on a reconnaissance in force mission northwest of Chu Lai.
314 Vietnamese were treated during four MEDCAPs held by the civic action soldiers of the brigade yesterday.
Americal forces suffered four soldiers killed and 22 wounded and evacuated for medical treatment yesterday.
A joint operation involving Americal Division troops and Vietnamese civilians from the Que Son District of Quang Ngai Province has resulted in 529,830 pounds of rice harvested to date in the unsecured regions of the Que Son Valley.
A 2d Bn., 1st Inf. company reported 800 pounds of rice harvested yesterday.
A 4th Bn., 31st Inf. company reported another 500 pounds of rice harvested.
The two 196th Inf. Bde. companies are providing security for the refugees who are daily airlifted into the area to harvest the rice.
The source for this information was NEWS6810.AML & AVN supplied by Les Hines
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
Return to panel index
Return to Helicopter Pilot KIA index
Return to VHPA Home Page
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Last updated
01/02/2000
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023