SUBJECT: After Action Report for Operation Wayne Grey

I.   Operation conducted by 1^st Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division from 1 March 1969 to 29 March 1969.

On 27 February, the 1^st Battalion 8^th Infantry’s tactical operation center received a warning order from 1^st Brigade while located at LZ/FSB Patt where they were located with Company C 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry. At the time the operations warning order was received, A and D companies were under the operational control of the 2^nd Battalion, 8^th Infantry, on operations north of Kontum City. B Company was under the operational control of the 2^nd Brigade and they were located at Fire Support Base 34 near Ben Het Special Forces Camp.

First Brigade operations gave 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry the mission as shown in attached overlay (see Appendix A). On 28 February, Companies A and D moved to LZ Mary Lou under the operational control of 2^nd Battalion, 8^th Infantry, where they were passed to the operational control of 3^rd Battalion, 8^th Infantry. From Mary Lou the 2 companies were moved by convoy to LZ Bass at Polei Kleng Special Forces Camp. Company C minus, Headquarters minus, with the reconnaissance and mortar platoons moved by convoy from LZ Patt to LZ Bass at Polei Kleng. The remainder of Company C was moved from LZ Bobbie by airlift to LZ Bass. The 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry minus was at this time prepared to combat assault into sub AO 1. Bravo Company located at Fire Support Base 34 was prepared to combat assault into Fire Support Base 20.

1 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 1 March began its first CA by moving Company B from Fire Support Base 34 to Fire Support Base 20. Headquarters minus and A Battery, 6^th of the 29^th Artillery (Direct Support Battery) were moved from LZ Bass at Polei Kleng to Fire Support Base 20. The battalion mortar section minus was moved from LZ Bass to Fire Support Base 20 along with Headquarters minus. Companies C, D and A along with Headquarters minus remained at LZ Bass in preparation for Companies C and D’s move to LZ Susan and Company A’s Combat Assault to LZ Turkey. The reconnaissance platoon remained at LZ Bass to work in liaison with Company A. Artillery at Fire Support Base 20 employed 45 rounds of 175 mm support fires from Ben Het.

2 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 1 March continued combat assault operations from LZ Bass to LZ Susan with Companies C and D. Company A made a Combat Assault to vicinity YB 822031. Company D proceeded along the northern axis of advance and established NL at 740047.

After Combat Assault, Company A walked to LZ Turkey. At LZ Turkey Company A was to establish a blocking force for Company C sweeping on the southern axis and Company D sweeping on the North. These axes are centered on trails vicinity YB 762032 and 765055 running from East to West respectively. Company A reported light contact with an ambush by the 81 platoon and some sniper fire enroute to the Night Location. The 4^th platoon reported contact with an enemy force in bunkers, vicinity YB 820025. They pulled back employing 81-mm mortars. Enemy casualties were unknown. On U.S. wounded in action.

Company B secured A Battery, 6^th of the 29^th Artillery (Direct Support Battery) at FireBase 20 with local security, patrols and Short Range Patrols. The reconnaissance platoon was employed in liaison with Company A. The mortar platoon minus supported Company A’s activities at LZ Turkey, and the remainder supported battalion operations from Fire Support Base 20.

Company C proceeded in the vicinity of an airstrike on an enemy truck convoy. They found vicinity YB 765030, an abandoned but intact enemy truck. One platoon secured the truck while the main element moved to a night location at 755034. Company C discovered in the airstrike area, on the back of the truck 52 rounds of 105-mm howitzer ammunition (Chicom). The discovered truck was a 1-½ ton 4-wheel drive with assorted motor pool equipment. Company C’s 81 platoon, vicinity 860033, observed 2 individuals, one with a flashlight at 2100 hours. Claymores were employed, individual with flashlight was seen falling and the flashlight continued to burn. At 2155 hours, 4 additional individuals were sighted in the same place, one saying “Lai Day”. Claymores were again employed and the platoon moved back to the company’s main element.

Air Support: The 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry encountered heavy fire from vicinity YB 765030. This fire encountered was on the combat assault into LZ Susan. The Cavalry also reported two 2-½ ton trucks destroyed by airstrike, vicinity YB 760033. Three NVA soldiers were confirmed killed (Airforce). Airstrike employed 765034 on an enemy vehicle in the open.

Artillery: LZ Susan had 200 HE 105-mm howitzer rounds fired from Fire Support Base 20. LZ Susan had 25 HE rounds of 155-mm fired in their support from LZ Swinger. LZ Turkey had 125 HE 105-mm rounds fired from Fire Support Base 20. LZ Turkey had 25 rounds HE 155-mm fired from LZ Swinger. Company A’s 84C upon contact fired 105-mm from Fire Support Base 20 at grid 8002.

3 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 3 March continued reconnaissance in force operations with Companies C and D sweeping from West to East and Company A blocking at vicinity LZ Turkey. Company B continued to secure Fire Support Base 20 with local security, patrols and two platoon sized ambushes. Company B ambushes were located at vicinity 808068 and 824066. Company A reported contact vicinity 819029 with enemy in bunkers. Mortars and artillery were employed with unknown results. Elements were drawn back to night location so airstrike could be employed. One U.S. WIA in initial contact and 2 NVA were found in a sweep after the airstrike and artillery were employed. At vicinity 815023 Company A’s 1^st and 4^th platoons found 1 NVA who had been killed in action and 2 AK-47s. Company C reported contact in the same vicinity of the vehicle captured vicinity 760033. Contact resulted as the point element moved past the vehicle. Results were 1 U.S KIA, 3 NVA KIA (BC). The truck captured on the 2^nd was later extracted and taken to LZ Bass. Company D continued from their previous night location to 754049 along the trail without incident. They established local security and ambushed the trail. Reconnaissance platoon Trace 5 operation in liaison with Company A sighted4 or 5 NVA near their night location at 846024. Mortar platoon minus supported battalion operations from Fire Support Base 20. 1 81 section supported Company A operations at LZ Turkey.

Air Support: The 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry supported Company C when they heard vehicle movement near their captured truck. They drew ground fire vicinity YB 761034. Gunships employed rockets and Cavalry reported 2 NVA killed. Gunships were employed at 819029 in support of Company A. Gunships also sighted and engaged bunkers at grid 815023 and 814026. Cider 10 emplaced air strikes on 819029 in support of Company A.

Artillery: Grid 762033. Company C’s 4^th platoon employed 105-mm rounds from Fire Support Base 20 on truck's location. Contact mission for 155-mm from LZ Swinger and 105-mm from Fire Support Base 20 on grids 810023 and 814025 for Company A with 105-mm from Fire Support Base 20 at grid 816023.

4 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 4 March, 1969 continued its reconnaissance in force mission. Company A moved from YB 822032 to 825042 to reestablish a new patrol base. Company A’s 83B (ambush) location at 819019 observed 15 NVA approximately 45 meters from their position but took no action. They also sighted 10 flashlights moving toward their position. Artillery was employed with negative results. Company B continued Fire Support Base 20 security with local security patrols and 2 ambushes at coordinates 795060 an 835057. Company C moved from their previous night location to 773020. They encountered some antipersonnel mines general grid 7503. The mines were 2”X2” with a black plastic case. No injuries were suffered because of the mines. Company C also discovered another truck vicinity 777025 with sleeping huts and a bunker complex nearby. Replacement parts, some personal equipment and maintenance gear was found with the vehicle. The truck was in good running order and it was driven from its location to a suitable LZ at 773024. The vehicle was destroyed upon order by Brigade. Company C also fixed a position on the enemy artillery at grid YB 777018 that had been firing on 3^rd Battalion, 12^th Infantry. Counter battery fire was employed and this succeeded in silencing the enemy battery. Company C moved to their night location at YB 773028. Company D moved to 761045 without incident. They set up security and ambushes along the trails. Reconnaissance platoon continued to work in liaison with Company A. Mortar platoon minus supported battalion operations from Fire Support Base 20. One 81 section supported Company A’s activities for A’s location.

Air Support: None

Artillery: Reconnaissance by fire by 105-mm at Fire Support Base 20 for Company D. 105-mm emplaced at grid 777018 fired on suspected enemy artillery position. Fifty rounds for this area added to night firing program. 105-mm and 155-mm fired at grid 777016 against suspected enemy artillery position.

5 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 5 March, 1969 continued reconnaissance in force with Companies C and D. Company A’s 83B at grid 819016 initiated ambush resulting in 2 NVA killed. Two AK-47 and 1 9mm pistol CIA. The same element moving back to Company A’s night location observed 2 NVA. The NVA were taken under fire. One NVA was wounded and captured. He was extracted and flown to Polei Kleng. Ambush 83 C at 813022 initiated an ambush at 2005 hours resulting in 1 NVA killed and 2 U.S. WIA. Fire from ambush’s rear resulted in the 2 WIA (U.S.). Contact believed to be with the flank element of a large unit. Artillery was employed in same area with unknown results. Company also secured LZ for Company C’s extraction. Companies C and A moved to co-location at 822032 and established a patrol base employing maximum platoon-sized ambush elements. Company B continued security of Fire Support Base 20 with local security, patrols and 2 platoon-sized ambushes at 805065 and at 834056. Company C located at 773026 moved to LZ at 800023. During move they utilized reconnaissance by fire. At 1300 hours the point element spotted 1 NVA vicinity 807025 and took him under fire. At 1543 they received heavy fire from three sides of their position. Fire came from trees and concealed position. The elements involved in contact could only move with extreme difficulty. Contact was so close that breaking contact was difficult. Recovering U.S. KIA’s and WIA’s was done with extreme difficulty. The 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry assisted in extraction and suppressive fires for Company C. It is believed that element was in contact with an L-shaped ambush. During their extraction, enemy artillery was fired at Company C’s LZ. No casualties or damage resulted. Gunships firing at suspected enemy location 777017 received intense ground fire. Incoming artillery ceased after gunships were employed. FAC requested but none available. Company C’s extraction was completed at 1909 hours. Results of contact, 7 NVA KIA (BC) 2 U.S. KIA, 12 U.S. WIA. One U.S. later died of wounds. Companies C and A moved to 822032 to establish patrol base and to conduct maximum platoon-sized ambush elements. Company D moved from 761045 to new night location at 773056 employing one platoon-sized ambush, vicinity 782056. Reconnaissance platoon continued to operate in liaison with Company A. Mortar platoon minus continued to support battalion operations from Fire Support Base 20. One 81 section operated in support of Companies C and A at YB 822032. Combat sky spot called for at 2400 hours on enemy artillery location 777016 from information received from Battalion Commanding Officer, liaison (Artillery) Officer Company C, and gunship observations.

Air Support: The 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry supported Company C’s move with slicks and flew cover for them as they moved. They also assisted Company C in breaking contact by firing close in fire with their gunships. Gunships also fired suppressive fires on suspected artillery location grid 777016.

Artillery: From Fire Support Base 20 105-mm fired reconnaissance by fire on grid 819016 for Company A at 0905 hours. At 1030 hours 105-mm and 155-mm fired 92 and 50 HE respectively on suspected enemy battery position. At 1300 hours 155-mm fired reconnaissance for Company D. Reconnaissance by fire at 1315 hours by 105-mm for Company C at grid 790021. Reconnaissance by fire by Company D 777047, 155-mm. Reconnaissance by fire at 1355 hours for Company C at grid 790022, 30 HE, 105-mm. At 1450, 155-mm and 105-mm counter fire directed against 776016. At 1845 hours at grid 777016 105-mm emplaced to silence enemy being placed on Company C.