After Action Report for Operation Wayne Grey March 12

SUBJECT: After Action Report for Operation Wayne Grey

12 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 12 March, 1969 continued operating in assigned A.O. with Companies A and C conducting BDA and Company B and D conducting local security on Fire Support Base 20. Heavy contact was encountered by Company A during BDA vicinity YB 852003 with possible enemy company dug in. Results of action were 22 NVA KIA, U.S. casualties 2 KIA, 15 WIA and 3 MIA. Company A withdrew to night location vicinity YB 852011 to regroup and reorganize. They conducted local security in vicinity of night location. Company C continued BDA mission in conjunction with Company A moving on a parallel axis with Company A. Company C encountered light contact vicinity YB 851999 with possible enemy squad dug in. After action Company C maneuvered to vicinity night location YB 847006, to regroup and reorganize. Results of action were 1 NVA KIA, 1 U.S. WIA. Company C conducted local security vicinity night location. Company D was on standby to combat assault into Company A’s location and to reinforce or relieve in place and continue BDA mission, with Company C. Reconnaissance platoon continued to work in conjunction with Company A on BDA mission. Tracer 5 apparently being utilized as flank security for Company A. When contact was initiated Tracer 5 was cut off resulting in three MIA. Two men (one WIA) trying to escape and evade back to Company A’s night location were detected by radio contact. Mortar platoon continued support of battalion operations on Fire Support Base 20 with 7 81-mm mortars and 4 4.2-inch mortars. Mortar platoon fired support fires with Companies in contact and continued to support both Companies A and C throughout the night.

Air Support: Hummingbird 5 medevaced one U.S. WIA from Company C contact. Medevac was employed vicinity Company A’s location for 5 WIA and vicinity Fire Support Base 20 for 1 WIA. Comic 47 with the 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry supported both Companies A and C and Tracer 5 along with Blue 6 (7^th of the 17^th Cavalry) during days contact. Spooky 21 supported Companies A and C in contact throughout the night.

Artillery: Artillery support from A Battery 6^th of the 29^th Artillery was fired in support of Company A contact throughout the day. A total of 405 rounds were expended in night fire program in support of Companies A and C.

Combat Losses: Green memo book containing call signs and frequencies of Company A and Battalion net; SOI (compromised with appropriate action taken); total of 7 M16A1 rifles; one starlight scope; one An/PRC-25 radio; 58 rucksacks; ten D-handle shovels; 16 machetes.

Total NVA KIA for 12 March 1969 was 33. Total U.S. casualties were 13 WIA, 4 KIA and 2 MIA.

13 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 13 March, 1969 continued operations in assigned A.O. with Company A regrouping and evacuating WIA and KIA and receiving light contact while moving from previous position to link up with Company C. Prior to the move Company A employed patrols to retrieve missing and killed personnel absent from company. All WIAs and KIAs that were found were evacuated from nearby LZ. Also resupply was accomplished during this actin. During the move to the site to link with Company C, Company A experienced light contact resulting in 3 NVA KIA and 4 NVA possible wounded. Also Company A received incoming mortar attack during move with negative friendly casualties. Company A employed artillery extensively to cover their advance on the flanks and front formation. Air strike was employed against possible enemy mortar position with unknown results. Company B remained on standby to reinforce and/or assist Company C in their operations. Company C located vicinity YB 847003 remained in position throughout the day awaiting arrival of Company A. Company C sent element to link with Company A and guide them to Company C position. Company C maintained local security and two platoon-sized ambushes near their vicinity throughout the day. Company D along with Company B continued security mission Fire Support Base 20 employing local security, local patrols and Company D supplying one platoon-sized ambush. Reconnaissance platoon continued to work in liaison with Company A with mission to retrieve KIA and WIA. They moved with Company A to new location and established patrol base. At that time reconnaissance platoon had one KIA, one died of wounds (DOW) and 3 MIA from previous day’s action. One MIA walked into Company A’s previous night location and informed element that the other MIA was dead. Mortar platoon supported battalion operations on Fire Support Base 20, firing no missions on that day.

Air Support: The 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry’s Cider 12 and 15 employed air strike on possible enemy mortar position firing on Company A and C position vicinity YB 850005. Headhunter 46 supplied surveillance and employment of artillery in support of battalion operations. The 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry supported Company A’s operations, which consisted of extraction of WIA and KIA. Medevac also employed in vicinity Company A’s previous night location.

Artillery: Artillery support for Company A was fired by Battery A, 6^th of the 29^th Artillery. Supported retrieve of Company A WIAs and KIAs. Artillery also covered Company A flanks and frontal portion of formation while moving to link with Company C. Artillery was employed on possible enemy bunker complex vicinity Company A’s previous day’s contact.

14 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 14 March, 1969 continued operations in assigned A.O. with Company A and C operating from vicinity YB 847003 employing one platoon-sized reconnaissance patrol each. Fifteen rounds assorted 82-mm and 60-mm mortars were received in location of Companies A and C from enemy positions on three occasions throughout the day. Each time artillery was employed from Fire Support Base 20 resulting in suppression of enemy fire. Throughout the night Companies A and C employed squad-sized ambushes for local security. Company C employed two platoon-sized patrols who encountered, vicinity YB 856992 to YB 852995 to YB 859994 what appeared to be a large U-shaped enemy bunker complex. They also observed approximately 20 individuals in vicinity of this area and heard voices and what appeared to be large artillery pieces firing vicinity YB 842000. Artillery was employed with negative results. Companies B and D continued Fire Support Base 20 security employing local security patrols, and Company B employed one platoon-sized ambush vicinity YB 820043 with negative results. Reconnaissance platoon continued working in conjunction with Company A at their night location. Mortar platoon continued supporting battalion operations at Fire Support Base 20.

Air Support: Spooky 22 supported Companies A and C vicinity YB 847003. Headhunter 46 and 6 reported heavy enemy activity at vicinity YB 8697 to YB 8797. It was checked extensively and revealed heavy trail network with extremely recent use.

Artillery: Artillery support from Battery A, 6^th of the 29^th Artillery was fired on grids YB 852005 CB, YB 854010 adjusted onto enemy bunker, YB 854002, support of Company C platoons, YB 849008, enemy in open for Company A, YB 862997 Company C reconnaissance by fire, YB 856996 Company C reconnaissance by fire, YB 835995 Company A CB, and YB 855000 CNF. Night Firing Program (CFP) Night fires at Fire Support Base Swinger, 500 rounds HE grids YB 853995, YB 859994, YB 857992, YB 850998, YB 838996, YB 838992, YB 838989 and YB 820006; 105-mm howitzer from Fire Support Base 20. Five roadrunners general grids, YB 8300, YB 8599, YB 8699 and YB 8698 – 100 rounds HE.

15 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 15 March, 1969 continued operations in assigned A.O. with Company A and C operating from patrol base employing ambushes and patrols. Company A and C were mortared two times in their patrol base location vicinity YB 847003. A total of 12 rounds were received resulting in 7 U.S. WIA. Companies C and D continued security mission of Fire Support Base 20 employing local patrols, local security, and three platoon-sized ambushes with negative results. Reconnaissance platoon continued to operate in liaison with Company A. Mortar platoon continued support of battalion operations on Fire Support Base 20.

Air Support: Cider 13 and 14 operated in A.O. employing an air strike at vicinity YB 862997 for support of the 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry sighting of possible U.S. MIA in that vicinity. The 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry operated in A.O. and sighted enemy in open. Employed ordinance with results unknown. Also in same vicinity sighted U.S. MIA in bomb crater. Extraction was attempted with negative results due to enemy ambush. U.S. individual was sighted vicinity 850998. Medevac was utilized at Company A and C location vicinity 847003 for 7 WIA. Headhunter 46 worked A.O. with negative results. Two MIA, lost in action of 12 March 1969, walked into Company A’s position unharmed. This accounted for 3 MIAs of T-5 element. One KIA, one individual still MIA at this time.

Artillery: Artillery from Battery A, 6^th of the 29^th Artillery fired on grid YB 855002 which was suspected enemy in open with fire coming close to friendly element at 2020 hours. Artillery also fired a night firing program of 150 rounds 105-mm from Fire Support Base 20, and 100 rounds 155-mm from Fire Support Base Swinger. The purpose of these fires was dual. First to supply support for Companies A and C at vicinity YB 847003 against close in concentrations and also H and I.