SUBJECT: After Action Report for Operation Wayne
Grey
16 March, 1969: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry on 16 March, 1969 continued operating in assigned A.O. with Companies A and C operating as a Task Force (TF A) moving from previous night location to vicinity YB 817030. During move 2 NVA were sighted, taken under fire, with negative results, vicinity YB 838068. Also in same area another NVA was sighted and killed. In same location the 7th of the 17th Cavalry sighted two 2-½ ton trucks, a large object that was unidentifiable and a few bunkers. Cavalry destroyed both trucks with WP and turned one over on its side. They also destroyed a large caliber machine gun or anti aircraft gun and killed undisclosed number of NVA. Cider 13 dropped heavy bombs in same vicinity. Companies A and C employed local ambushes in vicinity of their night location. Companies B and D continued security mission of Fire Support Base 20 with local Ops, LPs and three platoon-sized ambushes on road to southwest. Reconnaissance platoon was extracted to Fire Support Base 20 to regroup and reorganize leaving T-6 to operate in liaison with Task Force A. Mortar platoon continued to support battalion operations at Fire Support Base 20.
Artillery: Artillery from Battery A 6th of the 29th Artillery fired 15 Roadrunners to support Task Force A with 150 HE rounds from Fire Support Base 20 and 75 rounds 155-mm HE from Fire Support Base Swinger. Task Force A movement was assisted with reconnaissance by fire by artillery throughout the day.
17 March, 1969: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry on 17 March, 1969 continued operating in assigned A.O. with Task Force A mission to interdict and suppress enemy movement vicinity of roads near their location. Task Force A moved from previous location to YB 804034 and established patrol base. Company A sent two platoons to vicinity YB 788023 mission to crater and abertee ford that vicinity. This mission was successfully accomplished. Company C conducted two platoon-sized patrols vicinity YB 794022 and YB 789011. Ambush actions for Task Force A were concentrated on roads to the east, north and south. Company C ambush vicinity YB 815022 observed three NVA moving northeast. These individuals were taken under fire at approximately 50-75 meters with negative results. Companies B and D continued security mission of Fire Support Base 20 employing local security, patrols and 4 platoon-sized ambushes designed to monitor road to the ease, south and southwest of Fire Support Base 20. Reconnaissance platoon moved to Fire Support Base 20 for regrouping and reorganization. Mortar platoon continued in support of battalion operations at Fire Support Base 20.
Air Support: Cider 10 drew ground fire vicinity YB 731055 while working in A.O. Redlegs employed Firecracker at grid YB 724055 with one large secondary explosion. They fired on grid YB 731055 intelligence from higher with negative surveillance. Cider 13 performed an airstrike vicinity YB 739055. Headhunter 46 worked A.O. employing Artillery and adjusting it on suspected enemy location.
Artillery: Artillery fired Night Fire Program on vicinity YB 735046 on suspected enemy location expending 108 HE 105-mm.
18 March, 1969: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry on 18 March, 1969 continued operating in assigned A.O. with Task Force A mission to interdict and suppress enemy movement vicinity of roads near their location. The battalion furnished patrols and local security of areas occupied by companies. Company A continued security of Task Force A Fire Support Base with Company C employing 3 platoon-sized ambushes. Company C minus conducted road cratering and abertee from coordinates YB 768031 to YB 771029. Craters were blown at grids YB 790030, YB 789030 and YB 797031. One platoon ambushed vicinity YB 797034. A bunker complex was found by Company C vicinity YB 779035 to YB 781035 to YB 779032. Approximately 75 bunkers with commo wire running between them, 2-man size camouflaged well, showing no signs of recent use. Company B continued Fire Support Base 20 security mission with local security, patrols and 2 platoon-sized ambushes vicinity YB 868068 and YB 851079. Company D also had road interdiction mission vicinity YB 846085. One crater 20’ wide X 10-15’ deep was blown in the road. Reconnaissance platoon was moved to Task Force A with preparation for new mission. Mortar platoon continued to support battalion operations from Fire Base 20 and one section was sent to support Task Force A’s operation.
Air Support: Cider 22 employed air strike vicinity YB 720053 to YB 730049 for purpose of cutting road that vicinity. One Medevac was employed with Company B for two WIA.
Artillery: Artillery shot 5 Roadrunners of 105-mm, 150 rounds HE in support of Task Force A. Also fired 5 rounds of 155-mm, 75 rounds of HE in support of Task Force A from Fire Base Swinger.
19 March, 1969: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry on 19 March, 1969 continued road interdiction, ambushes and patrols in the A.O. Company A had 2 platoon-sized ambushes operating in vicinity of Task Force A. An abertee was constructed grid YB 805053 by one of the ambushes. They came under intense ground fire. They received one U.S. KIA and one wounded. The other ambush linked with ambush in contact vicinity YB 801043 to go back into area and retrieve KIA. They were unable to move back due to intense enemy fire. They pulled back, employed mortar fire from Task Force A location. Company C cut road vicinity YB 784024 and employed two platoon-sized ambushes vicinity YB 797028 and YB 794029. Mortar accident occurred Task Force A’s location resulting in 12 WIA. Medevac was employed. Company B continued security of Fire Support Base 20 with local security, patrols and one platoon-sized ambush vicinity YB 822035. Company D conducted cratering mission of roads south of Fire Support Base 20. They employed two platoon-sized ambushes vicinity YB 865068 and YB 854074 with remainder of company securing Fire Base 20. Reconnaissance platoon continued to secure patrol base headquarters. Task Force A with Tracer team screening southern portion of A.O. vicinity YB 791015. An Arclight was employed with code No. 7179 at 0915 hours.
Air Support: The 7th of the 17th Cavalry made BDA of AL 7179. They received small arms fire during BDA vicinity YB 863987 by approximate squad sized element. Also rocket fire and small arms fire were received by Cavalry White Birds vicinity YB 849991. Cider 14 employed air strike vicinity YB 876003. A total of 3 dust offs were called to Task Force A’s location. Eight Helocib AN/GSO-128 Censors were employed by elements from Fire Base 20 with support from the 7th of the 17th Cavalry in vicinity YB 779026, YB 784023, YB 782025, YB 776026, YB 813019, YB 810023, YB 805022 and YB 815021. These censors were to be used by our battalion as a test to estimate their value in a combat situation. A crew from Division was assigned to the battalion to monitor the portascope after the drop. When the Censors were dropped they were supposedly correctly activated. However, no indications was observed on the portascope to confirm activation right after one was dropped. Late the next day Artillery fired on these grids confirming negative activation of the Censors. A preliminary conclusion was that the Battery assembly was not correctly set in the Censors before they were sent to Fire Base 20.
Artillery: Artillery fired Night Fire Program with normal H & I accomplished.
20 March, 1969: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry on 20 March, 1969 continued ambush patrols and interdiction of roads in assigned A.O. company A minus from Task Force A moved to vicinity of previous day’s contact and swept area and recovered 1 U.S. KIA. Company A minus had contact again at grid YB 801052 resulting in one U.S. KIA, 11 U.S. WIA and 4 NVA KIA. Company A employed ambush vicinity YB 792021. Company C continued security of Task Force A, local security, patrols. They sent one platoon-sized ambush vicinity YB 779035. They also sent two platoons to assist Company A minus with their wounded. Company B continued security of Fire Support Base 20 with local Ops, LPs and one platoon-sized ambush vicinity YB 814089. Company D moved overland on reconnaissance mission to east of Fire Support Base 20. Company D joined 2 platoons in that area and reconned in force to vicinity YB 876074 employing 4 squad-sized ambushes vicinity night location. Reconnaissance platoon continued to operate with Task Force A employing Tracer 4 on south portion of A.O. vicinity YB 798006. Mortar platoon continued to support battalion operations from Fire Base 20 with one section at Task Force A’1 location. Task Force A mortars fired support of Company A contact. This day’s contact revealed a loss of 3 M16A1 rifles and one M60 machine gun belonging to Company A. Company C constructed one abertee of 2 large trees vicinity YB 793024. Results of Company A’s previous day’s mission; vicinity YB 797052abertee of approximately 8 trees 24-30” in diameter blown across the road, also vicinity YB 801052 abertee was blown with undetermined amount and size of trees vicinity of contact.
Air Support: One Medevac was utilized vicinity of Company A’s contact with one being utilized at Task Force A location. The rest of wounded in contact
Artillery: Artillery fired on censor location grids to test their operation. Fired HE rounds 105-mm from Fire Base 20 in support of A Company in contact. Regular Night Fire Program was accomplished (both 105-mm and 155-mm were fired).