After Action Report for Operation Wayne Grey March 21

SUBJECT: After Action Report for Operation Wayne Grey

21 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 21 March, 1969 continued ambush patrols and road interdiction in assigned A.O. Company A conducted airlift from Task Force A to Fire Support Base 20 assuming security mission and employing ambushes vicinity YB 814082 and YB 819082. Company B minus conducted airlift from Fire Support Base 20 to Task Force A with one platoon closing Task Force A by ground prior to airlift. Company B minus moved overland to area of Company A’s previous day’s contact with mission to interdict road in that vicinity. However, this mission could not be accomplished. Therefore a secondary mission of destroying 11 enemy bunkers vicinity YB 812048 was accomplished. Company B employed one platoon-sized ambush vicinity YB 816048. Company C continued security of Task Force A with local security, patrols and two platoon-sized ambushes. A platoon with mission of ambush moving toward night location encountered 5 NVA vicinity YB 815020. Results: Two NVA KIA. Company D minus continued a reconnaissance mission to the east moving from previous night location vicinity YB 876071 to night location vicinity YB 870053. Employed 3 ambushes (general area of night location). Reconnaissance platoon continued security mission of Task Force A with Tracer 4 closing in preparation for reconnaissance platoon’s extraction to Fire Base 20. Mortar platoon continued to support battalion operations at Fire Support Base 20 with one section at Task Force A. Mortars were employed from Task Force A’s location during Company C’s platoon contact with results unknown.

Artillery: Artillery fired for a combat mission for 5321 element at grid 815024. Negative surveillance for support of Task Force A. Night Fire Program: two Roadrunners expended, 50 HE 155-mm, 100 rounds HE 105-mm, 36 rounds HE 4.2 inch mortar, 20 rounds HE 81-mm mortars all in support of Task Force A.

22 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 22 March, 1969 continued operations with patrols, ambushes and road interdiction missions in A.O. Company A continued security of Fire Base 20, with local security, patrols and two platoon-sized elements used as ambushes vicinity 818088 and 814082. Company B minus conducted patrols with two platoons covering objectives vicinity YB 805042, 809049, 800031, 808021 and 808045. Abertees were blown at 815042. Company B minus joined other platoon-sized element at night location vicinity 808045. Company C minus moved to vicinity 812022 from Task Force A location. There they made contact with unknown sized enemy force. Results: 1 U.S. WIA, 1 NVA KIA. Company C minus moved back to Task Force A location employing ambush vicinity 796026. Company D minus continued reconnaissance sweep to east of last night location vicinity 855055 to present night location 863037 employing 3 ambushes vicinity 856055, 859033, and 868035. Reconnaissance platoon continued security of Task Force A patrol base awaiting orders to move to Fire Support Base 20. Mortar platoon located at Fire Base 20 continued support of battalion operations with one section located with Task Force A.

Air Support: Cider 24 and Cider 15 and 10 employed two air strikes vicinity 761042 and 755044. Resupply helicopter supplying Task Force A received ground fire resulting in a disabled air craft. One R/S bird was received Task Force A location, with no ground fire prior to this. This helicopter was utilized to Medevac Company C WIA. Gunships were employed vicinity of where helicopter was receiving enemy ground fire, with unknown results. The gunships also received a heavy volume of fire vicinity Task Force A.

Artillery: Approximately 2250 hours Artillery was employed on truck movement, vicinity 796-19. Also employed mortars from Task Force A location with negative surveillance. Artillery was employed for reconnaissance by fire for moving elements of the battalion throughout the day. Also employed 150 rounds HE 105-mm in support of Task Force A and 60 HE 81-mm mortars in Night Fire Program.

23 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 23 March, 1969 continued ambush patrols, and road interdiction missions in A.O. Company A continued security of Fire Support Base 20with local security, patrols and ambushes vicinity 819066, 819078, 820084, and 825083. Company B minus conducted reconnaissance sweep to vicinity 821037, 825024. Company B’s 24 element encountered enemy contact approximately 350 meters west of Task Force A location. Mortars from Task Force A location were employed, along with Spooky gunship in support of this action. Results: one U.S. KIA, 8 U.S. WIA and 4 NVA KIA. Company C continued security of Task Force A. Employed local security and reconnaissance patrols. Company D continued reconnaissance to east from night location, to new night location vicinity 870053, encountering light contact. Results: One NVA KIA. Ambushes were employed vicinity 848040, 845038, and 837037. Reconnaissance platoon continued security of Task Force A. Mortar platoon continued to support battalion operations on Fire Support Base 20 with one section located with Task Force A. Fire Support Base 20 received 7 incoming White Phosphorus 105-mm, 20 HE 105-mm. Also received various enemy small mortars (possibly 57RR or 60-mm) before enemy 105-mm was employed.

Air Support: The 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry worked in A.O. with unknown results. R/S birds conducted support of Task Force A, receiving sporadic ground fire. Cider 15 and Headhunter 40 and 48 assisted in location of enemy artillery positions and adjusted artillery on to these with unknown results. Spooky 21 was employed in support of Company B 24 element contact.

Artillery: Arc light 7183 was employed at 2115 hours 3000 meters southwest of Task Force A. Artillery was in support all day for the battalion. When incoming started 175-mm from Ben Het were employed on grid 750092 with negative results. Artillery was in support of Task Force A. Also on suspected enemy artillery positions. Mortars were also employed from Fire Support Base 20 in support of Task Force A.

24 March, 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 24 March, 1969 continued ambush patrols and road interdictions in the A.O. Company A continued security of Fire Base 20, local security and patrols. They employed platoon-sized reconnaissance patrols YB 818054 to night location vicinity 819066. They employed short range patrols to vicinity YB 818078 to YB 820038. Fire Support Base 20 received incoming artillery and indirect fire weapons. Number of rounds received unknown. Company B minus located at Task Force A sent two platoons and CP on mission to construct abertee and obstruct vicinity YB 788023. The mission was not accomplished. Company B minus set up night location vicinity YB 797023. The 23 and 23 platoons were located vicinity of Task Force A. The 23 element of Company B experienced light contact with NVA at approximately same area as previous night’s contact. Results: One NVA KIA, one U.S. WIA from gunship who was later extracted from Task Force A’s operation. Company C continued security of Task Force A with local security and reconnaissance patrols and the clearing mission extensively around the perimeter. They employed short range patrols vicinity YB 806037, YB 807036, YB 808034 and YB 806033. Throughout the day Task Force A received incoming indirect fire from mortars and B-40 rockets along with sniper fire from east and west sides of perimeter (small arms). Company D minus continued security vicinity of their previous night location with local security and reconnaissance patrols. They employed patrols in a cloverleaf around vicinity of night location. Company D minus had a water patrol make contact with one NVA. Results: 1 NVA KIA, 1 rucksack CIA and negative U.S. casualties. Reconnaissance platoon undertook mission of security of Fire Support Base 20 with one section located at Task Force A location. Mortars fired support for Company B contact and defensive concentrations of Task Force A.

Air Support: Cider 10, 12, 13 and 14 employed air strikes in vicinity Task Force A’s location. Daisy Cutter’s vicinity YB 877044. Medevac was called to Task Force A location. It received heavy ground fire and was unable to land. Artillery was employed to Task Force A to extract two most seriously wounded. Resupply was conducted by one slick receiving heavy ground fire and also removing rest of wounded. The 7^th of the 17^th Cavalry operated in A.O. sighting NVA in open vicinity 849982. Gunships were employed by Company B 23 element contact with results unknown. There was one U.S. WIA. A1E Skyraiders were also utilized in this vicinity after contact had terminated with unknown results. The Cavalry also conducted BDA vicinity Arc light 7183. Air strikes were employed Task Force A vicinity YB 807033 with two secondary explosions resulting from air strikes and strafing runs. Arc light 7186P was employed at 2120 hours southwest of Task Force A.

Artillery: Artillery was fired with two roadrunners in support of Task Force A. 100 HE 105-mm rounds were fired on suspected enemy artillery location, 50 HE 155-mm rounds were fired in support of Task Force A. Reconnaissance by fire was employed to support battalion operations throughout the day.

25 March 1969: 1^st Battalion, 8^th Infantry on 25 March 1969 continued ambush patrols and interdiction of roads in assigned A.O. Company A continued security of Fire Support Base 20 with local security and patrols. They employed platoon-sized ambush vicinity YB 855074. This platoon’s additional mission was to form outpost for Fire Support Base 27. Short range patrols were employed to vicinity YB 824085, YB 775055, YB 772028, YB 819084, YB 817077, YB 825082 and YB 855074. Company B minus departed night location YB 797023 for cratering mission on road vicinity YB 794020. After completion of mission Company B minus had contact at 1215 hours vicinity YB 755020 with estimated 20 NVA. Contact was broken and initiated again at 1413 hours. Results: 2 U.S. KIA, 11 U.S. WIA and 6 U.S. MIA, 4 or 5 NVA KIA. Company B’s 21 and 22 elements located at Task Force A with mission to secure that area. Task Force A came under attack at 0700 receiving B-40 rockets and small arms fire. Gunships, airstrikes and mortar fire were employed against enemy in open with results unknown. Results of ground action: 13 U.S. WIA, 1 U.S. KIA, 2 NVA KIA, possible 3 additional NVA KIA and 1 AK-47 CIA. At approximately 0700 hours LP on west side of perimeter of Task Force A observed 3 individuals to the west. The LP closed and 81-mm mortar was fired. A reconnaissance squad was sent out to check the area. Three to five NVA took the element under fire approximately 25 meters outside the perimeter. The point man was wounded. The patrol could not recover the U.S. WIA so they employed fire and maneuver and withdrew to perimeter. A reaction force was hastily organized and sent to recover wounded man. This element came under mortar fire and small arms fire. They returned with their wounded to perimeter. The area of contact was submitted to automatic weapons, M-79 and M-16 fire. One small maneuver element was sent along north side of saddle and recovered wounded man. The element received B-40 rocket and small arms fire from three locations of the saddle while getting the wounded man. When all elements had closed vicinity of Task Force A, gunships were employed in area of contact and positions of enemy fire. The gunships drew ground fire from four positions, northwest, west, southwest and south of the perimeter. Two sets of gunships were employed. Two sets of A1E fighters and eight sets of fast pacers were employed to the west, south and east of the perimeter. Results: 2 enemy firing positions silenced and 2 NVA KIA. Company C continued security of Task Force A with local security and Ops. They employed short range patrols vicinity YB 806037, YB 805033, YB 803033 and YB 802035. Company D moved overland from previous night location to Task Force A’s location. They employed short range patrols vicinity YB 825082, YB 802033 and YB 802034. Task Force A received 60-mm and 82-mm mortar fire sporadically throughout the day. Reconnaissance platoon continued security of Fire Support Base 20. Mortar platoon continued to support battalion operations from Fire Support Base 20 with one section located at Task Force A. Mortars at Task Force A fired in support of Company B contact and Company B minus contact.

Air Support: Gunships, A1E Skyraiders, fast pacers fighters were employed vicinity Task Force A. Cider 13, 12 were utilized to adjust air strikes. A CS drop was employed vicinity road west to east YB 775055 YB 772026. Medevac was employed to Company B minus vicinity to extract wounded taking ground fire and hits. Resupply was accomplished to Company B minus resulting in one helicopter being hit. Resupply bird vicinity Fire Base 20 drew small arms fire. Spooky gunship was on station to assist Company B minus throughout the night.

Artillery: Artillery fired three roadrunners, two times that night utilizing 105-mm and 155-mm. One roadrunner of 50 HE 155-mm was utilized in support of Task Force A. Reconnaissance by fire was utilized throughout the operation during the day. All artillery support available was used.