SUBJECT: After Action Report for Operation Wayne
Grey
26 March, 1969: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry on 26 March, 1969 continued operations in assigned A.O. Company A conducting patrols, local security and road interdiction. Company A continued Fire Support Base 20 mission employing local security and patrols. One Company A platoon moved from their previous night location to Fire Base 27 to secure this area for Company D who was to move from Task Force A location to this new location. Fire Support Base 20 began receiving incoming artillery and mortar rounds from enemy positions approximately 1320 hours. A total of 13 rounds of 105-mm, 7 impacted inside the perimeter, were received. At 1400 hours this barrage ended. At 1535 hours Fire Support Base 20 again receiving incoming artillery which ended at 1600 hours. A total of 19 rounds were received with 18 impacting inside the perimeter. Counter artillery and mortar fire was employed during both instances resulting in stopping the enemy fire. Results of the artillery and mortar attacks were: 1 U.S. KIA, 2 U.S. WIA, Battery A 6th of the 29th Artillery suffered 2 U.S. KIA and 7 U.S. WIA as a result of the enemy attack. One more round of incoming artillery was received at 1800 hours with negative injuries and damage. Company B minus located vicinity 805026 evacuated 7 WIA from their location prior to linking with Company D who had been sent to their location to assist Company B minus back to Task Force A location. Company C undertook mission to secure southeast and southwest portion of perimeter to allow Company D free movement to Company B minus location. Company D and Company B minus met and started moving back toward Task Force A’s location. On this move back, 4 of the 6 MIA joined Company B minus. After Company D and Company B had reached Task Force A location Company C withdrew elements to Task Force A location. Companies C, D and B at this time resumed mission to secure patrol base vicinity Task Force A. Task Force A came under intense small arms, rocket, mortar and artillery attack starting at 1100 hours and lasting sporadically throughout the afternoon. Alligator 110 attempting a landing at Task Force A location was hit with small arms fire as he sat down on the pad. B-40 rockets were fired from the west into the vicinity of the pad. Dust off 52 coming into Task Force A also received ground fire and 1 gunship escorting them received rounds also. During this time the enemy fired 5 B-40 rounds, 6 82-mm mortar rounds and small arms into Task Force A perimeter. Shortly after this attack Task Force A began receiving incoming 105-mm from enemy positions near the border. This continued sporadically until 1845 hours. A total of 44 rounds were received during this time. Results of the attacks were: 1 U.S. KIA and 5 U.S. WIA. Company D 23 element made contact about 200 meters to southeast of Task Force A while trying to move to short range patrol location. An estimated enemy squad was encountered by this element vicinity 810034. Results were 1 U.S. WIA and 1 NVA KIA. Mortars were employed and 23 broke contact and moved to different night location. Throughout the night Task Force A received reports of sightings of from 1 to 2 NVA probing the perimeter. These individuals were taken under fire with M-79, hand grenades and mortar fire with results unknown. Companies B, C and D continued security of Task Force A with local security and short-range Platoon-sized reconnaissance and surveillance patrols. Reconnaissance platoon continued security of Fire Support Base 20. Mortar platoon continued support of battalion operations from Fire Support Base 20 with one section located at Task Force A. Mortar missions were fired from Fire Support Base 20 and Task Force A in support of ground operations and counter mortar fire was utilized on suspected enemy mortar and rocket positions vicinity Task Force A and Fire Base 20.
Air Support: Air support was prominent throughout the battalion A.O. Air strikes were employed vicinity YB 730030, 770029 and vicinity Task Force A and enemy artillery positions 746095 by Cider 12. Armed helicopters were employed throughout the day to assist resupply of Task Force A. Resupply ships were able to resupply Task Force A on 2 occasions both times receiving enemy fire with one being hit. Medevac was accomplished 2 times, once at Fire Base 20 and once vicinity Company B minus location. Medevac was attempted vicinity Task Force A unsuccessfully. Headhunter 44 worked area vicinity Task Force A supporting Company D move to Company B minus location and assisting in locating enemy position in that area. One CS drop was accomplished by Gulf 25A vicinity 775055.
Artillery: Battery A, 6th of the 29th artillery (Direct Support) supported battalion operations from Fire Support Base 20 firing in support of ground movement, counter artillery and harassment and interdiction. Two roadrunners and one point target were engaged by 155-mm expending 80 rounds HE in support of Task Force A. Three roadrunners and 2 point targets were fired upon by 105-mm from Fire Support Base 20 expending 200 rounds of HE. This was also in support of Task Force A.
27 March, 1969: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry on 27 March, 1969 continued operations in assigned A.O. employing reconnaissance patrols, short range patrols and local security. Company A minus located vicinity of Fire Base 20continued security of Fire Support Base 20 with local Ops and LPs. Their 21 and 24 platoons were located on Fire Support Base 27 where they established an outpost. Company A employed 3 short range patrols vicinity Fire Support Base 20 and 2 short range patrols vicinity Fire Support Base 27. Fire Support Base 20 received incoming 105-mm at approximately 1047 hours. A total of 19 rounds received with 12 impacting inside the perimeter. The enemy artillery barrage ended at 1127 hours. Results were 2 U.S. WIA. Company B continued security of Task Force A with local security, reconnaissance patrols and short range reconnaissance patrols being employed in that vicinity. Throughout the day, especially during the air lift of Company d from Task Force A to Fire Support Base 27, Task Force A received 2 B-40 rockets inside the perimeter and an unknown amount of small arms fire. Company C undertook mission to sweep from Task Force A to vicinity of Company B minus previous day’s contact, in general vicinity 800033. Company C moving from vicinity Task Force A came into contact with enemy snipers to their front and left flanks with a B-40 rocket firing at them from their right front along with snipers. Company C pulled back to employ artillery in the area of contact. As they were pulling back they started receiving 105-mm incoming enemy fire. A total of 15 rounds were employed on their position forcing them back into Task Force A location. Results of contact were: 4 NVA KIA and negative friendly casualties. Counter battery artillery was employed on enemy gun vicinity 725071 with one gun observed destroyed by Hummingbird 5. Company C again attempted to go to vicinity Company B minus contact about 1430. About 300 meters outside the perimeter they received a total of 3 82-mm mortar rounds adjusted on their position. This again forced them back into Task Force vicinity. Gunships were employed in vicinity to Company C’s front with results unobserved. One of the gunships was hit by enemy fire vicinity 810030 or 807030. Gunships expended and withdrew. Artillery and mortars were employed in vicinity of Company C contact where enemy forward observer was suspected to be. Results were not observed. The planned operation for Company C was abandoned due to the short remainder of moving time available after these two actions. During Company C’s action there was a propaganda round fired into the vicinity Task Force A by the enemy. The round contained propaganda leaflets exhorting U.S. soldiers to come over to their side. These leaflets also contained statements from an U.S. POW on his excellent treatment as a POW at the hands of the NVA. Company C 22D experienced heavy movement southeast of Task Force A at 2020 hours. They employed claymores and pulled back to the perimeter. Mortars from Task Force A were employed on suspected location of the 3 NVA with results unknown. 22D moved back to new location vicinity of their old one and began surveillance again. Company C employed a total of 4 short range patrols to the southwest, south, southeast and east of Task Force A. Company D minus conducted air lift from vicinity Task Force A to Fire Support Base 27. The 24 platoon continued security of Fire Support Base 20. Company D minus was Reaction Company for the 7th of the 17th Cavalry. Company D minus at Fire Support Base 27 employed a total of 6 short range patrols while their 24 element employed 2 short range patrols vicinity Fire Base 20 for local security. Reconnaissance platoon continued security of Fire Support Base 20 and employed a tracer team vicinity 822074 with negative results. 1st Brigade LRRP 4C became OPCON to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry and started moving from its night location vicinity 880062 to vicinity Fire Support Base 27 for extraction. Mortar platoon continued support of battalion operations from Fire Support Base 20 with one section located with Task Force A. 4.2 inch mortar was fired in support of Company C’s planned move to southwest of Task Force A. 81-mm mortar located in Task Force A was fired as counter mortar and on possible enemy forward observer location in support of Company C operation.
Air Support: Air support in battalion A.O. was prominent with air lift of Company D accomplished from Task Force A to Fire Base 27. A total of 14 slicks and 2 sets of gunships were employed in this action. One set of gunships was utilized in second contact of Company C, with one helicopter receiving damage to the aircraft by enemy ground fire. The 7th of the 17th Cavalry worked the A.O. briefly and short missions due to operational difficulties. Cider 12 was beneficial in adjusting artillery from Fire Support Base 20 on enemy gun emplacements firing on Company C. One medevac was conducted successfully from Fire Support Base 20. Headhunter 40 was employed throughout A.O. on possible enemy infiltration routes and positions. CS drop by Gulf 25A was completed at YB 7603 east to west successfully at 1455 hours.
Artillery: Battery A, 6th of the 29th Artillery (Direct Support) fired reconnaissance by fire missions throughout the day for the battalion. Cider 12 sighted enemy artillery positions vicinity 725071 and employed counter artillery. K-14 and Cider 12 adjusted 105-mm from Fire Base 20 and 175-mm from Ben Het on these positions. K-14 spotted enemy in open running from these artillery positions and employed Firecracker resulting in 3 confirmed NVA KIA. Night Fire Program consisted of 50 155-mm HE employed against enemy artillery position, and in support of Task Force A. A total of 200 HE 105-mm was employed on enemy artillery position and in vicinity of Task Force A for their support.
28 March, 1969: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry on 28 March, 1969 continued to operate in assigned A.O. employing local security, reconnaissance patrols and short range patrols. Company A minus continued security of Fire Support Base 20 with local Ops and LPs. The 21 and 24 platoons departed Fire Support Base 27 but did not close Company A minus location. Platoons 21 and 24 linked up at night location vicinity 832089. Company A employed 4 short range patrols around Fire Support Base 20 for purposes of security. Fire Support Base 20 received one round of incoming 105-mm. Company B CP and the 22 and 23 platoons conducted a reconnaissance patrol to the east of Task Force A. The CP was located with the 23 platoon at night location 822032 while the 22 platoon chose 828037 for its night location. Company B minus employed 3 short range patrols vicinity 821031, 829038 and 804036. The remainder of the company stayed at Task Force A location for security employing local security and short range reconnaissance patrols. A total of 120 rounds of incoming 105-mm artillery was received at Task Force A location throughout the day. Results were 4 U.S. WIA and 1 KIA. Movement was encountered throughout the night vicinity Task Force A. Each time M-79 and fragmentation grenades were employed resulting in movement ceasing. Company C continued security of Task Force A with local Ops and LPs. Company C also employed 4 short range reconnaissance patrols vicinity Task Force A as a screen. There were several enemy sightings during this day. Each sighting was taken under fire with results unknown. Company D continued security of Fire Support Base 27 with local Ops and LPs and short range reconnaissance patrols. A total of 4 short range patrols were employed in this area as a screen. Light contact was initiated by Company D on an NVA truck convoy by adjusting artillery fire onto them. Results were unobserved. Reconnaissance platoon continued security of Fire Support Base 20 with negative results. 1st Brigade LRRP 4C closed Company D location and was extracted. Mortar platoon continued to support battalion operations firing in support of Task Force A and Fire Base 20. One section located with Task Force A with the remainder located at Fire Support Base 20.
Air Support: Air support in battalion A.O. was prominent. Headhunter 40 and 44 assisted in observing area vicinity Task Force A and area of enemy gun emplacement. Medevac was accomplished vicinity Task Force A without incident. Resupply at Task Force A was completed. Resupply for other elements were completed without incident. The 7th of the 17th Cavalry worked A.O. sighting enemy truck convoy vicinity 817088. Cavalry expended and Company D fired artillery on convoy. Results were one possible vehicle destroyed. Two Combat Sky Spot missions were employed in area of enemy artillery emplacements with unobserved results. Gulf 25 employed a CS drop vicinity 7404. Cider 10 assisted in locating and employing artillery and air strikes on enemy gun positions.
Artillery: Battery A, 6th of the 29th Artillery (Direct Support) fired in support of Task Force A receiving incoming. 175-mm and 105-mm was fired vicinity gun emplacements at YB 727072. Throughout the day artillery was employed against these positions with results unknown. Reconnaissance by fire was also employed in support of Task Force A with 105-mm.
29 March, 1969: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry on 29 March, 1969 continued operations in assigned A.O. with local security and short range reconnaissance patrols. Company A continued security of Fire Support Base 20 employing local security and short range reconnaissance patrols. Two short-range patrols were employed vicinity 819087 and 814085. Fire Support Base 20 received a total of 16 rounds of 105-mm enemy artillery fire throughout the afternoon with 12 falling inside the perimeter. Counter artillery was fired into suspected enemy locations vicinity YB 716062, YB 731074 and YB 729071 with results unknown. B Company 21 and 24 platoons continued security of Task Force A location while Company B minus element continued reconnaissance patrols vicinity east and southeast of Task Force A and closing Task Force A location during the afternoon. Heavy movement was encountered throughout the early morning, afternoon and evening with Task Force A receiving B-40 rockets, grenades 60-mm mortars and small arms fire from the northeast, east, south, southwest and west. A total of 19 B-40 rockets, 12 60-mm mortar rounds and 1 chicom hand grenade was received at Task Force A location. Snipers on the east, south and west harassed friendly movement throughout the day. Results of this action were 3 U.S. WIA, 5 NVA KIA and the following items were captured: 3 B-40 rocket launchers, 1 AK-47, 1 AK-50, 1 Chinese assault rifle and approximately 12 B-40 rockets. The NVA KIA were found in vicinity of East Side of Task Force A perimeter. One NVA was observed in the vicinity of the KIA waving a white flag. Task Force A personnel implored this individual to Chu Hoi for about 2 hours. A resupply helicopter came into Task Force A’s location and at this time the NVA fled. A psychological operations team in a LOH tried to talk this individual shortly after he was gone from the vicinity of Task Force A. The LOH received fire from vicinity YB 811033 from 3 NVA resulting in minor damage to the aircraft. Company B employed 4 short-range reconnaissance patrols in immediate vicinity of Task Force A for security and early warning. Company C continued security of Task Force A employing local security and a total of 4 short range reconnaissance patrols vicinity of Task Force A. Sounds of something being dragged through the jungle were witnessed during the early morning at Task Force A. It is believed that the NVA were dragging their wounded and dead away. During the night following this action sounds of digging and sightings of NVA were prominent. On each occasion mortars and small arms were employed against the enemy. Company D minus continued security of Fire Base 27 with local security and short range reconnaissance patrols. A total of 5 short range patrols were employed in vicinity of Fire Support Base 27. Company D minus 24 element was air lifted from Fire Support Base 20 to Fire Support Base 27 rejoining the main element. Reconnaissance platoon continued security mission at Fire Support Base 20 assisting Company A. Mortar platoon continued to support battalion operations from Fire Support Base 20 with one section located with Task Force A. Counter mortar fire was employed by Task Force A throughout the day on suspected enemy mortar positions to the west and southeast. Defensive concentrations were fired throughout the early morning and late evening on suspected enemy movement with results unknown.
Air Support: Air support was prevalent throughout the battalion A.O. Spooky 22 was employed in vicinity of Task Force A during the early morning against suspected enemy concentrations preparing for a ground attack. Cider 12 assisted in visual observation of Task Force A and employing artillery fire on suspected enemy artillery emplacements. Nine Combat Sky Spots were employed vicinity enemy artillery emplacements vicinity YB 716062, 731074 and 729071. Cider 13 Headhunter 44 and 40 were utilized throughout A.O. to adjust artillery on suspected enemy locations. Resupply of Task Force A was accomplished with 2 slicks and 3 WIA were evacuated on the first helicopter. A total of 6 slick sorties were employed from Fire Support Base 20 to Fire Support Base 27 to air lift Company D 24 element. Gulf 25 employed 2 CS drops on enemy infiltration routes vicinity 752038 to 758035 and 762041 to 756047. One light observation helicopter was employed vicinity Task Force A with Psychological Operations team aboard, resulting in light damage to the aircraft.
Artillery: Artillery support throughout the battalion A.O. was performed by Battery A, 6th of the 29th Artillery (Direct Support) vicinity Fire Support Base 20, 155-mm located LZ Swinger and 175-mm located Ben Het. Heavy radar and Infrared readings indicated heavy enemy troop movement toward Task Force A along southern road vicinity 774008, 774023, 776024, 788022 and 774006. Headhunter 40 adjusted artillery from Swinger and Fire Base 20 onto the locations. K-12 air observer sighted 3 enemy artillery tubes vicinity 716062, 731074 and 729071. 175-mm from Ben Het was adjusted onto these positions. Task Force A received support from 4.2 inch mortar vicinity Fire Support Base 20 with 150 HE and 50 White Phosphorus being employed on suspected enemy locations. 105-mm from Fire Support Base 20 was also employed with 800 rounds of HE being expended vicinity Task Force A on suspected enemy locations. 155-mm from LZ Swinger employed 65 rounds HE in support of Task Force A. Two secondary explosions resulted from these supporting fires. One to the southeast and one to the west was sighted at Task Force A.
30 March, 1969: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry on 30 March, 1969 was in the process of moving all elements to Fire Base McNerny for stand down and regrouping. Company A located on Fire Support Base 20 moved from that location to Polei Kleng and remained there during the night. Enemy artillery harassed the movement from Fire Support Base 20 with a total of 40 rounds being received starting at 0100 hours and lasting until final extraction of all elements at 1830 hours. One U.S. WIA was evacuated from Fire Support Base 20 by Medevac as a result of the enemy artillery. Tactical Operations Center minus remained with Company A throughout the night at Polei Kleng. Companies B and C located with Task Force A were extracted to Polei Kleng. Company C was the first company to be airlifted out. As Company B was being extracted enemy pressure was exerted upon elements left at Task Force A. Gunships were employed in immediate vicinity of Task Force A throughout the extraction, with results unobserved. Enemy ground fire with small arms and B-40 rockets were experienced by helicopters attempting extraction. Results of the extraction was 3 helicopters and one gunship disabled by enemy fire. Company C and Company B moved overland from Polei Kleng to Fire Base McNerny. These two companies closed approximately 1830 hours at Fire Base McNerny and assumed stand down status. A total of 30 slick sorties were utilized in this extraction. Company D was extracted from Fire Support Base 27 with the final extraction completed at 1535 hours. Company D moved overland to LZ Mary Lou and stayed there during the night in preparation for the move to Fire Base McNerny. The extraction of Company D was without incident. Reconnaissance platoon was extracted along with Company A. Reconnaissance platoon remained with Company A at Polei Kleng. Mortar platoon was extracted along with Company A at Fire Support Base 20 with one section being extracted with Task Force A. The mortar platoon minus remained with Company A at Polei Kleng. One section was located at Mary Lou with Company D while Company D while one section was located at Fire Base McNerny with Companies C and D.
Air Support: Air support during the battalion operation was excellent. Chinooks were successful in extraction sorties from Fire Support Base 20. UH10 helicopters and gunships succeeded in extracting Companies C, D and B. An Air Force Spat was employed vicinity Fire Support Base 20 to cover the extraction. Cider 15 assisted the Spat operation and also assisted with air surveillance in the areas of extraction. Gulf 25A employed CS drops vicinity 730060, 730030, 760060, 760030 and 7401.
Artillery: Battery A, 6th of the 29th Artillery (Direct Support) was extracted from Fire Support Base 20 with last extraction complete at 1730 hours. 175-mm from Ben Het and 155-mm from LZ Swinger was employed on enemy positions throughout the day’s activities in support of the operation.
31 March, 1969: On 31 March, 1969 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry assumed stand down status at Fire Base McNerny. Company D moved from LZ Mary Lou and closed Fire Base McNerny at 1100 hours. Company A, mortar platoon minus, reconnaissance platoon, and Tactical Operations Center minus closed Fire Base McNerny at 1500 hours.
II. Special Equipment:
Eight HE/OCIB AN/GSQ-128 Censors were employed vicinity YB 779026, 784023, 782025, 776026, 813019, 810023, 805022 and 815021 on 19 March, 1969. These items proved to be defective or improperly employed resulting in their being ineffective.
ALLEN M. BUCKNER
LTC, INFANTRY
Commanding