DECLASSIFIED (MARKED OUT) HEADQUARTERS 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) 1st Marine Division, (Rein), FMF FPO, San Francisco, California, 96602 Copy___of ___Copies 2/RTH/rhv 5750 6 April 1968 (MARKED OUT) From: Commanding Officer To: Commanding General, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF, c/o FPO, San Francisco, 96602 Subj: Command Chronology for the period 1-31 March 1968 Ref: (a) MCO 5750.2 (b) FMFPacO 550.8 (c) DivO 5750.2b Encl: (1) First Tank Battalion Command Chronology 1. In accordance with the provisions of references (a), (b), and (c) enclosure (1) is submitted. 2. This letter is downgraded to unclassifid up removal of enclosure (1). (Signature) V. J. GENTILE (MARKED OUT) (MARKED OUT) DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED HEADQUARTERS 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) 1st Marine Division, (Rein), FMF FPO, San Francisco, California 96602 (MARKED OUT) COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 1 March 1968 to 31 March 1968 INDEX Part I - Organizational Data Part II - Narrative Summary Part III - Sequential Listings of Significant Events Part IV - Supporting Documents ENCLOSURE (1) (MARKED OUT) DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED (MARKED OUT) PART I ORGANIZATIONAL DATA 1. DESIGNATION COMMANDER Headquarters, LtCol V. J. GENTILE 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) 1-31 March 1968 1st MarDiv (Rein), FMF SUBORDINATE UNITS H&S Company Maj L. A. GILDERSLEEVE 1-31 Mar 1968 Company A (-) (Rein) Capt C. R. CASEY 1-31 Mar 1968 Company B (Rein) Capt R. E. ROEMER 1-26 Mar 1968 Capt G. J. MURDOCK 27-31 Mar 1968 Company C (-) (Rein) Capt R. D. GUNSELMAN 1-31 Mar 1968 Company A (Rein), 1st ATBn 1st Lt V. C. DAVIS 1-31 Mar 1968 Company B (Rein), 5th TKBn Capt D. MORRIS 13-31 Mar 1968 2. LOCATION HEADQUARTERS (AT 997723) H&S Company (AT 997723) Company A (YD 815165) Company B (AT 962621) Company C (BT 072644) Company A, 1st AT Bn (YD 815165) Company B, 5th TKBn (AT 997723) 3. STAFF OFFICERS Battalion Executive Officer Maj P. G. RADTKE 1-31 Mar 1968 Battalion Adjutant 1stLt C. S. SCHURING 1-31 Mar 1968 Battalion S-2 Officer Capt R. T. HOPKINS 1- 31 Mar 1968 Battalion S-3 Officer Maj D. R. DICKEY 1- 31 Mar 1968 Battalion S-4 Officer Maj J. A. SCHUYLER 1- 31 Mar 1968 Battalion S-5/Civic Action Officer Capt N. O. WITTINGTON 1- 31 Mar 1968 4. AVERAGE MONTHLY STRENGTH USMC USN OFF ENL OFF ENL 50 912 1 17 ENCLOSURE (1) 1 (MARKED OUT) DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED (MARKED OUT) PART II - NARRATIVE SUMMARY PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATION The total strength of 1st Tank Battalion is 50 Marine Officers, one Naval Officer, 912 Marine enlisted, and 17 Naval enlisted. The battalion joined four Marine Officer, one Naval Officer, 235 Marine enlisted and two Naval enlisted during March. This includes five Marine Officer, 130 Marine enliste and two Naval enlisted as Company B, 5th Tank Battalion. Loses were three Marine Officer, two Naval Officers, 38 Marine enlisted and one Naval enlisted. The battalion anticipates the loss of five Marine Officers and 41 Marine enlisted during the month of April. Eighteen requests for extensions of overseas tour were forwarded during March. These extensions bring the total man-months gained through extensions during 1968 to 162. The major incentive for extension of overseas tour was the special 30-day leave program. On 13 March 1968, Company B (Rein), 5th Tank Battalion, with a strength of five Officers, 130 Marine enlisted and two Navy corpsman was attached to the battalion. With the addition of one more tank company, the S-1 is now administratively supporting two and one-third additional companies, withourt augmentation of administrative support personnel. At present the battalion is suffering a critical shortage of NCO's in the 0141 field. Of the seven sergeants rated by manning level, present on board strength is four, with three of these rotating to CONUS with 45 days. Of the seven corporals rated, the battalion has four though it is anticipated that two will be gained through promotions in the near future. Through a reorganization of the Battalion S-1, a redistribution of all 0141 NCO's was made to companies in an attempt to gain full utilization of their experience. Although placing a heavier burden on the battalion, the reorganization proved itself by reducing unit diary error rate to .2 percent. The battalion's morale during this period was excellent although all personnel were required to work long hours in varied jobs. A total of 15 casualties were sustained during March, four med-evac, and 11 non-med-evac. There was one non-hostile casualty, requiring hospitalization who eventually expired. There was one special courts-martial and two summary courts-martial during March. There were three punishments under Article 15. ENCLOSURE (1) 2 (MARKED OUT) DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED (MARKED OUT) TRAINING AND OPERATIONS During the month of March the 1st Tank Battalion participated in one major operation, Operation Ford. All units of Company A (-) (Rein) were in general support and the 1st and 2nd Platoons of Company A (Rein), 1st Antitank Battalion were in direct support. The oper- ation was concluded on 20 March. Compan A (-) (Rein) is located in the Phu Bai/Gia Le area where they are in direct support of Task Force X-Ray. The 1st Platoon remained as security for the Song Cau Do and Song Tuy Loan Bridges in the Southern Sector Defense Command AOR until 24 March when they were relieved by 3rd Platoon, Company B, 5th Tank Battalion. The 1st Platoon is now in general support of the Division and con- stitutes a portion of the Division reserve. On 23 March, the Company Headquarters of Company A (-)(Rein), 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) moved its location from DaNang to Phu Bai so that it could better support the platoons at that location. Several tanks from Compan B (Rein) provided fire support for infantry operations during the month. The tanks were limited in movement because of wet rice paddies. Other operations were pri- marily involved with reaction forces for infantry and CAP units, security for road sweeps, support for search and destroy operations and security for command posts. Company C (-)(Rein) remains in direct support of 3rd Battalion, 27th Marine and the 2nd ROK Brigade in the Hoi An area. The 3rd Platoon remains attached to Company B, 1st Tank Battalion and is located in An Hoa. Company A (Rein), 1st Antitank Battalion, remains in direct support of Task Force X-Ray with headquarters in Gia Le. The 3rd Platoon is in direct support of the Phu Bai Defense Command. On 22 March, the 1st Platoon, Compay B, 5th Antitank Battalion was transferred to A Co, 1st Antitank Battalion for duty in the Phu Bai area. Company B(Rein), 5th Tank Battalion was joined by 1st Tank Battalion on 13 March. The Company received an intensive training program and on 29 March the 1st and 2nd Platoons moved to 27th Marines in direct support of 1/27 and 2/27. The headquarters group remains at 1st Tank Battalion CP. The task organization for the 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) is a follows: Company A (-)(Rein): D/S Task Force X-Ray (Phu Bai) Company B (Rein): D/S 7th Marines (DaNang) ENCLOSURE (1) 4 (MARKED OUT) DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED (MARKED OUT) Company B (Rein, 5th Tank Bn: D/S/ 27th Marines (DaNang) 3rd Platoon: G/S 1st Mar Div (DaNang) Company C(-)(Rein): G/S 1st Mar Div (DaNang) 1st Platoon: D/S 3rd Bn., 27th Mar (DaNang) 2nd Platoon: D/S 2nd Brigade ROKMC (Hoi An) Company A(Rein), 1st AT Bn: D/S Task Force X-Ray (Phu Bai) During the month of March the M67A2 flame tanks expended approx- imately 12,000 gallons of diesel fuel and napalm in a continuance of their many comitments in the 1st Marine Division AOR. The 1st Tank Battalion conducted 58 patrols and ambushed in the Battalion Area of Responsibility and responded with four special activities of squad and platoon size in the SSDC TAOR. Total ammunition expended during March by the 1st Tank Battalion follows: 90mm Smll Arms 106mm HE WP APERS-T CAN .30 Cal .50 Cal HE APERS-T DIRECT 145 15 1 28 12,200 2,900 219 101 INDIRECT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 145 15 1 28 12,200 2,900 219 101 The results of action involving the 1st Tank Battalion during March follow: VC/NVA KIA_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 26 VCC_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 VCS_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3 USMC KIA_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 TANK OPERATIONS_ _ 1 SSDC OPERATIONS_ _ 0 USMC WIA_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _15 MED-EVAC_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3 NON-EVAC_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 12 WEAPONS CAPTURED: None Training for the 1st Tank Battalion(Rein) was centerd on General |