DECLASSIFIED HEADQUARTERS 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) 1st Marine Division, (Rein), FMF FPO, San Francisco, California, 96602 Copy___of ___Copies 2/RHT/jjn 5750 9 June 1968 [MARKED OUT] From: Commanding Officer To: Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF, c/o FPO, San Francisco, 96602 Subj: Command Chronology for the period 1-31 May 1968 Ref: (a) MCO 5750.2 (b) FMFPacO 5750.8 (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 unclassified upon removal of enclosure (1). [Signature] H. W. HITTE [MARKED OUT] DECLASSIFED |
DECLASSIFIED HEADQUARTERS 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF FPO, San Francisco, California, 96602 [MARKED OUT] COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 1 May 1968 to May 31 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 H. W. HITTE 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) 1-31 May 1968 1st MarDiv (Rein), FMF SUBORDINATE UNITS H&S Company Maj L. A. GILDERSLEEVE 1-31 May 1968 Company A (-) Capt C. R. CASEY 1-31 May 1968 Company B (Rein) Capt G. J. MURDOCK `1-31 May 1968 Company C (-) (Rein) Capt G. P. BRODEUR 1-31 May 1968 Company A (Rein), 1st ATBn 1stLt G. J. TAYLOR 1-21 May 1968 1stLt D. MORRIS 22-31 May 1968 Company B, 5th TKBn 1stLt R. M. JOHNSTONE 1-31 May 1968 2. LOCATION Headquarters (AT 997723) H&S Company (AT 997723) Company A (YD 815165) Company B (AT 962621) Company C (BT 062644) Company A, 1st ATBn (YD 813165) Company B, 5th TKBn (AT 997723) 3. STAFF OFFICERS Battalion Executive Officer Maj P. G. RADTKE 1-10 May 1968 Maj D. R. DICKEY 11-31 May 1968 Battalion Adjutant 1stLt C. S. SCHURING 1- 31 May 1968 Battalion S-2 Officer Capt R. T. HOPKINS 1-31 May 1968 Battalion S-3 Officer Maj D. R. DICKEY 1-10 May 1968 Capt R. D. GUNSELMAN 11-31 May 1968 Battalion S-4 Officer Maj J. A. SCHUYLER 1-31 May 1968 Battalion S-5/Civic Action Officer 1stLt R. C. HOLLITZ 1-31 May 1968 4. AVERAGE MONTHLY STRENGTH USMC USN OFF ENL OFF ENL 48 970 1 16 ENCLOSURE (1) [MARKED OUT] 1 DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED [MARKED OUT] PART II - NARRATIVE SUMMARY PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATION The total strength of the 1st Tank Battalion is 48 Marine Officers, one Naval officer, 970 Marines enlisted, and 16 Naval enlisted. The battalion joined 4 Marine officers and 75 Marine enlisted. The battalion anticipate the loss of 3 Marine officers and 38 Marine enlisted during the month of June 1968. During May the battalion fowarded 1 request for a 3 month ex- tension and 6 requests for extensions of six months, which brings the total man-months gained through extension during 1968 to 303. The major incentive for extensions continues to be the special 30 da leave program. This Battalion had no descrepancies in administrative areas and the S-1 continues to support two and one third additional companies without augmentation of adminstrative personnel. During the month the S-1 joined a Sergeant 0141, with this addition to the staff a reorganization of the casualty and personnel section was made making the submission and control of reports more positive. The reorganization also relieved the administrative chief of some of his work load allowing him to devote more time to the problem areas in company reporting. In this area the S-1 will be sending a representative to each company during the next month to hold school in areas the companies seem to be having trouble with. It is hoped that this will result in more timely and accurate reporting by the companies. The battalion morale during the period continues to be above average though long hours prevail on many of the varied jobs. ENCLOSURE (1) [MARKED OUT] 2 DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED [MARKED OUT] Intelligence Weather: In the DaNang area for the month of May the mean high temperature was 94 degrees, the low 77 degrees. This was above the 25 year mean of 91and 75 repectively. Rainfall for this month was 0.78 as compared with a 25 year average of 2.60. Intelligence: Enemy activity increased significantly during the month of May. Attacks by fire, terrorists, sabotage and harassment were prevalent. On 5 May the well coordinated attacks throughout South Vietnam were felt in the DaNang AO by attacks by fire and limited enemy initiated ground activity. The threat of a ground attack against the DaNang Vital Area felt to be imminent during the first 20 days of May never materialized. In the second half of the month enemy initiated activity decreased but remained above average. Perhaps with the advent of Operations Allen Brook and Mameluke Thrust, enemy base and assembly areas were interdicted to such an extent that plans to initiate significant ground activity were canceled. In the Danang AOR low level agent reports at the end of April increased to a level witnessed before the TET Offensive. All evidence pointed to a planned enemy ground attack against the Vital Area during early May as a propaganda victory prior to the opening of peace talk. Although on 5 May a well coordinated attack by fire plus limited ground attacks took place, no ground activity to the extent forecast materialized. During this period DaNang City security elements uncovered substantial weapons caches and infiltration of munitions indicating a renewed enemy threat to GVN and FWF installations within the city proper. Enemy reconnaissance activity remained at a high level throughtout the month of May. Towards the end of the reporting period enemy initiated activity decreased but remained above average and was concentrated in the southern DaNang TAOR. The most sign- ificant enemy contacts have occurred on the Goi Noi Island as a result of Operation Allen Brook where a new, well equipped enemy unit (2nd and 3rd Bn, 338th Regt, 306th NVA Div) was identified by the27th Marine Regiment. Significant contacts occurred also on Operation Mameluke Thrust (7th Marines) in the Thuong Duc Valley area. In this operation the 1st Bn, 136th Regt, 306th NVA Div indentified. Enemy activity n the Task Force X-Ray AOR paralled the DaNang AOR. Attacks were significant in number but not in magnitude. The majority of enemy resistance continues to be centered around the Hue/Phu Bai area. The enemy continues harassment by fire and terrorists attacks along the coastal region as well as interdiction of Highway 1. Activity decreased towards the end of the month. One enemy initiated incident of note was the ground attack on the night of 20 -21 May on Gia Le Combat Base by an estimated company of well equipped NVA. ENCLOSURE (1) [MARKED OUT] 3 DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED [MARKED OUT] This was the first time this area has been subjected to a ground attack. During May the 1st Tank Battalion experience 12 mines, eleven hit by tanks and one hit by a truck (M-54). This compares favorably with 15 hits during this same period last year. There were12 tanks and [?] ontos hit by from one to five RPG's. The number of the new Russian RPG's in the TAOR continue to increase. The enemy no longer fear tanks to the extent they have in the past and seem to be willing to engage tanks at close quarters as result of the effectiveness of this new weapon. The Southern Sector Defense Command experienced an increase in activity paralleling the increase throughout the AOR. All during the period patrols and OP reported movement in small groups or individuals in the area immediately north of the Cau Do River. Kit Carson scouts stationed at the Tuy Loan Bridge reported VC/NVA units had moved in to the west of this area and were poised such as to present a threat to the bridge and Company C, 7th Engineers CP. On the night of 22- 23 May a 7th Comm ambush killed 1 VC in the area of (AT 980703). Examination of personal effects showed him to be from the military arm of Group 44 on an assassination and possible recon mission. Sighting of movement at night towards the end of the reporting period decreased to a normal level and agent reports of threat to the area showed a sharp decline. ENCLOSURE (1) [MARKED OUT] 4 DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED [MARKED OUT] TRAINING AND OPERATIONS During the month of May the 1st Tank Battalion participated in three major operations. Operation Allen Brook kickee off on 4 May with units of 7th Marines and thirteen (13) tanks from Company B, 1st Tank Battalion and Company B, 5th Tank Battalion. Enemy contact was heavy and tanks accounted for [68 ?] enemy KIA. Movement for tanks was channelized in the area of operations, however, and they were pulled out and are now being used as a reaction force from Phu Loc (6). The tanks which are now employed are from Company C, 1st Tank Battalion and Company B, 5th Tank Battalion. Company B, 1st Tank Battalion, committed a platoon of tanks to Operation Mameluke Thrust. The tanks of the 1st Marine Division reserve force were also committed to the operation. The area of operations was excellent for tanks and many enemy kills were accounted for. A heavy section of tanks from Company A was operating with the 101st Airborne in the Hue area since 24 May. The operation was named Nevada Eagle and has resulted in several significant contants with the enemy. Company A (-) (Rein) is located in the Phu Bai/Gia Le area in direct support of Task Force X-Ray. In addition to the defense of the Phu Bai area, the company has a heavy section of tanks attached to the 101st Airborne and these tanks were utilized in Operation Nevada Eagle in the area of (YD 8329)[?]. Company B (Rein) was heavily committed during the month in support of operation in the 7th Marines area. The company is also preparing a platoon to send afloat with the 2/7 SLF. Trafficability in the 7th Marines area of operation continues to improve with the dry season. Some rice paddies are being flooded in preparation for the rice crop but this will not seriously impede the movement of tanks. Company C (-) (Rein) had a heavy section of tanks in direct support of 1.27 on Operation Allen Brook. The company also had a platoon in direct support of the 2nd ROK Brigade at Hoi An. The remainder of the tanks were in direct support of 3/27 which is in the Marble Moutain area. The 3rd Platoon remains attached to Company B, 1st Tank Battalion and is located at An Hoa. Company A (Rein), 1st Antitank Battalion, remains in direct support of Task Force X-Ray with headquarters at Gia Le. On 18 May the 3rd Platoon was placed in direct support of the 101st Airborne for use in Operation Nevada Eagle which that unit is conducting in its area of operations. Company B (Rein), 5th Tank Battalion was in general support of the 1st Marine Division with two platoons supporting the 27th Marines. The 3rd 5 ENCLOSURE (1) [MARKED OUT] DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED [MARKED OUT] Platoon provided security for the Song Cau Do and Song Tuy Loan Bridges in the Southern Sector Defense Command and was an element of the Division Reserve. Six tanks of the Division Reserve were committed to Operation Mameluke Thrust since 18 May and a heavy section of these vehicles remains in support of that activity. The task organization of the 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) is as follows: Company A (-) (Rein): D/S Task Force X-Ray (Phu Bai) One platoon heavy section attached to the 101st Airborne (Quang Diem) Company B (Rein): D/S 7th Marines (Da Nang) Company B (Rein), 5th Tank Bn: G/S 1st Mar Div (Da Nang) Two platoons: D/S 27th Marines (Da Nang) Company C (-) (Rein): G/S 1st Mar Div (Da Nang) 1st Platoon: D/S 2nd Brigade ROKMC (Hoi An) 2nd Platoon: D/S 3rd Bn, 27th Marines (Da Nang) Company A (Rein), 1st AT Bn: D/S Task Force X-Ray (Phu Bai) One platoon: attached to 101st Airborne (Quang Diem) Division Reserve: G/S 1st Mar Div (Da Nang) During the month of May the M67A2 flame tanks expended approximately 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel and napalm on assigned missions in the 1st Marine Division AOR. The 1st Tank Battalion conducted 62 patrols and ambushes in the Battalion Area of Responsibility and responded with two special activities of platoon size in the SSDC AOR. Total ammunition expended during May by the 1st Tank Battalion follows: 106mm HE WP APERS-T CAN .30 Cal. .50 Cal. HE APERS-T Direct 572 72 118 159 61,600 13,500 120 15 Indirect 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 572 72 118 159 61,600 13,500 120 15 6 ENCLOSURE (1) [MARKED OUT] DECLASSIFIED |