DECLASSIFIED

                                                                                                                                            [MARKED OUT]

HEADQUARTERS
1st Tank Battalion  (Rein)
1st Marine Division  (Rein),  FMF
FPO San Francisco, California 96602

                                                                                                                                            Copy__of ___Copies
                                                                                                                                            3/JFD/src
                                                                                                                                            5750
                                                                                                                                            0301-68
                                                                                                                                            3 Oct 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 1-30 September 1968

Ref:             (a)   MCO 5750.1
                       (b)   FMFPac 5750.8
                       (c)   DivO 5750.2_

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]
                                                                                M. C. ASHLEY JR.







                                                                                                                        [MARKED OUT]


                                                                                                                        CONFIDENTIAL









DECLASSIFIED
                                                                                          

DECLASSIFIED






HEADQUARTERS
1st Tank Battalion  (Rein)
1st Marine Division  (Rein),  MF
FPO San Francisco, California 96602


[MARKED OUT]

COMMAND CHRONOLOGY

1 September 1968 to 30 September 1968

INDEX

                              Part I - Organizational Data

                              Part II - Narrative Summary

                              Part III - Sequential Listing of Significant Events

                              Part IV - Supporting Documents















                                                                                                                                  ENCLOSURE  (1)

                                                                                                                                  [MARKED OUT]

DECLASSIFIED
DECLASSIFIED






CONFIDENTIAL

ORGANIZATONAL DATA

1.     Designation                                                               Commander
          Headquarters                                                            LtCol M. C. ASHLEY JR
          1st Tank Battalion  (Rein)                                1-30 Sep 1968
          1st Marine Division  (Rein), FMF

SUBORDINATE UNITS

H&S Company                                                                 Captain R. A. DOYLE 1-30Sep68
Company "A"                                                                  Captain C. R. CASEY 1-6Sep68
                                                                                                    Captain B. R. MONTGOMERY 7-30Sep68
Company "B"                                                                  Captain D. G. HENDERSON 1-30Sep68
Company "C"                                                                  Captain R. T. HOPKINS 1-30Sep68
Company "A", 1st AT Bn                                          1stLt G. B. SEARCH 1-30Sep68

2.     Location

          Headquarters                                                            (AT 997723)
          H&S Company                                                       (AT 997723)
          Company "A"                                                        (AT 936782)
          Company "B"                                                        (AT 962621)
          Company "C"                                                        (BT 078663)
          Company "A", 1st AT Bn                                (AT 997723)

3.     Staff Officers

Battalion Executive Officer                                        
Battalion Adjutant                                                            1stLt C. S. SCHURING 1-30Sep68
Battalion S-2 Officer                                                      1stLt W. D .DARBY 1-30Sep68
Battalion S-3 Officer                                                      Major J. T. GARCIA 1-30Sep68
Battalion S-4 Officer                                                      Major D. R. SPARKS 1-30Sep68
Battalion S-5 Officer                                                      1stLt R. C. HOLLITZ 1-30Sep68

4.     Average Monthly Strength

             USMC                                  USN
OFF                      ENL          OFF            ENL
43                          854               1                16








                                                                                                                                            ENCLOSURE  (1)

                                                                                                                                            [MARKED OUT]

DECLASSIFIED

[1]
DECLASSIFIED

PART II

NARRATIVE SUMMARY
DECLASSIFIED



CONFIDENTIAL

PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION

1.   The total strength of the First Tank Battalion as of 30 September 1968:

                              MARINE                                                                       NAVY
                    OFF                      ENL                                              OFF                ENL
                        45                      794                                                     1                       17

2.   The Battalion anticipates the following losses during October:

                              MARINE                                                                       NAVY
                    OFF                      ENL                                             OFF                 ENL
                       2                              32                                                    0                         1

3.   Records of extensions for the month of September 1968:

     NUMBER OF                        NUMBER OF                      TOTAL MAN-MONTH
     THREE MONTH                SIX MONTH                                   FOR  1968        

                       0                                                    14                                                            588

4.   Total 0141's on board:   22

5.   Anticipated 0141 losses during October 1968:   2

6.   Battalion Legal Report for September 1968:

          a.   Special Court Martial:   1
          b.   Summary Court Martial:   0
          c.   Informal Investigations:   5
          d.   Accidential Deaths:   0

7.   Other losses: 
          a.   One Humanitarian Transfer

8.   Awards

          a.   Recommended - 14 Personal Awards

          b.   Presented - 1 Silver Star, 3 Bronze Stars, 23 Purple Hearts, 4 Navy
                                            Achievement Medals

9.   The following R&R Quotas were allocated to this Battalion:

          a.    In Country
                    (1) China Beach - 12

          b.    Out of Country

                    (1)   Hawaii - 12
                    (2)   Australia - 8
                    (3)   Kuala Lumpur - 2

                                                                                                                        ENCLOSURE  (1)
                                                                                                                        CONFIDENTIAL

DECLASSIFIED

[2]
DECLASSIFIED




CONFIDENTIAL

                              (4)   Singapore - 1
                              (5)   Penang - 4
                              (6)   Okinawa - 3
                              (7)   Manila - 1
                              (8)   Tokyo - 6
                              (9)   Taipei - 12
                          (10)   Hong Kong - 13
                          (11)   Bangkok - 13

SUMMARY

          The Battalion encountered no major difficulties in personnel adminis-
tration for the month.   During September the S-1 officer personnel processed 1 emer-
gency leave and 8 special leaves.
















                                                                                                                                  ENCLOSURE  (1)

                                                                                                                                  CONFIDENTIAL

DECLASSIFIED

[3]
DECLASSIFIED





CONFIDENTIAL

INTELLIGENCE


1.     Weather

          During the month of September there was a total of 17.35 inches of
rainfall, compared to 3.88 during August.   This total is somewhat
higher than the 25-year average of 15.7 inches.

          September high mean temperature was 88 degrees while the low was
77 degrees;  compared to 88 degrees and 75 degrees respectively, over
the past 25 years.

2.    Mine and RPG Incidents

          During the month of September, there was one mine incident, compared
to three the previous month and four four the same period in 1967.   There
were no RPG incidents reported during September, compared to five during
the previous month.

3.    Summary and Analysis

          September was the start of the monsoon season.   During October,
rainfall can be expected to increase at at sharp rate, and the temperature
will drop slightly.

          The last two weeks of September and the first part of October is
harvest time for the Vietnamese.   The enemy may be expected to enter
populated areas in greater numbers in order to effect resupply.   This
is expected to increase acts of terrorism within friendly villages.
It is expected that"Golden Fleece" operations will be successful in
preventing the enemy from effecting this resupply at the expense of the
Vietnamese farmers.

          The momentum of enemy initiated activities has increased, and is
expected to stay at a high level.   Low level agent reports continue to
point out a possible threat to Southern Sector units and outlying areas.
Rocket and mortar attack incidents have increased and may be expected to
continue at a high level.   With the coming rains, the enemy is able to
move about more freely to resupply and reconnonitre friendly positions.
Because of the rainy season, vehicles are more restricted than ever, and
units must stay constantly  alert when choosing routes.

          During the month of September, there were nine enemy sightings/
contacts in the Southern Sector or adjacent to the southern boundary.
There was one rocket impact and three mortar impacts within the Southern
Sector boundaries.




                                                                                                              ENCLOSURE  (1)
                                                                                                              CONFIDENTIAL
                                                                      DECLASSIFIED
  
                                                                                     [4]

DECLASSIFIED





CONFIDENTIAL

OPERATIONS AND TRAINING

1.    Operations

          The 1st Tank Battalion remains dispersed throughout the Area of
Reponsibility of the 1st Marine Division in support of the infantry
regiments of the division;  however, the dispersion is not as wide as
in previous months.   The tanks of the battalion participated in three
major operations during the month of September and supported numerous
small unit activities as well as providing security for road convoys,
defending bridges, and reinforcing perimeter defenses.   Tanks were also
used in direct fire counter-rocket role within the Southern Sector
Defense Command, and tanks and Ontos of the battalion provided firepower
and mobility to reaction forces within the division.

          Company A (-)  (Rein) remains in direct support of the 26th Marines.
The 2nd Platoon and Company headquarters displaced from the Phu Bai area
to the Da Nang area between 8 an 11 September and co-located the
Company Command Post with that of 1/26.   The 3rd Platoon remained near
the Hai Van Pass in support of 3/26.

          Company B  (Rein) continues to support the 5th and 7th Marines with
two platoon in support of each regiment.   The tanks support many small
unit operations, road sweeps and convoys of both regiments.   Company B
also provided tanks in support of Operations Mameluke Thrust, Sussex
Bay, and Talledega Canyon.   The Company B Command Post is co-located with
that of the 7th Marines on Hill 55.

          Company C  (Rein) was in support of the 1st Marine Division and acted
as the division's tank reserve until 10 September when the company
displaced to the 2/1 command post and began supporting the 1st Marine
Regiment and the 2nd ROKMC Brigade.   The 2nd Platoon is supporting the
ROKMC Brigade and has participated in numerous small unit operations.
The 1st and 3rd Platoons are supporting the 1st Marines and are used
mainly on road sweeps and in perimeter defense with some small unit
operations.

          Company A, 1st Antitank Battalion was chopped from direct support of
the 26th Marines and placed in general support of the 1st Marine Division
on 8 September.   On 10 September Company A assumed responsibility for
the Song Cau Do and Song Tuy Loan Bridges.   On 12 September the
responsibility for the Song Cau Do and Song Tuy Loan Bridges was assigned
to the 1st and 7th Marines, respectively.   A heavy section of Ontos
remainded in support of elements of the 1st Marines on Song Cau Do
Bridge and a light section in support of the 7th Marines on Song Tuy
Loan Bridge.   On 12 September, Company A assumed responsibility for OP
Panther and the combat outpost located on the Three Fingers area in
the Southern Sector Defense Command Area of Responsibility.   One
platoon of Company A remains in direct support of the Da Nang Mobile
Quick Reaction Task Force.

                                                                                                              ENCLOSURE  (1)

                                                                                                    &nb