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 |