7th Campaign
Revision Date: 02/16/02
During this time period the
2/94th took part in TET/69 Counteroffensive
(02-23-69 to 06-08-69)
Description of TET/69 Counteroffensive
From Tet 1969 through the month of June, the enemy again tried to sustain an offensive. His inability to do so can be largely attributed to aggressive allied ground operations. Between 23 February and 8 June 1969, a total of 70 significant named ground operations were terminated resulting in heavy enemy loss of life and materiel. The main operations concluded during this period were:
(1). The 3d Marine Division's Operation KENTUCKY, aimed at preventing enemy infiltration through the Demilitarized Zone in central Quang Tri Province. Throughout the early part of January 1969, Viet Cong/North Vietnamese Army forces continued to avoid major contacts with Free World Forces. Their continual movement to avoid friendly forces or to search for food and supplies contributed to a decrease in the enemy-initiated ground attacks and attacks-by-fire in Quang Tri Province.
(2). Operation NEVADA EAGLE, initiated on 17 May 1968 in Thua Thien Province, continued in 1969 as the U.S. 101st Airborne Division continued to defeat enemy personnel, and capture rice caches, material, and installations within its large area of operations, where it undertook offensive sweeps along Route 547 and around Song Bo.
(3). Two battalions of the 4th Marine Regiment were engaged in Operation SCOTLAND II. Initiated on 15 April 1968, this multi-battalion search and clear operation was centered in and around Khe Sanh.
(4). The IV Corps Tactical Zone Dry Weather Campaign began on 1 December 1968 in support of the overall mission to prevent Viet Cong units from interfering with pacification efforts. This operation, "Speedy Express," interdicted lines of enemy communication and denied him the use of base areas. In 1969, the 1st Brigade, 9th U.S. Infantry Division continued the operation in Dinh Tuong Province, using its highly successful night ambush tactics while the 2d Brigade continued its mission with the Mobile Riverine Force. Although engagements in Operation SPEEDY EXPRESS were typically small, the 9th Infantry Division fought several sizeable engagements with impressive results.
On 23 February, U.S. Navy units and installations at Da Nang, Tan An, Ben Luc, Go Dan Ha, and Tra Cu came under numerous and widespread attacks associated with a new enemy offensive; but since many units in these areas were poised to meet these attacks, they caused only minimal damage. April saw the heaviest cumulative enemy activity in the barrier interdiction campaign to date. (End of description)
On 28 February 1969, C Battery joined B Battery at C1 from LZ Nancy. C Battery laid safe at 1211 hours and ready to fire.
From 1 March to
30 March 1969 – Excellent Fire Support
Record was awarded Battery C for operating from C1 Firebase. During this period and while operating from
C1, Battery C was the second
Army Artillery Battery to fire into the northern portion of the DMZ since the
bombing halt of 1 November 1968.
C Battery also compiled
the following impressive BDA statistics:
BDA from C Battery: 78 bunkers destroyed and 22 damaged, 42 KIA’s, 14 possible KIA’s, and 1 WIA, 19 secondary, 3 caves, 600 meters of trench line, 120 meters of tree line, and 250 meters of trails destroyed, 2 mortar positions silenced, 4 fifty caliber machine gun positions destroyed, 4 huts and 5 hootches destroyed, 8 fighting holes and 1 sampan destroyed.
On 13 March 1969,
Spot-check inspection by Corps CMMI rating Satisfactory.
On 15 March 1969 at 0047 hours, Headquarters Battery came under ground
attack at LZ Nancy, receiving 80 to 90 rounds of RPG and mortar fire.
On 31 March 1969 at 0938 hours, C Battery returned to LZ Nancy from C1. At 1335 hours, C Battery closed LZ Nancy.
C
Battery Status
Battery Commander
1 Jan to 7 Jan 1969, Captain Larry R. Robinson
8 Jan to 31 March
1969, Captain Patrick W. Clark
Executive Officer
1 Jan to 21 March 69, Lieutenant Gary L. Henderson
21 March to 31 March 1969,
Lieutenant Glen E. Lackey.
Asst XO
1 Jan to 31 March 1969, Lieutenant Karl M. Kaprelin
1 Jan to 21 March 1969, Lieutenant Glen G. Lackey
22 March to 31 March
1969, Lieutenant Elwood P. Gross.
Forward Observer
1 Jan to 24 Feb 1969, Lieutenant Kenneth R. Gross
Jan 1 to 6 Mar 1969, Lieutenant Donald S. Bialek
12 Mar to 31 Mar 1969, Lieutenant Duane T. Butler
15 Mar to 31 Mar 1969,
Lieutenant Elwood
P. Gross.
First Sergeant
Jan 1 to 31 Mar 1969, Sergeant First Class
Charles W. Weatherly.
The Battery has
constructed separate projectile bunkers for the ICM rounds and finished repair
on gun pads. The gun positions are
being sandbagged to prevent erosion. A
Satisfactory rating was received on the Corps CMMI Inspection in January and
again in March. The Corps Firing
Battery Inspection was successfully passed in January. The exercise conducted at C1 during the
month of March was very successful and proved the efficiency and training of
all unit personnel.
Signed by Capt, FA, Commanding, Patrick W. Clark.
On 12 April 1969 at 1030 hours, B Battery began move from C1 to Dong
Ha. At 1200 hours, B Battery arrived at
Dong Ha. Remained at Dong Ha overnight
before heading for LZ Boyd. After re-tubing overnight, the Battery
displaced on 13 April 1969 to Fire Base Boyd (YD742134) to support to the 101st
Airborne Division Artillery.
Note by Chronicler
Concurrent with the conversion of B Battery to 8-inch, the Battalion became a pure 8-inch Battalion for the first time since arriving in Vietnam in October of 1966. (End of note)
On 13 April 1969 at 0830 hours, B Battery began move from Dong Ha
to LZ Boyd. At 1400 hours, B Battery
closed at LZ Boyd. At 1430 hours, B
Battery laid safe and ready to fire.
On 21 April 1969 at 0930 hours, B Battery began move from LZ Boyd
(closed) to Gia Le (YD 830150). At 1100
hours, B Battery closed at Gia Le. At
1115, B Battery laid safe and ready to fire.
On 25 April 1969 at 0847 hours, A Battery given march orders from LZ Sally. At 0940, A Battery closed station at Camp Evans. At 1011 hours, A Battery laid safe and ready to fire. A Battery to provide much needed fires to the landing zones to the west.
Notes and discussion from 1 February 1969 to 30 April
1969, 10th Battalion Operational Report
Mission
assignment: General support to XXIV
Corps, reinforcing fire of the 12th Marine Regiment (Batteries B and
C); Reinforcing 101st Division Artillery with an 8-inch battery
(Battery A); and a quick fire channel to the 101st Division
Artillery (Battery C).
All Batteries experienced incoming artillery attacks during the period as well as an unsuccessful ground attack against Headquarters Battery.
With the movements of the Battalion, Engineers cannot respond in timely
manner to provide gun pads. It is
recommend a field expedient wooden gun pad be implemented for immediate firing.
This battalion has successfully engaged targets at 17,100 meters. It is recommended that the graphical firing
table be updated to include ranges in excess of the standard maximum firing
range up to 17,500 meters.
End of notes and discussion, 10th Battalion Operational Report
On 11 May 1969 at 2315 hours, A Battery received incoming. No injuries or damage to Battery area.
On 11 May 1969 at 2335 hours, LZ Nancy received incoming. No rounds landed in Headquarters or C
Battery areas.
On 11 May 1969, early on the morning of this date, C Battery came under the attack of hostile rocket and mortar fire. There were neither casualties nor equipment damage sustained during the hostile attack.
On 19 May 1969 at 2000 hours, C Battery and Headquarters Battery
received incoming – approximately four to six rounds. C Battery reported no casualties or damage. Headquarters Battery reported one WIA and no damage in Battery area.
On 19 May 1969 at 2400 hours, C Battery reports two VC in wire –
negative results.
On 19 May 1969,
during the period from 2000 hours to 0100 hours, on 19th and 20th
of May 1969, C Battery again came under an extended attack with hostile rocket
and mortar fire, followed by a small ground reconnaissance probe into our
Battery defensive wires and positions.
No casualties were suffered and equipment damages were extremely light.
On 22 May 1969, Corps Firing Battery Inspection – rating Satisfactory.
On 28 May 1969 at 0345 hours, Firebase Bradley received heavy
mortar and ground attack. PFC Yamane, liaison RTO assigned
to Headquarters Battery, was severely wounded in action and Medevac'd to 18th
Surgical at Camp Evans – suffered shrapnel wounds from grenade.
On 30 May 1969 at 1800 hours, a 24-hour ceasefire was placed in effect to commemorate Buddha’s Birthday.
On 31 May 1969 at 1800 hours, the Battalion promptly delivered a TOT.
On 3 June 1969, a
three-man forward observer team was assigned to the Americal Division in the II
Corps area of operations.
Lieutenant Thomas L. Aman led this team.
The two other members were Sergeant Ronald E. Baldwin and Specialist James R.
Eldridge.
Summary by chronicler: The Battalion continued to receive very little enemy contact. The pace of the war was gradually slowing and the first troop level reductions were being planned. The Battalion was receiving numerous requests for forward observer parties to accompany troops on their operations. There was a minimum of enemy activity throughout the beginning of the year and on into September. The Batteries spent most of their time strengthening defense perimeters with, increased work on perimeter concertina barbed wire and trip flares. Cyclone fencing was added to many perimeter bunkers to protect against enemy RPG’s. Roofs were added to the bunkers to protect against rain, and fighting positions were enclosed also enclosed. Additional employment of Fougasse and Claymore mines completed the improvements. (End of summary)
Previous Campaign was 6th Campaign Counteroffensive Phase VI (11-02-68 to
02-22-69)
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Next Campaign is 8th Campaign, Summer/Fall 1969 (06-09-69 to 10-31-69)
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