The S2/S3 journals begin during 1/20's transit from Hawaii to Vietnam, then gap from 1968 to July 69 (due to being burned by the S2-A during My Lai investigation), and continue from July 69 to Oct 71.
Click here for Bn S2/S3 journal for 15 Oct 70 for 2 US GIs attempting to destroy LZ Snoopy, and were caught.
Click here for 23rd Div G3 journal
for 16 Oct 70 item 10 time 0900 for capture of self-described "Blackest
Cong".
Typhoon Joan was coming and C & D 1/20, D-4/21, B Btry 1/82nd FA, C Co.
39th Engrs were on high ground at LZ Snoopy. Maybe "Blackest Cong"
wanted to get out of the rain.
I found the following handwritten report for 30 June 69: "Item 2, time 2005 to 2315, locatin 733470, Unit B, Closed on NDP and man hit booby trap. 2 KIA, 3 WIA. Tail rotor hit man while dust off being made. Mine went off downing second dust off 6 KIA, 16 WIA. Antoher dust off came. crew extracted. Item #3, time 0850, location 733470, unit B, Engrs found 2 pressure type firing devices. Sent to S2".
"Gingerbread" is codeword for unathorized radio net
intrusion, and below is a real example possibly by "Salt and Pepper".
1/20 S2/S3 journal 02 Feb 71 entry 09 time 0320: "(C) 1/20 TOC, received
a call on our CMD from an Oscar Mike using Fluid Cones to contact TOC. OM was
old Mo Duc call sign. Word call sign Fluid Cones instead of normal numerals
and word call sign i.e. Cones 16. Personnel (OM) spoke English. Checked with
Mo Duc and Duc Pho, they stated no one had come to our CMD at their location.
Unknown personnel (OM) asked for a Sit Rep on Duc Pho action taken to mean the
OP's manned by PF 169 at 785427 and 789416. Once the RTO realized the incorrect
call sign was being used he instantly called (OM) with negative response when
asked for authentication."
From S2/S3 journals 10-12 APR 71: on 10 Apr 71 at 1505 hrs Delta replaced Bravo in the field and Bravo returned to LZ Liz. Alpha had patrols out until 1940 when all patrols closed; Charlie and Delta continued patrols and snakes throughout the night and next day. There is no entry of Alpha having moved since 1915 hrs on 10 Apr 71. 11 Apr time time 1330 hrs Dolphin 191 on station for resupply.
CLICK HERE S3 journal for Easter Sunday, 11 Apr 71 time 1500- 1600.
From S3 journal 12 Apr 71: Friendly KIA were as follows: from H&HS- Chaplain Brown; from A Co. -Jean P. Humbert E-6; James L. Armstrong E-5; Jon M. Melim SP4; Jack P. Begley SP4; Douglas A. Varner E-3; Schoolmeesters, Jos E-3; Pilkington, Edward P. E-3; Warren, Richard M. E-3; Silva, Joe R. E-2; from 1 74th AVN Baggett; WIAs Barfield, ALlen R. E5; McBride, Ananias E5; Mashburn, Earl R. E3; Singleton, Mark E. E3; Foust, Larry E. E3; Furr, Donald H. E5; Fantone, Robert M. E4; Skelton, James P. E3; Lawson, John E3; Carretti, Michael J. E4.
3 journal entries for 12 Apr 71: item no. 33 time 1351 "Relay
to Bde Cmdr in ref to his questions: (1) Perimeter 100 meters by 60 meters w/individual
dug fighting positions. (2) Maximum security in effect around perimeter to accept
R/S. Plans included a local security patrol after R/S at dusk. (3) LZ at 3rd
Plt cleared by hand and blasting to accept R/S."
item no. 35 time 1430: "B Co, 1st Plt, CC bird on station for CE of B Co
1st Plt and A Co 3rd Plt: PZ A31-1450 LZ-1456; PZ B39-1453 to 1459 LZ 1500 to
1520. EC Completed at 1530.
S3 journals from 1 Aug 70 with B-1/20 OPCON to C-4/3 and 19-20 SPT 70 about search for U.S. POW's and 2 turncoats a/k/a "Salt & Pepper" spotted by Bde and Taskforce Honjiyo's A-1/20 in Song Ve valley (dark photocopies from NARA). Also, LTC Fitzpatrick reports seeing Salt and Pepper through a spotting scope with NVA.
I came across information on B/1/20's search for 4 US and many RVN POWs in July 70 while OPCON to C/4/3. This mission was classified above top secret based on "S.I." Special/Signal Intelligence. Even Colonel Honjiyo (Bn XO) didn't know about it until he became 11th Bde's S2. I have the grid of the POW Camp. The POWs were being used as "rice mules" during summer rice harvest.
CLICK HERE for S3 journal of 12 Oct
70
CLICK HERE for S3 journal of 13 Oct 70
06 Nov 70- From Bde S2, Fire mission jamming (now called "gingerbread")-recent MI reports include fire missions tape recorded and played back at a later date to confuse and delay other fire missions. Possibility exists that NVA could use this tactic extensively in near future. Bde recommends personnel on all levels be made aware of this jamming technique.
07 Nov 70-1000 hrs- Div CO and Asst CO and Brigade CO at LZ LIZ.