Operation HOUSTON IV

5-25 July 1968

COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT
1-31 July 1968

HEADQUARTERS
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF
FPO San Francisco, California 96602

4 August 1968

From: Commanding Officer
To: Commanding General, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF

Name of Operation: Operation HOUSTON phase IV

Dates of Operation: 051800H July 1968 to 251200H July 1968

Location: Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam

Control or Command Headquarters: 5th Marine Regiment

Reporting Officer: Lt. Col. D. N. REXROAD, 051800H July 1968 to 191200H July 1968. 
Lt. Col. R. A. SEYMOUR, 191200H July 68

Task Organization:

Supporting Forces:

      a. Artillery

        (1) Foxtrot 2/11 provided direct support artillery for 3/5 during Operation HOUSTON Phase IV.

        (2) General support artillery was not used by 3/5 during HOUSTON IV.

        (3) Cumbersome clearance procedures, necessary in the TAOR because of the heavy civilian population, hindered the employment of artillery in the area.

        (4) During Operation HOUSTON IV the 211th Marines fired (3828) rounds of artillery in the area.

        (5) There were a total of (66) fire missions, (47) night defensive fire registrations and (11) unobserved missions.

        (6) A total of (336) rounds was fired on fire missions: (203) high explosive fuze quick, (36) rounds fuze variable time, (74) rounds white phosphorous and (23) smoke rounds.

    b. Air

        (1) During Operation HOUSTON IV no fixed wing missions were flown in support of the Battalion.

        (2) Helicopters were used for both Med Evac and resupply missions. twelve Med Evac and Thirteen resupply missions were flown in support of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.

Intelligence:

      a. During the month of July, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines became responsible for bridge and road security within its assigned AO. By using maximum amount of day and night time activities, and by frequently changing their composition and disposition, 3/5 successfully denied the enemy the opportunity to conduct a mass attack against friendly positions within the AO. The enemy's food-gathering capabilities, acts of terrorism and probing activities were greatly reduced by extensive patrolling and ambush activities.

    b. The following enemy units were identified as being disposed within striking distance of the AO:

1. K-2 Bn.
2. K-4 Bn.
   3. K-4-0 Bn.
    4. K-15th Bn.

c. Collection and Dissemination

    (1) Four Vietnamese civilians were detained for questioning. All four detainees were interrogated by ITT and released to Phu Loc District HQ as VC sympathizers. These detainee interrogations led to the employment of PRU's in the immediate area which resulted in the capture of three guerillas, one rice collector and one finance committee man. 3/5 also worked closely with the CAG units in the AO, interrogating their detainees upon request. There were no Chieu Hoi's or POW's.

    (2) Captured documents included anti-American propaganda, log books, tax collection records and personal letters.

    (3) Captured weapons included:

       (2) AK-47
      (2) SKS

    (4) Other captured equipment included the following:

        a. Ordnance-(2) B-40 Rocket rounds, (4) ChiCom grenades and (3) 82mm. Mortar rounds.
        b. 15 lbs. of misc. 782 gear
        c. Approx. 400 lbs. of food consisting of rice, fish, salt and sugar.

    (5) Total enemy losses for the period were (4) VC KIA (confirmed).

Mission:

In the assigned AO: Keep the MSR open by protecting Route #1, bridges, culverts and passes. Support and protect friendly installations, units, convoys and road repair parties. Conduct offensive operations to destroy enemy forces, material and positions. 

Concept of Operations:

With four companies, establish AO's in accordance with enclosure (1). Employ minimum required forces at fixed positions in conjunction with friendly units established patrols and night ambushes to destroy enemy forces, caches and installations.

Execution:

    a. 9 July 1968

        (1) At 090030H Lima Co. at coord. YD966087. Received (3) incoming fragmentation grenades from estimated 3 NVA/VA. Returned (100) rds M-16, (1000) M-60, (30) M-79, (10) M-33 grenades, (20) rds 81mm Mortar HE, searched area with neg. results. 2 USMC WIAE.

    (2) At 09040H Kilo Co. at coord. YD958048. K-1B, while moving into ambush position, spotted 4 VC moving South across open approx. 100 meters to West. Marines opened fire with (8) M-79 rounds and approx. two M-16 rounds. K-1A, in ambush site to West, also opened fire with approx. (30) M-16 rds. Two stray rounds hit two members of Kilo 1B. One Marine was hit with small ricochet fragment in nose and the other had flesh wound in leg. Will return both to bridge security #5 for routine Med Evac first light 10 July 1968. Enemy fled to South. 2 USMC WIAE.

    (3) At 092230H Mike Co. at coord. YD905099. While in night ambush position observed an estimated (14) enemy armed with AK-47's and automatic weapons wearing green utilities at approx. 50 meter range. Detonated two claymores as enemy moved closer; called (41) rounds of 81mm fire; searched area. Remainder of enemy broke contact to West. (3) VC KIA conf. (2) aK-47's (1) SKS, (1) B-40 Rocket found and (3) ChiCom grenades, misc. 782 gear and documents.

    (4)illegible

    b. 10 July 1968

    (1) At (illegible) India Co. 3/5 at coord. ZD0100020. India received intel rep via S-3 at approx. 2100 that local people reported a large enemy force prepared to attack MCB compound this night from vicinity ZD013015. India 3/5 called (3) Marine arty missions, total of (37) HE, (1) WP, in vicinity of reported location. India also req. MCB compound to recon by fire in designated areas with their 50 cal. MG's. Recon by 50 cal. in areas from (3) three separate locations. India called a new fire mission of 12 rounds of Marine 4.2 Mortar fire in area of reported small arms fire. India req. fire missions to be fired again at 0300. H&I to continue throughout the night.

    (2) At 100115H Mike Co. 3/5 at coord. YD875050. While in ambush position, observed approx. (6) VC at 600 meters range in open moving toward West. Called arty mission.

    c. 11 July 1968

    (1) At 110130H Mike Co. 3/5 at coord. YD880062. While in ambush position, observed (5) VC at 600 meter range moving from bush to bush towards South. To far to activate ambush. Called arty mission, 16 rds.

    (2) at 111015 Mike Co. 3/5 at coord. YD87505. Refer to spot rep 110130H. Search of area of enemy siting completed, neg. results.

    (3) At 111230H 3/5 CP at coord. ZD972066. Received following int. rep. from Cau Truoi Hamlet Local:

        S. 22
       A. Harbor Site
       L. ZD929074
       U. NVA/VC
        T. 111000H
        E. (15) M-16 Rifles, (3) B-40's (1) 60mm Mortar Maneuvered elements of Lima 3/5, Kilo RP-3 and RP-6, operating in area, to cordon and search reported site. At 111130H apprehended VC/NVA suspect at site. Neg. Contact. search completed at 111245; (?)TT team requested.

14 July 1968

    (1) At 140330H Lima Co. at coord. YD951059. While in ambush position, received approx. (10) grenades from estimated (3) to (4) enemy located in a treeline approx. 75 meters North of position. Returned (100) rounds M-16, (10) M-79 rounds (5) M-33 grenades and (1) claymore.

    (2) At 140330H Mike Co. 3/5 at coord. YD889098. M-2B in ambush site observed (25) enemy approx. 50 meters distant moving NW to SE carrying small arms. Fired (100) rounds M-16 and M-60, (15) M-79, (12) M-26 grenades. Enemy returned approx. (3)) rds. 81mm HE (3) WP and (15) HE 105mm. Enemy broke contact to SE. Presently searching area.

    (3) At 140720H Lima Co. 3/5 at coord. YD951059. Refer to spot rep. 140330H. Search of contact area, neg. results.

    (4) At 140730H Mike Co. 3/5 at coord. YD913117. While searching bridge defense, found (1) Russian B-40 rocket round in abandoned tower. Forwarded to S-2.

    (5) At 140900H Mike Co. 3/5 at coord. YD889098. Refer to spot rep. 140330H. Searched area and found one (1) NVA KIA confirmed, (100) lobs. rice, (50) lbs. fish, (50) lbs. salt, various documents.

    (6) At 140900H Mike Co. 3/5 at coord. YD91403. While moving to day time platoon patrol base, received (2) rds. small arms fire from village at range of 300 to 400 meters. Searched village and detained 2 personnel as VC suspects. Suspects will be brought to 3/5 CP later this afternoon.

    (7) At 142320H India Co. 3/5 at coord. ZD o55 031. India reports neg. enemy ground attack within AO. Reports E Battery 2/11 reported receiving unknown number of enemy 60mm Mortars. I-1B and I-1C spotted apparent mortar flashes at coord. 056009. India commenced action for fire mission but was advised by Battery E, 2/11 that they were able to observe target and would control fire mission.

(more soonly)