1-30 June 1968
COMMAND CHRONOLOGY
HEADQUARTERS
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF
FPO San Francisco, California 96602
ORGANIZATIONAL DATA
| Designation | Commander | Period Covered |
| 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine | LtCol. D. N. REXROAD |
SUBORDINATE UNITS
| H&S Co. | 1stLt G. C. BACON | |
| Co I | Capt.
H. KOLAKOWSKI Capt. J. E. MITCHELL |
To 15
June 68 From 16 June 68 |
| Co K | 1stLt. F. W. SMITH | |
| Co L | Capt.
J. D. NIOTIS 1stLt. L. C. GOUND 1stLt. A. M. CLEMENTS |
To 8
June 68 From 9 June 68 To 18 June 68 |
| Co M | Capt. F. D. PACELLO |
Location: Quang Nam Province, RVN
Staff Officers
| XQ | Major
R. C. WISE To 3 June 68 Major G. W. BOWERS From 4 June 68 |
| S-1 | WO J. S. BISESI |
| S-2 | WO J. W. BEFIER |
| S-3 | Major
G. W. BOWERS To 3 June 68 Major R. C. RICH From 4 June 68 |
| S-4 | 1stLt. G. C. BACON |
| S-5 | 2ndLt. W. H. DODSON |
Average Monthly Strength
| USMC | USN |
| OFF ENL | OFF ENL |
| 30 999 | 4 50 |
NARRATIVE SUMMARY
(1) The Battalion's officer shortages are one (1) Lt. 0130, one (1) Lt. 0202, one (1) Capt. 0302, eight (8) Lt. 0302, one (1) Capt. 0402, and (1) Capt. 2502. The battalion's enlisted shortages are six (6) SSgts. 0369 and forty five (45) 03 Sgts. The major area of shortages are in platoon leadership billets in the 03 field. The Battalion has 66% of its M/L strength and 50% of its M/L strength of Sgts. 03.
(2) Intelligence operations were conducted in support of Operation MAMELUKE THRUST in the Quan Duc Duc District (Arizona Area) Quang Nam Province. The enemy moved in small units, using harassing and delaying tactics in order to avoid contact with major friendly forces.
(3) The Battalion terminated its participation in Operation ALLEN BROOK and was in division reserve during the fist week of June. The remainder of the month the Battalion conducted search and destroy operations deep in the Quan Duc Duc District with emphasis on locating and destroying enemy personnel, caches, and base camps.
(4) All newly joined personnel attended a Regimental Indoctrination School. While in division reserve training was conducted in the following subjects: Weapons Safety, Radio Procedures, Spot Reports, FO and FAC Procedures, Field Communication Expedients, and firing of all individual and crew served weapons.
PERSONNEL and ADMINISTRATION
The Battalion began the month of June with an on board strength of 30 Marine Officers, 1057 Marine Enlisted, 4 Navy Officers, and 32 Navy Enlisted. The current on board strength is 31 Marine Officers, 1001 Marine Enlisted, 4 Navy Officers, and 49 Navy Enlisted.
The current effective strength of the Battalion is 26 Marine Officers, and 866 Marine Enlisted.
Three Marine Corps Officers, and 44 Marine Enlisted are scheduled for rotation during July 1968.
| MOS | NUMBER |
| 0302 | 2 |
| 0250 | 1 |
| 0311 | 8 |
| 0331 | 2 |
| 0341 | 3 |
| 0351 | 10 |
| 2511 | 1 |
| 2311 | 1 |
| 2531 | 2 |
| 2542 | 1 |
| 2847 | 1 |
| 3041 | 2 |
| 3371 | 2 |
| 3516 | 2 |
| 3531 | 2 |
Critical MOS shortages are shown below:
| MOS | ML | OH | SHORTAGES |
| 0130 | 2 | 1 | 1Lt |
| 0202 | 1 | 0 | 1 Lt |
| 0302 | 32 | 23 | 1 Capt, 9 Lt |
| 0311 | 577 | 464 | 30 Sgts, 57 Cpl, 75 (?) |
| 0401 | 1 | 0 | 1Capt |
| 0331 | 110 | 97 | 7 Sgts, 8 Cpl, 8 Pfc |
| 0341 | 125 | 105 | 2 Sgts, 24 Pfc |
| 0351 | 146 | 124 | 6 Sgt, 7 Cpl, 11 LCpl |
| 0369 | 33 | 27 | 6 Sgt, 7 Cpl, 11 LCpl |
| 0369 | 33 | 27 | 6 SSgt |
| 0441 | 2 | 1 | 1 SSgt |
| 2531 | 43 | 29 | 4 Cpl, 10 Pfc |
| 2591 | 1 | 0 | 1 MSgt |
| 3041 | 8 | 5 | 1 GySgt, 1 Cpl, 1 Pfc |
| 3531 | 6 | 4 | 1 GySgt, 1 Sgt, 1 Cpl |
| 9999 | 6 | 4 | 1 SgtMaj, 1 1stSgt |
CASUALTIES
| KIA | 28 |
| DOW | 1 |
| WIA | 126 |
| WIANE | 36 |
| NON HOSTILE | 18 |
| MIA | 0 |
| DIA | 0 |
INTELLIGENCE
PERSONNEL
During the month of June 1968 the Battalion Intelligence Section gained one (1) LCpl. 0331, one (1) LCpl. 0311, one (1) PFC. 0311 and lost one (1) Cpl. 0311.
During the reporting period Scout Dog Teams and Armed Propaganda Teams were not used, however, Scout Sniper were effectively employed. the Battalion is augmented by three (3) Scout Sniper Teams.
COLLECTION
The main collection efforts during the reporting period have been on operation MAMELUKE THRUST and have been as follows:
(a)
Map corrections
(b) Trail and water point locations
(c) Enemy order of battle
(d) Enemy infrastructure
(e) New landing zones
(f) Terrain
REPORTING
The Battalion S-2 Section conducted daily Commander and Staff briefings during June 1968.
ENEMY ACTIVITY
(a) Synopsis
1. During the reporting period enemy activity took the form of limited attacks by fire, sniping, small scale ambushes, and explosive devices spread widely throughout the Battalion AO. Many of the enemy's food caches were found and destroyed. With a few small exceptions the enemy has been moving in small units (5-20) and has been trying to evade contact with major Allied Forces. Terrorism has been displayed on several occasions.
2. The enemy has been prevented from conducting large scale activities in the Battalion AO.
3. Although it has been reported that all enemy casualties have already been replaced by at least a one-to-one ratio, the disposition of enemy forces does not lend itself to the immediate accomplishment of widespread success against major friendly installations.
(b) Capabilities
Continue harassing
actions to include:
a. Sniping
b. Small scale attacks and ambushes
c. Use of mines and explosive devices
d. Propaganda
e. Terrorism
f. Attacks by fire
g. Mortar attacks
OPERATIONS
(1) 030630H June 68 3rd Bn. 5th Marines participation in Operation ALLEN BROOK terminated.
(2) 030630H June 68 3rd Bn. 5th Mar. chopped to CG, 1st MarDiv to OPCON Seventh Marines for Operation MAMELUKE THRUST.
(4) 161600H Lima Company chopped from 3rd Bn. 5th Mar. to OPCON 1st Bn. 5th Marines.
(5) 231000H June 68 assumed OPCON of A Co. 1st Bn. 7th Marines.
ARTILLERY SUPPORT
(more soonly)
