DECLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED HEADQUARTERS 3d Antitank Battalion 3d Marine Division (Forward) c/o FPO San Francisco, California 96601 3/VAV/jrb 3100 Ser # 002-65 8 Aug65 From: Commanding Officer To: Commanding General, 3d Marine Division, FMF (Forward) Subj: Command Diary, July 1965 Ref: (a) MCO 3840.1 (b) FMF PAC O 5750.7B (c) DO (FWD)O 3100.1 (d) DO 3480.1 Encl: (1) 3d Antitank Battalion Command Diary, July 1965 1. In accordance with reference (a) through (d) enclosure (1) is submitted. (Signature) BRUCE A. HEFLIN DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED PART 1 1. Reporting Unit. 3d Antitank Battalion (-) 2. Period Covered. 9 July, 31 July 1965 3. Date of Submission. 8 August 1965 4. Commanding Officer. 9 Juy65 - 14 July65, Major E. E. BROOKS, 16 July65 - 31 July65, Lieutenant Colonel BRUCE A. HEFLIN. 5. Command Post. Republic of South Vietnam, AT987711 - Map SVN Series L701, Sheet No. 6659 III and 6658 IV. Encl (1) -1- DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED PART II NARRATIVE SUMMARY 1. Background. The 3d Antitank Battalion (-) consisting of H&S Company (8 Officer and 75 Marine Enlisted, 2 Navy Enlisted) embarked aboard APA 27 at WHITE BEACH, OKINAWA on 39 June 1965, and sailed 030300 July65. Arrived and disembarked at DaNang, Republic of South Vietnam 9 July 1965. Moved into bibeuac AT983744. On 10 July, relocated at AT987711 and set up defensive positions and H&S Company biveuac. Company "A" (-) (Rein) arrived via surface transportation at DaNang, Republic of South Vietnam on 12 April 1965. Company "B" (-) (Rein) arrived via surface transportation at Chu Lai, Republic of South Vietnam on 7 May 1965. Company "C" (-) (Rein) arrived on 8 July 1965 via surface transportation and disembarked at DaNang, Republic of South Vietnam. 2. Mission Assigned. Battalion was assigned the mission of general support of the 3d Marine Division, with companies in direct support of the Infantry Regiments. 3. Chronological Summary of Events. 3d Antitank Battalion on 1 July65 was deployed in the following manner: a. H&S Company (-) consisting of the Command Group, 8 Officers, 75 Enlisted and 2 Navy Enlisted, was aboard Amphibious Shipping enroute to DaNang, Republic of South Vietnam. b. Company "A" (Rein) made up of the 1st and 2nd platoon Company "A", 3d platoon Company "B" and 1st platoon Company "C" was attached to the 3d Marine Regiment located in DaNang and Hue Phu Bai was deployed as follows: (1) 1st platoon Company "A", direct support of 1st Battalion, 3d Marines. (2) 2nd platoon Company "A", direct support of 2nd Battalion, 3d Marines. (3) 3d platoon Company "B", direct support of 3d Battalion, 4th Marines. (Hue Phu Bai) (4) 1st platoon Company "C", direct support of 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. (DaNang) c. Company "C" (-) (Rein) made up of the 2nd platoon Company "C" attached to the 9th Marine Regiment was aboard Amphibious Shipping enroute to DaNang, Republic of South Vietnam and deployed as follows: (1) 2nd platoon Company "C" attached to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines enroute to DaNang. (2) 3d platoon assigned to Company "C" 1st Antitank Battalion located on Okinawa. d. Company "B" (Rein), made up of the 1st platoon Company "B", 2nd platoon Company "B" and 3d platoon Company "C", attached to the 4th Marine Regiment located at Chu Lai, and deployed as follows: ENCLOSURE (1) DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED (1) 1st platoon Company "B" in direct support of 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. (2) 2nd platoon Company "B" direct support of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. (3) 3d platoon Company "C" direct support of 3d Battalion, 3d Marines. e. On 24 Jul65 the Battalion was deployed as follows: (Note 3d Marine Division Operation Order 321A-65) (1) 3d Antitank Battalion (-) H&S Company.........DaNang, Republic of South Vietnam, AT987711 (2) Company "A" (Rein), direct support of 3d Marine Regiment (a) 1st platoon in direct support of 1st Battalion, 3d Marines. (b) 2nd platoon in direct support of 2nd Battalion, 3d Marines. (c) 3d platoon Company "B" attached to the 3d Battalion, 4th Marines. (3) Company "C" (-) (Rein) direct support of 9th Marine Regiment. (a) 1st platoon direct support of 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. (b) 2nd platoon direct support of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. (4) Company "B" (Rein) attached to the 4th Marine Regiment. (a) 1st platoon direct support of 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. (b) 2nd platoon direct support of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. (c) 3d platoon Company "A" direct support of 3d Battalion, 3d Marines. f. After landing on 9 Jul65 the Battalion generally set up a hasty defense and began initial construction of the C.P. site i.e., Maintenance, Supply, Communications and Motor Transport. The particular executive staff section set up their shops and effected liaiaon with the infantry Battalions and 3d Marine Division Headquarters. The principle effort of the Battalion during the month of July was devoted to construction of the C.P. site and familiarization with the particular problems of the Ontos encountered in Vietnam. By the end of July the Battalion was dug in and support facilities constructed to handle the administrative and logistical support required by Company "A" and Company "C". It became apparent that the Ontos was contributing to the overall effectiveness of the Infantry man in the field through its designated secondary mission as a direct fire support weapon. Because the Ontos is light it can traverse most of the bridges, because it is small it can be camouflaged with the front line infantry Marine and because of its fire control system it can rapidly engage targets. The general nature of the targets are bunkers and fortified buildings, which are destroyed using the major caliber round. The caliber 30 machine gun come to the aid of the infantry agains targets not requiring a major caliber round, i.e., troops in the open. ENCLOSURE (1) DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED CIVIL AFFAIRS Battalion made initial contact with the village of YEN BAC AT985708 on 19 July65 to determine their needs for the People to People Program, i.e., Medical Aid. On 21 July 1965 Battalion Operations Officer, Battalion Communicat- ions Officer, 1 Corpsman and six (6) guards set up aid station in the village and held sick call from 1500 to 1600. Initial reaction of the villagers at that time was constructive. It was explained to the villagers that we would conduct sick call hours daily from 1500 to 1600. On 22 July Operations Officer and Battalion Communications Officer along with 3d Tank Battalion Chaplain met with the village chief, Mr. Tran HAU and received permission to treat the people of YEN BAC. Sick call at this time changed from 1500-1600 to 1430-1530. The Medical Aid Team treated approximately 100 people on the first day and the attitude of the villagers seemed friendly. On 26 July, the attitude of the villagers changed from from friendly to very cool. Villagers remained in their homes and only after some coaxing six were treated. On 28 July65 Captain M. DOMINGUES from Counter Intelligence, Operations Officer and 6 guards visited the village of YEN BAC to investigate the change in attitude of the villagers of YEN BAC on 26 July65. No positive detemination made as to their change of attitude. Resumed normal Civil Affairs Program, treated 24 adults and 22 children. Attitude returned to normal, friendly routine reestablished. Sick call held daily from 1430-1630 for the period 19-31 July65 except for Sundays. Total treated during reporting period was, 100 adults and 150 children. ENCLOSURE (1) DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED 3d AT Bn.......................Supporting Documents...................30 Jun - Jul 1965 Encl 1: Jounal Encl 2: SITREPs Encl 3: Weekly Opp Sum dtd 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 30 Jul, 7 Aug 1965 [Listing added 9 Apr 68] DECLASSIFIED |
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