DECLASSIFIED HEADQUARTERS 3d Antitank Battalion 3d Marine Division (Forward) c/o FPO San Francisco, California 96601 3/VAV/jrb 3100 8 Sept65 From: Commanding Officer To: Commanding General, 3d Marine Division, FMF (Forward) Subj: Command Diary, August 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, August 1965 1. In accordance with reference (a) through (d) enclosure (1) is submitted. (Signature) BRUCE A. HEFLIN DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFED PART I 1. Reporting Unit 3d Antitank Battalion (- )(Rein) 2. Period Covered 1 August - 31 August 1965. 3. Commanding Officer 1 August - 31 August 1965, Lieutenant Colonel BRUCE A. HEFLIN 4. Command Post Republic of South Vietnam, AT987711 - Map SVN Series L701, Sheet No. 6659 III and 6658 IV. -1- DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED PART II BACKGROUND During the month of August 1965 the 3d Antitank Battalion (-) (Rein) consisting of H&S Company (9 Officers, 94 Enlisted, 7 Navy Enlisted) was locatted in a semi-permanent bivouac AT987711. During the month increased activity was noted in areas of Maintenance and Logisitical support given Company "A" and Company "C", 3d Antitank Battalion located in the DaNang enclave. MISSION The Battalion was assigned the mission of general support of the 3d Marine Division with two companies in direct support and two companies attached to the four infantry regiments. CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF EVENTS 1. The 3d Antitank Battalion on 1 August 1965 was deployed in the following manner: a. H&S Company consisting of the Command Group, 8 Officers, 94 Enlisted and 4 Navy Enlisted, bivouacked AT987711 DaNang, Repub- lic of South Vietnam. b. Company "A" (-) (Rein) in direct support of the 3d Marine Regiment. (1) 1st platoon Company "A" direct support of the 1st Battalion, 3d Marines. (2) 2nd platoon Company "A" direct support of the 2nd Battalion, 3d Marines. (3) 3d platoon Company "A" attached to the 3d Battalion, 4th Marines. c. Company "B" (Rein) attached to the 4th Marine Regiment. (1) 1st platoon Compay "B"in direct support of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. (2) 2nd platoon Company "B" in direct support of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. (3) 3d platoon Company "B" in direct support of the 3d Battalion, 4th Marines. d. Company "C" (-) (Rein) in direct support of the 9th Marine Regiment. (1) 1st platoon Company "C"in direct support of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. (2) 2nd platoon Company "C" in direct support of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. 2. During the month of August the Maintenance section dispatched contact teams to the field to repair vehicles deployed with front line infantry companies. In addition to the contact team work the Maintenance section worked on and repaired 36 Ontos vehicles, and deprocessed and test fired two mount out vehicles for combat replacement. -1- DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED 3. On 9 August 1965 the Battalion C.P. received approximately three rounds of 60mm Mortar and five rounds of 81mm Mortar fire. Four WIA were sustained, only one Marine was evacuated requiring a three day convalescence. All others were returned to duty. C.P. operations continued with increased emphasis on the improvement of bunkers and over head cover. All defensive positions were improved and personal shelters were constructed near working and living spaces. The Head- quarters Commandant organized and trained a security and reaction squad for future C.P. contingency defense purposes. 4. Additional deployment of units during the month of August. a. Company "C" (-) (Rein) 1st Antitank Battalion (-2nd and 3d platoon) landed at CHU LAI on 14 August 1965. The 1st platoon Company "C" was assigned direct support of the 1st Battalion 7th Marines. b. The 3d platoon company "C, 3d Antitank Battalion landed at DaNang on 16 August 1965 and joined Company "C", 3d Antitank Battalion. They were assigned a direct support role for the 3d Battalion, 9th Marines. c. The 3d platoon Company "C" 1st Antitank Battalion landed at CHU LAI on 18 August 1965 and was assigned a direct support role for the 3d Battalion, 7th Marines. 5. Special operations. a. 18 August saw the start of Operation Starlight. Under the operational control of the 7th Marine Regiment, Company "B" (-) (-1st platoon) supported the operation. Employment of the Ontos demonstrated it versitility, speed and mobility on the battle field. Never in one spot long enough to draw other than small arms fire, the enemy did not have the ability to find, fix or destroy the Ontos with a major caliber weapon. By being close to the front line Marine and moving rapidly from trouble spot ot trouble spot in support of the infantry, the Ontos was able to bring effective fire to bear against the enemy and avoid tank weapons. Principle use of the Ontos was in close support with the 30 caliber machine gun against troops in rice paddies and hedgerows. Major caliber rounds were expended against fortified positions and bunkers. 6. On 31 August 1965 the 3d Antitank Battalion was deployed as follows: a. H&S Company, Command Group consisting of 9 Officers, 97 Enlisted and 7 Navy Enlisted. (DaNang TAOR) b. Company "A" (-) (Rein) in direct support of the 3d Marine Regiment. (1) 1st platoon Company "A" in direct support of the 1st Battalion, 3d Marines. (DaNang TAOR) (2) 2nd platoon Company "A" in direct support of the 2nd Battalion, 3d Marines. (DaNang TAOR) (3) 3d platoon Company "A" attached to the 3d Battalion, 4th Marines. (Hue Phu Bai, TAOR) -2- DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED c. Company "B" (Rein) attached to the 4th Marine Regiment. (1) 1st platoon Company "B" in direct support of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. (Chu Lai TAOR) (2) 2nd platoon Company "B" in direct suppor tof the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. (Chu Lai TAOR) (3) 3d platoon Company "B" in direct support of the 3d Battalion, 3d Marines. (Chu Lai TAOR) d. Company "C" (-) (Rein) in direct support of the 9th Marine Regiment. (1) 1st platoon Company "C" in direct support of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. (DaNang TAOR) (2) 2nd platoon Company "C" in direct support of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. (DaNang TAOR) (3) 3d platoon Company "C" in direct support of the 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, (DaNang TAOR) e. Company "C" (-) (Rein), 1st Antitank Battalion attached to the 7th Marine Regiment. (1) 1st platoon Company "C" in direct support of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. (Chu Lai TAOR) (2) 3d platoon Company "C" in direct support of the 3d Battalion, 7th Marines. (Chu Lai TAOR) -3- DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED CIVIL AFFAIRS During the month of August this Battalion continued as an active participant in the People to People program. From the lessons that we learned during July the Battalion started off with a well planned program of Medical help. The visits to the Village of YEN BAC AT985708 were held on an average of three times a week. During this period the overall attitude of the villagers has turned from hesitant acceptance with the appearance of friendliness, to an outright friendly and congenial feeling of welcome. A total of 965 Villagers received medical treatment during the month of August. The children were given candy by the Battalion, this was usually accomplished at the conclusion of each sick call. In one instance the member of the Battalion took up a collection among the Officers and Men, the money was used to buy shower shoes for the children. The day that the shower shoes were given out will long be remembered. The little children; up until then shoeless in most cases, were running around showing off their new "Shoes". Fifty pair were distributed. A decided difference has been noted in the Village populace. The fund- amentals of hygiene stressed to the Villagers along with gifts of soap has brought about a lessoning of the wide spread infection noted upon (???) initial visits. Occasionally a new face is in evidence, a relative from an adjacent Village or Hamlet, or a visiting friend who readily takes advantage of the sick call. Vitamins have been added to our medical treatment. Though it is too early to see any change in the outward appearance of the children, they readily take their vitamin pills when given out. In our People to People program medically speaking, the battalion has a feeling of accomplishment for the month of August. The times that we have given out candy and soap furnished by Operation Handclasp, have been both heart warming and sad, sad in that the children as well as most of the adults of our adopted village can find so much joy from so little. The end of August has brought an over-all good feeling for our role in the People to People program, and we are looking forward to expanding our program in the months to come. -4- DECLASSIFIED |
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