6thofthe31st.com's Timeline

A Company found five sampans loaded with mines and grenades.

Joint operation with 1/16th. Four companies from the 6/31st. 12 miles W of My Phuoc Tay.  Three day op.  Enemy Bn elimanated.

“On October 6, B Company found another enemy cache containing 58 cases of grenades, 12 cases of TNT, and 70 rounds of 75mm recoilless rifle ammunition.”

“At 0710h, C Co reports that they have a man that had drowned on 7 Oct.  Pfc R.T. Perry (C Co).  ”

“Members of Delta. Co., 1st platoon with pointman Ron Raymond capture VC flag along with VC sympathizers in the early morning hours. “

“At 1135h, D asks for a Dustoff for 2-WIA’s.  Completed at 1510h, but only 1 sent out.  No names.  At 2050h, LT Beacher, E Co has appendicitis and is dusted off.  Operation Quyet Chien starts.”

“Battalion was again in heavy contact, killing 11 enemy and capturing 5 AK-47 assault rifles and a 75mm recoilless rifle.”

“Ewing spotted two sampans coming his way. When the sampans were so close their crews had no time to react, Ewing opened fire, killing all eight”

“C Co has 3-WIA’s at 1910h.  A Co has 1-WIA at 1800h due to friendly fire.  But, at 2100h, D Co says it needs a dustoff for a man that has a headache.  At 2138h, they are now saying it’s a priority… Sgt Lester McGinnis (D Co) was KIA from small-arms fire that day.  ”

“Sgt Gerald Forgue (D Co) dies of wounds he sustained on 9/26/68.  At 1420h, D Co has 2-WIA’s from a tripped BT.  At 1522h, C Co calls in 2-WIA’s from shrapnel, friendly fire.  A few minutes later they report that one of the WIA’s is now KIA – Pfc Merritt Murray (C Co).  ”

“At 1155h, A has 1-WIA(unkn), litter, from a sniper from across the river.  At 1520h, A has another WIA(unkn), snake-bite while in the water.  Snake found, and determined it was nonpoisonous.  ”””

“At 1045h, C has 2-WIA’s(unkn), 1-litter, sniper fire from across the river again.  At 1105h, C has another WIA(unkn), litter.  During one of these incidents we know that one of the men is SP4 Paul Maleszewski (C Co) – as he is reported DOW early the next morning.  No details are given on the 1105h [...]

Maleszewski had DOW sustained.  B Co goes opcon to 5/60.  E reports 1-WIA(unkn) due to scorpion bite and is dusted off.

Battalion moves to FSB Moore

Battalion sized operation near Cai Nua.  Alpha makes first contact.

“At 1740h, Sgt James Deschenes (D Co) is WIA by gunshot wound, serious, needs blood.  At 1750h, he is reported KIA.”

“Early in the morning, FSB Moore reports a large storm – 65 knots, heavy rain.  At 0540, A makes contact, no casualties.  At 1950h, C reports they have 3-WIA(unkn) and 1-KIA, Pfc Leroy Hoffman (C Co) when an RPG hit a 2/47 APC they were in.  2/47 also has 1-WIA(Miczeus) and 1-KIA (Sgt Kenneth Underwood). [...]

“At 1120h, B Co reports that they have sighting of 100+ VC moving in the area.  At 1920h, A Co has contact.  At 1932h, A has 1-WIA(unkn) with gunshot to head, litter.  At 1952h, A has another WIA(unkn).  Contact continues, and radio is shot up, no commo.  At 2050h, A reports more WIA’s, one with [...]

“My first letter home says that I landed at Cam Ranh Bay, then to bien Hoa, Long Bien, back to Bien Hoa and finally to Dong Tam.  I will be in jungle school for 8 to ten days.”

Still in Jungle School. Ran into a high school buddy and we sat together at the Bob Hope Show on 12/27/68/  Only 1 mortar attack since arriving in Dong Tam.

Del Bumann deros

“My 21st birthday. Am with C Btry, 1/11th Artillery and we are out in the field at a place called Gaio Duc?  Earlier in the week we did an airmobile with the guns.  Flew us out at dusk and fired all night and flew back the next day.”

Intial contact and tiger scout recognizes one of the bodies and warns of probable large force in area.

At 2:30 am Delta’s night location comes under intense attack.

9 killed and 23 wounded our of 52 men engaged in the fight.

“The Vietnamese are such little people, and they will steal anything not nailed down.  About 3 days ago the VC blew up a couple of bridges between here and our base camp, so they have been flying in our supplies.”

“Showed us a movie on the wall of a building, “”The battle of the Bulge””, just what we need, a war movie.  Shold be going to Dong Tam in a week or so.  All we do is eat, sleep (?) and shoot.”

“Move out tomorrow to a new position.  Hot and humid, working on my tan.”

“We moved twice since the last letter and now are in Dong Tam. Passed a big inspection and are having a battery party.  Free steaks, salad and BEER.”

Just got back from another airmobile this afternoon.