Operation Kentucky V Command Chronology

From the Vietnam War Period of Dec 1, 1967 through Dec 31, 1967

Posted on Aug 3, 2020 (last modified May 8, 2021)

This document is a declassified record of the Vietnam War from the period of December 1 through December 31, 1967, which generally pertains to the operation known as "Kentucky V". The document was transcribed from a PDF file for the purpose of making it more useful for research (i.e. more legible, hyperlinked, and searchable). In some places, the scanned source document was somewhat illegible. The following symbology is used to reflect what was questionable during the transcription:

  • [?] = One character exists here that is completely illegible or highly questionable.
  • [X?] = Character here looks like character in brackets, but is questionable to some degree.
  • [O or 0] = May be first of second character within brackets.
  • […] = Several characters or words of unrecognizable text.

Source: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY [BLT 1/3], 01 December 1967, Box __, Folder 039, US Marine Corps History Division Vietnam War Documents Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University, https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=1201039045, Accessed 30 Jul 2020.

DECLASSIFIED

HEADQUARTERS
Battalion Landing Team 1/3
Regimental Landing Team-26
9th Marine Amphibious Brigade
FPO, San Francisco 96602

3/MMM/lak
5750
SerNo: 0016-67
2 January 1968

drstellaemmanuel

[...] (Unclassified upon removal of enclosure (1))

From: Commanding Officer
To: CTG 79.4

Subj: Command Chronology for period 1 December 1967 through 31 December 1967

Ref:

  1. MCO 5750.2A
  2. FMF PACO 5750.1B
  3. Brig[O or 0] 5750.1B

Encl: (1) Battalion Landing Team 1/3 Command Chronology

  1. In accordance with the provisions of references (a) through (c), enclosure (1) is submitted.

R. W. Goodale signature
R. W. Goodale

DOWNGRADE AT 12 YEAR INTERVALS:Br/> NOT AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED
DOD DIR 5200.10

INDEX

PART I – ORGANIZATIONAL DATA

DesignationCommander
Battalion Landing Team 1/3LtCol R. W. GOODALE
(1-31 December 1967)

SUBORDINATE UNITS

DesignationCommander
H&S CompanyCapt G. C. LARIMORE
(1-18 December 1967) Capt D. H. CUR[B or R]Y
(19-20 December 1967)
Capt D. W. DADISMAN
(21-31 December 1967)
Company ACapt D. HANCOCK
(1-31 December 1967)
Company BCapt T. A. SCHEIB
(1-31 December 1967)
Company CCapt W. H. OSGOOD
(1-31 December 1967)
Company DCapt T. V. RICHARDSON
(1-9 December 1967)
Capt P. N. HENDRIX
(10-31 December 1967

ATTACHED UNITS

DesignationCommander
DatI 9th NAB (Radio Relay)Capt L. M. ZWICK
Det, Disbursing Section Hq, Bn, 3d Mar DivCapt C. B. YELLIG (1-7 December 1967)
WO R. C. RE[B or E]DY
(8-31 December 1967)
Det, Postal Section, Hq Bn, 3rd Mar DivSgt W. A. LEDFORD
Det, Hq Co, 26th Mar (Radio Relay)Cpl J. M. MAGGI
Det, Btry A, 1st Bn, 12th Mar (Ln Tm)Lt R. C. JOHNSON
(1-9 December 1967)
Lt J. K. KALLSTROM
(10-31 December 1967)
Det, Hq Btry, 1stBn, 12th Mar (NGF Ln Tm)LtJG K. A. STARGER (USN)
1st Clearing Plt, (Rein), Co B, 3rd Med BnLt R. E. JONES (USN)
Det, 15th Dental CoLt H. E. OLIVER (USN)
1st Plt (-), Co B, 3rd Recon BnCpl B. D. KALAR
(1-19 December 1967)
Lt D. L. ANDERSON
(20-31 December 1967)
Btry A (-) (Rein), 1st Bn, 12th MarCapt W. O. KENYON
4.2 Mortar Btry, 2nd Bn, 12th MarCapt A. M. PATTERSON Jr.
2nd Plt (-) (Rein), Co A, 3rd Engr BnLt G. D. GARDNER
1st P1t (Rein), Co B, 3rd MT BnLt D. M. BYSTEDT
(1-15 December 1967)
Capt W. P. BARCLAY
(16-31 December 1967)
4th Plt (Rein), Co A, 5th AmTrac BnLt T. W. KAUFMAN
3rd PIt (Rein), Co A, 3rd AT BnLt C. M. BERTHOLF Jr.
(1-14 December 1967)
Lt B. BLACK
(14-31 December 1967)
3m Plt (Rein), Co C, 3rd Tank BnLt J. L. BUCKLEY
2nd Plt (-) (Rein), Co B, 3rd SP BnLt W. H. WOOSLEY
Det, LSU, 3rd Serv BnLt J. V. KENNEY

Location

  1. 1-29 December 1967 - Operation KENTUCKY V, RVN
  2. 30-31 December 1967 - Quang Tri Airfield Complex, RVN

Staff Officers

Executive OfficerMajor E. J. ROCHFORD Jr.
S-1Lt E. W. STERLING
(1-9 December 1967)
Lt R. J. BARNES
(9-31 December 1967)
S-2Capt D. H. CURRY
(1-14 December 1967)
GySgt R. C. KUNSAITIS
(14 - 16 December 1967)
Lt G. D. DOCKENDORFF
(16-31 December 1967)
S-3Major P. M. DUFFY
(1-9 December 1967)
Capt T. V. RICHARDSON
(9-21 December 1967)
Major R. C. MCCORMICK
(21-31 December 1967)
S-4Capt P. N. HENDRIX
(1-9 December 1967)
Capt B. H. LANDES Jr
(10 - 31 December 1967)

Average Monthly Strength

USMC OFFUSMC ENLUSN OFFUSN ENLOTHER OFFOTHER ENL
661416984NONENONE

PART II – NARRATIVE SUMMARY

At the beginning of this reporting period, BLT 1/3 was in the third day of Operation KENTUCKY V. During the two preceding days, the BLT moved from an attack position at coordinates 122685 to Regimental Objective 3. The BLT remained at Objective 3 until 2 December, at which time they moved to A-3 and assumed the mission of providing security and engineer support for the construction effort at that site.

During the period 2-29 December a concerted effort was made to complete the construction at A-3. Upon the departure of BLT 1/3 on 29 December, the defensive wire and mine field was completed. The bunker complex was near completion with the exception of cutting firing ports and back filling some bunkers.

Contact with the enemy during the stay at A-3 was very light. Initially Company D was probed from the south, but these probes ceased on 11 December when an estimated platoon of NVA/VC were taken under heavy artillery and tank fire while attempting to move into an assault position shortly after midnight. Normal day and night activities were conducted but a determined effort was not made to penetrate grid square 1770 to the south due to a large concentration of mines and surprise firing devices in that area.

The greatest deterrent to the engineer effort was enemy artillery, rocket, and mortar fire. Five hundred and seventy-eight rounds were fired into A-3 during the period 2-29 December.

Operation KENTUCKY V was concluded on 29 December with a combined tactical foot and motor march to the Quang Tri Airfield Complex. The remaining two days of this reporting period were spent preparing to relieve the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.

PART III – SEQUENTIAL LISTING OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

  1. Combat Missions Assigned.

    To support the assault to the northeast as the Regimental Reserve, 9th Marine Regiment, and to uss1st in the construction effort of A-3; and to provide security for the engineers at A-3 and the engineers sweeping Road 566 daily.

  2. Significant Operation Conducted.

    Operation KENTUCKY V (Part IV-Supporting Documents)

  3. Casualties Inflicted on the Enemy.

    1-12 Dec    2 KIA Confirmed    12 KIA Probable
    13-31 Dec    None

  4. Command Relations.

    1. Operational Control.

      1-29 December - 9th Marines
      30-31 December - 1st Marines

    2. Administrative Control.

      1-31 December - RLT-26 (Rear) 9th MAB

  5. Logistics.

    1. Supply.

      During this period 238 requisitions were submitted to FSR with a 30 percent completion rate. Supplies were obtained from the LSA at Dong Ha and from ARG Alpha. Supplies were obtained in satisfactory quantities.

    2. Maintenance.

      Third echelon maintenance was performed by FLSU-1 at Dong Ha and 3rd and 4th echelon maintenance support was provided by FLC, Da Nang.

  6. Administration.

    Due to the extended separation of the administrative rear, off-loading of the BLT and relocation of the administrative rear twice, accomplishment of routine administration was difficult. The overall administration during this period was considered satisfactory.

  7. Personnel.

    1. Replacements.

      21 UCMC officers
      24 USN enlisted

    2. Casualties.

      10 USMC KIA    70 USMC WIA

    3. Awards.

      1 Bronze Star Medal
      2 Navy Commendation Medals

  8. Intelligence.

    The enemy employed 85mm and l30mm artillery, l02mm and l40mm rockets, 82mm mortars, and recoilless rifle fire against the A-3 position. During the period 3-19 December 578 rounds of mixed artillery, mortars and rockets were fired into A-3 and two rounds were received on 27 December. The enemy probed from the south with platoon size and smaller units during the first ten days. Enemy casualties resulting from these probes were two confirmed KIA's and 12 probable KIA's. Numerous surprise firing devices were employed to prevent BLT 1/3 patrols from entering the abandoned villages to the south of A-3 and anti-tank mines were employed on Route 566 between A-3 and Highway 1. On Route 566 one anti-tank mine was discovered by a sweep team and one anti-tank mine was detonated by a truck.

  9. Fire Support.

    A total of 4,643 rounds were fired in support of BLT 1/3 during 965 missions. Fire support was given by Battery A, 1/12, Battery E, 2/12, Battery F, 2/12 and Battery K, 4/12.

  10. Air Support.

    During this period, 12 sorties of fixed wing aircraft were flown in support of BLT 1/3 resulting in 2 secondary explosions, the destruction of 28 small bunkers, 4 large bunkers and 15 meters of trench line. Air observers were utilized on ten occasions to control the fixed wing aircraft. Twenty-three medical evacuation missions were conducted, evacuating 30 emergency, 31 priority and 30 rout1ne casualties.

  11. Embarkation.
    3 December

    USS WASHTENAW COUNTY (LST-1166) Has relieved by USS TULARE (AKA-112). All personnel, equipment, vehicles and personal baggage was transferred.

    18-19 December

    USS TULARE (AKA-112) carried out a practical off load of BLT 1/3 vehicles, organic equipment and personnel at Hue Ramp.

    19 December

    USS CLEVELAND (LFD-7) off loaded the remaining elements of W 2/12 and A 1/12 at Dong Ha ramp. USS IWO JIMA (LPH-2) transferred all BLT 1/3 vehicles, personne1, organic equipment and personal baggage to USS CLEVELAND (LPD-7).

    20-21 December

    USS CLEVELAND (LPD-7) completed its offload of BLT 1/3 rear and personnell at Hue Ramp.

    22 December

    All BLT 1/3 personnel, vehicles, personal baggage and organic equipment was staged in country with the exception of HMM-163 end certain vehicles remaining aboard for the new SLF.

  12. Sequential Listing of Events.

    16 December 1967

    Company C, BLT 1/3, chopped OPCON to the 1st Amtrac Bn.

    20 December 1967

    Company E, 2nd Bn, 9th Mar chopped OPCON BLT 1/3.

    20 December 1967

    Company A, BLT 1/3 chopped OPCON to the 1st ArnTrac Bn.

    24 December 1967

    Company E, 2nd Bn, 9th Mar chopped OPCON from BLT 1/3 to 2nd Bn, 9th Mar.

    24 December 1967

    Company A, lstBn, 4th Mar chopped OPCON BLT 1/3.

    26 December 1967

    Company A, 1st Bn, 4th Mar chopped OPCON from BLT 1/3 to 1stBn, 4th Mar.

    26 December 1967

    Company I, 3rd Bn, 4th Mar chopped OPCON BLT 1/3.

    27 December 1967

    Company I, 3rd Bn, 4th Mar chopped OPCON from BLT 1/3 to 3rd Bn, 4th Mar.

    27 December 1967

    Company K, 3rd Bn, 4th Mar chopped OPCON BLT 1/3

    29 December 1967

    Company K, 3rd Bn, 4th Mar chopped OPCON from BLT 1/3 to 3rd Bn, 4th Mar.

    29 December 1967

    Operation KENTUCKY V terminated for BLT1/3. BLT 1/3 displaced to Quang Tri Airfield Complex and chopped OPCON from the 9th Mar to the 1st Marines.

PART IV – CHRONOLOGY OF SUBORDINATE COMMANDS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Combat Operations After Action Report - Operation KENTUCKY V (Appendix I)