From "Keith B. Short" <Keith_Bernard_Short@compuserve.com

To:    "Perry, Tom" <Tom_Perry@teledyne.com>

Tom,
        These are the Montana Mustang significant entries in the CAAR.  If you
have any questions about where the map coordinates are (I don't know if you
have any of the maps or not) or anything let me know.
 
 

HQ, 1st Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mech.); Camp Red Devil; 31
July 1971; COMBAT OPERATION AFTER ACTION REPORT MONTANA MUSTANG -- 080001H
Apr 71 to 111200H Jul 71

APRIL 1971

        111130H, YD270437.  D/3-5 observed fresh footprints, 3-4 hours old,
leading West from stream.  Ranger Team maneuvered Northeast to cut off
possible enemy personnel, however none were detected.

        180937H, YD068409.  Ranger Team 15 observed 2 NVA 75-100 meters
North of their position, the NVA moving Southwest.  Recon Team 15 engaged
with SAF with unknown results.  Due to contrast in uniform--old and
new--between this and previous days sightings, Rcn Tm felt a unit in the
area may be in the process of resupply or reinforcement.  Rcn Tm extracted
181023H.

        231800H, XD932501.  Ranger Team 15 observed 10 NVA 600 meters East
of their location.  D/3-5 observed same and engaged area, receiving AK-47
fire with negative hits.

        261230H, XD881386.  Ranger Team 17 spotted 3 NVA 800 meters North
of their position and adjusted Arty on location, also requesting D/3-5 Team
which arrived after Ranger Team 17 sighted additional NVA 900 meters
Northwest moving in single file.  Upon arrival D/3-5 engaged area and took
AK-47 and LMG fire with negative hits.  At 1411H D/3-5 and Ranger Team 17
engaged 4 NVA approaching Team location within 40 meters--NVA were not seen
afterwards.  Airstrike was employed destroying hut.  Ranger Team extracted
1637H.  Negative friendly casualties.  2 NVA KBA.

        271630H, XD955410.  Ranger Team 17 spotted 4 NVA 150-200 meters
Northeast of location.  D/3-5 engaged area.  Checking area, Ranger Team 17
spotted blood trail and 1 NVA 900-1000 meters North, employing Arty with
negative results.

MAY 1971

        071120H, YD882388.  Ranger Team 19 spotted 2 NVA moving West on
road.  2 additional personnel sighted 1220H-- D/3-5 took SAF from
undetermined number of people.  Gunships and Arty engaged area with unknown
results.  Additional 3 personnel sighted 1300H--Arty adjusted.  At 1540H,
team spotted 2 NVA moving West--Arty employed with unknown results.  At
1740H, 3 personnel spotted moving West on QL-9--Arty employed with unknown
results.

        081800 - 082000H, XD882388.  Ranger Team 19 sighted 50 NVA moving
West on QL-9.  All were armed, half carried rucksacks.  Observation
continued.

        091820H, XD882398.  Ranger Team 19 spotted 12 NVA moving West on
QL-9.  Arty employed with unknown results.

        101046H, XD881388.  Ranger Team 19 spotted 4 personnel 600 meters
SSE carrying weapons and 1 radio.  D/3-5 engaged with rockets causing
secondary explosions.  Airstrike utilized at 1230H.

        101930H, YD343424.  1/C/1-11 spotted personnel at YD346425 and
engaged with 81mm and M60 with unknown results.  At 1945H 2 more personnel
were spotted 100 meters Southwest and were engaged with 155mm, 81mm, M60,
M6 and M16 with unknown results.   [oops, I'm the M-60 gunner walking point
when I see these two and blast away at them; they'd just tried to ambush us
a couple hours earlier down in a stream]

        110800H, XD881388.  Ranger Team 19 spotted 6 NVA near brick house
on QL-9 plus additional group of 9 NVA 200 meters West of house--Arty
blocking fire employed.  D/3-5 ARPS inserted and linked with Ranger Team
and moved to 50 meters of the house where they took SAF and LMG from house.
 Organic weapons, ARA and gunships worked over area.  D/3-5 engaged--3 NVA
KBA.  An airstrike was made at 1410H--1 NVA KBA.  OH58A took LMG fire from
house hitting belly of aircraft.  At 1500H a plt from D/1-11 was inserted
and gained entrance to house.  While searching house a boobytrap
detonated--2 US KIA, 3 US WIA, 1 KCS WIA.  A total of 2 NVA KIA and 4 NVA
KBA.

        150915H, XD994381.  Ranger Team 19, spotting a well used trail, set
up a mech ambush which detonated immediately resulting in 2 NVA KIA, 1
AK-47 destroyed, 1 AK-47 captured.

        211735H, C-2.  1-61 started to receive 122mm rockets equipped with
delayed fuzes.  Altogether 11 rockets landed within the perimeter.  At
1744H the seventh rocket struck the club bunker which was occupied by an
estimated 65-70 personnel.  The bunker collapsed on those inside and rescue
operations were begun immediately. All available personnel and equipment
were requested and employed, and C/1-61 arrived from Quang Tri CB as a
reaction force at 2100H.  Excavation rescue and dustoff activities finally
ceased at approximately 0200H on 22 May.  From the incident there were 29
KIA's and 33 WIA's.  [you remember when this happened?]

        271130H, YD181450.  D/3-5.  During extraction, Ranger Team reported
movement to gunships--an AH1G engaged the area and crashed.  2 US KIA and
aircraft destroyed.  Ranger Team secured aircraft.  Recent area activity.
Area searched with negative results. (Carter and Foy)

        291330H, XD942476.  Ranger Team 15 was inserted and engaged 1 NVA
Northeast 10-20 meters from location--1 NVA KIA.  While moving to examine
body, the team drew fire from 3 enemy, broke contact and were extracted
after gunships engaged the area.

JUNE 1971

        180945H, YD227382.  Ranger Teams 11 and 15, working together,
spotted 5-6 NVA--gunships engaged, enemy returned SAF and fled Southeast.
At 1130H team spotted 4 again--gunships engaged area.  1 NVA KBA.

        230815H, YD208429.  Ranger Team 13 engaged 6 NVA and took heavy
fire, expending ammo.  Gunships requested, expended ammo, team extracted at
1045H with negative casualties.

JULY 1971

        031605H, YD359433.  Ranger Team 15.  Individual set off
anti-personnel mine--1 US WIA.  Area swept with negative results.

        041800H, YD339432.  Ranger Team 13 found a boobytrapped 81mm and at
1845H an anti-personnel mine, both of which were destroyed in place.

        051820H, YD338427.  Ranger Team 13.  Individual set off
anti-personnel mine--2 US WIA.  Team was extracted.
  [end of Ranger excerpts from Montana Mustang CAAR]