Page 148 - Images: We were...We are

Robert Nielsen - NOTES FROM THE VIRTUAL WALL

The 5th Marines' Command Chronology for January 1968 contains the following
entry:

"On 7 January, an enemy force of 2 battalions reinforced vith sappers and local
guerrillas effected a carefully-planned, coordinatod attack on the Phu Loc District
Headquarters, Combined Action Platoons H-6 and H-7, 1/5 Battalion Command Post
and Co D 1/5 outpost. Tho enemy sapper elements successfully penetrated the
District Headquarters and CAP H-6 and completely overran CAP H-7. The attacks on
1st Battalion, 5th Marines positions, however, were limited to attacks by fire with
mortars and RPG series rocket launchers. Enemy forces involved are believed to
have been the 1st Bn, 4th NVA Regiment, K4B Main Force VC Battalion, the C118
Local Force Company, the C19 Engineer Company and the C24 Sapper Company."

Initial reports in the 5th Marines' Operations Log indicated that CAP Hotel-6 had 5
dead and 2 missing; CAP Hotel-7 had 7 dead and 2 missing; and the Army unit at
the District Headquarters had 1 dead and four wounded.

The 1st Battalion, 5th Marines Chronology provides additional information:

"These incidents culminated with a series of coordinated attacks on the
morning of 7 January. Commencing at approximately 0335H, the Phu Loc District
Headquarters and CAP H5 (ZD 0800), and CAP H6 (ZD 1400) and CAP H7 (ZD
2001) along Highway 1 were subjected to coordinated sapper and infantry assaults
which the enemy supported with heavy mortar and B-40 rocket fire. Shortly
thereafter, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines Command Post (ZC 076985) was
subjected to heavy mortar and recoilless rifle fire.
"The action continued through the night with the enemy maintaining pressure
on the Battalion Command Post and on the Company D Command Post in an
apparent attempt to prevent reinforcement. General assaults, meanwhile, were
continued against CAP H6 and CAP H7 with both positions being overrun and largely
destroyed. Three bridges were blown by the enemy during the course of this
activity at (ZD 0800), (ZD 1501), and (ZD 2001)."

while their Operations Log gives a higher initial casualty count for the actions at the
two CAPs and the District HQ: 18 Marines and sailors dead, one soldier killed - and
four men missing. When daylight came the CAP Marines were able regain their
positions and counted nineteen dead, almost all from the sappers' satchel charges:

x Platoon unknown, CAC Hotel, 3rd CAG:
o Cpl Blaze Magyar, Granite City, IL

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