"THE AIR RECON AND RESULTS"*
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Date: 14th November 1965*
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Time: 09:15*
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Mission type: Path selection for campaign mode*
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NVA Units/Formations present on map: 1/1 *
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Map size: Small (20 x 20)*
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Visibility: 10*
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Turns: 2*
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Notes :*
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Deploy your HQ unit next to the desired VP location (in order to be able to select the appropriate gameplay mode, when the game begins).*
After you quit the deploy phase, you will have to move your HQ unit into the VP location and wait there until the 2-turns scenario ends.*
If you play the campaign for the first time, then it is better if you start the campaign by selecting the first (upper) selection (historical multi-stage campaign).*
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Lt. Col Hal Moore's After Action Report :*
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II. BACKGROUND :*
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A. On 10 November the battalion moved from the base camp at 
An Khe, coordinates BR476476, by CV--2 to a forward airstrip and assembly 
area south of Pleiku, coordinates ZA198340. From there, all companies 
were shuttled the same day by UH-1D into a search and destroy operation 
in an area to the east of Plei Me, vicinity coordinates ZA2007 to ZA7606. 
We conducted saturation patrolling through the 12th with light contact 
by only Company A. We also conducted a civic action program supplying 
medical aid and USOM food to Montagnard village, population 200, 
coordinates ZA237073. On the 12th, the Assistant Division Commander-A, 
during a visit to the battalion, indicated to the Brigade Commander 
that he had no objection to the latter sending a battalion into the 
IA DRANG Valley. This we took as an alert and began a map study. On 
13 November, the battalion was moved on brigade orders to a new area of 
operations south and southwest of Plei Me. Once again saturation 
patrolling was conducted out of company bases throughout the day with 
no contact. Company B was airlifted after 1500 hours into the Brigade 
CP area as security, and for an immediate reaction force under Brigade 
control. It closed into position by 1800 hours.*
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B. At approximately 1700 hours, the Brigade Commander and 
I visited the Company A CP south of Plei Me. During the visit, the 
Brigade Commander gave me orders to execute an assault by helicopter 
into the IA DRANG Valley, north of CHU PONG Mountain early the next 
morning with a mission of conducting search and destroy operations 
through the 15th. The area of operations was pointed out on the map 
and he informed me that we would be supported from LZ FALCON, coord- 
inates ZA023032, by two batteries of 105mm howitzer artillery - one of 
which would be moved by air from PLEI ME early on the 14th prior to our 
assault.* 
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C. I returned to my CP near Plei Me; formulated a tentative 
plan; issued instructions to my staff; procured further details from 
3d Brigade Headquarters and the supporting helicopter unit; and issued 
a warning order to my unit commanders, staff, and supporting elements. 
By 2200 hours, 13 November, all preparations had been accomplished which 
were possible without an actual air reconnaissance. Arrangements in- 
cluded an early morning airlift of Company B back to PLEI ME; directions 
to the commanders of A and C Companies to concentrate their elements at 
first light in the largest pick-up zone(s) in their respective sectors; 
and plans for a first light air recon by all key commanders and staff 
officers. A time of 0830 hours was set for issuance at my CP of the 
operation order.*
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D. At this time, the "fighting" strength of my lettered com- 
panies as they went into the operation was as follows :*
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NUMBER COMMITED TO OPERATION_________TO&E*
__________Officers___Men______________Officers___Men* 
Co A_________5______115_________________6_______164 *
Co B_________5______114_________________6_______164* 
Co C_________6______106________________6_______164* 
Co D_________4______76_________________5_______118*
* 
The shortages were primarily due to malaria and ETS discharges. 
Each company also had 3-5 men at base camp at An Khe as guards, sick, 
administrative retention, and base camp area development workers. 
There were 8-10 men on R and R or about going back to prepare for 
R and R.* 
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III. OPERATIONS ON 14 NOVEMBER: *
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A. THE AIR RECON AND RESULTS: *
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(1) 14 November dawned bright and clear. Shortly after 
first light at 0630 hours, Company B was returned to battalion control 
at Plei Me and began making final preparations for its role as the 
assault company. The Chinooks which had carried B company back were 
commencing to move Battery A, 1st Battalion, 2lst Artillery to LZ 
FALCON as planned. The air recon party had assembled and after a 
brief orientation on the purpose of the recon, flight route, and items 
to look for, we took off in two UH-1D's escorted by two gun ships. 
The flight route is shown on the Attached sketch (Tab A). We made one 
south to north pass at about 4500 feet actual; flew north past Duc Co, 
coordinates YA845255, orbited five minutes, then flew south generally 
over the same route and at the same altitude, and returned to Plei Me. 
The air recon party included the Battalion Commander; S-3; Battalion 
Artillery Liaison Officer; Commanding Officer, Battery A, 1st Battalion, 
21st Artillery; Commanding Officer B Company (Assault Company); Scout 
Section Leader, Troop C, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry; and the Commanding 
Officer, Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion (Avn Co, 7th 
Special Forces, 1st Special Forces Group).*
* 
(2) During the air recon, several open areas were selected by members of the recon party as possible landing zones in and around 
the IA DRANG Valley. Upon return from the recon at about 0815 hours, 
we received a written Frag Order from Brigade which specifically defined the area of operations. The area is shown on the attached map 
(Tab B). I then received comments as to the LZ to be used. Three 
possibilities fell out of this discussion - LZ's TANGO, X-RAY, and 
YANKEE (See Tab B). TANGO was discarded as the primary LZ for being 
to tight, e.g. a "wall" - type LZ with tall trees around it, and for 
being to small - capacity of three to four UH-lD's. It was agreed 
that X-RAY and YANKEE could both probably accommodate eight UH-lD's 
at one landing. I tentatively decided on LZ X-RAY and prepared to issue 
my operation order baaed on that selection. Concurrently I dispatched 
the Cavalry Scout Section for a low-level flight up the IA DRANG Valley 
area to gain detailed information on X-RAY, YANKEE, the surrounding 
terrain, and to look for signs of enemy activity. The Cavalry Section 
returned in approximately 40 minutes with the information that YANKEE 
was spotted with high stumps and would be difficult to use as a land- 
ing zone. The Cavalry Section confirmed that LZ X-RAY could take eight 
to ten UH-1D'B at one time. No signs of enemy activity were detected 
around X-RAY, and the Cavalry Section was not fired on during its low- 
level recon. Several trails were picked up and their locations were 
noted. The Cavalry Section also reported seeing commo wire on a trail 
north of X-RAY which led east and west. No trails led through LZ X-RAY, 
I made my decision to land at X-RAY with TANGO and YANKEE as alternates 
to be used only on my order. I then issued an oral operation order. 
Reduced to writing, it is attached at Tab C. Present to hear the order 
were all my Company Commanders; the battalion staff and special staff; 
the lift Company Commander and his Liaison Officer to the battalion, 
the Cavalry Scout Section Leader; CO, Battery A, 1st Battalion, 21st 
Artillery; and the 3d Brigade S-3. The Brigade Commander arrived during the issuance of the order and was separately briefed shortly 
thereafter. It was then reported to me that the two artillery batteries 
were in position, and I set a tine of 1030 hours for the assault landing with the 20 minute tube artillery preparation to be timed to be 
completed at H-Hour minus one minute. The A and C Company Commanders 
were then flown back to their companies. The B Company Commander 
returned to his unit on the Plei Me Airstrip on a mechanical mule. 
The time was approximately 0915 hours. All necessary preparations had 
either been completed or were nearing completion. No problems had 
been raised.* 
