TO · 2018. 11. 8. · c. Training: While operational requirements continue to limit training time, units ccntinued to acheivo their training objectives by conducting DA mandatory

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ii

CONFIDENTIA!DEPARTMENT OF THE AR.

IfOFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20310

IN REPLY REFER TO 4.AGAM-P (M) (13 Feb 68) FOR OT RD-T67X261 20 February 1968

SUBJECT: Operational Report - Lessons Learned, Headquarters,Americal Division Support Command, Period Ending 31 Oct 1967 (U)

TO: SEE DISTRIBUTION

1. Subject report is forwarded for review and evaluation byUSACDC in accordance with paragraph 6f, AR 1-19 and by USCONARC inaccordance with paragraph 6c and d, AR 1-19. Evaluations and cor-rective actions should be reported to ACSFOR OT within 90 days of re-ceipt of covering letter.

2. Information contained in this report is provided to insure

appropriate benefits in the future fron, Lessons Learned during currentoperations, and may be adapted for use in developing training material.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE-ARMY:

0%

0 0n0c4 C, ASTANFIEL4 bO V) V3 Incl Coonl e Gcomndn Generals• as Acting The Adjutant General

o= M .o ' DISTRIBUTION:4J

0 . Commanding Generals

3 o US Continental Army CommandC1 US Army Combat Developments Command

0 o, Commandants4J 0 US Army Command and General Staff College

j q k US Army War College0 P > US Army Air Defense School

0 . F4 US Army Armor School

(n a US Army Artillery and Missile School nu"Cd IUS Army Aviation School WHLi; '. *

4 4 US Army Chemical School CLASSI.ID I ' -I -I US Army Civil Affairs SchooloD 0 CO US Arn.y Engineer School

0 o 01 US Army Infantry School0 4- C I US Army Intelligence School

4 l US Army Adjutant General Schoolo g +3 US Army Missile and Munitions School 8 1968

M $3 4 US Army Southeastern Signal School i968i7_

C NF DI 1%4 TI

DPARTWLNT OF THE ;RMY

MHDJUARa2,SAWEIICAL DIVISION SUPPORT COIA-MND

APO US Forces 96374

AVDF-SC-OP 13 November 1967

SUBJLCT: Operatienal Report for Quarterly Period Ending 31 0,Ctober 1967(RCS-CSFOR-65)

TO: Commanding GeneralAmerical DivisionATTN: G3APO US Fov,'.:. 96374

The Operational Report of this h.;adquarters for tho quart.rly periodending 31 October .967 is forwarded in accordance with Army Reg 1-19 andUSARV Reg 1-19.

ROBDIT B. PFDGE"COL, INF

1 Incl Commandingas

Copies Furnished:CINCUSAPACAPO 96558 ATTN: GDOP-OT (2cys)

CG, USARV0.6.96375 ATTN: AVHGC-DH~ (3Icys)

DOWNGRADED TO Ul.CIASSIFIP,D'IMN SEPARATED FROMCLASSIFIED INCLOSURE

CONFIDENTIAL

DEpMM OF THE APWffHEADQUARTERS

AMERICAL DIVISION SUPPORT COMANDAPO US Forces 96374

AVDF-SO-OP 13 November 1967

OPERATIONAL REPORT - LESSONS LFARNED1 AUGUST 1967 T M.ktUGH 31 OCTOBER 1967

(RCs-.cSFOR-465)

REGLR&DED UNCLASSIFIEDWEN SEPAR ED FROMCLASSIFIED INCLOSURE

CONFIDENTIAL

4 &UI'C": .SSIFIED

TABLE OF CONT&NTS

SECTION I. SIGNIFICANT ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES

PARAGRAPH PAGE

1. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF THE COM0AND 1

2. PERSONNEL 1

3. INTELLIGENCE 3

,4. OPERATIONS, ORGANIZATION AND TRAINING 3

5. LOGISTICS 4

6. TRANSPORTATION 5

7. CHAPLAIN 5

8. HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 6

U S

I ~ UNCLASSIFIED "

IC

SECTION I, SIGNIFICANT OfRGANIZ4ATIONAL ACTIVITE

1. (0) Significant events of the brigade for the period ending 31October 1967.

a. During the reporting period the 15th Support Brigade was en-Igaged 92 days in operation. The brigade continuod operation in the capa-city of Support Commd for Task Force Oregon, which on 26 October becamethe Americal Division.

b. On 10 September 1967 the brigade established a Forward SupplyPoint at Tam Ky in support of the 1st Bde, 101st Airborne Division inOperation Wheeler.

c. During the period the brigade supported the following tac-tica"' operations:

OPERATION HOOD RIVER

OPERATION COOK

OPERATION WIELER

OPERATION WOLLAWA

2. (1U) PERSONNEL:

a. Staff Officers - Gains/Losses. The following reflects thegains/losses of staff officers which occured within the headquartersduring the period of this report.

POSITION IlSSES GAINS

Executive Officer LTC R. E. Tobin LTC E. S. Evans

Chaplain OPT A. C. Stover None to date

S-i OPT E. C. Townsend OPT 0. H. Aspinwall,Jr.

S-2 MMJ R. Pierre, Jr. None to date.

S-3 LTC H. R. Simpson OPT D. 0. Davy

S-4 MAJ T. L. Orr None to date

Asst S-4 LT A. G. Camerano, Jr. LT J. P. Noon

Hqs Cmdr CPT F. L. Winkelmeyer OPT S. L. Bibbs

GROUP-4DOWNGRADED AT 3 YIJAR INTERVALS;

FOe OT QflJAS6IFIED AP2&, 12 YEARS.T G 7q- COHFIDEHTIAL

"I"I

JCONFIDENTIALCrl Staff Off CrT J. F. Close None to date.

Div Ammo Off MAJ S. H. Wilson MAJ R. A. Smith

Div Trans Off MAJ J. Bro=, Jr. MAJ'1,. C. Bowden

In addition, WO 1: Luis Todriguez was attached to this headquartersas Food Sorvic;e Technician to provide assistance in improving food ser-vice activities for the division.

b. Statistics. The following statistics pertain to the brigadeduring the reporting period:

(I) AMV accidents - 25

(2) Other accidents involving personnel -2

(3) AWOL - 3

(4) Casualties:

(a) KHA - 1'

(b) WHIL - 1

(c) Non-battle fatalities - 1

$1 (d) Non-battle injuries - 2

(5) Awards:

(a) Bronze Star Medal - 25

(b) Army Commendation Medal - 45

(6) Non-Judicial Punishment - 116

(7) Courts-Martial:

(a) General Courts-Martial - None

() Special Courts-Martial - 6

c. Unit Inactivation. Headquarters and Headquarters Company15th Support Brigade was inactivated per Paragraph 1,, General Order 198,Headquarters, US Army Pacific, datod 17 October 1967. The effective dateof the inactivation was 20 October 1967. There was no concur:'ent orderactivating the unit as a divis'Aon support command, Cinsacfiently; Head-quarters, Americal Division was queried concern-:,.. the status of person-nel who were assigned to the unit at the time of inactivation. The

2

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I

CONFIDENTIAL ,

decision rendered by the Division was for the unit to maintain its cur-runt fosition as Headquarters and Headquarters Company of a supportbrigade until the question could be solved. No further information wasavailable as of the closing date of this report.

3- (U) INTELLIGENCEIa. Intelligence and security activity during the quarter ending

31 October 1967 were of a normal nature.

b. A semi-annual counterintelligence inspection was conductedon 5 October 1967 by the Division G-2. Units inspected were Headquarters, I15th Support Brigade and 188th Mintenance Battalion. No security viola-

* tions or major deficiencies were noted.

c. Intelligence and security inspections were conducted in allsubordinate units during the quarter. Areas of interest were physicalsecurity, internal security, classified document accountability, and theappointment of (introl personnel. No major deficiencies were noted.

d. Security clearance requests and validations continue in vol-ume. 90 personnel required clearance or validation during the period.

4. (0) OFRATINS, ORGANIZATION, AND TRAINING

a. Operations

(1) The Brigade Logistical Operation Control Center contin.ued operation providing immediate response to logistical problems. Allkey personnel were inediately available in a 24 hour basis to resolveproblems in their areas.

(2) Comunications continued to be satisfactory with somedifficulties incurred with lines available to distant points such asSaigon and supporting depots in Qui Nhon.

(3) On 13 August 1967 the Forward Supply Point at QuangNgai was closed and returned to Chu Lai. The FSP was re-established atQuang Nga:L on 31 August 1967 and continued operation until 10 September1967. It was then moved and established at Tan Ky. Support furnishedat Tam Ky consists of Class III and "'tail gate" supply of Class I andClass II & IV items.

b. Organization:

Task Organization of the brigade remained unchanged from theprevious report.

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c. Training:

While operational requirements continue to limit trainingtime, units ccntinued to acheivo their training objectives by conductingDA mandatory training requirements, initial orientation of in-coming per-sonnel, and other training directed toward enabling individuals to attainand maintain combat proficiency.

5. (U) LOGISTICS

a. jjqrp: Daring the reporting period the logistical resour-ces of the brigade have been directed toward:

(1) Supporting combat operations by providing Forward Supply

Points, retail POL points, and unit distribution where required.

ThO (2) Programtming support for units arriving in the DivisiontsTAOR. ()Porra7

' (3) Improving the base camp supply operations in the ChuLai area.

(4) Establishing an adequate ASL to support the increasedtroop strength.

(5) Expediting resupply of critical itens to include repairparts.

b. Maintenance

Maintenance operations continue to be adversely affected bythe shortage of certain critical repair parts, such as parts for engin-eer equipment and 21 ton truck clutches. The high density of equipmentto be smpported was a contributing factor. The arrival of the 588thMaintenance Company (DS) from the 1st Logistical Command to act as backupsupport should, after this unit becomes fully operational, improve main-tenance support considerably.

c. aappl

j1) As a result of switching from Camn Ranh Bay to Qui NhonDepot as the primary source of supply for the Americal Division, requi-sition cancellations have caused a 60% zero balance in the II and IV sup-ply point ASL.

(2) The supply mission continues unchanged from the previ-ous quarter except that the Brigade has been charged with supporting the3d Bde, ls Air Cay Division by unit distribution to their Forward SupplyElement.

4CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL.

6. (C) TRANSPOWI~aTION

a. During the period of this report Major John Brown, the Div-1 ision Transport tion Officer, completed his ov, rseas tour. He was repla-,4 ced by Major Bowden -Who arrived on 24 October 1967.

o eb. Tactical units of the Division s7 cossfully opened and kept

open the critical road net of Highway One. TI.. Transportation Sectionutilized the organic truck units to resupply Quang Ngai and Duc Pho byHighway One. Presently the Increase of supply iovements depeids uponthis vital roadway to resupply all five brigades in the division. IVehicles are sent as far north as Da Nang and as far south as Sa Huyrih.

c, Units of the division moved constantly within this reportingperiod. During Operation Hood River, fighting elements of the 1st Bde,1st Airborne Division moved to Quang Nhai for Operation Hood River and

then to the Tam Ky area for Operation Benton. The Ist Squadron, 1st Arm-ored Cavalry joined the Division from CONUS during the month of Augst.

d. In September there were more unit moves within the I CorpsT a~tical Zone to meet inrasii enemy resistance. The 1st Bde, 1O1stAirborne Division was moved two (2) more times. They moved from Tam Ky

to Duc Pho and from Due Pho to Quang Nhai for security during the Viet-namese elections. The entire base cemp at Due Pho was then relocated atChu Lai when Operation Wheeler beLan.

Ii e. The 3d Bde, 1st Air Cavalry Division was committed to Oper-ation Wollawa in early October makin- it necessary to resupply four (4)brigades at once. Transportation was arranged to move the 2d Squadron,11th Cavalry from Chu Lai to Xuan Loc by airlift and sea lift. The rovewas completed 15 October 1967.

&i f. During the latter part of October the Transportation Secinin con 1uction with III MAF Embarkation Section moved the 198th InfantryBrigade into Chu Lai. Tactical elements of the 198th were then moved toDue Pho.

g. At the present time the Transportation Section is supportingfive (5) brigades of the Americal Division.

a. The units of the 15th Support Brigade continued to haveProtestant Worship Services and Roman Catholic Masses each Sunday duringthe Quarter.

b. Weekly Protestant Bible Studies were conducted in the even-.ing in the Briade e ha nd at the 13 Trantporaion Company area.Ade mess areaon a h 13 TaP

CONFIDENTIAL

COt4FIWEITIAC,V. (U) HEADQUARTIMS COMPANYa. The Officer, NCO, and enlisted men clubs have made prepara-

tions for the monsoon season by attachin drops for -all screened areas.

b. Improvement of all buildings within the area continues.Special emphasis was placed on preparing structures for the monsoon eea-son and improving living conditions within the buildings.

I

COHFIDENIIAL',

CONFIDENTIAL;

Section I12 Part I, Observation (Lessons Learned)

I. (C) OPERATIONS, ORMANIZATION AND TRAINING

IT_: Reconaissance of Proposed Operational Areas.

DISCUSSION: During previous operations reconnaissance of anumber of areas was made by the various tactical and support elementsconcerned. These were not always coordinated and could possibly compro-mise the element of surprise by repeated visit to the area under consid-eration.

OBSERVATION: All elements of a proposed operation should

coordinate their reconnaissance to the area.

2. (U) IGISTICS

at ITEM: Deployment of Contat Service Support Elements.

DISCUSSIIN: When combat brigades are deployed into a newoperational area they rmst bring with then their organic and/or division-al "fair ehare" of combat service support elements. Without these ele-ments a serious support problem is encountered. There are not sufficientresources within a divisional support command to pick up support for add-itional brigades which may be placed under OPCON of a division.

OBSERVATION: It is essential that combat brigades deploywith sufficient combat service support elements to provide normal directsupport supply and maintenance.

3. (0) AMMUNITION

a. ITELM: Storage of arninitikn in low areas.

DISCUSSION: During the dry season c,f the year units who werefamiliar with monsoon rains attempted to store ammnition in trenches.These trenches afforded the -n-unition excellent protection from enemyattack and were less noticable than areas where aimnition was protectedby above-ground berms. During the "flash rains" which are prevalent dur-ing the monsoon season, the trenches collected as much as six feet ofwater and quantities of ammunition bdcane unserviceable.

OBSLRVATICN: Despite the advantages of trench storage duringthe dry season, this method shculd be halted well before the monsoon sea-son begins and above ground berms should be used to preserve amn!nitionfrom water soakage.

b. ITEM: Storage of Open Cannistes oY 'ropellant Charges With-in Bunkers.

COtFIDENTIALr

CONFIDENTIAL,

DISCUSSIN: Several artillery units have been storing opencannisters of propellant charges to facilitate removal during fire miss-ions. This practice exposes propellant charges to two (2) hazards: (a)the possibility of a spark igniting thc charfe; and (b) the more distinctpossibility of water dama'e to these charges. Each charge ccntains a bagof black powder which absorbs water readily. In a climate as humid asViet Nam, the possibility of moisture damage is considerable.

OBSERVATION: Units should not open propellant charge con-tainers until a fire mission is called.

c. ITEM: "Dad" Artillery and Mortat, ,bmnition.

DISCUSSION: A 10% "dud" rate is expected to occur in artill-ery ammnition. Units have fired particular lots of am.Mnition which haveproduced an abnormally high percentage of "dudb" . Even upon recognition

; of this increased dud percentage some units continued to expend this lot" tof amninition. Dud rounds recovered by the enemy provide him with excell-

ent booby traps which have been effectively used against friendly forces.

OBSERVATION: When units ovserve a particular lot of anmunit-ion to have an excessive "dud" rate, the lot should be locally suspended,reported to higher headquarters, and only used on an extreme emergency.

4 d. ITEM: Abandoned Amprunition

DISCUSSIN: During the past three months several instanceshave occured where units have failed to police all ammunition when leav-ing a -base area. When units are moved to new areas, many rounds of serv-iceable a"munition IA,4ding small arms rounds, rirtar rounds, and Claymoremines, have been left behind. This affords the enemy a ready supply ofarmunition to be used against friendly forces.

OBSERVATION: Units must take special precautions to insurethat all ammunition is removed from the area before abandonment, to avoidits being used against them in the future,

4. (U) TRANSPCUTATION

ITEM: Emergency Airlift Procedures

DISCUSSION: An increasing number of energency airlift requestswithin the Division have resulted in the disruption of scheduled aircraftcommitments. In many cases those requests which had been deemed combatessential in nature have disrupted the flow of supplies which were morecritical in need.

- OBSERVATICN: The .pribrit sy~t l aG Qat~jl in Wm MV Reg 5-4

Annex B rinst be utilized. All mvement requests deemd as eiergencies

CONFIDENTIAL

II

shall be rnrbtdlly screenedpby conmcanders to insure that these requestsare moe essential than the routine movement of supplies to the usingunit.

b. ITEM: Preplanning Emergency Airlift.

DISCUSSION: Emergency airlift are used to augment the normalsupply routes to the using unit. The normal routes can be disrupted atany time and a heavy comnitment is placed upon helicopter airlift to con-tinue resupply to units.

OBSERVATION: A preplanned airlift of one (1) day's suppliershall be included in the logistics portion of an operation order. Supp-lies could be prepackaged and set aside for delivery "on call". Thiswould decrease the time lost in the changover from normal supply channelsto emergency status and increase the time available to complete their

Inormal missions.5. (U) HEADQUARTERS COMPANY

I a. ITEM: Insulation of Billet and Office Roofs.IDISCUSSICN: During the dylight hours semi-permanent struct-

ures used as billets or offices become uncomfortably warm due to the heatdissaptted by the galvanized iron roof. Heat inside these buildings canbe reduced considerably if a false ceiling is constructed from salvagetent liners or styrofoam blocks from ammunition packages.

OBSERVATION: Yore comfortable living and working conditionscan be obtained by the use of salvage tent liners or styrofoam blocks forroof insulation.

i 'T\

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____ ____ ___ ____ ____ ___

-I V-)FGC, (13 AN 7.1 st IadIMJ'~T: 'Wnerjatf Onq.1 1.cT)Ort LeS OnS Learned(cs-so65( )

1,* (1) F.)T vzihe rewith in3 crnth ee csidtrfd prtofthe .. Rerh'2

r,*rr'cA, -,'-vrsh o~f the b:*,sic coruric-,ition.

Su'mort -ydws xtilrtted '-y !JM.RP.,X ZCnt. rq Crder J00-, 6ffect-veO cc 67.

R-.Feferc-nee: Section 7.,p.T-rt T, p~. 3b, PE 1. l'istructi on -to k,-en r"Un ch-arges rr nJy rc)-d 1.ind sealed -prior to, f'irinr hairc

~r~c slntt~dto -:Lll i-t1ie". units in -a Division 'XMIlt-r letterii' 12 P t 67,

%c'ntli~nod in the subject renrrt.

4Capt, AGO'II Asat Adjutant Gener'al'

AVHGO-DST (13 Nov 67) 2d Ind (U)SUBJECT: Operational Report for Quarterly Period Ending 31 October 1967

(RCS-CSFOR-65)

HEAIX UARTERS, UNITED STATES AMIY VIETNAM, APO San Francisco 96375 9 JAN 1968

TO: Commander in Chief, United States Arr, Facific,-ATTN: GPOP-DT,APO 96558

1. This headquarters has reviewed the Operational Report-Lessons Learnedfor the quarterly period ending 31 October 1967 from Headquarters, AmericalDivision Support Command as indorsed.

2. Concur with report as indorsed. Report is considered adequate.

FOR THE CONMiANDER:

Captain. AGCAssistant Adjutant General

Copies furn:HQ, Americal DivHQ, Anerical Div Supt Comd

iIi

GPOP-DT(13 Nov 67) 3d Ind (U)SUBJECT: Operationa Report for the Quarterly Period Ending 31. October

1967 from HQ, Americal Div Spt Comd (RCS CSFOR-65)

HQ, US ARMY, PACIFIC, APO San Francisco 96558 1 9 JAN 1968

TO: Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, Department of-theArmy, Washington, D. C. 20310

This headquarters has evaluated subject report and forwardingindorsements and concurs in the report as indorsed.

FOR THE CCMMANDER IN CHIEF:

HEAVRIN SNYDERCPT, AGCAsst AG

UNC ASSTFJ EDSecurt y CIn,,dtrention

DOCUMENT CONTROL DATA. R & Dl\d(Sectll~ty classlllewon ot fillo, body of abstrcl and Indexld anolntlon munt be onst.tt I when ( ho ov rall report il ell~xmilod)

1, ORIGINATING ACTIVITY (orpottoe ulthor) .. I14CPORT ECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OACSFOR, DA, Washington, D.C. 20310 Confidentlal21.. GROUP

43. REPORT TITLE

Operational Report - Lessons Learned, Headquarters, Americal Division SupportConmand

1, DESCRIPTIVE NOTES (Ty'rpo of report and Incluslve doel.)

Exoeriences of unit enraged in countgrinsurgency operations. 1 Aug 31 Oct 1967S. AUTHORIS) (First nam., middle Initial, test name)

CO, Americal Division Support Command

6. REPORT DATE 74. TOTAL NO. OF' PAGES /b. NO; Or REFS

13 November 1967 13 16d. CONTRACT OR GRANT NO. Ct. ORIGINATOR'S REPORT NUMBERIS)

b. PROJECT NO. AT67 1 6i

N/AC. 0b. OTHlER REPORT NOISt) (Any other number. that may be alined

this report)

8.

10. DISTRISUTION STATEMENT

11-, SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES I12 SPONSORING MILITARY ACTIVITY

13 f N/A A OACSFOR, DA, Washington,. D.C. 20310[13. ITR T

'I

... 7 3...FORMDD I NOV , 4 . UNCLASSIFIED

S.iirsl il v (1t "|I.qj (I ca Itt

U ____________________________________________________F