Battle of Chu Moor S-3 Logs Page Two

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Battle of Chu Moor Mountain

A View of the Battle as seen through the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry S-3 Radio Logs

Page Two - April 25, 1968

Smoke rises from airstrikes in the valleys around Chu Moor Mountain

Photo by Roger Salber

Item No.-----Time-----Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc.

12-----------0735----D Co has movement to NW, are going to recon by fire.

14-----------0800----A Co 1st Platoon found NVA helmet with markings inside, LAI1/9.

16-----------0806----D Co just shot 2 snipers out of the trees.

19-----------0844----D Co has snipers around him, not a large unit.

20-----------0846----D Co has contact with enemy snipers.

22-----------0905----Red 16 just received fire from the west.

23-----------0912----D Co had 2 explosions from his south. Negative rockets from guns.

24-----------0915----C Co reports his FO hears sounds coming from north to northeast.

25-----------0920----D Co reports mortars have stopped and are receiving sniper fire at this time.

26-----------0923----D Co reports he believes the mortars are 60mm and are coming from the SW.

27-----------0926----D Co CO reports that he is in heavy contact at this time.

30-----------0937----D Co CO requests a basic load of ammo.

35-----------0949----D Co needs dustoff for 1 man with leg almost cut off, also needs ammo.

37-----------1003----D Co has 2 WIA - 1 real serious.

39-----------1009----D Co has contact with company size force.

40-----------1010----Gator 524 has been hit, has 1 WIA crew member, has neg oil pressure, 15/more hits.

41-----------1015----A Co 3rd platoon hears what he thinks are outgoing mortars at location YA870909, heard 4/5 rds.

47-----------1053----D Co has sniper to NW & N side - about 2 of them.

50-----------1106----D Co has 4 WIA today & 7 confirmed NVA KIA's.

51-----------1112----D Co contact started again.

52-----------1118----Airstrike over, Tornado White going in.

53-----------1120----Had 1 secondary explosion during airstrike.

55-----------1122----Cider 30 received ground fire from sniper, YA838891, using 20mm now.

66-----------1213----Airstrike is completed at this time.

67-----------1215----D Co reports receiving incoming mortars as the airstrike was being put in.

70-----------1229----Tornado 21 finished at this time. Gambler 9 is going in.

73-----------1236----Gambler 9 finished at this time. Will start Redleg at this time.

79-----------1322----D Co has 23 WIA; 1st platoon-8/2nd platoon-11/3rd platoon-4/Hq platoon-0.

80-----------1332----D Co has 1 NVA KIA, 8 all total.

82-----------1337----D Co FO just got wounded, registered fire.

84-----------1340----D Co has a total of 25 WIA.

86-----------1350----A Co location YA858909, this location found fresh bunkers 3/4 days old.

87-----------1352----Airstrike going in at this time.

92-----------1418----D Co has 24 WIA / 6 of which are serious.

95-----------1421D -D Co CO informs that he has contact from NW and has received 2 B-40 rockets from NW.

98-----------1431----D Co has 1 KIA & 25 WIA.

100--------- 1440----D Co informed us that enemy size is Co or larger.

107----------1517----Quiet at D Co location at this time.

108----------1519----Dustoff 34 got the worst wounded out, 1 WIA dustoff now.

109----------1530----D Co at this time has another KIA, US.

115----------1618----Dustoff of 4 WIA (not serious) completed & Tornado guns departed D Co location. Will be back in
------------------------ 30 minutes to pick up the remaining 3 WIA's.

119----------1640----D Co has 2 additional WIA's that have to be lifted out which will make a total of 5.

121----------1650----D Co reports another B-40 rocket incoming at this time, from west.

124----------1700----C Co has movement to their front at this time.

126----------1704----C Co is pulling back into perimeter and waiting on prep of Redleg to his front.

129----------1723----D Co has dusted off 7 and still has 3 to go.

134----------1755----D CO 3rd platoon on their LZ are receiving shrap-metal from airstrike.

135----------1757----D Co at this time has 2 NVA left to be dusted off. Has 1 of them on pad & 1 KIA to be taken out.

136----------1802 ---D Co has had 9 WIA's dusted off.

137----------1803----C Co CO says he hears mortar tubes popping at this time and is shooting azimuth to it at this time.

138----------1808----Airstrike completed at this time.

143--------------------C Co CO says enemy is in saddle of coordinates YA843886.

145----------1847----D Co casualties as follows: 1st platoon-10 WIA's, 2 KIA's/ 2nd platoon-13 WIA's, 0 KIA/ 3rd platoon-
-------------------------5 WIA's, 0 KIA/ Hq platoon-2 WIA's, 0 KIA. Still has 13 to be lifted.

147----------1910----Airstrike completed at this time.

150----------1950----D Co 3rd platoon reports last WIA lifted.

151----------2005----Spooky 21 was requested by Dustoff 34 at 1845 hrs. Spooky is now working for this unit.

155----------2039----D Co confirmed NVA KIA count at 2 yesterday.

157----------2046----D Co CO reports the following information on enemy element:
---------------------------------Among the personal gear on enemy bodies were found some new uniforms, some small bags
----------------------------and 2/3 letter diaries, handkerchiefs and scarfs, possibly from wives or sweethearts from home.
----------------------------For headgear most of them were wearing camouflaged hats and carrying potato masher grenades.
----------------------------The unit was observed, yesterday, carrying heavy packs but today they had no packs. Captured
----------------------------were estimated: 1 SKS, 2 AK-47's, 1 RPD machine gun, 2 magazines. Also, found brand new AK-47
----------------------------ammo clips, some still in wrappings. A pair of green goggles, no gas masks. All foot gear were
----------------------------HCM sandals.
---------------------------------1 KIA yesterday did not fit the description of a Vietnamese or Montagnard. He was very
----------------------------yellowed skin and smooth complected about 5'3", 120 lbs, 18-19 years old.
---------------------------------D Co also reports today had about 6 B-40 rockets incoming.

158----------2126----30 casualties were dusted off. 8 serious.

Citation for the award of the Bronze Star Medal for Valor to SGT Buddy Wright

For heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam.

Sergeant Wright distinguished himself while serving as a Team Leader with Company D, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry,
4th Infantry Division. On 25 April 1968, Sergeant Wright's company was in a defensive perimeter on Chu Moor Hill,
west of Kontum City surrounded by an estimated battalion of North Vietnamese Regulars. Sergeant Wright, a member of a
sweep platoon moved forward of the perimeter to clear an area in order to enlarge their perimeter. As the unit advanced it came
under heavy sniper fire. Sergeant Wright, who was the point man, saw that his squad leader was in trouble so he quickly made
his way to his leader. He continuously exposed himself to enemy fire, with complete disregard for his own safety, so that he
could throw grenades at the attacking insurgents. His brave actions in the face of danger were inspiring to the rest of the company
and undoubtedly saved numerous lives. Sergeant Wright's personal bravery, professional skill, and exemplary devotion to duty
are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

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