1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

 

 

OPERATION PAUL REVERE IV

1966

 

 

 

 

 

This information was extracted from U.S. Army Headquarters, 4th Infantry Division,
Combat Operations After Action Report (RCS:MACV J3-32) 28 January 1967

 

The following are the incidents involving the 1/22 Infantry Battalion:*

 

On November 5 1966, A Company, 1st Battalion 22d Infantry made contact with an estimated two platoons of NVA at 0935 hours
in the vicinity of YA700532. The enemy initiated fire from prepared positions against advancing friendly troops. This was considered
to be part of a delaying action. The volume of fire seemed to be five to seven automatic weapons firing initial bursts of 30 to 60 rounds,
expending a total of about 900 rounds followed by a 15 to 20 minute lull. Fire was resumed by the enemy at a sustained rate of
eight to 10 rounds per minute. When the firing started about 25 percent of the friendly troops were within 25 to 50 meters
of the enemy position. Results of this engagement were three US KIA, eight US WIA and six NVA KIA.

On the night of 10 November, A Company, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry received 20 mortar rounds and heavy small arms fire
from northwest of their position at YA677566. The Battalion remained in contact with an estimated company size force for
approximately two hours resulting in three US KIA and 20 US WIA.

A PW captured on 11 November as a result of this action stated that he was a member of the K6 Battalion, 95B Regiment
located in the vicinity of YA702549.

12 November, A Company and the Recon Platoon, 1st Battalion 22d Infantry located an NVA base area with five NVA bodies at YA678571.

18 November, B Company, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry discovered a fortified base area on the west side of the Nam Sathay
at YA650650. An air strike was called on the area. Traces of blood were found after the strike and also 300 pounds of rice
and a trail leading southwest.

Another captive taken on 24 November by B Company, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry in the vicinity of YA669740, claimed to be
a member of the H-20 Engineer Company, 32d Regiment, which he located in the vicinity of YA701716. He also said
that the 32d Regiment Headquarters had been located in the vicinity of YA669720 since about 3 November.

On 25 November, B Company, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry captured one PW vicinity of YA659737 who stated that he
belonged to the H-20 Engineer Company, 32 Regiment, and that five days earlier his company had been located in the
vicinity of YA685712. Numerous visual reconnaissance reports and other reports from reliable sources, indicated a
possible large unit concentration in the vicinity of YA7071, YA7074, YA7471, and YA7474. The sighting of numerous
anti-aircraft positions and other activity indicated that the area bounded by coordinates YA6469, YA6485, YA6885, and
YA6879 was being prepared for receipt of a large enemy headquarters. Frequent sightings of rafts, wood and log bridges
and trail activity along the Nam Sathay between YA670781 and YA727870 indicated extensive enemy activity in that area.

In an area of dense undergrowth in the vicinity of YA659754, B Company, 1st battalion, 22d Infantry located a large number
of enemy troops late on the afternoon of 27 November. One NVA soldier taken prisoner identified his unit as the 2d Battalion,
95B Regiment, but he was unable to provide its location.

On 29 November, in the vicinity of YA656755, B Company, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry made contact with three NVA soldiers,
taking one captive. The captive identified his unit as the 2d Battalion, 95B Regiment and stated that four days earlier it was
located near a stream in the vicinity of YA692723. Its mission was to remain at that location and act as a blocking force.

An NVA Sergeant, who had been separated from his unit, was captured in the same area on 4 December by B Company,
1st Battalion, 22d Infantry. The sergeant identified his unit as the 5th Battalion, 88th Regiment, and stated that the unit in contact
on that area on 2 December was an element of the 88th Regiment. He stated that until approximately one month ago, the
88th Regiment had the mission of ambushing US heliborne troops at landing zones, but that heavy casualties had caused
a change in mission. According to the captive, the 5th Battalion had been ordered to assume the mission of locating and
ambushing Special Forces and CIDG patrols. To the north, on 2 December, A Company, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry, located
a 75 bed hospital in the vicinity of YA646746. Several documents found in the hospital area indicated that it had been used
by the 32d Regiment. One NVA soldier was killed in that location.

3 December, the 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry located and destroyed two tons of rice in the vicinity of YA654756. The area
also contained a 59 bunker complex and one hut, all of which were destroyed. Three tons of rice from the same vicinity were evacuated.

6 December, at 2010 hours, C Company, 1st Battlion, 22d Infantry received approximately four mortar rounds outside their
perimeter, vicinity YA668827. The Recon Platoon found one 82mm mortar tube and base plate vicinity of YA655741.

In the vicinity of YA635729 on 9 December, B Company, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry, captured one badly wounded NVA soldier
who stated that he was a member of the 2d Transportation Battalion, 10th NVA Division, and that he had been separated from
his unit 12 days previously after a B-52 strike. On 10 December in the vicinity of YA626719, A Company, 1st Battalion,
22d Infantry located a large village, estimated to be regimental size and very recently evacuated. The village included kitchens,
latrines, possible classrooms, 50 by 30 foot sleeping quarters, and underground trenches, used as air raid shelters. Diggings
estimated to be one day old were also found in the area. On 11 December, A Company made contact with two NVA soldiers
in a village located in the vicinity of YA607714. One NVA Lieutenant was captured, who claimed that he was assigned as a
platoon leader in the 3d Company, K4 Battalion, 10th Regiment, 320th Division. According to the Lieutenant, the regimental mission
was to ambush an American Battalion that had landed in a landing zone in the vicinity of YA638777 on 8 December. The prisoner
also said that, as of 10 December, the regimental headquarters was located in the vicinity of YA610770, and that its subordinate
elements, the 4th, 5th, and 6th Battalions, were located in the vicinity of YA6074, YA6079, and YA 6082 respectively. Analysis
of all available order of battle indicated that the 10th Regiment was probably the 32d NVA Regiment. On 12 December,
1st Battalion, 22d Infantry located a village of 15 huts capable of housing a battalion in the vicinity of YA606715.

12 December, the 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry engaged four NVA at YA601712. Results were one NVA KIA, two AK-47 rifles captured,
and 800 pounds of rice and two grenades destroyed. A search of the area revealed three NVA soldiers' graves, estimated to be several days old.

In the vicinity of YA635772, on 15 December, C Company, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry located a village of 20 huts, a kitchen,
a latrine and a possible 10 to 12 bed hospital. Also found were 10 incomplete huts that appeared to have been built within the last 72 hours.
The large amount of military and personal equipment left in the area indicated that it had been hastily evacuated within the previous 24 hours.

There was a mortar attack against the 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry Command Post, located at YA656757, on 18 December. Twenty-five
to 30 rounds of 82mm mortars were fired from northwest of the command post location, but all rounds fell outside the battalion perimeter.

19 December the 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry ( - ) was airlifted from their fire support base to the Division Base Camp at Dragon Mountain.

Operations continued on 20 December with elements of the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry and 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry completing
their airlift to the Division Base Camp at Dragon Mountain.

 

RESULTS:

a. Summary of Enemy Personnel and Equipment Losses.

(1) Personnel:          
  (a) KIA (BC)      

878
  (b) PW's (NVA)      

44
  (c) Detainees      

138
    1. PW's (VC)    

34
    2. Civil Defendents    

43
    3. Innocent Civilians    

47
    4. Returnees    

14
           
(2) Weapons:          
           
TYPE  

AMOUNT

    

TOTAL
           
   

2d Bde

  

3d Bde

  
   

4th Inf Div

  

25th Inf Div

  
           
AK-47  

62

  

42

104
RPD  

1

  

6

7
SKS  

16

  

27

43
7.62 Carbine  

1

    

1
MAS-36      

2

2
SG-43  

1

  

1

2
Pistol, U.S. Cal .45  

1

    

1
RPG-2  

1

  

9

10
Pistol, 9mm      

1

1
7.92mm Mauser  

1

    

1
U.S. .30 Cal Carbine      

1

1
7.62 LMG, Soviet (RP-46)  

6

    

6
60mm Mortar, Chicom  

1

    

1
82mm Mortar  

1

    

1
Bangalore Torpedo  

2

    

2
           
(3) Ammunition:          
           
7.62  

4,850

  

4,680

9,530
12.7  

550

    

550
RPG-2  

1

  

26

27
.30 Cal  

30

    

30
81/82mm Mortar  

15

  

22

37
           
(4) Explosives:          
           
Hand Grenades  

119

  

98

217
TNT  

1 lb

  

4 3/4 lbs

5 3/4 lbs
           
(5) Equipment:          
           
Canteens  

20

  

1

21
Shovels  

22

  

4

26
Clothing Sets  

3

    

3
Packs  

3

  

64

67
Flashlights      

4

4
Gas Masks  

5

  

1

6
Telephones  

1

  

2

3
Web Gear  

24

  

2

26
Mosquito Nets      

15

15
Ponchos  

37

  

19

56
Magazine, AK-47  

93

  

20

113
Magazine, SKS  

9

    

9
Magazine RPD-56  

10

    

10
Binoculars      

1

1
Radios      

1

1
Antenna      

1

1
Commo Wire  

1/2 mi

    

1/2mi
Compass      

1

1
           
(6) Miscellaneous:          
           
Printing Press w/6 boxes of type      

1

1
           
(7) Foodstuffs:          
           
Rice  

7 1/2 ton

  

14.7 ton

24.7 ton

3/4 Cav:

       1 ton

1/10 Cav:

       1 3/4 ton  
Salt  

1/2 ton

    

1/2 ton
           
(8) Structures destroyed:          
           
Bunkers  

292

  

228

520
Huts  

452

  

241

701

1/10 Cav:

       8  
Tunnels  

1

  

1

2
Foxholes  

235

  

85

320
Boats/Rafts  

20

  

1

21
           
           

b. Summary of Friendly Personnel Losses:

    Dead (B)   Inj (B)   Dead (NB)   Inj (NB)
                 
4th Inf Div ( - )  

49

  

354

  

20

  

99
3d Bde 25th inf Div  

61

  

186

      

27
                 
TOTALS:  

110

  

540

  

20

  

126
                 

 

 

 

* Thanks to Lou Talley for obtaining and loaning these reports and to George Heidt for extracting the sections pertinent to 1st Battalion.

 

 

 

 

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