OPERATION WAYNE GREY

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

OPERATION WAYNE GREY

The following information was extracted from Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division's Combat Operation After Action Report for Operation Wayne Grey, 30 April 1969.

Operation Wayne Grey was conducted by the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
from 1 March 1969 to 14 April 1969 in Plei Trap, Kontum Province, RVN.

On 2 April the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry was put under the operational control of the 1st Brigade.

In reaction to the locating of a large enemy force in the vicinity of the Cu Don and the enemy's willingness to remain and fight, five B-52 strikes were conducted in the area to prepare for the combat assault of 1/22 Infantry.

On 2 April 1/22 Inf CHOP 1st Bde. A and C 1/22 AL to LZ CIDER and moved overland to YA821795. B, D and Rcn 1/22 combat assulted to YA806827.

On 3 April, 1/22 Inf attacked toward Objective Red (YA8280). 2C 1/22 made contact with an unknown size enemy force at YA816795. The platoon was reinforced by C 1/22 (-) and ordered to withdraw. Results were 1 NVA KIA, 1 US KIA, and 14 US WIA. B 1/22 made contact with an unknown size force at YA805818 rsulting in 1 KCS WIA. The company withdrew to its NL vic YA808822.

On 5 April C 3/8 AL from YA826906 to Hill 871 (YA806825) and CHOP 1/22 Inf. 1/22 Inf moved recon patrols to objective areas to establish blocking positions. 1D 1/22 on recon observed 4 NVA in bunkers vic YA813823. The platoon withdrew and airstrikes and artillery were employed. The platoon sent recon patrols in the afternoon into the area and found an extensive bunker complex. As the unit reconnoitered the hill by fire, the enemy suddenly attacked from the bunkers on top of the hill and from the flanks with small arms and B40 rockets. 2D 1/22 was dispatched to assist in the evacuation of casualties and also made contact with a flanking enemy force. Contact was broken at 1620 resulting in 23 NVA KIA, 20 possible NVA KIA, 1 US KIA, 5 US KIA (MIA), and 17 US WIA.

From 6-9 April, the objective area was saturated with airstrikes and artillery. LRPs were employed to recon the area for evidence of enemy forces in strength. On 10 April D 1/22 moved to YA815824 and recovered 4 MIA. L1B found 9 MIA from A 3/12 Inf. On 11 April D 1/22 recovered 1 MIA and C 3/12 recovered 2 additional MIA. All were evacuated.

On 13 April 1/22 Inf was final extracted from the Cu Don to Polei Kleng and CHOP 2d Bde. A, C and Rcn 3/8 Inf were also extracted and CHOP 2d Bde. On 14 APril 3/12 Inf(-) and 3/8 Inf(-) were extracted to Mary Lou. 3/12 Inf prepared for deployment to Camp radcliff. 3/8 Inf(-) CHOP 2d Bde.

The battles in the Cu Don are significant in the fact that an enemy base area was disrupted. The tenacity with which the enemy defended the area gave evidence that he had something to protect. His attacks by fire and harassing sniper fires were designed to hold US forces until he could evacuate or hide his equipment. When US forces came close to his base, his defenses were organized as ambushes. Despite these designs, the 3/12 Inf and the 1/22 Inf were successful in inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. An unkown number of enemy were undoubtedly killed in the heavy air and artillery bombardment. As the operation concluded, indications were that the enemy had retreated toward Cambodia.

Results of the operation were:

a) Enemy Losses

KIA-575

POW-4

b) Friendly Losses

US KIA-106

US WIA-437

US MIA-8

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