The following chronology has been edited and transcribed from Official United States Marine Corps Declassified S-3 (Operational) and combat after action reports of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines monthly Command Chronology Reports.

To obtain more detailed Information on the reports please use our contact page.

SEMPER FIDELIS

Commanding Officers.

August 1965 – 22 January 1966 – Capt. J.B. AIROLA

Capt. AIROLA has graciously provided the following historical notes which were kept by GySgt. George J. Trautman during Capt. Airola’s command of Delta Company.

 Operation “Black Ferret”

January 23 – 14 February – 1stLt. D.M. JORDAN

15 February – 22 June – Capt. D.D. BROOKS

August 1965

14 August : Delta Company (CO.) landed In Chu Lai Republic of Viet Nam (RVN.) (Delta Co’s. location Is coordinate (coord.) BT 551027 All of the Company was In place by approximately. 10:40 Hrs.

15 August : Entry 6, Page 10.
Delta Co. Viet Cong Suspects (VCS) to our right flank, Requested Illumination (ILLUM) at 21:50 hrs.

15 August : Entry 7, Page 10.
Delta Co. Probed by Viet Cong (VC) Requested Illum. 5 rounds fired, last round fired at 22:31hrs. with no further sightings. 23:20 hrs.

17 August : Entry 7, Page 11.
Battalion Commander (BN. CO.) Issued orders for Delta Co. to relieve India Co. 3/3 by 12:00 hrs. On the Main Line of Resistance (MLR). 22:40 hrs.

18 August : Entry 6, Page 11.
Delta Co. Now set In “Warehouse 1” Position. At 23:08 hrs.

18 August : Entry 13, Page 12.
Delta Co. Outpost (OP.) Coord. BS 560997 Noted that about 500 meters from the OP. on an azimuth (AZ.) of 170 degrees, Near a large barn, About 200 Civilians moved Into this area & then dispersed Into the hills to the southwest, Believed to still be In the area. Also noted a old VC. Mortar pit that had been used against this OP. before occupied this day. 18:25 hrs.

18 August : Entry 16, Page 12.
Delta Co. Reports possible VCS. behind Bravo Co. Right flank at Coord. BT 555015 at 21:00 hrs. 3 unarmed approached to within 150 meters of MLR. (Sighted during Illum. Registration.) 21:15 hrs.

18 August : Entry 18, Page 12.
Delta Co. Spot Report States that at 21:12 hrs. that they were holding fire until weapons were observed with the 3 VCS. In front of there MLR. The 3 VCS. Moved out of area to the south, Negative (NEG.) contact. 21:35 hrs.

18 August : Entry 21, Page 12.
JUNK FLEET ADVISORY Lt. Hale of the Information Booth reports that, 400 Hard core Viet Cong and 120 Viet Cong Gorillas are located at Coord. BS 650995 & plan to move to coord. BS 620980, Then by Junk to coord. BS 605970 within the next few days, VC will recon area from coord. BT 590010 to BS 530884 with a plan to attack the CHU LAI area within the next 40 to 120 days. 23:08 hrs.

19 August : Entry 2, Page 13.
Delta Co. Ambush Patrol returned, Crossed Co. lines at 06:10 hrs. with Neg. contact. 06:10 hrs.

19 August : Entry 11, Page 14.
Delta Co. Advised to prepare one Platoon (Plt.) for rear area Indigenous Personnel sweep, Rigid riot control measures, sweep will be to rear. Further Instructions to follow. 15:34 hrs.

19 August : Entry 15, Page 14.
Delta Co. Reports Truck at the abandoned Mortar position In front of Delta Co. lines. 21:25 hrs.

19 August : Entry 16, Page 14.
Delta Co. Reports Phone lines cut In there Tactical Area Of Responsibility (TAOR). 21:42 hrs.

20 August : Entry 1, Page 14.
Delta Co. Reports to S-3 that at 24:00 hrs. they have Vehicle movement at top of hill to Delta Co. front, Coord. BS 549997, Commencing at 20:45 hrs. and continuing until present time, Illum. rounds fired “failed to show anything”. 00:05 hrs.

20 August: OPERATION STARLITE:
Delta Co. Uncovered a cave at Coord. 711946 & found the following Items. (1) PRC -10 Radio w/antenna, (2) H-33’s, (1) Civilian Radio, (1) BA -279 Plus 30 rounds of Carbine Ammunition. 10:20 hrs.

20 August : Entry 11, Page 15.
INTERROGATION OF CAPTURED VIET CONG. Indicates that a full 4 Battalions of the first Viet Cong Regiment. 60th. Infantry (INF.), 90th, Inf. 40th. Inf. & the 45th. Inf. with weapons 75mm. (4) 57mm. (12) 81mm. (6) 60mm. (9) AA gun (1). NOTE 2nd. Co. of the 45th. destroyed Air strike conducted by Marines at Vic Nam Yen, The Viet Cong political officer among KIA from the 45th. Two Viet Cong Companys’s (CO’S) were engaged by Marines on this date In Phan Thuy ( 2 Viet Cong prisoners of war (POW’S) state that, 200 VC. were killed by the Marines ) Count could go to as many as 400 by engagements end. 16:45 hrs.

20 August : Entry 12, Page 15.
Delta Co. Reports checking on unknown noise In front of lines (men moving through brush) Firing Illum. rounds to determine If any movement & any equipment. 20:25 hrs.

20 August : Entry 3, Page 16.
Delta Co. Received warning order to prepare to move to Van Tuong by helicopter (HELO’S) to join Operation “Starlight” . 09:00 hrs.

20 August : Entry 14, Page 16.
BN. CO. Issued following order to Delta Co. Seize and Search and return to the Van Tuong-5 area at 07:00 hrs. 08/21/65. 18:02 hrs.

21 August : Entry 15, Page 17.
Delta Co. Positioned on Battalion perimeter defense. 18:28 hrs.

21 August : Entry 18, Page 17.
FRIENDLY FIRE Delta Co. Reports Naval Gunfire (1 round) Landed In CO. area, Killing (KIA) 1 Marine and wounding (WIA) 2,

KIA Marine died at 00:15 hrs. 08/21/65. 23:55 hrs.

21 August : Entry 1, Page 17.
Delta Co. Reports 1 KIA 00:15 hrs.

21 August : Entry 5, Page 17.
Delta Co. Reports finding 2 caves on Its left flank, No action. 07:15 hrs

21 August : Entry 7, Page 17.
Delta Co. Reports 1 dead VC. found to the right rear of there area, Died recently of gun shot wound. 09:20 hrs.

21 August : Entry 8, Page 17.
Delta Co. Reports civilians have not eaten for days, Request chow (food) for them, Negative reply at this time. 09:07 hrs.

21 August : Entry 9, Page 17.
Delta Co. Reports finding a panjii pit to there right flank. 09:08 hrs.

21 August : Entry 13, Page 17.
Delta Co. Located at coord. BS 703937 (Van Tuong -5) Searching and clearing the area. 10:51 hrs.

21 August : Entry 18, Page 18.
Delta Co. Reports 1 Marine Wounded In Action (WIA) coming to Command Post (CP) With Stomach Wound. 13:14 hrs.

21 August : Entry 21, Page 18.
FROM S-3 ACTUAL Informed of CP. location and of Delta Co. actual location. 13:55 hrs.

21 August : Entry 22, Page 18.
Delta Co. Has lost Radio contact. 13:49 hrs.

21 August : Entry 23, Page 18.
Delta Co. Regained Radio contact. 13:55 hrs.

21 August : Entry 30, Page 19.
Delta Co. Is continuing search and clear of Van Tuong -5 Village at this time. 14:35 hrs.

21 August : Entry 31, Page 19.
Delta Co. Returning to Perimeter. 15:10 hrs.

21 August : Entry 35, Page 19.
Delta Co. Set In Perimeter. 15:50 hrs.

21 August : Entry 36, Page 19.
Delta Co. Informed of death of ( second Marine from Naval gunfire Incident Entry 18, Page 17.) The L/CPL. expired at 10:50 hrs. Marine with Stomach wound being worked on at this time. 10:50 hrs.

21 August:
Delta Co.’s first casualties, Corporal Ronald Petrick and Lance Corporal Virgil Barton are both killed by U.S. Naval H&I gunfire. An investigation of the incident attributed the error in the use of incorrect maps by the Navy for the operation. The U.S. Navy was using a French series of Maps while Marines on the ground were using U.S. Maps.

21 August : Entry 38, Page 19.
Delta Co. To assembly area (Inside MLR). 16:10 hrs.

22 August : Entry 6, Page 20.
Delta Co. Just picked up 24 (VCS) males “being Interrogated by S-2, They are all from 20 & 30 years of age. 09:35 hrs.

22 August : Entry 11, Page 21.
Delta Co. Received Warning Order. Be prepared to HELO from your present position to coord. 722953 by 12:00 hrs. to conduct search a clearing of Village, Alpha Co. will assume Battalion Security. 09:45 hrs.

22 August : OPERATION STARLITE
Delta Co. Reported Sniper fire received from corrd. BS 708954, Fire returned. 13:15 hrs.

22 August : Entry 14, Page 21.
Delta Co. Ordered to execute previous order of Search & Clear. 12:25 hrs.

22 August : Entry 15, Page 21.
Delta Co. Departed on HELO’S for mission. 13:35 hrs.

22 August : Entry 16, Page 21.
Delta Co. Went through Van Tuong -4 Village, Found village all burned out. 15:35 hrs.

22 August : Entry 17, Page 21.
Delta Co. Continuing search & clear mission In area of Van Tuong -4. 16:21 hrs.

22 August : Entry 22, Page 21.
Delta Co. Ordered to stay out overnight In the Van Tuong -4 area, Coord. BS 732959. 18:45 hrs.

22 August : Entry 25, Page 22.
Delta Co. Neg. contact In Van Tuong -4 overnight, Continuing mission. 20:50 hrs.

23 August : Entry 1, Page 22.
Delta Co. Leaving present position to continue mission. 07:15 hrs.

23 August : Entry 6, Page 22.
Delta Co. Informed to pick up Marines of Charley Co. CP. Group. (that was seperated from Unit) and to continue mission. 09:08 hrs.

23 August : Entry 8, Page 23.
Delta Co. Reports just picked up 25-30 (VCS) males, All being Interrogated at this time by Popular Forces. 09:45 hrs.

23 August : Entry 10, Page 23.
Delta Co. Instructed to turn over the 29 (VCS) men to S-3 section to be Interrogated. 10:00 hrs.

24 August : Entry 1, Page 24.
Delta Co. Sent out patrol to clear all Civilians from rear of MLR. “wood cutters” Gathering fire-wood, Reported to be In area. 15:30 hrs.

24 August :NOTE: Operation STARLITE Terminated and NO JOURNAL ENTRIES RECORDED AFTER 15:30 HRS. 08/24/65 UNTIL 18:34 HRS. 08/28/65

28 August : Entry 2, Page 24.
Delta Co. Reports via Land Line (LL) that they have 1 Local Woman without proper ID card. 18:34 hrs.

28 August : Entry 4, Page 25.
Delta Co. Forward Observer (FO.) reported VCS. Moving In area of Coord. 582960, Fired ILLUM. Neg. contact. 23:30 hrs.

29 August : Entry 6, Page 25. (Late Entry)
Delta Co. OP. Reports Drum beats on metal object, 800 meters to his front at an az. of 2800 degrees. 22:50 hrs.

30 August : Entry 7, Page 26.
Delta Co. Reports fire team patrol (Recon Patrol) departing lines at this time. 00:30 hrs.

30 August : Entry 25, Page 27.
Delta Co. Ordered to provide 1 fire team as security for Landing Vehicle Track (LVT.) # 45 at coord. BT 540032, Security element will remain until dawn when vechicle recovery team will attempt recovery of LVT. 21:35 hrs.

31 August : Entry 3, Page 28.
Delta Co. Patrol departed lines at this time. 01:00 hrs.

31 August : Entry 8, Page 18.
Delta Co. Patrol back In lines at this time. 06:55 hrs.

31 August : Entry 10, Page 18.
Delta Co. Patrol departed lines at this time. 07:00 hrs.

31 August : Entry 21, Page 28.
Delta Co. Patrol back In lines at this time. 11:45 hrs.

31 August : Entry 28, Page 29.
ALL UNITS ADVISED. An unconfirmed report Indicates that a buildup of enemy troops In the CHU LAI area, Supporting an Increase of a possibility of attack, Commanders advised to Insure that all Marines are Informed to be on alert for Probes. 21:00 hrs.

31 August : Entry 32, Page 29.
Delta Co. Marines Informed of Advisory. 21:35 hrs.

August Journal closed