On January 01, 1968, TF 1/5th(M) was released from OPCON to the 1st Brigade. The battalion held a defensive posture and conducted security patrolling in the northwest portion of the Michelin Rubber Plantation in the area of XT 520522. On January 02, 1968, at 1200 hours, the 1/5th(M) became OPCON to the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Company C of the 3/22 Infantry and Company B of the 4/23rd(M) became attached to the 1/5th(M). The task force conducted a road march to a new night location, southwest of Highway 22 and 247. On January 03, 1968, Company A provided security for a Fire Support Base located at XS 728926. An APC from Company A detonated an AT mine killing three Bobcats and wounding several others. The remainder of the task force conducted RIF operations in the area. On January 04, 1968, TF 1/5th(M) conducted cordon and search operations in the area of Binh Hanh at XS 7197 and 7296. The Recon Platoon provided security for the battalion forward base. On January 05, 1968, the task force conducted cordon and search operations in the area of XS 7303. One Bobcat from company A died in hospital from the wounds he received on January 03. On January 06, 1968, TF 1/5th(M) conducted RIF operations in the area of XT 7200. One Popular Forces Company blocked along the road on the north side of the village. APCs from the 1/5th(M) blocked on the south and the west. On January 07, 1968, combined RIF operations were conducted with two Popular Forces platoons from Tam Binh District in the area of XS 728953 and 723915. On January 08, 1968, at 1100 hours, the 1/5th(M) became OPCON to the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. The battalion then conducted a road march to Dau Tieng. On January 09, 1968, Companies C and D of the 3/22nd Infantry became OPCON to the 1/5th(M). The battalion remained at Dau Tieng. On January 10, 1968, the battalion conducted cordon and search operations in the Michelin Plantation in the area of XT 520497. At 1145 hours, three Bobcats from Company C were wounded when a booby trapped hand grenade was detonated. On January 11, 1968, the 1/5th(M) Task Force continued daylight patrolling in the Michelin Plantation. At 1043 hours Company D, 3/22nd Infantry engaged one VC at XT 534475. During a sweep of the contact area one short wave radio, a map with positions plotted, one bicycle and miscellaneous documents were located. Two Bobcats from Company B were killed by shrapnel from an explosion. On January 12, 1968, elements of the Task Force continued company size operations in the Michelin Plantation, primarily in the area of XT 5252. At 0755 hours, Company A received 5 RPG rounds along with small arms and automatic weapon fire in the area of XT 436448 in the Ben Cui Rubber Plantation. Fire was returned with unknown results. One tank and two APCs received minor damage. One Bobcat was wounded. At 1320 hours, Company C 1/5th(M) and Company D 3/22nd Infantry conducted a cordon and search of Ap Chanh(2) located at XT 518518 with negative results. At 1528 hours, Company C received 5 or 6 rounds of 60mm mortar fire in the area of XT 522518. One Bobcat was killed. The enemy fire was returned with mortars and a helicopter LFT with unknown results. At 1759 hours, Company C located and destroyed a tilt rod mine. On January 13, 1968, units of the task force conducted S&D operations in the “Michelin” with no enemy contact. On January 14, 1968, the battalion and its attachments continued S&D operations in the Michelin Rubber Plantation. At 1406 hours Company C received sporadic automatic weapons fire in the area of XT 545487. The AW fire was returned with artillery shelling with unknown results. On January 15, 1968, company size operations continued in the Michelin. At 0840 hours Company C received four 60mm mortar rounds and automatic weapons fire in the area of XT 554537. Artillery was fired at the suspected enemy positions with unknown results. Two Bobcats from Company C were killed in the action. On January 16, 1968, the battalion continued sweep operations in the plantation. On January 17th, Company C, 1/5th(M), established a blocking position while Companies C and D of the 3/22nd Infantry conducted an airmobile combat assault. At 1020 hours, Company C, 1/5th(M) made contact with an unknown sized VC force. They killed three VC by body count and suffered one Bobcat wounded. On January 18, 1968, Company D, 3/22nd Infantry was released OPCON from 1/5th(M) and was airlifted to FSB Burt. Company B, 3/22nd Infantry was air lifted to Dau Tieng and became OPCON to the 1/5th(M). Company C, 3/22nd Infantry remained OPCON to the 1/5th(M). Map 16 Dau Tieng and Michelin Rubber Plantation. Map 17 Dau Tieng and Michelin Rubber Plantation. On January 19, 1968, elements of the task force conducted S&D operations in the Michelin Plantation and the area south of Dau Tieng. At 1723 hours, an APC from Company B, which was escorting a convoy on Highway 239 through the Ben Cui Rubber Plantation, was hit by an RPG round. Two Bobcats were killed instantly. While attempting to get the driver out of the damaged APC, another Bobcat from Company B was shot and killed. He had run over to the track that got hit, jumped on top and grabbed a hold of the driver, who had been wounded and was attempting to pull him out. A shot rang out and he fell off the track, into the ditch and died before anyone got to him. The bullet had hit him in the side. From January 20, 1968 to January 22, 1968, the task force continued operations in the Dau Tieng area. On January 23, 1968, at 0600 hours the 1/5th(M) was relieved from OPCON to the 3rd Brigade. At 1015 hours, the battalion became OPCON to the 1st Brigade and departed the 3rd Brigade area of operations. On January 27, 1968, the 1/5th(M)(-) was released from OPCON to the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. On January 29, 1968, at 0500 hours, the 1/5th(M) became OPCON to the 3rd Brigade. The battalion secured a fire support base northeast of the intersection of Highways 19 and 13 in the area of XT 384626. They then prepared to link up with the 2/22nd(M). On January 30, 1968, the battalion forward base was located near the intersection of Highways 19 and 13 at XT 371630. Units of the battalion provided convoy security between Tay Ninh and Loc Ninh. Elements also conducted defensive patrolling in the area. On January 31, 1968, the 1/5th(M)(-) was released from OPCON to the 3rd Brigade and became OPCON to the 1st Brigade. Company B, 1/5th(M) remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor. At 2144 hours, an intelligence report indicated that there were 800 VC heading for Tay Ninh market. During January 1968, 12 Bobcats died in Viet Nam. They were: Harry B. Bartholomew; James L. Scherer; Paul R. Striepe; Bruce J. Moran; Larry F. Kujawa; Leonard H. Snead Jr.; Bernard C. Mattson; Harry J. Boston;Brian T. Cady; Charles E. Davis; Michael P. Halpin; and Jack J. Kupferer. For the Quarterly Period ending January 31, 1968 the 25th Infantry Division reported the following: Friendly casualties - KIA: 344; WIA: 1,259; MIA: 0; NBD: 17; NBI: 168. There was a shortage of Infantry Captains during the Quarter and the shortage of Infantry NCOs continued to be a problem. VC Activity: In November and December 1967 VC activities were primarily directed to delaying and harassment operations. During January 1968, VC offensive activity increased. The large number of attacks by fire are believed to have been conducted to cover the movement of VC forces to the Saigon area. By creating a threat to the base camps, the VC had hoped to restrict allied reinforcing capabilities to the population centers, where their main ground efforts were directed. The main infiltration routes ran, generally, north to south, east to west. The north to south route started in the “Fish Hook” area well north of the 2nd Brigade area of operations and ran south through War Zone C, the Michelin Rubber Plantation, the Trapezoid and down to the Boi Loi and Ho Bo Woods. The east to west started in the “Angel’s Wing” area and forked both northeast and into the Citadel and then southwest toward Saigon on multiple approaches. These infiltration routes were the standard ones used by the enemy prior to the TET Offensive of 1968. Road convoys continued to be the primary method of resupply for the Cu Chi, Tay Ninh, and Dau Tieng base camps. During the Quarter there were: Cu Chi to Saigon – 182 convoys. Saigon to Cu Chi / Tay Ninh – 179 convoys. Tay Ninh to Dau Tieng – 178 convoys. Tay Ninh to Katum – 48 convoys. Tay Ninh to Suoi Dau – 61 convoys. Tay Ninh to Hoc Mon – 46 convoys. On February 01, 1968, the 1/5th(M)(-) base was located at Tay Ninh West. One platoon from Company C departed at 1135 hours to provide security for engineers who would be repairing a culvert on Highway 239, west of the Ben Cui. The platoon closed back at the forward base at 1530 hours with negative contact. At 2200 hours, an intelligence report was received from brigade indicating that two VC battalions were located 24 kilometers south of Tay Ninh , 3 kilometers inside South Viet Nam from the Cambodian border. On February 02, 1968, Company B 1/5th(M) was returned to operational control of the battalion. At 0655 hours, a mortar attack was launched on Cu Chi base camp. The 4/23rd Infantry ammo dump was hit and the resulting explosions destroyed the Bobcat Headquarters and B Company areas. B Company and Headquarters Company mess halls were totaled. Company A and C mess halls were damaged. Two Bobcats were wounded. The battalion moved from West Tay Ninh to a new base location 2 kilometers northeast of Tay Ninh at XT 281528. At 1030 hours, one platoon from Company C left the forward base area to secure an engineer work party who were to repair two bridge sites and install AVLBs on Highway 26, east of Tay Ninh in grid square 3148. Elements from the battalion conducted S&D operations in that area also. On February 03, 1968, at 0710 hours, Company B sent 4 APCs to escort engineer dump trucks to the rock quarry and then to the bridge site. At 0815 hours, the Recon Platoon escorted a convoy to Tay Ninh. Map 18 Tay Ninh area. On February 04, 1968, Company A departed the forward base at 0630 hours for operations in the area of grid XT 3256. Company C departed at 0705 hours to provide security for engineer activities and secure convoys. Company B departed at 0747 hours for operations in the area of grid XT 3249. The Recon Platoon provided convoy escort. At 1050 hours an APC from Company C hit a mine on Highway 4, on the north side of Nui Ba Den at XT 284618. Three Bobcats were wounded and dusted off. The APC was a combat loss. On February 05, 1968, elements of the battalion conducted S&D operations in the area 5000 meters east of where Highways 13 and 26 split, east of Tay Ninh. Other units conducted convoy security and provided protection for engineer road repair crews. That night ambushes and listening posts were deployed, as always. On February 06, 1968, the battalion moved to a new forward base area at XT 283509, which was east of Tay Ninh, just north of Ap Phuoc Hoa on Highway 26. Elements of the battalion provided security for a convoy from Tay Ninh to Go Dau Ha and also secured engineer activities in the area. On February 07, 1968, two platoons from Company B departed the forward base at 0645 to begin road clearing operations. Company C provided protection for a convoy traveling from Katum to Tay Ninh. At 1048 hours, Company C requested that the convoy leader be contacted and advised to have people in the convoy cease firing their M-16s into the wood line along the route, as this was endangering the security elements posted along the route. Elements also provided partial escort for a convoy from Tay Ninh to Cu Chi. One platoon from Company B spent the night providing security for part of the convoy due to mechanical problems with some of the convoy vehicles. On February 08, 1968, elements again provided security for engineer activities and convoy escort and route protection. At 1012 hours, a message from Tropic 6 advised that it may be necessary for the 1/5th(M) to move their forward base south on notice. At 1843 hours, the Recon platoon reported one man wounded by sniper fire, no dust off needed. At 2016 hours, the Tay Ninh ammo dump was hit by a friendly “short round”. At 2131 hours, Company B had two Bobcats wounded from an incoming 60mm mortar round. On February 09, 1968, Company B conducted a RIF of the area, checking for any enemy buildup. Company C conducted convoy and route security. At 1450 hours, Company B was ordered OPCON to the 4/23 and proceeded to join them south of Go Dau Ha. At 1708 hours, Company B reported that one Bobcat received 2nd degree burns over 70% of his body when the radiator on his vehicle blew. At 1720 hours Company B met up with the 4/23. On February 10, 1968, the 1/5th(M)(-) was released from OPCON to the 1st Brigade and went OPCON to the 2nd Brigade. At 1820 hours the battalion(-) closed Cu Chi base camp. At 2326 hours the battalion left Cu Chi base camp and became OPCON to the 3rd Brigade. On February 11, 1968, at 0058 hours, the battalion arrived at a forward base located some 3000 meters northwest of Tan Son Nhut at XS 773993. During the day the battalion was deployed in a blocking position northeast of Tan Son Nhut airfield at XT 833993. On February 12, 1968, the battalion remained in a blocking posture. At 1400 hours, the 1/5th(M) was instructed to set up a new night position at Tan Hiep, located 2000 meters north of Hoc Mon at XT 7406. All units closed the new forward base by 1900 hours. Night ambushes and LPs were deployed. Map 19Tan Son Nhut and Hoc Mon. On February 13, 1968, Companies B and C departed the perimeter for S&D operations in the area. At 0830 hours, Company B had one mortar APC catch fire and burn out of control. There were no injuries. Units from the Recon platoon secured the vehicle till it finally blew up at 0930 hours. During the search of their respective objective areas Companies B and C located VC bodies, ammo, weapons, equipment and documents. All elements closed the battalion perimeter by 1900 hours. Also on the 13th, a misdirected B-52 strike caused considerable damage to Ap Binh Dong Hamlet at XT 8406. 51 civilians were killed and 93 were injured. On February 14, 1968, The battalion conducted RIF operations. Company B and Company C worked the area east of Hoc Mon. Company A worked the area 6 kilometers south of Hoc Mon. Companies B and C began blowing bunkers they encountered in their respective areas and discovered VC bodies, weapons, equipment, and a number of US weapons and documents. At 1210 hours, Company C reported light contact with an unknown sized enemy force 2 kilometers northeast of Hoc Mon. The fight escalated and an APC from Company C was hit by an RPG and caught fire. Company C requested a dust-off for 3 wounded Bobcats at 1344 hours. At 1436 hours they reported one Bobcat killed. Company B and the Recon platoon reinforced the Company C elements. At 1631 hours, a dust-off was requested for three more wounded Bobcats. At 1800 hours, tank cannons and artillery were fired to cover an attempt to extract wounded from the contact area. At 1823 hours ,Company C requested a dust-off. Two wounded and one dead Bobcat were placed on this dust-off. At 1855 hours, Companies B and C set up a perimeter. All the wounded were dusted-off. At 2006 hours, it was reported that 6 Bobcats from Company C and one Bobcat from Company B were known to be dead, but that the bodies of six of them had not yet been recovered. On February 15, 1968, an assault was planned into the area of Company C’s previous contact. The area was prepped with Artillery and air strikes during the night. Company B, Company C and Troop B, ¾ Cavalry began the sweep (XT 777045) at 0720 hours. At 0945 hours, the units involved in the sweep reported negative contact. At 1137 hours, five of the MIAs were located at XT 773046. They had been stripped of all weapons and equipment. At 1155 hours, the body of the 6th MIA was located in the burned APC at XT 770045. The vehicle also had been stripped of all weapons. By 1341 hours, all the KIAs were dusted-off. In a search of the area the bodies of several VC soldiers along with equipment and supplies were located. Bunkers found in the area were destroyed. At 1535 hours, 3 Bobcats from Company B were dusted-off with wounds, along with one man from Troop B, ¾ Cavalry. The battalion command group and the Recon Platoon established a new base area, 6 kilometers south of Hoc Mon at XT 744988, near Tan Thoi Nhut on Highway 236. Company B and Company C along with Troop B, ¾ Cavalry set up a night perimeter in the area of XT 7704, where the day’s sweep had taken place. On February 16, 1968, elements of the battalion task force conducted RIFs in the area west of Hoc Mon. Engineer demolition teams were assigned to each company. At 0900 hours, the Recon Platoon and Headquarters Company(-) departed to establish a new base area. Company B reported destroying approximately 200 bunkers southeast of Hoc Mon at XT 764036. Company C had destroyed approximately 130 bunkers. By 1900 hours, Companies B, C and headquarters had closed the new night position, located 2500 meters southeast of Hoc Mon at XT 781033. The Recon Platoon went OPCON to the 3rd Brigade for the night. On February 17, 1968, The Recon Platoon escorted a convoy from Hoc Mon to the battalion forward base area at 0655 hours. At 0955 hours, Company C received small arms fire and one APC was damaged by a command detonated mine. There were two minor injuries. At 1137 hours, the Recon Platoon was assigned to escort a tank to gate 51 at Tan Son Nhut. At 1230 hours, Company B began receiving heavy sniper fire. At 1245 hours, Company C received small arms and automatic weapons fire. Company B requested a dust-off for one Bobcat shot in the head. At 1340 hours, Company B requested another dust-off for two wounded Bobcats. The two companies continued to attack the hedgerow. At 1445 hours, Company B dusted off 3 more wounded Bobcats. A CS gas drop was delivered into the area at 1558 hours and both companies continued the attack. At 1630 hours, Company C had another APC hit by a command detonated mine. The vehicle was a total loss but there were no casualties. At 1644 hours, another dust-off was requested by Company B. At 1653 hours an APC from Company B was hit by an RPG round. At 1654 hours, two APCs from Company C were hit by RPG rounds. At 1713 hours, the two companies pulled back to allow artillery and mortars to fire into the enemy area. At 1829 hours, Company B received heavy RPG, small arms and automatic weapons fire from XT 756046. Both Companies again pulled back to the new battalion forward base at XT 803046 and airstrikes with 1000 and 750 pound bombs and napalm were called in. In the day’s action there were nine Bobcats wounded and four APC’s taken out of action. Two of the APC’s were total combat losses. On February 18, 1968, several Bobcats were slightly wounded by enemy mortar fire during the night. The morning’s operation was postponed due to lack of fuel for the APCs. At 0820 hours, two platoons from Company C were assigned the mission of providing security for the 1/27th Artillery at their Fire Support Base located at XT 802049. At 1535 hours, CS gas was deployed and Company B, elements of the Recon Platoon and Company A, 2/34th Armor moved towards the objective area. At 1702 hours, the units moved through the area of the previous day’s encounter with negative contact. Some enemy weapons and equipment were located and destroyed. The units closed back to the night base at 1845 hours. Night ambushes were deployed. Company A remained OPCON to the 3rd Brigade. On February 19, 1968, at 0748 hours, the Recon Platoon departed the night base to conduct a RIF of the area along the Cau Sang River, north west of Hoc Mon. At 0800 hours Company B and Company A, 2/34th Armor departed to conduct a RIF of grid 8005. Company C remained at the base as battalion reaction force. At 0900 hours the Recon Platoon had one Bobcat shot in the leg by sniper fire. Three tanks from Company A, 2/34th Armor left Company B and started towards the Recon Platoon area with Company C. At 1052 hours, the Recon Platoon received machine gun fire at XT 768053. At 1134 hours, one APC from Recon was hit by an RPG round and they started receiving small arms fire from their front and rear. One Bobcat had to be dusted off as light fire teams suppressed the fire. At 1421 hours, Recon requested a dust-off for a Bobcat who lost his hand while loading a mortar tube. Company B started closing the area of contact also. At 1539 hours, Company C requested a dust-off for 7 wounded Bobcats. At 1637 hours, Company C requested another dust-off for 4 wounded Bobcats. By 1708 hours one platoon from Company C had been pinned down and was extracted after three attempts to attack and overtake the enemy position at XT 768050. The VC were well dug in with automatic weapons and RPGs covering a 100 meter front. Four Bobcats were confirmed dead and had to be left when the platoon was extracted. Two were from Company C and two were medics. Company B then attacked on line in an attempt to recover the dead Bobcats. One body was recovered and two more Bobcats from Company C were wounded and dusted-off. All units pulled back to the night base by 1915 hours. Air strikes were called in on the area of contact. On February 20, 1968, Companies B and C and Company A of the 2/34th Armor departed the base area at 0700 hours and started to the area of where the dead Bobcats were located. At 0750 hours, Company C captured a wounded NVA soldier. He stated that there were 3 companies in the area of yesterday’s contact and they were well dug in. At 0800 hours the companies were told to halt their advance. At 0815 hours the Recon Platoon left to escort an engineer element to Cu Chi. At 0832 hours, the Recon Platoon had one man wounded in the ankle by a sniper. After numerous airstrikes, the units continued their movement into the area of the previous contact. At 1700 hours, the Recon Platoon located one of the dead Bobcats. At 1745 hours, Company B located and recovered the other two. On February 21, 1968, the Recon Platoon and Company B conducted searches of the area around the grids XT 7603 and 7604, east of Hoc Mon. Some bunkers were located and destroyed. All elements closed the battalion forward base by 1630 hours. On February 22, 1968, Companies B and C, with tanks attached, conducted S&D operations in the area east of Hoc Mon. At 1420 hours, one platoon from Company B was pinned down by machinegun fire. At 1426 hours, the company started receiving automatic weapons and RPG fire. At 1500 hours a dust-off was requested for numerous wounded. At 1535 hours, another dust-off was requested. Company B also had one Bobcat killed. At 1640 hours, Company B suffered two minor wounded from an artillery short round. Companies B and C with attached tanks joined together at 1815 hours and attacked from south to north at XT 7604. At 1945 hours a “snake” was deployed and detonated by engineers with the units. At 2027 hours, all units had closed the night base perimeter. On February 23, 1968, the Recon Platoon escorted an Engineer element to Hoc Mon at 0650 hours and then returned to the forward base. Companies B and C departed for operations in the area of Grid XT 8006. At 1710 hours, the point man from Company C was killed by a burst of enemy fire from XT 815057. The enemy fire was returned with S/A, mortar and artillery fire. The dead Bobcat was left in place and all units closed the battalion forward base. LPs and APs were deployed. On February 24, 1968, At 0801 hours, Companies B and C departed the forward base. At 1320 hours, after artillery prep was fired, the companies moved into the area of the previous day’s contact. At 1400 hours the body of the dead Bobcat from Company C was located and extracted. All units closed the battalion forward base. On February 25, 1968, the battalion conducted sweeps in the area of grid XT 7905 during the morning. At 1315 hours, Company C departed for Cu Chi to prepare for an operation with the 2/34th Armor. Company B and the Recon Platoon remained at the battalion forward base. On February 26, 1968, Company B and the Recon Platoon deployed daytime ambushes starting at 0442 hours. At 1330 hours Company A, 1/5th(M) returned to battalion control after being OPCON to the 2/27th Infantry. Company A closed the battalion’s forward base. On February 27, 1968, Companies A and B, with tanks attached, departed to conduct sweeps in the area of Grid XT 7604, east of Hoc Mon. At 1310 hours, a large bunker complex was located at XT 765054. On February 28, 1968, at 0007 hours, an ambush patrol from Recon killed one VC. At 0107 hours the same ambush patrol suffered one wounded when it received fire form an unknown size VC force. Sweeps of the area were conducted during the day. On February 29, 1968, Company B, one platoon from Company A and the Recon Platoon, with tanks attached, departed the forward base at 0734 hours for a sweep in the XT 7906 grid area, just south of the Cau Sang River. At 1105 hours, the Recon Platoon established enemy contact. Company B and the Company A Platoon moved to flank the contact. LFTs were called in to work over the area. At 1350 hours, a dust-off was requested for 2 wounded Bobcats. At 1517 hours, the units were reported in heavy contact. At 1530 hours, a dust-off was requested for 5 wounded from the tank support element. At 1645 hours, two Bobcats were killed. One was from Company A and the other was from the Recon Platoon. An airstrike and mortar fires were called in before the bodies could be extracted from the contact area at 1745 hours. At 1026 hours, an APC from Company C, 1/5th(M), while attached to the 2/34th Armor, was hit by two RPG rounds. Two Bobcats were wounded. One of the Bobcats died from his injuries shortly therafter. During February 1968, 16 Bobcats died in Viet Nam. They were: Jose J. Santiago; David G. Isbell; David E. Keister; Earl Mack; Richard P. Vellance; Ralph L. Williams; Roger G. Wilson; Thomas J. Loback; Joseph P. Zale; Joseph T. Gallagher; Sam W. Stewart; Kenneth W. Roche; Bruce J. Dent; Patricio Maldonado; Frederick L. Martin; and Edgar C. Spence. The weaponary of enemy forces, both local and main force, consisted of light and medium equipment. AK-47 Rifles, light machine guns, RPG-2 and RPG-7 launchers and mortars were his primary weapons. Support units were equipped with .51 caliber machine guns and a limited amount of 107 and 122 mm rockets. Mines and booby traps were also deployed and accounted for the majority of casualties. On March 01, 1968, Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor. Companies A and B searched the area northeast of Hoc Mon at XT7906. The Recon Platoon provided security for the battalion forward base, which was still located 5 kilometers east of Hoc Mon at XT 803048. On March 02, 1968, Companies A and B searched the area attempting to locate sites from which rockets were being fired into the Saigon Military District. This “Rocket Belt” was referred to by the soldiers as “Cape Canaveral.” At 0006 hours, Company C, still OPCON to the 2/34th Armor, received approximately 30 rounds of mortar fire, wounding two Bobcats. At 0908 hours, at XT 748156, Company C received sniper fire. One Bobcat was hit and later died from his wounds. This individual was in the field when he first came to Viet Nam. He was then made company clerk. He had volunteered to go back into the field and was shot by a VC firing from a spider hole. He was due to end his tour on April 18. On March 03, 1968, the battalion(-) continued S&D operations in the area east of Hoc Mon. Company C remained OPCON to the 4/23rd Armor and provided protection for Rome Plow cutting operations at XT 7614. On March 04, 1968, the 1/5th(M)(-) conducted sweeps northeast of Hoc Mon. The bodies of several VC soldiers were located along with RPG and mortar ammunition. Company C continued providing protection for Rome Plow operations. On March 05, 1968, the battalion(-) continued sweeps in the area with scattered light enemy contact. On March 06, 1968, Companies A and B along with the Recon Platoon(-) and Company A, 2/34th Armor conducted a sweep in the area of XT 7605, northeast of Hoc Mon. At 1604 hours, units made heavy contact at XT 769045. At 1615 hours Company A 2/34th Armor reported one killed and one wounded. A Bobcat from Company B was moving along a tree line when he got shot in the head. Two men from Company B went to check him out to see if they could help him. One of them got shot in the chest and killed, the other was shot and wounded in the leg and hip. The Bobcat shot in the chest only had a few weeks to go before he was to get out of the Army. He had plans to get married as soon as he got out. At 1629 hours, Company B requested a dust-off for 8 Bobcats. Company A was moving with men walking in front of the APCs. They received some sniper fire and turned on line to advance toward the sniper fire. The 3rd Platoon was in the middle and got hit first. An M-60 gunner got shot in the stomach and called out for help. The man next to him turned and got shot in the head. People called for a medic and as the medic advanced he was shot and killed. The soldiers were ordered to pull back, “but the M-60 gunner was still alive.” Air strikes with napalm were called in during the night. At 0755 hours, on March 07, 1968, the body of the dead medic was recovered. At 0821 hours, the bodies of the other two were located. The M-60 gunner was found “with a rosary wrapped around his hands, he probably was praying up to the time he died.” During the contact on March 6th, Company A suffered 8 wounded and 3 killed. Company B suffered 5 wounded and 2 killed. One of the Bobcats killed had only been in Viet Nam for 20 days. One APC had been destroyed and one tank and one APC were damaged. At 1720 hours, all personnel were accounted for and the units closed back to the battalion forward base. Company C continued providing security for Rome Plow operations. On March 08, 1968, the battalion(-) conducted RIFs in the area with negative contact. One Bobcat from Company B died from wounds he had previously received. On March 09, 1968, one platoon from Company A provided security at the Hoc Mon Bridge on Highway 1. The remainder of the task force conducted vehicle maintenance at the battalion forward base. On March 11, 1968, at 0601 hours, an ambush patrol from the Recon Platoon killed one VC. That morning the 1/5th(M) moved their forward base to an area 3 kilometers east of the Cu Chi base camp at XT 695145. On March 12, 1968, the battalion conducted RIF operations northwest of the junction of Highways 8A and 15 in the area of XT 7214 and 7115. Company B located and destroyed 98 rounds of 60mm mortar ammunition. One platoon from Company A continued to provide security at the Hoc Mon Bridge. Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor and provided road and convoy security on Highway 1. On March 13, 1968, the battalion(-) moved to Cu Chi Base Camp and the proceeded to a new forward base in the northwest corner of the Filhol at XT 640217. At 1155 hours an APC from the Recon Platoon detonated a mine resulting in one Bobcat being wounded. On March 14, 1968, the battalion(-) conducted RIF operations in the area of XT 6321 and 6421. At 1229 hours, in the northwest area of the Filhol at XT 642219, Company A, moving with men on the ground in front of the tracks, received sniper fire. One Bobcat was shot in the chest and died before a dust-off could get him out. The men were ordered to take cover as artillery was called in. The artillery rounds mistakenly landed on top of the men of Company A, killing two Bobcats and wounding twenty-three. Also on the 14th, a Bobcat from the Recon Platoon died from the wounds he had received the day before. Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor and conducted operations in the lower Boi Loi Woods in the area of XT 5726. On March 15, 1968, Companies A and B conducted operations in the northwest area of the Filhol near Bao Trang at XT 637217. At 1410 hours, at that location Company B found an ammunition cache of over 12,000 small arms rounds. One man from Company B passed out while in a well. A second man was lowed into the well with belt links fastened to his own belt. He passed out and the belt broke dropping him into the well. A third man attempted rescue, wearing a gas mask, but he too passed out. He was pulled out and a forth man was lowed in with a gas mask, but he also passed out. A man was lowered down and holding his breath, retrieved the men in the well one at a time. Two of the Bobcats could not be revived and died. A third man died while enroute to hospital on a dust-off. On March 16, 1968, the battalion(-) continued operations in the northwest area of the Filhol. At 1937 hours, in the area of XT 640126, four Bobcats were wounded when 7 rounds of 60mm mortar fire were received. Company C conducted operations in the Ho Bo Woods, still attached to the 2/34th Armor. On March 17, 1968, the battalion continued sweeping operations northwest of the Filhol. At 0835 hours, one tank from Company A 2/34th Armor was hit by an RPG round wounding one man. At 0945 hours, another tank was hit by an RPG round during an engagement in the area of XT 632199. At 1000 hours, a small ammunition cache was located and the items destroyed. At 1810 hours, the Recon Platoon discovered and retained an 81mm mortar tube. On March 19, 1968, The battalion(-), with Company A, 2/34th Armor attached, moved to a new forward base at XT 668235 on the north fringe of the Filhol, along the Saigon River. On March 20, 1968, Companies A and B conducted RIF operations to the area of the junction of the Rach Son Creek and the Saigon River. During the day, miscellaneous items of equipment and ammunition were found and destroyed. At 1450 hours, at XT 675230, units discovered a cache containing 29 rounds of 82mm mortar CS Gas rounds, 13 tons of rice, along with peas, peanuts and beans. The food stuffs were stacked and covered with plastic sheets. Vegetation from the area was placed on top of the plastic in an effort to camouflage the material. One platoon from Company B and the Recon Platoon remained at the cache site over night. The remainder of Company B and Company A withdrew to the battalion night location. At 1420 hours, four Bobcats from Company C were wounded in a fire fight at XT 629293 in the Ho Bo Woods, while still attached to the 2/34th Armor. On March 21, 1968, an extensive search of the cache site was conducted. Located were 24 mines, 20 mortar rounds, over 200 RPG rounds, over 2500 rounds of small arms ammunition and miscellaneous equipment and weapons. An additional 15 tons of rice, 2 tons of salt and 1000 pounds of canned food were also located. The overall cache site consisted of four different complexes. Almost 100 underground bunkers and tunnels were discovered. One tunnel was 200 meters in length and ran under Highway TL15. Ten pound sacks of CS were placed inside the tunnel complex, spaced about 20 meters apart. All demolition charges and sacks of CS were connected and detonated simultaneously. This method sealed the tunnel, trapping the CS gas inside. By nightfall all the bunkers and tunnels were destroyed and the located material had been transferred to the battalion forward base site. On March 22, 1968, the 1/5th(M) along with Company A 2/34th Armor prepared to move back to Cu Chi Base camp. A convoy of 10 five ton trucks arrived at the battalion forward base and were loaded with the captured material from the cache site. The battalion and the convoy then departed for Cu Chi, closing by 1700 hours. On March 23, 1968, the battalion(-) remained at Cu Chi, preparing for future operations. Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor. On March 25, 1968, the battalion(-) remained at Cu Chi. One platoon was dispatched to secure engineer operations on Highway 8A. Company C remained OPCON 2/34th Armor. At 1200 hours, the Recon Platoon of the 4/23(M) made heavy contact near Trang Bang at XT 523187. The platoon suffered 11 killed and 16 wounded. Company C, 1/5th(M) and Company C, 4/23(M) were committed to assist the platoon. On March 26, 1968, the 1/5th(M)(-) departed Cu Chi Base Camp and established a forward base approximately half way between Tan Son Nhut and Duc Hoa at XT 698933. Company C remained attached to the 2/34th Armor and conducted RIF operations in the area of Trang Bang. On March 27, 1968, the battalion(-) conducted a reconnaissance in force operation along the Cau An Ha Canal from XT 683020 to 663940. At 2135 hours, an ambush patrol killed 2 VC. On March 28, 1968, at 0203 hours, an ambush patrol from Company A killed one VC. During the day, elements of the battalion conducted a reconnaissance in the area of XT 740995. At 1430 hours 400 pounds of rice was located. On March 29, 1968, one company conducted a cordon and search in the area of XT 735982. Other elements conducted a RIF operation in the area of XT 7304 and 7401. That night at 2315 hours, the Recon Platoon engaged 7 VC, killing 6 of them. Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor and provided security for Rome Plow cutting operations On March 30, 1968, the Recon Platoon captured one VC in the area of the previous night’s contact. The battalion conducted a RIF operation in the area of XT 7497. At 0755 hours, an APC from Company A detonated an AT mine. The 1/5th(M)(-) was released from OPCON to the 3rd Brigade at the end of the day. Company C continued providing security for Rome Plow cutting operations. On March 31, 1968, at 0700 hours the 1/5th(M)(-) returned to 2nd Brigade control. The battalion(-), with one company of Popular Forces Soldiers from Sa Tan Binh, conducted a combined cordon and search of Vin Loc in the area of XT 7197. Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor. During March 1968, fourteen Bobcats died in Viet Nam. They were: Charles G. Rehberger; John L. Haines; Anthony Patrizi; Joseph D. Seibert; Stephen W. Downey; Larry Munoz;Guy T. Jones; Roger W. Letto; William E. Price; Raul Robledo; Sammie R. Sneed Jr.; Edward A. Lionetta; David R. Young Jr.; and Paul A. Young. On April 01, 1968, the 1/5th(M)(-) with one company of Regional Force Soldiers conducted reconnaissance in force operations in the area of XS 701980. On April 02, 1968, Company B conducted air mobile combat assaults. At 1435 hours, the company engaged an unknown number of VC with organic weapons. 3 VC were killed by body count and two Bobcats were wounded. That evening, elements of the battalion conducted a night ambush with Popular Force Soldiers from Sa Tan Binh District. Map 20 Vinh Loc area. On April 03, 1968, the Recon Platoon was OPCON to the 2/27th Infantry. Company C, 2/14th Infantry was OPCON to the 1/5th(M). Company B, 1/5th(M) and Company C, 2/14th Infantry conducted combined RIF operations with one Popular Force Platoon in the area of XT 6994. At 1135 hours, an APC from the Recon Platoon detonated an AT mine at XT 5599. Two Bobcats were wounded and the APC was a combat loss. On April 04, 1968, Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor. The Recon Platoon remained OPCON to the 2/27th Infantry. Companies A and B, with one company of National Police, conducted combined cordon and search operations, of Ap Tay, Ap Go and Vin Loc. On April 05, 1968, Companies A and B and one company of National Police conducted a combined cordon and search of Cu Lao. The Recon Platoon remained OPCON to the 2/27th Infantry and conducted road clearing operations along Highway 1 from Cu Chi to Hoc Mon. On April 08, 1968, at 0700 hours, the Recon Platoon went OPCON to the 2/14th Infantry. The platoon conducted road clearing and convoy security for the Duc Hoa convoy. Company C, 1/5th(M) remains OPCON to the 2/34th Armor. At 1200 hours, Company D, 2/27th Infantry became OPCON to the 1/5th(M). On April 09, 1968, the battalion forward base was located 10 kilometers west of the City of Saigon, in the area of XS 6993. Company A conducted a RIF operation with 4 platoons of Popular Force Soldiers. Company B, 1/5th(M) and Company D, 2/27th Infantry provided security for the battalion forward base and were on stand-by as the battalion reaction force. On April 10, 1968, at 0700 hours, Company D, 2/27th Infantry was released from OPCON to the 1/5th(M). Company A, 2/34th Armor remained OPCON to the 1/5th(M). At 0800 hours, the battalion conducted a motor march to the area of Vinh Loc to establish a new battalion forward base at XS 727986. Company C, remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor and conducted road security on Highway 1 from Trang Bang to Go Dau Ha. The Recon Platoon cleared Highway 1 from Hoc Mon to the junction of Highway 7A. From April 11, 1968 to April 15, 1968, units conducted sweeps of the area with South Vietnamese Forces. Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor and continued highway security operations. The Recon Platoon remained OPCON to the 2/14th Infantry. On April 16, 1968, Company B(-) provided security for the move of two batteries of artillery from the Hoc Mon area to the battalion forward base. At 0925 hours, one Bobcat from Company B was killed when a canister round accidentally detonated. On April 17, 1968, Companies A and B conducted airmobile combat assaults. On April 18, 1968, Company B(-) conducted a Medcap at Vinh Loc Village. The Recon Platoon continued route security of Highway 1. Company C remained OPCON 2/34th Armor. At 1840 hours, an APC from Company B detonated an AT mine wounding three Bobcats. On April 19, 1968, the battalion(-) moved to a new forward base location at XS 733945, located four kilometers south of Vinh Loc. On April 20, 1968, the 1/5th(M) participated in a multi-battalion cordon and search of Tan Thoi Trung Village, located just south of Hoc Mon. The 2/14th Infantry, 1/27th Infantry and one platoon of MPs from the 25th Infantry Division were the other units involved. Cu Chi Base Camp received 7 rounds of 122mm Rocket fire resulting in 24 soldiers being wounded. On April 22, 1968, the Recon Platoon and Company C remained OPCON to the 2/14th Infantry and the 2/34th Armor respectively. The Recon Platoon conducted road sweeps along Highway 8A. The battalion(-) conducted combined search and screen operations of personnel and vehicles with Popular Force Soldiers in the area of XS 694910. On April 23, 1968, intelligence information indicated that there would be an attack on Saigon on May 01. All but two of the 25th Infantry Division’s maneuver battalions were positioned to block the main approaches to Saigon from the west. The 2/22nd(M) and the 2/12th Infantry assumed responsibility for Tay Ninh and Dau Tieng. Company C 1/5th(M) remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor, 1st Brigade. The Recon Platoon was returned to the control of the battalion. One platoon from Company A, 2/34th Armor remained OPCON to the 1/5th(M). At 0630 hours, the battalion(-) with Popular Force Soldiers conducted a cordon and search of Vin Loc Village. They then established and maintained three checkpoints in the area. At 1503 hours, a mine was detonated wounding one Bobcat from Company A. On April 24, 1968, the battalion conducted a cordon and search / Medcap of Ap Binh Hoa at XS 729935. At 2045 hours, Cu Chi Base Camp received 3 rounds of 60mm mortar fire. The rounds landed in the 1/5th(M) area, wounding six soldiers. On April 25, 1968, the battalion(-) conducted a RIF operation in the area of XS 7194, south of Vin Loc. Three screen and search sites were established with National Police Officers from Duc Hoa District. At 1536 hours, Company B had two Bobcats wounded by a booby trap detonation. Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor. On April 26, 1968, the 1/5th(M) provided security for Fire Support Base Pike II at XS 702910, located 6 kilometers south of Vinh Loc. Elements of the battalion conducted sweeps in the area and also participated in a cordon and search of Vin Loc Village with Regional Force Soldiers from Tan Binh District. Personnel / vehicle checkpoints were also established and maintained in the area. On April 27, 1968, one platoon from Company A provided security for FSB Pike II. The remainder of Company A and the Recon Platoon provided security for the battalion forward base. A cordon and search of Ap Tan Hoa was conducted with National Police and 25th Infantry Division MPs. Checkpoints were also established throughout the area. At 1950 hours, the Recon Platoon received small arms fire from an unknown number of VC. Fire was returned with unknown results. Two Bobcats were wounded. On April 29, 1968, Company C, still OPCON to the 2/34th Armor, participated in conducting road security on Highway 1 from Go Dau Ha to the Hoc Mon Bridge. The 1/5th(M)(-), with one platoon from the 2/34th Armor and one company of RF soldiers, conducted a cordon and search of Ap Binh Hoa, located 4 kilometers south of Vinh Loc. Check points were also established in the area. On April 30, 1968, two platoons from Company A and one platoon from Company A, 2/34th Armor, conducted a RIF operation in the area of XT 7597, the grid just south of Tan Thoi Nhut. The Recon Platoon provided security for a resupply convoy. Other elements of the battalion established check points in the area in union with Popular Force units. During April 1968, one Bobcat died in Viet Nam. He was: James E. Young. The 25th Infantry Division reported the following losses for the Quarterly Period of February 01, 1968 to April 30, 1968: KIA: 520; WIA: 1,641; MIA: 0; NBD: 18; NBI: 34. A 25th Infantry Division Intelligence Summary for the Quarterly Period stated: “VC/NVA activity during February and March consisted of trying to maintain their foothold in the Saigon area. They made a determined attempt to control the areas adjacent to Saigon. After great manpower and equipment loss the enemy withdrew to base areas. The time period of March 15 to April 15 was characterized by little action. This period was used by the enemy to refit and receive replacements. During the last 15 days of April enemy activity reached a peak. Large groups of replacements were identified in the TAOI. Supply caches with large amounts of food, ammunition, and arms were located.” On May 01, 1968, Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor. One Bobcat from Company C died from wounds he received during an enemy mortar attack. Two platoons from Company A, one platoon from Company A, 2/34th Armor and one company of Regional Force Soldiers conducted a sweep operation. One platoon from Company A secured the battalion’s forward base area located at XS 733945. Company B established checkpoints in the area of Binh Hung Hoa and Xom Go May. Night ambushes were deployed throughout the area. On May 02, 1968, elements of the battalion task force conducted checkpoint operations and a sweep of Grid XS 7292. Company C, still OPCON to the 2/34th Armor, started the day conducting road clearing and security operations on Highway 1 between Trang Bang and Phuoc My. Later that day, at 1500 hours, while working the area of Highway 237, just northwest of Trung Lap, a booby trapped hand grenade was detonated and wounded two Bobcats from Company C. Both men died from the wounds they received. On May 03, 1968, elements of the battalion conducted sweeps in the area of Ap Cu Lao, 5 kilometers west of Tan Son Nhut, with negative contact. Company A, 1/5th(M) went OPCON directly to 2nd Brigade Headquarters. Company C conducted road security operations in the Trang Bang area. On May 04, 1968, elements of the battalion conducted sweeps of the area and provided security for checkpoints. At 1220 hours, Company A was released back to battalion control. One Bobcat from Company C died from multiple fragmentation wounds. On May 05, 1968, Company B provided security for the battalion forward base area. Other units conducted RIF operations and also established and maintained security checkpoints. At 1300 hours, Company B, 1/27th Infantry became OPCON to the 1/5th(M). Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor and conducted operations east of Bao Trai, where there had been heavy enemy contact. On May 06, 1968, the 4/23(M) and the 2/34th Armor were sent to reinforce the Bao Trai ARVN garrison, which had been attacked that morning by a three battalion sized enemy force. Company C, 1/5th(M), with the 4/9th Infantry conducted a sweep of the contact area east of Bao Trai and discovered many enemy bodies along with weapons, ammunition and supplies. The Recon Platoon, 1/5th(M) provided security for the resupply convoy. Company C, 1/27th Infantry secured the 1/5th(M) forward base area. Other elements of the battalion conducted RIF operations throughout the area with negative contact. On May 07, 1968, at 2030 hours, the 1/5th(M) Task Force was released from the operational control of the 2nd Brigade, but remained in the area of the Capital Military District. On May 08, 1968, at 0805 hours, Company C, still OPCON 2/34th Armor, killed one VC and captured four others south of Hoc Mon. On May 09, 1968, three Bobcats from Company A were killed when an APC blew up from an accidental internal explosion. Speculation was that somehow a hand grenade accidentally blew up inside the track, causing a large secondary explosion. A Bobcat from Company B was shot and killed later in the day. On May 12, 1968, at 0820 hours, the 1/5th(M)(-) became OPCON to the 1st Brigade and moved from the Capital Military District to the northwest corner of the Filhol (XT 665236) near the Rach Son Tributary of the Saigon River. The battalion(-) deployed security patrols and prepared the night defensive perimeter. Company C, still OPCON to the 2/34th Armor, was conducting a sweep southwest of Vinh Loc near XS 7097, when they encountered an estimated VC platoon hiding in bunkers. Supported by artillery and air strikes, the company over ran the enemy positions. On May 13, 1968, the 1/5th(M)(-) conducted a RIF operation in the Filhol. At 1200 hours, the battalion(-) went OPCON to the 3rd Brigade and began to move to a new location for the night. At 1803 hours, Company A received RPG and small arms fire on its right flank, east of the junction of Highway 7A and Highway 1. Enemy fire was returned with organic weapons. At 1841 hours, Company B received 60mm mortar fire. The enemy broke contact and the battalion(-) established a night position off Highway 1 in the area of Phuoc My. One Bobcat from Company A was killed and twenty other Bobcats from the battalion were wounded, fourteen of them were dusted-off. Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor and operated in the Vinh Loc area. On May 14, 1968, at 0720 hours, the battalion(-) started moving north. At 1155 hours, the lead APC for Company A hit an AT mine on Highway 7A, just southwest of Trung Lap. One Bobcat was killed and six were wounded and dusted-off. The APC was a combat loss. At 1530 hours, Company B started receiving small arms, automatic weapons and RPG fire. After an airstrike, Company B started assaulting the contact area. At 1750 hours, the company received two 60mm mortar rounds. By 1800 hours, they overran the contact area, capturing some enemy weapons and finding one VC body. At 1830 hours, the Medic APC from Company A hit a 20 pound mine but only the fuse detonated. At 1855 hours, an APC from Company A detonated an AT mine 3 kilometers northwest of Trung Lap at XT 567238. One Bobcat was killed and three were wounded and dusted-off. The battalion(-) established a night position at XT 565247. On May 15, 1968, the battalion(-), with one platoon from Company A, 2/34th Armor attached, conducted sweeps in the area with light scattered contact. All units closed the battalion forward base. At 2020 hours, the night base area received nine 82mm mortar rounds. Six Bobcats were wounded and dusted-off. Six ambush patrols were established, all within 400 meters of the base perimeter. At 2250 hours, all three of Company B’s APs reported seeing a light moving to the northeast. On May 16, 1968, at 0038 hours, the night base started receiving small arms and RPG fire. At 0040 hours, one of Company B’s patrols reported that they were returning to the perimeter with 3 casualties. At 0042 hours, one of Company A’s patrols was in direct contact. One of Company B’s APCs on the night perimeter was hit by an RPG round and started burning. Elements returned fire with organic weapons, air strikes and mortars. Two soldiers from the 2/34th were wounded, as were six Bobcats from Company A and eight Bobcats from Company B. Six Bobcats from Company B were killed at their ambush site location. Their bodies could not be retrieved because of the contact. At 0325 hours, patrols were sent out to search the area. At 0500 hours, Company B pulled all their patrols in because of enemy movement in the area. A search of the area in the daylight revealed the bodies of VC soldiers, weapons, ammunition and equipment. Numerous blood trails were also found in the area. The bodies of the six Bobcats from the Company B ambush were retrieved. “Word” circulated amongst the soldiers that the men had apparently fallen asleep and had their throats cut. A tracker dog team was brought out to the battalion base area and a detailed search of the area was conducted during the day. Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor and continued operations in the Vinh Loc area. On May 17, 1968, two Bobcats died from burns they had received previously. One was from Company B and the other was a medic. The battalion(-) conducted RIF operations and moved north to the southern edge of the Boi Loi Woods and established a new forward base. On May 18, 1968, the battalion(-) moved to a new base area at XT 533290, located just off Highway 6A and 4 kilometers south of Highway 238. Ambush patrols departed the perimeter shortly after 1900 hours. At 2015 hours the ambush patrol from the Recon Platoon reported that they had one man accidentally shot in the foot. He was brought back to the base and dusted-off. An 18 man ambush patrol from Company A returned to the perimeter after expending a good part of their ammunition on an unknown size enemy force they encountered on their way out to their ambush site. They were ordered back out and set up about 300 meters from the perimeter when they again detected enemy movement to their front. On May 19, 1968, at approximately 0500 hours, the battalion base area started receiving mortar and RPG fire. The Company A ambush set off its Claymores on a large enemy force. In the ensuing firefight, four Bobcats were killed and several others were wounded. Those still alive fought their way back to the perimeter with the wounded members of the patrol. The enemy attack was repulsed with organic weapons, artillery and air strikes. Many VC bodies were found in front of the Company A ambush location. During the day Company A(-) and Company B(-) conducted a RIF operation west and north of the base area. On May 20, 1968, One bobcat from Company C died from wounds he had previously received. Company C remained OPCON to the 2/34th Armor, operating in the Vinh Loc area. The battalion(-) moved to a new night location at XT 530288 On May 21, 1968, the battalion(-) moved into an area north of Trang Bang and established a forward base at XT 533290. On May 22, 1968, at 0005 hours, an attack was launched against the battalion night perimeter. Organic weapons, artillery and helicopter light fire teams were used to suppress the enemy assault. Contact was broken by the enemy at 0345 hours. Five Bobcats were killed in the action. Two were from the Recon Platoon and three were from Company A. At daylight, enemy bodies and miscellaneous equipment were policed up from around the battalion perimeter. On May 23, 1968, the 2/34th Armor was released from OPCON to the 2nd Brigade at 1530 hours. On May 24, 1968, the 1/5th(M) returned to Cu Chi Base Camp. On May 26, 1968, the 1/5th(M) continued stand-down at Cu Chi and acted as division ready reaction force. On May 29, 1968, the 1/5th(M) relieved the 2/22(M) of road security. Company A secured the battalion forward base at XT 483196. Company C moved to Tay Ninh Base Camp and the Recon Platoon moved to Dau Tieng Base Camp to provide convoy security between Tay Ninh, Bau Co and Dau Tieng. On May 30, 1968, elements of the battalion cleared Highway 1 from Tay Ninh to the Hoc Mon Bridge. At 1310 hours, an APC from the Recon Platoon detonated an AT mine at XT 391432. One Bobcat was wounded. Company C cleared roads and secured convoys between Tay Ninh and Dau Tieng and also secured the rock crusher site at XT 2856. On May 31, 1968, elements of the 1/5th(M) cleared the main supply route (Highway 1) from Tay Ninh to the Hoc Mon Bridge. After clearing the road Company A reconnoitered the area of XT 6511. Company B reconnoitered the area of XT 4722. Company C and the Recon Platoon cleared roads and provided security for convoys between Tay Ninh and Dau Tieng and also secured the rock crusher site at XT 2856. During May 1968, twenty-eight Bobcats died in Viet Nam. They were: David A. Stremler; James D. Molpus; Charles H. Turner Jr.; Kellum W. Grant; Samuel S. Linville; Claude D. Protz; Joseph Greene; Robert G. Hoop; Stephen R. Powell; Kenneth D. Rynning; Clifton Cubbage; Otis E. Isbell; Henry J. Kirchner Jr.;Louie J. Sandoval; Daniel L. Underwood; Paul E. Watson; Dennis L. Everts; Guy L. Jewett; William C. Baldwin; Overtis Hinton Jr.; Kenneth R. Wilson; Gary W. Dunn; Joe R. Courtney; Gale W. Dixon; William M. Clarke Jr.; Paul A. Proehl; Joe R. Hines; Timothy McKee Hamilton ; and James V. Antolini. No data could be located for the month of June 1968. On July 22, 1968, at 1100 hours, the 2nd Bn, 506th Infantry encountered an unknown sized enemy force 3 kilometers east-northeast of Trang Bang. The contact continued throughout the day and into the night. At the same time to the west, Company B, 4/23rd(M) engaged an unknown sized enemy force 4 kilometers north of Go Dau Hau at XT 392301. Companies A and B of the 1/5th (M) were sent to reinforce Company B, 4/23rd (M). The contact lasted throughout the day and into the night. Data for the month of July 1968 was virtually non-existant. On July 22, 1968, at 1100 hours, the 2nd Battalion, 506th AB Infantry encountered an unknown sized enemy force 3 kilometers east-northeast of Trang Bang. The contact continued throughout the day and into the night. At the same time to the west, Company B, 4/23rd(M) engaged an unknown sized enemy force 4 kilometers north of Go Dau Hau at XT 392301. Companies A and B of the 1/5th(M) were sent to reinforce Company B, 4/23rd(M). The contact lasted throughout the day and into the night. Map 21 The Ben Cui Rubber Plantation area. The 25th Infantry Division reported the following statistical data for the Quarterly Period of May 01, 1968 to July 31, 1968: KIA: 345; WIA: 1,424; NBD: 24; NBI: 28. Personnel shortages continued to exist in Infantry Captains and Infantry NCOs in grades E-6 and E-7. During the quarterly period defoliation missions were flown in areas of operation to clear vegetation bordering roads, paths, trails and waterways (Oriental and Saigon Rivers); clearing vegetation from fields of fire and avenues of approach and clearing vegetation surrounding Cu Chi Base Camp and other critical installations. Throughout the quarterly period several units were reorganized under new TOE. These units were: 1st Bn, 5th Inf(Mech); 2nd Bn, 22nd Inf(Mech); 4th Bn, 23rd Inf(Mech). The new TOE was TOE 7-45G per USARPAC GO 226 dated 7 May 1968. On August 03, 1968, Company B was conducting a sweep in the eastern portion of the Michelin Rubber Plantation. Contact was made and the VC took shelter in a village. Company A was dispatched to reinforce Company B. At 0915 hours, the village was evacuated with the help of a loud speaker helicopter. One of the villagers stated that there were still 100 VC in the village. CS was dropped on the village and a LFT was called in. At 0958 hours, a dust-off was requested. One of the LFT helicopters had fired a rocket that exploded on Company B soldiers. One Bobcat was killed and five were wounded. Also wounded by the rocket blast were one engineer and one Vietnamese civilian. A search of the village resulted in negative contact. The Recon Platoon provided security for a convoy from Dau Tieng to Tay Ninh. At 2150 hours, elements of Company C providing security at the Dau Tieng Bridge over the Saigon River engaged and destroyed one sampan